Weapons drop

29 June 2011 Last updated at 16:57 GMT By Jonathan Marcus BBC Defence and Diplomatic Correspondent The rebels in western Libya have been making advances in recent days The French military are presenting their decision to parachute in weaponry to the Libyan rebels in the western Nafusa mountains as a response to a specific local situation.

Civilians, they say, were encircled by government forces who refused to allow the opening up of an aid corridor to reach them.

A French military spokesman says weapons including assault rifles, machine guns and rocket launchers were air-dropped earlier this month.

A report in today's Le Figaro newspaper suggests that Milan anti-tank missiles may also have been included.

Arming the rebels is of course controversial, not least because in February, UN Security Council resolution 1970 established an arms embargo that appeared to apply to all sides in Libya. It talked about banning sales to the Libyan nation - the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.

However there were those, not least the US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, who argued that the subsequent UN resolution 1973 - the one that allowed all necessary means to be used to protect Libyan civilians - actually amended or overrode the earlier UN decision.

Legal differences

Speaking in London in late March, she said that "there could be a legitimate transfer of arms if a country should choose to do that".

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Despite its efforts to frame its own arms supplies in terms of protecting civilians, it looks as though the French government has made a strategic decision ”

End Quote But the US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, subsequently made it clear that Washington had not yet made such a decision.

British Prime Minister David Cameron took a similar position, noting that "the arms embargo applies to the whole territory of Libya, but at the same time UN Security Council resolution 1973 allows all necessary measures to protect civilians and civilian-populated areas."

Mr Cameron told the British parliament: "Our view is that this would not necessarily rule out the provision of assistance to those protecting civilians in certain circumstances."

That is not the interpretation many international legal experts put on Security Council resolution 1973. Indeed, it actually calls on governments "to ensure strict implementation of the arms embargo" established by resolution 1970. As is often the case, different experts differ on the exact legal interpretation.

Britain has been supplying the rebels with non-lethal assistance - things like uniforms, rations and radios. There has been a small British military team in Bengazi alongside the rebel headquarters, advising on logistics and other organisational matters.

Capable fighters

Nonetheless, weapons have been reaching the Libyan rebels in the east of the country, funded by Qatar and other Gulf States.

The article in Le Figaro suggests that some of these have also been flown in, to improvised airstrips in the west.

Despite its efforts to frame its own arms supplies in terms of protecting civilians, it looks as though the French government, whose aircraft fired the first shots in the Western-led intervention over Libya, has made a strategic decision.

The war is dragging on. Unease in some Nato countries is growing. Libyan rebels in the east of the country do not have the military means to march on the capital, Tripoli.

But the largely Berber forces in the Nafusa Mountains in western Libya have proved capable fighters. They have been advancing significantly in recent days.

They are much closer to the Libyan capital and thus better able to bring direct pressure on the Gaddafi regime.

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AU condemns French Libya arms drop

30 June 2011 Last updated at 11:34 GMT France is said to be concerned at the military stalemate in Libya African Union Commission chief Jean Ping says France's decision to air-drop weapons to Libyan rebels is dangerous and puts the whole region at risk.

He told the BBC the action risked creating problems similar to those in war-torn Somalia.

France has confirmed it dropped arms to Berber tribal fighters in the mountains south-west of the capital, Tripoli.

Some analysts said the move might contravene the UN Security Council embargo on arms supplies to Libya.

Mr Ping was speaking from Equatorial Guinea where African heads of state are meeting for an AU summit.

Libya is expected to be high on the summit's agenda.

'Somalia-sation'

"There are several problems," he said.

"The risk of civil war, risk of partition of the country, the risk of 'Somalia-sation' of the country, risk of having arms everywhere... with terrorism.

"These risks will concern the neighbouring countries."

Mr Ping said that an AU peace plan for Libya set out in March was still valid. The road map calls for a ceasefire to allow political talks to take place.

News of France's weapons delivery to the rebels emerged in a report by Le Figaro newspaper on Wednesday.

The newspaper said France - a leading force in the Nato operation in Libya - did not inform its allies about the move.

The report said the weapons included rocket launchers and anti-tank missiles, although French officials would only confirm light arms and ammunition had been dropped to rebel fighters.

The decision was reportedly taken after a meeting in April between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the Chief of Staff of the Libyan rebels, Gen Abdelfatah Younis.

France is said to have been concerned at the stalemate in the Libyan conflict that started in February.

Rebels have recently been making gains and hope to advance on Tripoli from the existing front line on the other side of the Nafusa mountains about 65km (40 miles) from the capital.

Russia and China have criticised the Nato campaign, saying it has gone beyond the remit of UN resolution 1973, which authorised international military action in Libya.

However, the US has argued that resolution 1973 allows countries to provide arms to rebels despite an earlier resolution - 1970 - that imposed an arms embargo on the whole of Libya.

The BBC's Thomas Fessy in Equatorial Guinea's capital, Malabo, says Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi is well known for his extravagant arrivals at African Union summits, but he is not taking part this time.

Nevertheless, his name was probably mentioned more than any other during a week of preparatory meetings, our correspondent says.

He says African leaders are divided over whether the Libyan leader should step down.

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US 'in contact with Brotherhood'

30 June 2011 Last updated at 14:33 GMT Hillary Clinton said the US would stress the importance of human rights in any talks Washington has had "limited contacts" with Egypt's largest Islamic group, the Muslim Brotherhood, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said.

She said the US wanted to "engage with all parties" seeking peace and non-violence following Egypt's uprising.

The Muslim Brotherhood has a strong following in Egypt but was illegal under ousted President Hosni Mubarak.

The group is planning to stand in parliamentary elections scheduled for September.

'Respect our values'

Mrs Clinton, on a visit to Budapest, told reporters that the Obama administration was "continuing the approach of limited contacts with the Muslim Brotherhood that have existed on and off for about five or six years".

She went on to say that "given the changing political landscape in Egypt... it is in the interests of the United States to engage with all parties that are peaceful, and committed to non-violence, that intend to compete for the parliament and the presidency".

She insisted that they would, in any talks, continue to press home the importance of democracy, non-violence, respect for minority rights and the full inclusion of women.

The Muslim Brotherhood said it welcomed Mrs Clinton's remarks but that no "direct contact" had yet been made.

"We are willing to meet in a context of respect," spokesman Mahmud Ghozlan told the AFP news agency.

"If the US is truly willing to respect our values and support freedom, as it says it does, then we have no problem."

The Brotherhood is still technically illegal under Egypt's constitution, which bans parties based on religion, class or regionalism.

But it is assumed to be Egypt's best organised and most popular opposition movement, and has begun its campaign to be recognised as a formal political party.

The Muslim Brotherhood has stressed that the new party it has set up to contest September's elections will be a civil, not a theocratic, group.

But correspondents say that with its Islamist agenda and historical links to radical groups, the group is feared and mistrusted in the West and to some extent in Egypt.

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Iraq jails al-Qaeda chief's widow

29 June 2011 Last updated at 17:17 GMT Abu Omar al-Baghdadi was killed in a US-Iraqi raid in April 2010 A court in Baghdad has sentenced the widow of al-Qaeda's former Iraq chief to life imprisonment for assisting her husband to carry out suicide attacks.

The woman, who officials identified by her initials WJ, was the wife of Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, the former head of the Islamic State of Iraq.

Baghdadi was killed in April 2010, along with Abu Ayyub al-Masri, another prominent al-Qaeda leader in Iraq.

Masri's wife was convicted on Thursday, also receiving a life sentence.

'Cover and shelter'

Abdel Sattar al-Beriqdar, spokesman of Iraq's High Council of Justice, said the woman was found guilty of co-operating in terrorist attacks carried out by Baghdadi, including controlling the cash and suicide vests.

"The criminal WJ confessed she participated with her terrorist husband in many armed terrorist operations in different areas in the country," Mr Beriqdar said in a statement.

He also said the life sentence, usually 20-25 years in Iraq, could be appealed.

On Thursday, the court sentenced Hasna Ali Yahya, a mother of three and the Yemeni wife of Masri, an Egyptian.

Mr Beriqdar told Reuters that Yahya was convicted "according to article four of the anti-terrorism law for (providing) cover and shelter to the terrorist group of Abu Ayyub al-Masri."

The two al-Qaeda leaders were killed in a raid on a safe house north of Baghdad by joint US-Iraqi forces, in what was hailed as a significant blow to al-Qaeda in Iraq.

At the height of Iraq's sectarian violence in 2006 and 2007, thousands were killed in bomb attacks on markets and mosques carried out by al-Qaeda and other militant groups.

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Bahrain king orders protest probe

29 June 2011 Last updated at 17:26 GMT King Hamad spoke at an extraordinary cabinet session The king of Bahrain has announced an independent investigation into weeks of protest that rocked the Gulf island nation earlier this year.

The move by King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa comes ahead of a national dialogue, due to start on Saturday.

At least 31 people died when Bahrain's Sunni rulers put down pro-democracy protests led by the Shia majority.

Opposition groups have not said if they will participate in the talks while their leaders remain behind bars.

