Bangladesh mutineers 'surrender'

Soldiers were sent to the barracks seized by mutinous border guards

Bangladeshi border guards who staged an armed mutiny have begun laying down their arms, cabinet minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak has told reporters.

The news, which is unconfirmed, comes hours after PM Sheikh Hasina offered the troops a general amnesty.

At least five people died and a number were wounded in the mutiny, which was said to be over pay, conditions, career advancement and alleged discrimination.

The rebels battled troops sent to quell the mutiny for several hours.

Sheikh Hasina and senior ministers met 14 of the renegade Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) troops at her office after they were escorted there from their headquarters in the capital, Dhaka.

The prime minister offered the general amnesty and urged the paramilitaries to set free officers they had taken hostage.

The mutineers had seized the military barracks in the Pilkhana area of Dhaka on Wednesday morning.

Estonian spy sold Nato secrets

Estonia has had frosty relations with Russia in recent years

A former Estonian defence ministry official who sold Nato secrets to Russia has been sent to jail for 12 and a half years after a secret trial.

Herman Simm, a former head of security, pleaded guilty to treason on Wednesday.

The court where he was tried did not reveal which country he spied for, but investigators said Mr Simm passed nearly 3,000 documents to Russia.

They said he received 1.3m kroons (

UK Government backs open source

Open source software allows users to read and alter code

The UK Government has said it will accelerate the use of open source software in public services.

Tom Watson MP, minister for digital engagement, said open source software would be on a level playing field with proprietary software like Windows.

Open source software will be adopted "when it delivers best value for money", the government said.

It added that public services should where possible avoid being "locked into proprietary software".

Announcing an open source and open standards action plan, the government said it would:

• ensure that the Government adopts open standards and uses these to communicate with the citizens and businesses that have adopted open source solutions
• ensure that open source solutions are considered properly and, where they deliver best value for money are selected for Government business solutions
• strengthen the skills, experience and capabilities within Government and in its suppliers to use open source to greatest advantage
• embed an open source culture of sharing, re-use and collaborative development across Government and its suppliers
• ensure that systems integrators and proprietary software suppliers demonstrate the same flexibility and ability to re-use their solutions and products as is inherent in open source.

Seven hurt in Mardi Gras shooting

No motive for the shootinga has been made public

Seven people - including a baby - have been hurt after a shooting incident at the New Orleans Mardi Gras in the US.

Police lining the parade route on historic St Charles Avenue heard the shots among the crowd at about 1340 local time (1940 GMT).

The shootings happened after the parade's floats had driven past. Police arrested two suspects soon after.

The infant was grazed along the back but was not seriously hurt, said police spokesman Bob Young.

'Everybody was petrified'

"It sounded like a string of fireworks, so I knew it was more than one shooter," witness Toni Labat told the Associated Press news agency.

"Everybody was petrified. They hit the ground, the floats stopped, everybody on the floats ducked," she said, adding she saw one man dragging himself along the ground and another man bleeding from the mouth, the agency reported.

Those injured in the shooting were three men aged 50, 33 and 20, two young women aged 20 and 17 and a 15-year-old boy, as well as the 20-month-old infant, it was reported.

Two of the men were shot in the stomach and operated on, while the others are said to be in stable conditions with injuries not thought to be life-threatening.

Doctor Jim Parry, a 41-year-old surgeon, was nearby and tended one man who had been shot in the abdomen, AP reported.

"He kept asking me, 'Was I shot? Was I shot?'" he was quoted as saying.

The two men arrested by police were reported to be aged 18 and 20. Three weapons were recovered when they were held, AP reported. No motive for the shootings has yet been determined, police said.

The shootings marred what had been described as a generally peaceful event, which saw hundreds of thousands of people take to the historic heart of New Orleans for a day of street parties.

Inter Milan 0-0 Man Utd

By Mark Ashenden

Ronaldo tests the Inter defence with one of his many free-kicks on the night

Manchester United dominated for much of this lively Champions league clash but had to settle for a goalless draw with Inter Milan at the San Siro on Tuesday.

