The president of Cyprus said yesterday the risk of bankruptcy had been contained and the country had no intention of leaving the euro, in a speech laden with criticism of Europe’s currency union for “experimenting” with the island’s fate.

The president of Cyprus has said he is trying to amend a bailout plan that would tax bank deposits across the country to reduce its effect on small savers.

The violence in Syria has reached unprecedented levels, the head of the country's UN observer mission said today, insisting there must be a ceasefire for his teams to resume their work.