In a televised address on Wednesday, the king blamed the unrest on "extremists [who] hijack the nation and take it into chaos and extremism."

'New chapter'

He announced the formation of an independent fact-finding commission to look into the events of February and March, when security forces violently suppressed weeks of peaceful protests calling for democracy and freedom.

The commission is due to report on its findings on 30 October.

Continue reading the main story King Hamad, 61, in power since 1999Population 800,000; land area 717 sq km, 100 times smaller than Irish Republic Median age 30.4 years, literacy rate 91%Youth unemployment 19.6% Gross national income per head: $25,420 (World Bank 2009)Although he did not name the commission members, King Hamad said they would be "eminent persons" who would operate "without any interference of any kind", according to translated remarks provided by the state news agency BNA.

He said he hoped that the upcoming national dialogue - due to begin this weekend - would allow Bahrain to "write a new chapter in our history... full of success and prosperity".

Opposition groups have so far demanded that the authorities free detained protesters and halt the trials of activists before dialogue begins.

Hundreds of people - including opposition leaders, human rights campaigners, doctors and nurses - have been arrested since the uprising.

At least four have died in police custody, and human rights groups have warned of abuse and torture in Bahrain's jails.

Dozens of detainees are being tried in military-style courts set up under emergency law, which was only lifted earlier this month. Eight have been sentenced to life in jail.

In February, Bahraini forces opened fired on peaceful protests and sit-ins in Pearl Roundabout in the capital Manama. Then in March, King Hamad called in troops from neighbouring Gulf states to crush the movement.

Bahrain's Shia Muslims - who make up 70% of the population - have long complained of systematic discrimination when it comes to housing, employment and education.

The authorities have previously accused the protesters of having a sectarian agenda with backing from Shia power Iran.

But the protesters deny the charges, and the government has offered no evidence to back up their claims.

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UN court issues Hariri warrants

30 June 2011 Last updated at 14:54 GMT Rafik Hariri is widely credited with getting Lebanon back on its feet after the 15-year civil war Four arrest warrants have been issued by the UN-backed tribunal investigating the 2005 murder of Lebanon's former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, Lebanon's state prosecutor said.

Hariri's son, Saad, welcomed the indictments and described them as a "historic moment" for Lebanon.

Local reports say the warrants name senior members of the Shia militant and political group Hezbollah.

Hezbollah has repeatedly denounced the tribunal and vowed to retaliate.

Divisions over the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), based in The Hague, have thrown the country into political turmoil and prompted fears of sectarian unrest.

'Innocent until proven guilty'

Rafik Hariri and 22 others were killed in February 2005 in central Beirut when a huge bomb went off as his motorcade passed by.

Continue reading the main story Owen Bennett-Jones BBC News, Beirut

The arrest warrants divide opinion in Lebanon. Many Lebanese want to know who killed Rafik Hariri. But the long years of delay in the international judicial process have made many people sceptical wondering whether the truth will ever come out.

Others believe that the constant vulnerability of Lebanon's political system means that stability is more important than justice. They question whether the tribunal process and the risks it entails are worth it.

There are also Lebanese - many of them Hezbollah supporters - who reject the tribunal outright, seeing it as a tool of Israel and the West to discredit enemies such as Syria and Hezbollah.

The newly installed government of Najib Mikati is well aware of the divergent views. And with Hezbollah a dominant force in the new government, handling the issue is going to be an early test of the new prime minister's political skills.

On Thursday, Lebanon's state prosecutor Saeed Mirza confirmed that he had received the indictments and four arrest warrants from an STL delegation in the Lebanese capital Beirut.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said his government would deal "responsibly and realistically" with the UN indictment, while "bearing in mind that these are accusations and not verdicts".

"All suspects are innocent until proven guilty," Mr Mikati told a news conference.

But the BBC's Owen Bennett-Jones in Beirut says the new prime minister is in a difficult position.

With Hezbollah now a strong force in the new Lebanese government, it is difficult to see how any arrests could be made, our correspondent says.

Thirty days

In a policy statement, the government said it would "follow the progress of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon... as long as it does not negatively affect Lebanon's stability and civil peace."

Continue reading the main story February 2005: Rafik Hariri is killed in a bombing in BeirutApril 2005: Syrian troops leave Lebanon after 29 years amid international pressure, despite Damascus denying any role in the killingJune 2007: UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) createdApril 2009: The STL orders the release of four Lebanese generals detained in 2005October 2010: Hezbollah urges all Lebanese to boycott the UN inquiry January 2011: Hezbollah forces collapse of government led by Saad Hariri, Rafik Hariri's son, after he refuses to stop co-operating with the tribunalHezbollah has denied always any role in the assassination. The group claims the tribunal is a plot involving the United States, Israel and France, and the group's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, has threatened to cut the hand of anyone who tries to arrest Hezbollah members.

Saad Hariri - himself a former prime minister - described the indictment over his father's case as a milestone for the country.

"After many years of patience, of struggle... today, we witness a historic moment in Lebanese politics, justice and security," he said in a statement quoted by the AFP news agency.

He urged Lebanon's new Hezbollah-dominated government to live up to its international obligations.

Hezbollah forced the collapse of Saad Hariri's government in January after he refused to stop co-operating with the tribunal.

Mr Mikati has previously said that he would strive to uphold Lebanon's international obligations, but that he was also mindful of his responsibilities when it came to the country's stability.

According to tribunal officials, Lebanon now has 30 days to serve out the arrest warrants.

If the suspects are not arrested within that period, the STL will then make public the indictment and summon the suspects to appear before the court.

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'Many die' in south Yemen battle

29 June 2011 Last updated at 16:14 GMT At least 21 people have died in heavy fighting near the rebel-held southern Yemeni city of Zinjibar, reports say.

Those killed include 15 soldiers and two rebels who died in fighting on the ground.

A government attack on a convoy of vehicles fleeing the fighting killed four people and wounded 12.

The country has been in turmoil since a popular uprising against President Ali Abdullah Saleh's rule began in mid-February.

The fighting near Zinjibar took place as government troops fought with rebels for control of a key stadium near the city.

Power vacuum

Militants were reported to have taken control of the stadium, used as a weapons store to supply troops trying to seize control of the city, AP reports.

A military attack targeting a convoy of vehicles taking shelter near the stadium - including a passenger bus - killed at least four civilians and injured 12, reports said.

One report said the attack had been an air strike carried out by the Yemen air force.

In a separate incident, a bomb killed a colonel when it exploded in his car on Tuesday night in the port city of Aden, an area where Islamist militants linked to al-Qaeda are active, Reuters reports.

At least 130 soldiers have been killed since the militants took control of most of the city of Zinjibar, the provincial capital of Abyan province, on 29 May.

Massive anti-regime protests have swept across Yemen since February and analysts say al-Qaeda is now exploiting a power vacuum left by the departure of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

After ruling the country for nearly 33 years, Mr Saleh went to Saudi Arabia for treatment earlier this month after his compound in the capital, Sanaa, was attacked.

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Three US soldiers killed in Iraq

30 June 2011 Last updated at 12:13 GMT The US soldiers' role is to advise and assist Iraq's security forces in fighting insurgents Three US soldiers were killed in action in southern Iraq on Wednesday, the military has said.

The deaths make June the deadliest month for American soldiers in the country in two years.

The US military said they died as the result of a "hostile event" but gave few further details.

However, one report said the three died when a rocket hit a US base near the Iranian border.

An unnamed US military official quoted by the Associated Press said that the type of weapon used bore the hallmarks of a Shia militia with strong links to Iran.

The independent icasualties count of US service member fatalities in Iraq now stands at 4,469.

US fatalities in Iraq have been rare since Washington officially ended combat operations in the country last August, leaving about 45,000 troops.

The role of the US army, which is due to pull out of Iraq on 31 December, is to advise and help the security forces.

But both US and Iraqi governments are now considering extending the deadline of troops leaving the country partly, analysts say, to counter Iran's influence.

There have been several attacks blamed on Shia militias aiming to force the military out.

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Tension over Saudi worker curbs

30 June 2011 Last updated at 06:08 GMT The execution of an Indonesian maid sparked protests earlier this month Saudi Arabia has said it will stop issuing permits for workers from Indonesia and the Philippines.

Riyadh said it was responding to new guidelines issued by the two Asian countries, which have long demanded better protection for their citizens.

Earlier this month Jakarta announced a moratorium on its nationals working in Saudi Arabia after an Indonesian maid was executed for murder.

More than two million Filipinos and Indonesians work in Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi labour ministry said in a statement that the new rules would come into effect on Saturday.

The statement added: "The ministry's decision coincides with its great efforts to open new channels to bring domestic workers from other sources."

The Indonesian labour ministry played down the effect of the ban, saying Jakarta's moratorium on sending maids is due to come into effect on 1 August.

In the meantime, the ministry said about 10,000 Indonesians had visas and would be going to Saudi Arabia.

The execution of an Indonesian maid in Saudi Arabia by beheading earlier this month sparked emotional protests, and criticism of the government for failing to prevent it.

