Call for state of emergency over Zim violence

A pro-government rights outfit in Zimbabwe has urged President Robert Mugabe to consider declaring a state of emergency to stem a tide of post-election political violence, state media said on Wednesday. Levels of violence in Zimbabwe are escalating and could reach crisis proportions, the United Nations has warned.

Zim braces for new elections amid violence

Zimbabwe braced on Sunday for the return home of the country's opposition leader, who has vowed to face veteran President Robert Mugabe in a run-off election despite the risk of further violence. Morgan Tsvangirai, who beat Mugabe in a first round of voting in March, is expected in Harare in the next few days.

Tsvangirai set for Mugabe showdown

Zimbabwe's opposition leader looked set on Sunday to return home from South Africa to face Robert Mugabe in a presidential run-off poll despite a risk of "more violence, more gloom, more betrayal". Morgan Tsvangirai had previously refused to say whether he would take part in the run-off, even though failure to do so would have handed victory to Mugabe.

Tension reigns after deadly battles in Lebanon

Lebanon was steeped in tension on Saturday after Hezbollah seized control of west Beirut in three days of deadly fighting with pro-government forces, triggering fears of all-out civil war. At least 18 people were killed in the violence that erupted on Wednesday and quickly escalated.

Lebanon teeters on brink of civil war

Hezbollah-led opposition fighters seized control of pro-government strongholds in Beirut on Friday as gun battles rocked the Lebanese capital for a third day, edging the nation dangerously close to all-out civil war. Gunfire and the thump of exploding rocket-propelled grenades echoed across west Beirut.

Mugabe, Tsvangirai to attend crisis summit

President Robert Mugabe and his chief rival will attend an emergency summit of Southern African leaders to present their conflicting views of the crisis paralysing the country in the wake of hotly contested elections, spokespersons for the men said on Thursday. The opposition has said it will not take part in an election run-off.

Somalis protest after United States missile attack

Hundreds of residents of a remote town in southern Somalia staged an anti-American demonstration on Tuesday after the United States launched an air strike against "a known al-Qaeda terrorist" there. The town of Dobley was hit by two missiles on Monday in the fourth US strike in 14 months against Somalia.

UN slams Israel after bloody day in Gaza

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned Israel for using "excessive" force in the Gaza Strip and demanded a halt to its offensive after troops killed 61 people on the bloodiest day for Palestinians since the 1980s. The 1,5-million Palestinians crammed into the blockaded, 45km sliver of coast, enjoyed a relative respite early on Sunday from Israeli air strikes and raids.

UK says US rendition flights used its territory

Britain said for the first time on Thursday the United States had used British territory to transfer terrorism suspects, in an embarrassing apology that corrected previous denials. Allegations of covert US activities as part of the "war on terror" have circulated for years.

Out-of-control spy satellite is plunging to Earth

A large American spy satellite is expected to fall to Earth some time in the next month, officials said on Saturday. It is unclear where the space debris might come down, but it could hit ground in late February or March. It is also not known whether the satellite could contain potentially hazardous materials, such as a nuclear-powered reactor.

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