Forces loyal to Ivory Coast's incumbent Laurent Gbagbo gain ground in the main city of Abidjan, the UN says.

Veteran Cuban anti-communist militant Luis Posada Carriles is acquitted of lying to US immigration officials by a jury in Texas.

France and Italy agree to launch sea and air patrols to stop migrants fleeing North Africa from reaching Europe.

Canada's Conservative Party says in its election platform it will eliminate the nation's budget deficit sooner than planned, a claim disputed by opposition parties.

A Guatemalan court puts the first couple's divorce on hold after complaints it is aimed at bypassing rules banning close relatives from succeeding the president.

Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom and First Lady Sandra Torres are granted a divorce, clearing the way for her to stand for election to succeed him.

Three people are killed and scores injured after a powerful aftershock hits north-east Japan, nearly a month after the devastating quake and tsunami.

Indian corruption activist Anna Hazare calls off his four-day-old hunger strike after the government agrees to all of his demands.