Indonesia President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the execution of Ruyati Binti Sapubi went against the "norms and manners" of international relations.

The BBC's Kate McGeown in Manila says the Philippines has argued for months that the Saudis need to increase the minimum wage for maids, and give a guarantee of humane working conditions.

Rights groups say maids are often mistreated in Gulf states, and there are few labour laws to protect them.

But the Gulf governments deny the claims, and highlight the fact that they recently signed up to the International Labour Organisation's convention on domestic workers.

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Syria's UK ambassador summoned

28 June 2011 Last updated at 19:03 GMT Demonstrations against the Syrian regime have taken place in London Syria's ambassador in London has been summoned to the Foreign Office after claims a diplomat had been intimidating Syrians living in the UK.

The Foreign Office said ambassador Sami Khiyami was called to see its Middle East director Christian Turner.

The move came after media reports that Syrians who took part in demonstrations received phone calls and home visits.

It is understood police have received no complaints about intimidation in the UK by members of the Syrian embassy.

'Respond swiftly'

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "Mr Turner made clear our strong concerns about the media allegations that a diplomat at the Syrian embassy has been intimidating Syrians in Britain.

"Any such activity would amount to a clear breach of acceptable behaviour. If such claims were substantiated, the Foreign Office would respond swiftly and appropriately."

According to the reports, Syrians who took part in anti-government protests in the UK claim they were photographed by embassy staff before being contacted.

Some allege that Syrian secret police visited relatives in their homeland with copies of the photos, warning them to ensure those in the UK stopped taking part in demonstrations.

Peaceful transition

In Syria, dissidents have met publicly for the first time in the capital Damascus to discuss the current crisis in the country.

There were calls for an end to the government's brutal crackdown on protesters and for a peaceful transition to democracy.

The event took place after Syrian government officials said they would not object.

Afterwards, the opposition was invited to joint talks to discuss the framework for a national dialogue conference.

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Maid trade

29 June 2011 Last updated at 01:06 GMT By Karishma Vaswani BBC News, Jakarta Migrant workers have to undergo at least 100 hours of training The execution of an Indonesian maid in Saudi Arabia by beheading earlier this month has failed to deter many workers still willing to make the journey from South East Asia to the Middle East.

The family of Ruyati Binti Sapubi wept quietly while others chanted Muslim prayers at her funeral. Huddled together in grief, it is hard to imagine what they are going through.

Ruyati was was convicted of murdering her employer in Saudi Arabia, where she worked as a maid, and then beheaded by sword. The Indonesian government was informed of her beheading only after her death.

Her daughter, Een Nuraini, is now at the centre of a media storm. She insists that her mother suffered abuse at the hands of her Saudi employers.

"I don't believe that my mother killed someone without a reason, it's impossible," she says, holding her mother's photograph.

"She was a good person. Maybe she confessed because she was pressured. Nobody was defending her."

Indonesia has one of the largest migrant workforces in the world. More than a million Indonesian women work as domestic helpers in Saudi Arabia. Hundreds of thousands more are in Hong Kong and Malaysia.

They send home $7bn (?4.3bn) a year in remittances - that money goes a long way towards lifting millions out of poverty, taking a huge burden off the government.

In Ruyati's village, life has visibly improved thanks to the money sent back home. There are new motorcycles on the streets and mobile phones in the pockets of teenagers. It is the same picture in villages across the country.

Personal sacrifice

Most of the women who go abroad to work have little or no education.

Indonesia's government insists that each would-be worker has at least 100 hours of training before they go overseas. It is hoped that this will help young women to avoid problems with their new employers.

In a classroom at one migrant training centre in Jakarta, dozens of women of all ages are being taught to speak basic Arabic, cook, clean and operate vacuum cleaners and washing machines - the likes of which most have never seen before.

Twenty-four-year-old Muslina is leaving behind her four-year-old son to work in Saudi Arabia.

"I come from a village about 15 hours away from Jakarta by bus. I want to work in Saudi Arabia so that I can make enough money to put my son through school," she says.

Relatives of Ruyati Binti Sapubi staged protests outside the Saudi embassy in Jakarta

"It's very difficult to find work where I live. Of course I've heard about Ruyati's story - but I think it's the exception. I just hope I get a good employer - not everyone will end up like Ruyati."

Yahya Nah Lailah, 38, has worked in Saudi Arabia three times in the past decade. She acknowledges that there are problems with the way domestic workers are treated.

"I had to look after four children while I was there. I also cooked and cleaned, and had no holidays for two years," she says.

"Sometimes I would start my day at six in the morning and work until midnight. But I need the money - and that's why I keep going back."

Little protection

Stories like Ruyati's have raised concerns about the level of protection Indonesian workers are afforded overseas.

In November last year, 23-year-old Sumiati Binti Salan Mustapa was taken to a Saudi hospital with broken bones and burns over her body.

There are more than a million Indonesian women working in Saudi Arabia

Her employer was arrested after allegedly putting a hot iron to her head, and stabbing her with scissors. The woman was sentenced to three years in jail - but was acquitted soon after.

Critics say that this case is just one of many, showing how vulnerable Indonesian migrant workers are. Foreign workers in the Gulf often have little or no legal recourse.

Often their passports are held by employers, and some are not allowed to make contact with their friends and families back home.

Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has promised he will do more to protect his people working overseas.

Indonesia and Saudi Arabia have been working on a deal to improve the lot of Indonesian nationals there.

The president has announced a moratorium on sending Indonesian workers to Saudi Arabia, which comes into place on 1 August.

But some Indonesians are not convinced their government is serious about the protection of migrant workers.

Angry demonstrations have been held in the country, demanding justice for Ruyati and those subjected to abuse.

Indonesian officials say a solution is in sight.

"In the future we plan not to allow migrant workers to live in the houses of their employers. That's where the problem partly lies," says Jumhur Hidayat, head of Indonesia's national agency for the placement and protection of migrant workers.

"No-one knows how they are treated. If they live out, then we can have regular inspections monitoring their condition. That way there will be no further cases of abuse," he says.

Indonesia must make sure that the risks of going abroad to work are worth the rewards.

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Probe into banned activist in UK

29 June 2011 Last updated at 14:12 GMT Sheikh Raed Salah was detained on Tuesday evening An investigation has been launched after a leading Israeli-Arab activist managed to enter the UK despite being banned.

Home Secretary Theresa May said Sheikh Raed Salah had been excluded from the UK and the UK Border Agency was taking steps to remove him.

But his solicitor said Sheikh Salah had "no knowledge" of a travel ban and had not tried to conceal his identity.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper accused the government of incompetence.

Sheikh Salah has Israeli citizenship and is the leader of the Islamic Movement in Israel.

The movement, whose stated aim is to advocate Islam among Arab Israelis, offers education and social services and promotes a Palestinian nationalistic stance.

Sheikh Salah was detained by police late on Tuesday evening in London after he returned from a meeting in Leicester, where he had addressed a 500-strong audience.

Islamic leader Sheikh Raed Salah addressed a 500-strong audience in leicester yesterday before being detained last night in London.

The Home Office said he had been accused of making anti-Semitic remarks and was not allowed into this country because his presence would be "not conducive to the public good".

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) said he was the leader of a legitimate political organisation.

PSC director Sarah Colborne said he rejected all forms of racism, including anti-Semitism.

"This is a legitimate organisation, which Israel has never moved to ban," she said.

"Before coming to Britain, he faced horrific allegations of anti-Semitism, which he completely refuted.

"He has clarified his position of being opposed to all forms of racism, including anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and racism against his own people, the Palestinians."

'Incompetent sham'

Mrs May said although the government did not normally comment on individual cases, in this case it was important to do so.

"I can confirm he was excluded and that he managed to enter the UK. He has now been detained and the UK Border Agency is now making arrangements to remove him.

"A full investigation is now taking place into how he was able to enter."

But Labour's Yvette Cooper said the government's rhetoric of being tough on border controls had been "exposed as an incompetent sham", amid planned cuts of 5,000 UKBA jobs.

"The Home Secretary needs to urgently explain why an individual banned from this country was allowed to walk in and instead of being stopped at the border had to be pursued by the police instead.

"Only this week Theresa May said that coming to this country was a privilege and she would refuse entry to Britain of anyone that she deemed not conducive to the public good. Her words now ring very hollow indeed."

Israel's Arab community numbers about 1.4 million, some 20% of the population. It includes Palestinians who remained in Israel after the 1948 establishment of the Jewish state and their descendants.

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Q&A: Morocco referendum

29 June 2011 Last updated at 15:15 GMT King Mohammed VI said he would keep total control of Morocco's security and foreign policy Moroccans vote on Friday 1 July in a referendum on constitutional reforms proposed by King Mohammed VI.

After pro-reform protests broke out across Morocco on 20 February - echoing those in Tunisia and Egypt, the country's monarch went on TV in March to announce "comprehensive constitutional reform".

But his proposals have been rejected by the youth-based February 20 Movement, which says that the king's reforms do not go far enough.

How did popular demand for reform arise?