A Cristiano Ronaldo bullet header was well saved after four minutes and Ryan Giggs missed when clean through.

Inter improved in the second half with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Adriano finally bursting to life with the Brazilian shooting tamely wide after the break.

A new-look United defence stood strong as Inter pushed for a late winner.

More to follow.

US retailers report profit falls

The slumping housing market has seen sales slide at Home Depot

Some of the US's best-known retailers have reported slumps in profits for the three months to the end of January, as the recession begins to bite.

Target said profits were down by 41% as customers cut back on more expensive clothes and furniture, while more fell behind on store card payments.

Macy's said profits were almost 59% down owing to costs of closing regional offices and shops, and weak sales.

And closing some of its small brands took Home Depot to a $54m (

Japan's PM first to visit Obama

Mr Aso (right) is likely to concentrate on economic matters

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso is to become the first foreign leader to hold talks with US President Barack Obama at the White House.

The global downturn is expected to top the agenda as the US and Japan seek to revive their economies - respectively the world's largest and second-largest.

They are also due to discuss Washington's policy on North Korea and Tokyo's support for Afghanistan.

Mr Aso's trip follows a Tokyo visit by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The BBC's Richard Lister in Washington says there is concern in Japan that relations with the US have been in decline.

Japan's normally warm relationship with the Bush administration cooled when Washington removed North Korea from its list of states that sponsor terrorism.

Tokyo felt the move was premature, and it is also concerned that Japan's standing in the region is being eclipsed by China, our correspondent says.

Stimulus plan

Mr Aso is expected to raise concerns about language in Washington's stimulus plan which pushes some sectors of the US economy to support American manufacturers.

A Japanese government spokesman said the prime minister would express his opposition to protectionism.

President Obama is expected to want to find out what more help Japan can offer in Afghanistan.

A Japanese foreign ministry official said on Tuesday that Toyko would pay the salaries of 80,000 police officers in Afghanistan for six months, as part of its commitment to help rebuild the country.

The official said Japan would also provide funds to help build schools and hospitals, and provide a teacher-training programme.

Money from the projects will come from the $2bn (

Australia battles fresh bushfires

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Residents in Belgrave, Victoria, have been told to be ready to go quickly

Fresh bushfires are continuing to blaze in Victoria, southern Australia - with one outbreak threatening 300 properties close to the state capital, Melbourne.

Emergency services reported good progress in bringing it under control.

Many residents spent the night at relief centres, having chosen to flee their homes instead of defend them.

Higher temperatures and strong winds have created the worst conditions since 7 February or "Black Saturday", when more than 200 people lost their lives.

Emergency service workers say they are worried about the weather forecast for later in the week, and the likelihood of extreme fire conditions on Friday.

Australia has drawn on strengths it already knew it had in abundance - traits that are by no means uniquely Australian, but quintessentially Australian Nick Bryant Read Nick's thoughts in full

State officials have said that unless there is rain, the blazes will continue for a while yet.

Four major fires are still burning to the east and north-west of Melbourne, and officials warned that temperatures were expected to rise on Friday to over 90F (32C).

"It is important that people understand the events of Black Saturday are not over - the devastating fire season continues," said the state emergency services chief, Bruce Esplin.

He said that at least 2,029 homes - up from the previous tally of 1,800 - had been destroyed in the hundreds of fires that had burned in the past two weeks.

Meanwhile, a funeral has been held near Australia's capital, Canberra, for a firefighter who died last week while fighting the blazes in Victoria.

The country's biggest-ever arson investigation is continuing into the causes of the fires, some of which have been burning for weeks.

One man has already been charged with starting one of the blazes and police suspect arson in at least one other case.

Hull 1-2 Tottenham

Lennon's superb strike gave Spurs an early lead

Jonathan Woodgate's 86th-minute header lifted Tottenham to 14th with a valuable victory at the KC Stadium.

They went ahead with a superb 20-yard effort from Aaron Lennon, who found space following a short corner.

But Hull looked dangerous in an entertaining first half and Michael Turner slid in to equalise after Spurs keeper Carlo Cudicini fumbled a corner.

