UN refugee chief meets some of thousands who fled C.Africa
The UN high commissioner for refugees, Antonio Guterres, met some of the thousands of C. Africans who have fled to the DRC after rebels seized power in their home country.
Iraq forces cast ballots ahead of provincial polls
Iraqi soldiers and policemen cast their ballots for provincial elections on Saturday, a week ahead of the main vote that comes amid an uptick in violence and a long-running political crisis.
Syria's Al-Nusra pledges allegiance to Al-Qaeda
The head of Syria's jihadist Al-Nusra Front has pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri, but distanced his group from claims it has merged with Al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Assad warns of instability, Obama to host Syria talks
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has warned that the fall of his regime would destabilise the region "for many years", as US President Barack Obama announced talks with Middle East allies over the crisis.
Israeli aircraft hit Gaza in first strikes since November
Israeli aircraft carried out apparent warning strikes in the Gaza Strip early Wednesday, hitting empty fields after a militant rocket earlier struck waste ground in southern Israel.
Mali troops sweep Timbuktu for Islamist rebels after battle
Malian troops swept Timbuktu for remaining Islamist fighters after a weekend battle that left seven dead and forced France to dispatch reinforcements and fighter jets to help Mali's army.
Scores of bodies discovered in C.Africa capital
The Red Cross said Friday it had found some 78 bodies in the streets of the Central African Republic's capital since it fell to rebels last weekend, as jittery residents waited to hear about a new government.
France says Mali troops to be cut to 1,000 by year-end
The 4,000 French soldiers deployed in Mali to fight Islamist rebels will be reduced to 1,000 by the end of the year.
Ban says 11,200 peacekeepers needed for Mali
Up to 11,200 troops could be needed for a peacekeeping mission in Mali but a "parallel" military force will have to battle radical Islamists.
Rebels crack down on looting after C. Africa coup
Rebel leaders in the Central African Republic have been cracking down on looters roaming the streets of the capital following the latest coup in the notoriously unstable nation.
President flees as Central African rebels seize capital
Central African rebels seized control of the capital Bangui as the president fled, but they promised to respect a January peace deal that provides for elections within three years.
UN chief says chemical weapon use would be 'outrageous'
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon "remains convinced that the use of chemical weapons by any party (in Syria) under any circumstances would constitute an outrageous crime".
Ban says Syria nearing 'complete destruction'
International governments must act quickly to stop Syria's "complete destruction," UN leader Ban Ki-Moon warned Monday as the conflict entered a third year.
Leader of Malaysia incursion has fled: reports
The leader of a band of Filipino militants whose incursion in Malaysia has left scores dead has reportedly fled even as his own family insist he is still in the country.
Mistrust in Mali for its soldiers in sandals
On the banks of the River Niger, mud-walled buildings festooned with tricolours mark out the ancient trading post of Gao, Mali's largest northern city where the French have been welcomed as heroes.
Ten years on, Iraq haunts US response to Syria, Iran
Ten years after the US-led invasion of Iraq, the searing memory of what became a deeply unpopular war has made Washington policy makers reluctant to use even limited force in Syria or Iran.
Britain could sidestep EU ban on arming Syria rebels: PM
Britain would consider ignoring a European Union arms ban and supplying weapons to Syrian rebels if it would help topple President Bashar al-Assad.
In Mali, abandoned weapons kill and maim children
Intrigued, Amadou picked up a discarded grenade to play with outside an earth hut in central Mali. When he threw it, it exploded and he lost all the fingers on his left hand.
Mali war disrupts cocaine supply to Europe
France's surprise intervention in northern Mali against Islamist fighters involved in lucrative drug-running has disrupted cocaine supply to Europe but smugglers are already finding new routes.
Suicide bomb in Kabul during Hagel visit: officials
A large suicide bomb exploded near the defence ministry in central Kabul during a visit to the Afghan capital on Saturday by new US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.