Inspired by popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, on 20 February, tens of thousands of Moroccans took part in protests in Casablanca, Rabat and other towns calling for political and social reform.

As protests continued, King Mohammed VI addressed the nation by TV on 9 March and announced "comprehensive constitutional reform", which would provide "expanded individual and collective liberties and the reinforcement of human rights". He set up a commission to advise on constitutional changes.

Despite that, nationwide protests on 20 March were even larger and were followed by clashes between police and protesters.

On 9 June, the commission announced that it would recommend a shift of powers from the king to the prime minister, the creation of an independent judiciary and the recognition of Berber as an official language, alongside Arabic.

King Mohammed, a few days later, said he would curb his powers and work to establish a constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament. The public, he said, would get to vote on these proposals in a referendum on 1 July.

Where does King Mohammed stand on political reform?

When he became king in 1999, Mohammed VI, then 35, pledged a more open politics than had been the case under his father. Fighting poverty has been an expressed priority, and on social issues he has been seen as a reformer.

For example, in 2004, Morocco adopted a new family code granting women greater rights despite opposition from Islamist conservatives. And during his reign Morocco has invested heavily in infrastructure.

But pro-reform protesters, as well as human rights groups, argue that his changes have not gone far enough. Newspapers are not allowed to criticise the monarchy. The justice system, tainted by allegations of torture, is not seen as independent.

What reforms has the king proposed now?

The key reforms are:

The king will select a prime minister from the party that wins the most seats in parliament. At present, the king can make anyone prime minister. A reference to the king as "sacred" in the constitution will be removed, though he will remain "inviolable". The prime minister will be the head of government, not the king, and will gain the power to dissolve the lower house of parliament. The prime minister will preside over the Government Council, which will prepare policy before presenting it to the cabinet. Parliament will have more oversight of civil rights, electoral and nationality issues. Women will be guaranteed "civic and social" equality with men. Previously, only "political" equality was guaranteed.The Berber language will become an official state language along with Arabic.

But King Mohammed also said he would keep total control of Morocco's security and foreign policy, as well as matters of religion.

How have the public and political parties responded?

Morocco has seen weekly demonstrations involving tens of thousands of people both for and against the reforms. In Casablanca and Rabat there have been violent clashes between pro-government and pro-reform activists.

The latter protest that the draft reforms leave the king's absolute powers intact and he would continue as the top religious figure and head of the army. They complain that Morocco's 400-year-old dynasty has a long history of enacting superficial reforms.

The king's plan, the February 20 Movement says, "does not respond to our demands for a true separation of powers". They are calling for constitutional changes drawn up by a democratically elected committee instead.

The Islamist Justice and Charity group has also rejected the proposals.

Official political parties have, however, backed the reforms and the government has launched a media campaign in support of the new constitution.

Morocco's official news agency reported that demonstrations supporting the new constitution had taken place "everywhere" around the country. Like other official media bodies, the agency did not cover demonstrations against the proposals.

Meanwhile, the opposition Unified Socialist Party has accused the authorities of misusing mosques in an "unethical" way through Friday sermons calling on people to vote in favour of the reforms. The party urged the authorities to keep religion and mosques out of politics.

What has the international community said about the referendum?

Welcoming King Mohammed's reforms, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that he hopes all sides of the debate will participate peacefully in the process.

The Arab League's outgoing secretary general, Amr Moussa, praised the measures as "an important step for securing the pillars of democracy".

The European Union's executive also had positive words for King Mohammed's proposals.

"It is a significant step and signals a clear commitment to democracy and respect for human rights," EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele said in a joint statement.

In Washington, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton termed King Mohammed's reform proposals a "model for others in the region" and said they held great promise for Moroccans.

BBC Monitoring selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaux abroad.

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Hague's concern over Iran tests

29 June 2011 Last updated at 14:20 GMT Iran is carrying out military manoeuvres over 10 days, which include missile launches Foreign Secretary William Hague has said Iran has been testing missiles capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.

He told Parliament the covert ballistic missile tests and rocket launches contravened a UN resolution.

The Iranians openly test-fired 14 surface-to-surface missiles with a range of 2,000km (1,250 miles) on Tuesday as part of a 10-day programme of military exercises.

Its Foreign Ministry said none of these missiles had had nuclear capability.

But Britain believes Iran has also conducted at least three secret tests of medium-range ballistic missiles since October.

The United States, Britain and other Western nations have long believed Iran's nuclear programme is aimed at developing atomic weapons - but this is rejected by Tehran.

Mr Hague promised the UK would increase the pressure on Iran to negotiate over its nuclear programme.

"Iran has also been carrying out covert ballistic missile tests on rocket launchers, including testing of missiles capable of delivering a nuclear payload in contravention of UN resolution 1929," he said.

"And it has announced that it intends to triple its capacity to produce 20% enriched uranium.

"These are enrichment levels far greater than is needed for peaceful nuclear energy.

"We will maintain and continue to increase pressure on Iran to negotiate an agreement on their nuclear programme."

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Statehood bid

28 June 2011 Last updated at 23:24 GMT By Barbara Plett BBC News, United Nations Palestinians are hoping to build momentum behind their call for statehood For the next two months, a lot of diplomatic capital will be spent on dealing with a Palestinian bid for an international recognition of statehood that appears to be almost certain to fail.

The Palestinian Authority, which governs the Palestinian controlled parts of the West Bank, formally announced on Monday its intention to apply for full membership of the United Nations, arguing it can no longer wait for a paralysed peace process to bestow independence on the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories.

But for that it will need to win approval from the Security Council and a two-thirds majority - or 128 votes - in the 192-member General Assembly (GA). The latter it can probably exceed, the former looks impossible as the US is expected to veto any such request.

The Palestinian strategy is to lobby for support from the largest possible majority in order to dissuade Washington from this course. So far 112 nations have recognised Palestine as a state and the Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour says the number is approaching 120.

The Palestinians can expect strong, possibly unanimous backing from Africa, Asia and Latin America, and certainly from Arab countries.

In the past, US allies such as Egypt would have warned the Palestinians not to antagonise the Americans, but the pro-democracy uprisings have swept away such restraint.

'Failed peace talks'

There is a general sense in the region and beyond that the intransigence of the Israeli government is to blame for failed peace talks, as well as disappointment with President Barack Obama for failing to move Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Continue reading the main story

If hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are in the streets for weeks before D-day in September… what would be the argument of President Barack Obama in trying to disregard this wish?”

End Quote Riyad Mansour Palestinian UN envoy This was reflected most harshly by the former Saudi intelligence chief and US ambassador, Turki al-Faisal. Writing in the Washington Post he warned of "disastrous consequences" for US-Saudi relations if Washington exercised its veto.

Alongside support from UN member states, the Palestinian Authority is promising mass demonstrations in the streets.

"Our strategy is to cross the two-thirds majority and to knock with force on the door of the Security Council to see if anyone stands against this," says Mr Mansour.

"If hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are in the streets for weeks before D-day in September… supported by millions of Arabs in Arab capitals… what would be the argument of President Barack Obama in trying to disregard this wish?"

Leaked cable

The Israelis are also mobilising their formidable lobbying machine.

A diplomatic cable leaked to the Israeli press orders ambassadors to approach senior politicians in the country of their service and galvanise the media and local Jewish community in their cause, reporting back to a "September Forum" in the foreign ministry.

Their argument is that the Palestinian drive for UN membership erodes the legitimacy of the state of Israel. By pursuing it, they say, the Palestinians are trying to achieve their aims unilaterally rather than through negotiations.

Israel knows the Palestinians would probably win a two-thirds majority at the GA, but believes the vote would have less authority if it didn't include major European states.

"Our goal is to create momentum against recognition of a Palestinian state in September by creating a significant bloc of EU states that voice their opposition as early as possible to unilateral Palestinian action," wrote the foreign ministry Director General Rafael Barak in the cable, quoted in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

Europeans divided

There will not be a unified European position. Countries such as Germany, Italy and the Netherlands are expected to vote against any motion, or abstain.

Continue reading the main story

Our goal is to create momentum against recognition of a Palestinian state in September by creating a significant bloc of EU states that voice their opposition”

End Quote Rafael Barak Israeli foreign ministry But others such as France and Britain have suggested if there is no meaningful peace process by September they might support the Palestinian bid.

Unlike the Americans, the Europeans see the UN as a legitimate venue for dealing with the Middle East peace process - Washington backs Israel's position that it is best handled in bilateral negotiations and has promised its ally to keep the matter out of the Security Council.

European states also believe the only way to solve the conflict is through negotiations. But like the Palestinians they do not think this can be an open-ended process, or conducted in a vacuum. So Britain and France in particular have focused their diplomatic efforts at pushing for a framework for talks.

Together with Germany they have proposed four parameters any negotiations will have to achieve: borders based on territory captured by Israel in 1967 with mutually agreed adjustments; security arrangements that both end any sign of occupation and prevent terrorism; a shared capital in Jerusalem; and a just solution to the refugee question.

Fear of violence

So far Mr Obama has met them halfway, declaring in a recent policy speech that a future Palestinian state must be based on the 1967 border while supporting Israel's need for security.

