Assailants have targeted Israeli diplomats in India and Georgia in near-simultaneous strikes that Israel blames on Iran and Hezbollah

Syrian forces resume the bombardment of Homs after Arab countries called for peacekeepers and pledged their support for the opposition battling President Bashar al-Assad.

Syrian security forces eased their week-long bombardment of the central city of Homs on Sunday and let a few families leave opposition districts.

Gunmen assassinated an army general in Damascus today in the first killing of a high ranking military officer in the Syrian capital since the uprising against President Bashar Assad's regime began in March.

Muammar Gaddafi's son Saadi has warned of an imminent uprising in Libya, saying people are unhappy with the new authorities.

Twin bomb blasts have hit Syrian military and security buildings in the northern city of Aleppo, killing 25 people in the worst violence to hit the country's commercial hub in the 11-month uprising.

Syria, bolstered by Russia's support, continues to ignore appeals from world leaders to halt the bombing carnage on residents in Homs.

Syrian forces have thrust into the rebellious city of Homs, killing as many as 100 civilians by the accounts of opposition activists.

Iran has castigated its US adversary over new financial measures to disrupt Iranian commerce and vowed to ban crude exports to Europe before a EU ban takes effect.

Russia says Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has presented reform plans to help end the bloodshed in Syria - despite his forces continuing to bombard the city of Homs.

Bombardment of the Syrian city of Homs has resumed after at least 95 civilians were killed yesterday in an offensive to put down a popular revolt.

Syrian forces have bombarded the city of Homs, killing 50 people in a wave of attacks, activists and residents say.

Libya started and then swiftly postponed court proceedings against 41 Libyans accused of helping Muammar Gaddafi crush the popular revolt that ended in his death last year.

Iran will target any country used as a launchpad for attacks against its soil, its latest threat in an increasingly volatile stand-off with world powers over its nuclear ambitions.

Countries respond with outrage after Russia and China vetoed a UN resolution to back a plan urging Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to give up power.

An Egyptian government building has been set on fire as protests disrupted the heart of Cairo for a fourth day.

An explosion hit a gas pipeline running from Egypt to Israel today, witnesses and state television reported.

Iran has begun ground military exercises and defiantly warned that it could cut off oil exports to "hostile" European nations.

Syrian forces hammered restive neighbourhoods in the city of Homs, killing more than 200 people in a bloody episode. » Canberra's Syrian embassy damaged

The US Army has dropped all charges against a soldier accused of killing Afghan civilians for sport.