The Palestinians have accepted his terms as a way back to negotiations, the Israelis officially say they have no conditions for restarting talks but have rejected outright the idea of a return to 1967.

Aside from intense efforts to press both sides into talks, diplomats say the Europeans are exploring options for international endorsement of the parameters - perhaps by the Security Council.

They had hoped endorsing these parameters would be enough to convince Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to call off his drive for UN membership.

If the Palestinian attempt to gain recognition is vetoed, it is not clear for what action the Palestinians would call in the General Assembly. What is certain is that the GA cannot grant UN membership without Security Council endorsement.

Like the Americans the Europeans do not want it to get that far. They fear a veto of the Palestinian request would inflict immense political damage on the Americans in the region, and on European states - like the UK and France - allied with them.

They also fear violence. If the US vetoes the Palestinian membership bid without offering an alternative, many think the Palestinian Authority could lose control of any mass Palestinian protest movement. Some even talk of a third intifada merging with the protests of the Arab Spring.

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Girl rebellion

29 June 2011 Last updated at 11:05 GMT By Dave Lee BBC World Service Guardianship rules severely restrict the freedom of women in Saudi Arabia When she was a little girl, Samia* would practice medical procedures on watermelons.

Back then, her dream was to become a successful surgeon and to marry a good man.

"I started to dream of the [wedding] gown when I was 10 or 11 years old. I dreamed of forming a small family - having a kid like my mum and to be a surgeon at the same time".

More than 30 years on, Samia is a fully-qualified doctor.

But in a country where the guardianship system means a woman's life is not her own, her dreams of a happy marriage - with a man of her own choosing - have been taken away from her.

Now, as she prepares to take her father before the Saudi Supreme Court, she spoke to Outlook on the BBC World Service about her hopes that her experience may pave the way to a "girl rebellion".

Arranged marriage

In Saudi Arabia, a highly conservative Islamic state, women must have a male guardian.

Until marriage, guardianship will typically be the job of the father, but this role can be performed by uncles, brothers, and even sons.

Under this tradition, Saudi women must obtain permission from their guardian to work, travel, study, marry, or even access certain types of healthcare.

For Samia, it meant months of trying to persuade her father, a successful businessman, that going to a mixed-gender medical school was a good idea for her future.

"I made a bargain with my parents," she remembers. "I tried to convince them that... if I submitted my papers to the medical school, I will get a big salary, and the salary would be in their hands. They accepted this deal."

As she began medical school, much of Samia's monthly income was taken by her family - but more importantly to her, her choice of male suitor was a decision she was not allowed to make.

Continue reading the main story

Immediately after I stepped out of court, [my father] took me home and beat me, and locked me up in my room for three months”

End Quote Samia "A lot of [colleagues from medical school] had proposed to me," she said. "But they had been refused by my parents for nonsense reasons."

The men were, her father and brothers warned, not from their tribe or were looking to steal her money.

For Samia, there was only one special man, who proposed after she graduated from medical school. Although he comes from a well-known and religious family, and is himself wealthy, her family still refused, she says.

"But I am very attached and I insisted on this guy," Samia says.

Instead, her father found a husband for her - a cousin, she says, who was much younger and less educated than her.

"He told me 'I'm offering you to him'," she recalls.

Locked up

By 2002, aged 33, Samia says her battles with her father were going nowhere.

Eventually, she went to the courts and filed a complaint against him. But, according to Samia, he was able to convince the judge that her chosen marriage candidates were unsuitable.

After the court case, her father and brothers became violent towards her, she says.

"Immediately after I stepped out of court, [my father] took me home and beat me, and locked me up in my room for three months," Samia remembers.

Desperate to get back to her studies, Samia agreed to drop the issue of marriage. By 2006, she had qualified as a surgeon and was earning an impressive wage, most of which was being taken by her family.

By now she was 38 and felt she was running out of time to get married.

Yet, just as before, approaching her father about the possibility of granting permission for marriage was met with anger. Samia was once again locked in her room for months - her father telling the hospital where Samia worked that she was mentally unstable.

It was then that one of her sisters managed to smuggle a mobile phone into Samia's room. She rang a human rights society, which told her to send a letter asking for help. She threw the letter out of her first-floor window to a friend waiting below.

Many Saudi women flouted driving bans recently amid efforts to gain more rights

Representatives from the rights group came with the police to rescue her from her father's home in the city of Medina, she says. They placed her in a government shelter in another Saudi city and helped Samia take her case back to court. Again, she lost.

She now works as the duty doctor at the shelter on wages well below what she would earn as a surgeon. But she fears that her family would track her down at a hospital.

After telling a journalist her story, news of her plight spread across Saudi Arabia and a lawyer agreed to take on her case pro-bono.

After years of failed appeals, Samia and the human rights society are gearing up to face the Saudi Supreme Court which, according to Amnesty International's Saudi Arabia researcher Dina el-Mamoun, will be a tough battle.

"It's difficult to win these cases because there are no clear guidelines in terms of what they have to prove. The judges have huge discretion in relation to these cases. The outcome really depends on which judge gets the case and who rules on it," says Ms Mamoun.

Samia's case is not a one off. Across the oil-rich desert kingdom, dozens of women are taking guardianship grievances to court. And they are gaining public support.

"I think in terms of public opinion, you do see a lot of sympathy with these women," says Ms Mamoun.

Samia, now 43, is still clinging to her childhood dream of having a family. Her special man, she says, is waiting for her and fighting bravely alongside her.

"I'm still dreaming," she says. "The flame will be alive until my death."

*We have withheld Samia's real name for privacy reasons.

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Egypt probes Tahrir Square clash

29 June 2011 Last updated at 15:14 GMT Clashes continued as dawn broke over Cairo on Wednesday

Egyptian officials have ordered a probe into overnight clashes between police and protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square that left hundreds of people injured.

Riot police used tear gas to disperse hundreds of demonstrators, who pelted officers with stones and fire bombs.

Fresh clashes broke out on Wednesday as angry crowds demanded action over the previous night's unrest.

The riots are the most serious violence in Egypt in weeks - officials say more than 1,000 people were injured.

Activists are calling for the speedy implementation of reforms demanded during the revolution that toppled President Hosni Mubarak in February.

They also want senior officials to face justice for the deaths of 850 protesters during the uprising, including Mr Mubarak himself, who is due to stand trial on 3 August.

Tear gas

After a long night of fighting, Egypt's Prosecutor General, Abdel Meguid Mahmoud, ordered the formation of a committee to investigate the clashes in Tahrir Square - the epicentre of the Egyptian protest movement.

The announcement came hours after the interior minister ordered police to leave the square in an attempt to avoid any further violence.

Continue reading the main story President Mubarak due to go on trial on 3 August alongside his sons, Alaa and Gamal, charged with the deaths of protestersInterior minister, Habib al-Adly, sentenced to jail for corruptionTrade Minister Rachid Mohamed Rachid sentenced to five years in absentia for embezzling public fundsFormer Finance Minister Yussef Boutros Ghali given 30 years in absentia for corruptionSeveral other senior officials and businessmen yet to be tried"The regrettable incidents in Tahrir Square... are designed to destabilise the country and pit the revolutionaries against the police," the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces - Egypt's ruling military council - said in a statement.

But some angry demonstrators have remained in the square, says the BBC's Jeannie Assad in Cairo.

There were more scenes of violence as youths threw stones and other missiles at the police, who responded with tear gas.

Protesters outside the interior ministry demanded the resignation of several key figures over Tuesday's violence - including the head of the military council, Gen Mohamed Tantawi, and the Minister of the Interior, Mansour Essawi.

"I am here today because I heard about the violent treatment of the police to the protesters last night," said accountant Magdy Ibrahim.

Another protester said police tactics had not changed since the revolution, despite promises that the country's hated security forces would be dismantled and reformed.

"They're still using an iron fist against us," he said.

'Fuelling the fire'

There are conflicting reports as to how Tuesday's clashes began.

Some witnesses say they started outside the interior ministry, where bereaved families were demonstrating against what they perceive as the slow prosecution of security officers alleged to be responsible for the deaths of hundreds of protesters.

Some protesters have blamed the violence on "thugs" in the square

Violence then spread to Tahrir Square as other people joined in and threw stones at the security forces, they say.

Mazzly Hussein, who took part in the protests which unseated Mr Mubarak, said the police force was "as violent and as brutal as ever".

"Families of martyrs were attacked and a lot of them were arrested and when they demanded the release of the arrested young men, all hell broke lose and the violence started," she told the BBC.

However, others claim the conflict started when a group of "thugs" attacked a gathering at a Cairo theatre to honour those killed during the uprising earlier this year.

"These aren't revolutionaries, they have no clue about the revolution, politics or anything else. They're here to destroy, nothing more," said one man at the scene.

"Egypt is now falling apart. Why?" said another angry witness. "Because [the protesters] are fuelling the fire."

Deputy Health Minister Abdel Hamid Abaz told the Mena state news agency more than 1,000 people had been injured over the past two days - 120 people had been taken to hospital, he said, and 16 people were still being treated.

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France gave Libyan rebels weapons

29 June 2011 Last updated at 15:37 GMT Libyan rebels have been making military gains in the west of the country France has air-dropped weapons to rebels fighting Col Muammar Gaddafi's troops in Western Libya, the French military has confirmed.

Light arms and ammunition were sent to Berber tribal fighters in the Nafusa mountains in early June, it said.

Earlier, a report in Le Figaro newspaper said the arms included rocket launchers and anti-tank missiles.

France, a leading force in the Nato operation in Libya, did not inform its allies about the move, Le Figaro said.

"We began by dropping humanitarian aid: food, water and medical supplies," said Col Thierry Burkhard, spokesman for the French general staff.

"During the operation, the situation for the civilians on the ground worsened. We dropped arms and means of self-defence, mainly ammunition," he told AFP news agency.

He said the arms were "light infantry weapons of the rifle type", dropped over a period of several days "so that civilians would not be massacred".

UN resolutions

The BBC's Christian Fraser in Paris says the statement is likely to bring further criticism from the likes of Russia and China, who believe Nato and its allies have already gone beyond the remit of UN resolution 1973, which authorised international military action in Libya.

The US has argued that resolution 1973 allows countries to provide arms to rebels despite an earlier resolution - 1970 - that imposed an arms embargo on the whole of Libya.

Resolution 1973 authorises "all necessary measures" to protect civilians, "notwithstanding" the arms embargo in resolution 1970.

France played a prominent role in pushing for military intervention in Libya, and French and British planes have led the air strikes over the country that began in late March.

Qatar, which has supported the Nato-led operation in Libya, has been supplying arms to rebels mainly through their eastern stronghold in the city of Benghazi.

France, the UK and Italy announced in April that they were sending military advisers to Benghazi.

'Light tanks'

The decision to drop arms to the Libyan rebels was reportedly taken following a meeting in mid-April between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the Chief of Staff of the Libyan rebels, Gen Abdelfatah Younis.

France is said to have been concerned at the stalemate in a conflict between the rebels and pro-Gaddafi forces that started in February.

The report in Le Figaro suggested that 40 tonnes of weapons were sent to western Libya, including "a few light tanks" that were smuggled in across the Tunisian border.

The newspaper also reported that it had seen a confidential defence map showing two makeshift airstrips in rebel-held towns, built to receive small aircraft from the Gulf that can move French arms closer to the front.

The rebels have recently been edging forward in Libya's north-west, and are hoping to push on to Tripoli from the frontline, currently on the other side of the Nafusa mountains and about 65km (40 miles) from the capital.

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Libya rejects ICC arrest warrant

27 June 2011 Last updated at 21:10 GMT The ICC said it had grounds to believe Col Gaddafi had ordered attacks on Libyan civilians Libya has rejected a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for the arrest of Col Muammar Gaddafi, saying the tribunal has no authority.

The ICC earlier accused the Libyan leader of crimes against humanity.

The court had grounds to believe he had ordered attacks on civilians during Libya's four-month uprising, it said.

The Hague-based court also issued warrants for two of Col Gaddafi's top aides - his son Saif al-Islam and intelligence chief Abdullah al-Sanussi.

Thousands of people are believed to have been killed in the conflict.

Anti-Gaddafi forces said on Monday they had launched a new push towards Tripoli, with heavy fighting near the strategic town of Bir al-Ghanam, to the south-west of capital.

The rebel defence minister told the BBC that forces opposed to Col Gaddafi may also make a move on the capital from the east.

'Unquestioned control'

Libya's justice minister said Libya did not accept the ICC's decision to call for Col Gaddafi's arrest.

Continue reading the main story Bridget Kendall BBC News, Benghazi

This is in some way Libya's 'Wild East': Since the uprising began in February, Benghazi has become a city stocked with arms and a population of young men eager to let off exuberant volleys at the slightest provocation. But there was real passion in their reaction to the ICC's announcement.

Many in the rebels' eastern stronghold seem impatient to see their former leader brought to justice, not just for his attempts to crush their uprising, but also for what they remember as brutal oppression by his regime for more than 40 years. And many appear to be increasingly optimistic that it could happen soon.

The rebel leadership says there is still a plan to advance on Tripoli from all sides, squeeze Col Gaddafi's supporters, and undermine him through uprisings from within the city. But they also seem to be hoping they can avoid a final military showdown, and instead force the Libyan leader out of office without more bloodshed.

Mohammad al-Qamoodi told a Tripoli news conference the court was "a tool of the Western world to prosecute leaders in the third world".

He added: "The leader of the revolution and his son do not hold any official position in the Libyan government and therefore they have no connection to the claims of the ICC against them."

The warrants refer to early weeks of the uprising, from 15 February until "at least 28 February".

There were "reasonable grounds to believe" that the three men were "criminally responsible" for the murder and persecution of civilians, said a statement read out by the ICC's presiding judge, Sanji Monageng.

Col Gaddafi had absolute and unquestioned control over Libya as its undisputed leader, and had introduced a policy to quell civilian demonstrations by any means, including by the use of force, said the court.

While Saif al-Islam Gaddafi held no official position in Libya, he was "the most influential person" in Col Gaddafi's inner circle, it added.

Mr Sanussi, said the court, had "directly instructed the troops to attack civilians demonstrating" in Benghazi, the city that has become the rebels' stronghold.

The warrants had been requested by chief ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo in May, to protect Libyan civilians.

There was celebratory gunfire in the streets of the rebel stronghold of Benghazi and the besieged city of Misrata as the news emerged.

Continue reading the main story Issued against Muammar Gaddafi, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah al-Senussi For alleged criminal responsibility for the commission of murder and persecution as crimes against humanity from 15 February 2011 onwards Charges relate to actions of Libyan State apparatus and security forces in Tripoli, Benghazi, Misrata and elsewhere in LibyaThe rebel Transitional National Council's Ibrahim Dabbashi welcomed the decision, saying people close to Col Gaddafi should now urge him to step down.

"Those who are working with Gaddafi now… know that they are working with at least a suspected criminal, if they don't believe that he is a criminal," Mr Dabbashi, a former Libyan ambassador to the UN, told the BBC's Newshour programme.

"I think they have to convince Gaddafi to step down and to try to safe his life and the lives of his family."

On the military front, meanwhile, the rebels advanced some six miles (10km) towards Tripoli on Monday, says the BBC's Mark Doyle on the front line about 40 miles south-west of the capital.

The fighting was taking place on a plain of rock and sand between Bir al-Ghanem and Bir Ayyad a few miles to the south, with shells whistling overhead in both directions and plumes of smoke and sand rising into the air, he says.

The rebels seemed better armed in this strategic area than elsewhere in the country, adds our correspondent, who saw several pick-up trucks full of rebel soldiers - in clean uniforms and new-looking rocket launchers and rifles - heading for the front line.

The ICC announcement came as the international air operation in Libya, aimed at protecting civilians, entered its 100th day.

It was welcomed by Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, as well as the governments of Nato allies France, the UK and the US.

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Beating Gaddafi

26 June 2011 Last updated at 11:26 GMT By Jonathan Beale BBC News, Naples Lt Gen Charles Bouchard: 'We will see this mission through'

He is the other man at the centre of the war against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. The military commander who ultimately selects and authorises strikes by Nato warplanes.

Outside the alliance few may know his name. But Lt Gen Charlie Bouchard has been charged with directing this complex war, and political leaders in the West are pinning their hopes on him.

We meet the plain-speaking Canadian lieutenant general at Nato's Joint Command Headquarters on the outskirts of Naples.

The military operation is being run from an unremarkable office block. Men and women, in a surprisingly large variety of camouflaged uniforms and flying suits with the badges of different nations, walk with purpose between rooms closed off for security.

There is a sudden rush of activity as Gen Bouchard enters the building for his first morning meeting.

He asks one of his staff if it's going to be another busy day. He reassures them: "We'll get through it." This is a man who clearly does not stand on ceremony - he quickly places his juniors at ease.

Nor does he much like giving interviews. He has covered his black T-shirt with a camouflaged tunic just for the camera. A helicopter pilot by profession, he has the bearing of a man who would not avoid fighting in the trenches.

His pronunciation of a few words suggest that English might not be his first language - he is French Canadian. But he has spent a lot of his career working with the Americans and they clearly did not mind handing over the mission to him.

'Rigorous targeting' Continue reading the main story

My mission is to stop violence against people and I will go all the way down the chain to the man that pulls the trigger”

End Quote Gen Bouchard Gen Bouchard believes the alliance is winning the war against Col Gaddafi.

"We have significantly destroyed his military capacity to the point that he now has no capability to run any offensive," he says.

That might sound like good news to Nato members, but he adds that the Libyan army "is shielding themselves and using civilians as human shields".

The general describes a recent video he watched, where a multiple rocket launcher was driven inside a house. On top of that same house a women with a young child was hanging out the washing. He says such examples make life difficult for Nato, but "not impossible".

With the mantra of this mission to avoid civilian casualties, he says the targeting process is "very rigorous". They first collect intelligence from a variety of sources. Spy planes fly over the target for imagery. An entire team - including lawyers - then assesses the mission and matches the appropriate weapon with what needs to be hit.

At the end of the process a recommendation is made and Gen Bouchard then makes the final decision. He says the questions he asks himself last are: Is this necessary? What will this do and what will be the impact on the civilian population?

Children's deaths are regrettable but air strikes are about saving lives, Gen Bouchard says

The alliance believes that it has largely been successful in avoiding civilian casualties. Nato admits that last week a bomb malfunctioned and strayed. But the general is keen to point out that more than 5,000 bombs dropped by Nato warplanes have hit their target.

'He is the murderer'

I ask about a recent strike on a compound in Sorman to the west of Tripoli in which - the Libyans claim - three children were killed.

He insists that this was clearly a command-and-control centre being used by a senior Gaddafi aide. That aide, he says, would not hesitate to order the deaths of hundreds of civilians. If children were killed - and he seems willing to accept the possibility - he says it's "very regrettable". But the attack, he says, should be seen in the context that this was all about saving lives. The bomb, he said, carefully avoided a mosque and hospital nearby.

It was this attack that prompted Col Gaddafi to denounce Nato on the airwaves as murderers and barbarians.

Gen Bouchard replies: "I believe that he is the murderer. He is the man that's lost the moral authority to command his people."

Does that make him a legitimate target? The general repeats that his orders are not regime change or to kill a head of state.

"My mission is to stop violence against people and I will go all the way down the chain to the man that pulls the trigger," he says. He thinks Col Gaddafi is avoiding military instillation and "hiding" in mosques, hospitals and schools.

As to the strains within Nato, Gen Bouchard seems unperturbed. Does he have the military hardware to carry out the job? Every military commander wants more, he says, before adding that he has sufficient capability to carry out the mission. He will let Nato member states worry about resources.

How long will this take? He says that it's difficult to say, though he does not expect this mission to last years. Calls for a temporary ceasefire, he says, would just give Col Gaddafi's forces the chance to "rearm and reload".

Gen Bouchard ends the interview with an emphatic claim: "We will see this mission through."

He paints a picture of success - a Libya where Nato creates the environment for politics and diplomacy to take root, and with the Libyan people able to decide their own future.

He is clearly relieved when the microphone is switched off. He can get back to the job he wants to do.

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Israel pair admit Auschwitz theft

25 June 2011 Last updated at 22:11 GMT More than a million people were murdered by the Nazis at Auschwitz during World War II An Israeli couple have been given suspended jail sentences in Poland for the theft of artefacts from the Nazi death camp Auschwitz, officials say.

The nine items, including spoons and a pair of scissors, were found in their luggage during a routine check as they prepared to board a flight to Israel.

The couple admitted taking the items during a tour of the former concentration camp, now a museum.

They are expected to pay a contribution towards the preservation of the site.

More than a million people - most of them Jews - were murdered by the Nazis at Auschwitz during World War II.

The 60-year-old man and 57-year-old woman - whose names have not been released - were detained at Krakow airport in southern Poland on Friday as they prepared to board a return flight to Israel, officials said.

The couple told Polish police they had found the items at the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial site, officials said.

Police took them back there and the couple indicated an area where the Nazis used to keep prisoners' belongings, the chief spokesman for the memorial, Jaroslaw Mensfelt, told AP news agency.

"We can safely assume that the objects they stole were original, from that time," Mr Mensfelt was quoted as saying.

The couple were then charged with stealing culturally important items - an offence that carries a maximum 10-year jail sentence.

"They have voluntarily accepted a two-year suspended jail sentence and agreed to pay a mandatory contribution towards the preservation of monuments," Deputy District Prosecutor Mariusz Slomka was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.

He did not specify the amount of the contribution.

The couple will be allowed to return to Israel once the formalities are dealt with, added the deputy district prosecutor.

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Egypt abandons plans for IMF loan

25 June 2011 Last updated at 11:43 GMT Many Egyptian protesters distrust the intentions of institutions such as the IMF Egypt has dropped plans to seek loans from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, Finance Minister Samir Radwan has said.

The move comes after the planned deficit in the 2011-12 budget was revised down from 11% to 8.6% of GDP, Mr Radwan told Reuters news agency.

An adviser told AFP news agency the decision had been partly a response to the "pressure of public opinion".

Many of those who took part in Egypt's uprising denounced the role of the IMF.

It was seen as bolstering the rule of now-deposed President Hosni Mubarak while imposing harsh economic conditions that benefited the rich more than the poor, says the BBC's Arab affairs editor Sebastian Usher.

But the uprising led to a haemorrhaging of public finances, he says.

But Mr Radwan turned to the IMF in May, telling the BBC that the situation was "very difficult", and extra funds were needed to finance the demands of the people on the heels of the revolution.

He agreed a $3bn (?1.9bn) 12-month stand-by loan facility - an agreement which came on top of loan deals agreed with the World Bank and the African Development Bank.

Despite apparently lenient terms on which the IMF offered the loan, many Egyptians were unhappy, feeling it was a betrayal of the protest movement that had denounced the IMF as a tool of imperialism, our correspondent says.

Mr Radwan now says that following discussions with civic and business groups and the military council, the budget forecast has been revised down from a deficit of 170 billion Egyptian pounds ($28.5bn; ?17.8bn) to 134 billion pounds, and loans are thus not needed at this stage.

Dilemma

He said Egypt would cover the greater part of the deficit from "local sources", as well as packages from Gulf Arab states such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which he said had provided $500m in the past week as a "gift".

The issue over the loan highlights the huge dilemma facing Egypt - and the rest of the Arab world, our correspondent says.

The protesters want a complete change from the lumbering, state-controlled economic systems that failed to provide jobs for tens of millions of young people.

But the unrest has paralysed business and decimated tourism. To remake Arab economies, many state jobs will have to go - and the private sector is too weak to provide replacement jobs.

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Driving change

27 June 2011 Last updated at 23:07 GMT By Katy Watson Middle East business reporter, BBC News WATCH: Saudi Arabia's women are forced to rely on men to do the driving - which puts many jobs off-limits, and makes running a business almost impossible

The video shows a young woman getting into her car for a spin around town with a friend. Giggling away, they sound excited yet nervous. And all the while, they comment on the reactions of passers-by.

So far, the story sounds uneventful. After all, millions of women across the world drive every day without a second thought.

Only the difference is, this video was shot by 28-year old Solafa from Saudi Arabia, the only country in the world that bans women from driving.

Driving change

On June 17, dozens of videos similar to Solafa's surfaced on the internet, all showing women behind the wheel in defiance of a ban that is not enforced by law but is a religious fatwa imposed by Muslim clerics.

It was a protest of a different kind - unlike the mass demonstrations that have been seen throughout the region this year, this was a campaign of just 50 women.

But one thing it has in common with the Arab protests is the role social media played.

Through Twitter and Facebook, the 'Women2Drive' campaign gave women a voice for other people to hear. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton openly supported their cause. Even some of the Saudi royals have backed what the women are doing.

Solafa Kurdi uploaded a video of herself driving in Saudi Arabia to YouTube.com

Solafa and her friends joined the campaign to prove a point.

"Being a photographer needs me to be in different places and at different times," says Solafa. "I have to pay around $500 every month just for a driver, when I could do what he's doing myself."

Although Solafa says she can afford that extra cost, it is more of a burden for families where women are paid lower salaries.

"The minimum wage for a Saudi worker is around 3,000 riyals ($800; ?500)," Solafa says. "If you're going to put half of that on a driver, there goes half of your salary, it's almost like paying taxes."

Status update

The likes of Twitter, Facebook and Youtube have enabled the women to challenge the status quo more easily.

A recent report published by the Dubai School of Government examined the role social media has played in the Arab uprising. It found that the percentage of women who used Facebook rose from 32% to 33.5% in the first three months of this year.

A small percentage increase maybe, especially when you consider that on average, women globally constitute 61% of Facebook users. Nevertheless, while the percentage of women users in the Arab world creeps up, the proportion of male Facebook users in the region is falling.

The social media campaign gained a huge international following

Looking at the effect of social media on the region's economy is still in its infancy, according to Fadi Salem, Director of Governance and Innovation at the Dubai School of Government and the co-author of the report. Nevertheless, it does have potential.

"If compared to the emergence of the internet over the last decade and how it contributed to economic development, there are many indicators suggesting that this could be the case as well for social media," says Salem.

"In theory it has this personal characteristic, it has the anonymity, if that's a barrier for some women to participate or start businesses or join a political discussion."

And taking part is crucial for the Gulf's biggest economy.

Working women

More than half of Saudi's university graduates are women.

Last month saw the opening of the world's largest women-only university in Riyadh. But when it comes to the world of work, it is a different story.

According to the International Labour Organisation, in 2009 just 17% of women of working age were in employment in Saudi Arabia. That compares with neighbouring United Arab Emirates where 42% of women work and Qatar, where half the women work.

The proportion of working Saudi women is very low compared to other Gulf countries

Mohammad Al-Qahtani is the head of Saudi Arabia's Civil and Political Rights Association.

He accompanied his wife in the passenger seat on June 17 and says he will make sure his 13-year-old daughter learns to drive too.

"Women's driving is part of it but it's not the whole thing. You have other social restrictions, religious restrictions for women not to work in certain professions," Mohammad says.

"You add all these together and you get this bleak picture of 17% participation, which is one of the lowest in the world."

Even without the full participation of women in the labour market, Saudi Arabia has huge unemployment problems.

One in three people under the age of 25 is jobless in Saudi Arabia. Foreign workers - and that includes the thousands of drivers working for Saudi women - outnumber the Saudi nationals working in the Kingdom.

So what is the solution?

"We should accommodate small and medium sized enterprises, we should create more jobs in the private sectors," says Mohammad.

"If you ask any typical Saudi female businesswoman you get this sense of resentment that she's forced out of her business. She has to hire a male guardian to take care of her business.

"All these restrictions tend to force women to quit their business altogether. It's a big loss not only for them but the economy as a whole."

International assignment

And so many women in Saudi choose to work abroad.

Dr Hibah Shata is a Saudi dentist who has lived in the United Arab Emirates for 10 years.

Business is easier for her in Dubai. The system is set up to encourage women, she says. Nevertheless, she thinks the culture in the region, that emphasises the protection of women, can hold them back.

Dr Hibah Shata has worked in the UAE for 10 years. She says it's much easier to do business there as a woman.

"The woman is with her father and her brother, then her husband and her children, so there is somebody to take care of her all the time, and that's the shelter that the woman has had for so long," Dr Shata says.

"I think that's one of the challenges that women who are trying to be in business and be equal to men face, because men don't take them as seriously.

"They don't see them very independent as they grow up."

Social media seems to be changing that.

Twitter and Facebook accounts are giving more women a voice outside their own home. But they still face opposition from some quarters in giving women the same rights as men.

Turning online campaigns into meaningful political and economic participation is still a way off.

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Paradise lost

27 June 2011 Last updated at 11:22 GMT The development is in the area of Fayoum, south-west of Cairo

A controversial land deal in one of Egypt's most famous beauty spots is proving an early test of the question everyone is asking here: Has anything really changed, following the departure of President Hosni Mubarak?

At the moment the north shore of Lake Qaroun (also known as Lake Fayoum), south-west of Cairo, is an unspoilt wilderness.

Flamingos enjoy the tepid waters. It is a world-renowned haven for ducks and migrating birds. A handful of local fishermen are the only humans you are likely to meet.

A rich treasure of fossils includes one of the world's best preserved fossilised whales, still waiting to be fully excavated, a petrified forest, and the remnants of prehistoric crocodiles and sea life, from the days when this barren desert was under water.

The drive to the site passes basalt rocks used to build the pyramids

Strange geological formations add to the air of mystery. Thousands of years ago basalt rock from the hills was quarried to form part of the pyramids. The remains of the world's first paved road, used to transport the stone, still form a line in the sand.

Bitter fight

Much of the area has protected status under Egyptian law. But in the dying years of Hosni Mubarak's presidency, a chunk of this virgin land, 10km by 10km (6 by 6 miles), was designated for development and sold off.

No-one seems to know quite when, or by whom, that decision was taken. But environmental campaigners are now fighting bitterly for it to be reversed.

"If you had connections at that time you could buy anything, you could buy the pyramids," said Marwan el-Azzouni, of the pressure group Nature Conservation Egypt.

He argued that the proposed tourist development would destroy an area that has been nominated to become a Unesco world heritage site.

"No-one cares about the environment, they care about economics, money. If it's bringing in money, who cares about the environment?" says Mr Azzouni.

"They don't look to the future. They don't look to the generations ahead, and they don't look at what they are destroying, something that cannot be bought by money and we might not ever find again," he adds.

'Need for jobs'

One of 14 developers who have won the right to build on the site is Mansour Amer, who has built a chain of holiday resorts across Egypt.

Critics fear his proposed Porto Fayoum resort will follow the pattern of his other hotels and holiday apartments, which rise uncompromisingly along some of Egypt's most beautiful beaches.

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We need to create jobs for our people. We need to develop our country. Within respecting the rules”

End Quote Mansour Amer Developer Mr Amer argues that his development will be environmentally friendly. And he insists it needs to go ahead.

"We need to create jobs for our people," he said. "We need to develop our country - within respecting the rules and within respecting what should be done."

No evidence has been presented of corruption in the Lake Qaroun deal, though the two previous tourist ministers, who were in charge of handling the issue, are both in prison, one being investigated, and the other already convicted of corruption in other matters.

Campaigners point out, however, that this deal was typical of what went on under President Mubarak.

They point to little or no public consultation before a deal was done with the president's friends or allies. They also criticise the price paid for the land.

Under a strange pricing structure, the Amer Group will pay only $28,000 (?17,500) initially for use of the land, though that figure increases in each year of the 99-year lease granted on the land.

Mansour Amer himself is a former member of parliament and of the NDP - the ruling party whose headquarters were torched by protesters in January. The party has since been disbanded and its assets seized.

Unlike some of Egypt's top businessmen with similar links, he is not under investigation for corruption. One anti-corruption campaigner told me he believed Mr Amer was an honest businessman. Mr Amer himself was quick to come forward to defend this project and his role in it.

"I totally understand that people think that anyone who has done a success story could be related to corruption. But this is not true," he said.

Activists energised Work on an approach road has already shattered the calm of the desert

The current tourism minister, Munir Fakhry AbdelNour, who was appointed after the revolution, said he had sent the file on the development back to the environment ministry for re-consideration.

"What I can assure environmentalists is that the whole project is under close consideration and study. If there is any development on the protected land it will be cancelled, as simple as that."

The current antiquities minister, Zahi Hawass, has also now said that he never approved of the development, despite some earlier claims to the contrary.

Already work on an access road is shattering the calm of the area. So it is the eleventh hour, for the environmentalists who are putting up such a tough fight.

But Marwan el-Azzouni says that after this year's revolution, at least they can make their voices heard, in a country he believes is changing for the better.

"Now we can speak more freely, we can knock on doors, we have even had a response from one of the ministers," he said, as we admired the views along the remote lake shore.

"It's changing. It doesn't happen overnight… we are in a state of flux. People like me, and there are many people like me, will stand forward and raise their voices and say stop when we need to say stop."

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Egypt anger at Mickey Mouse tweet

28 June 2011 Last updated at 12:40 GMT Naguib Sawiris is a leading secularist and recently formed a political party One of Egypt's richest men has been accused of mocking Islam after tweeting cartoons of Mickey and Minnie Mouse wearing conservative Muslim attire.

Telecoms mogul and Coptic Christian Naguib Sawiris apologised for re-posting the images on Twitter a few days ago, saying he meant no offence.

But several Islamic lawyers have filed a formal complaint and there are calls for a boycott of his businesses.

The outcry comes at a time of tension between Egypt's Christians and Muslims.

There are also concerns about the growing influence of the ultra-conservative Salafists in Egypt. Salafists take their inspiration from the early generations of Muslims who were close to the Prophet Muhammad and his message.

The tweeted images showed Mickey Mouse wearing a traditional Islamic robe with a full beard, while Minnie Mouse is wearing a niqab - a full-body veil - with just her eyes showing.

She is identifiable by her large ears and trademark pink hair ribbon.

The cartoons were already widely circulating online, but when Mr Sawiris re-posted them last week, he received an immediate angry reaction from people who said they were offended.

On Friday, he tweeted: "I apologise for those who don't take this as a joke, I just thought it was a funny picture; no disrespect meant. I am sorry."

But tens of thousands of people have joined groups on Facebook and other social media condemning him.

"There's a fine line between expressing your opinion/freedom of speech and being flat out disrespectful," said one woman.

Secular champion

Shares in Mr Sawiris' telecoms company, Orascom - Egypt's largest private employer - have already fallen as a result of the row and subsequent calls for a boycott.

Cairo has seen violent clashes between Christians and Muslims in recent months

The prosecutor general's office said a group of Salafist Muslim lawyers had filed a complaint accusing Mr Sawiris of religious contempt.

"How can a man like this make fun of Muslims, in a country on the brink of sectarian discord," Muslim cleric Mazen el-Sersawi said in a television interview.

"If this is just joking, why don't you depict Mickey Mouse as a monk or a nun?"

Mr Sawiris, whose father is the richest man in Egypt, is a champion of secularism and has spoken out against the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in the country, including the increasing number of women wearing full-face veils.

He was a leading voice in the anti-government protests that ousted Hosni Mubarak from power in February and recently started a new political party, The Free Egyptians.

But many have questioned his wisdom in sharing the cartoons at a time of tensions between Coptic Christians and conservative Muslims.

Scores of people have been wounded and several killed in clashes between the two communities in recent months, and there are fears this row will increase the chances of more sectarian clashes in the run up to post-revolution elections in September.

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