Both sides hit the woodwork but when a a draw looked certain, Woodgate rose to head in Benoit Assou-Ekotto's cross.

A year ago, Woodgate headed the winner at Wembley as Spurs lifted the Carling Cup.

In his 50th appearance for the club, he scored a goal that while not quite as crucial, could be hugely important in their battle for survival.

Five years ago this weekend Hull were losing at home to Torquay in the fourth tier of the English leagues, but having been in the top half of the table for much of their debut season in the Premier League, they are now embroiled in a multi-team relegation scrap.

The warning signs were evident for Spurs in the opening moments when Andy Dawson's inswinging corner from the right caused anxiety in the six-yard box, and set pieces remained a constant problem for the visitors.

Dawson found himself in the book within the opening seven minutes for two crude challenges on the pacy Lennon, but though Hull looked the more dangerous it was Spurs who took the lead with the first moment of genuine quality.

Ironically it stemmed from a set piece, as Luka Modric worked a short corner with Robbie Keane and found Lennon on the edge of the area.

The diminutive winger had time to line up a shot, but his curling effort into the narrow gap available to the left-hand corner was exquisite.

Hull came right back, however, and Cudicini had to be alert to rush out and block with his legs to deny the charging Kamil Zayatte.

But the Italian goalkeeper flapped badly at another inswinging corner from the right, and after the ball ricocheted off Wilson Palacios, Turner slid in ahead of Ledley King to apply the finishing touch the line.

Spurs looked the more comfortable in possession but Hull were the more purposeful, with Daniel Cousin's volley dipping just over and an unmarked Sam Ricketts glancing a header wide.

Harry Redknapp had looked increasingly agitated by his team's failings and they would no doubt have felt the force of his frustrations as they emerged with more intent after the break.

Keane broke down the left and crossed for Palacios to hit a fierce volley heading straight for the corner, only for former Tottenham defender Anthony Gardner to block with his head.

A Modric free-kick was headed against the top of the bar by his compatriot Vedran Corluka but much of the second half lacked fluency.

It was not until midway through it that Hull tested the Spurs goal, Zayatte breaking free to glance another inswinging corner from the right against the outside of the post.

Woodgate's superb leap settled it, he had to leave the field shortly before the end with blood streaming from above his eye, but his endeavour gave Spurs a key win.

Live text - Premier League

LATEST Hull v Tottenham 2000 GMT

GOALFLASHES AND MAJOR INCIDENTS (all times GMT)

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on the action

To get involved use 606 or text us your views & comments on 81111. (Not all contributions can be used)

By Caroline Cheese

1936: "Cudicini starts over Gomes. Does this mean he is our new number 1?"Jermain Defoe's Mum on 606Join the debate on 606

1933: "Re 1915: It's been a great season I reckon, all bar the inevitable Man U dominance, and to be fair to them, if winning your next 12 games without a slip and a ridiculous clean sheet record is a "canter" then I'd sure as hell like to see them gallop! And I'd defend the likes of Spurs and Portsmouth a wee bit in that far from them being that rubbish, its been the performances of Hull, Stoke, Fulham etc that have raised the standard of the Premier League once again."Thekillerelnino on 606Join the debate on 606

1929: TEAM NEWS Hull v TottenhamHull make three changes from the team that drew with Sheffield United in the FA Cup. Matt Duke replaces Bo Myhill in goal, while Kevin Kilbane and Ian Ashbee come into the midfield in place of Bernard Mendy and Geovanni. Tottenham give a start to Ledley King, as Michael Dawson drops to the bench, while Darren Bent starts up front alongside Robbie Keane.

1925: Jermain-The-Foe (see below), I think Sherwood went on to say that to win the game, the Spurs players would have to match Hull's work-rate and attitude. Put in that context, he's not far off the mark.

1923: "Tim Sherwood, the Tottenham assistant first team coach, says Spurs have to WIN tonight and says that Spurs do have better players than Hull City. What do you think of that Caroline?"Jermain-The-Foe on 606Join the debate on 606

1920: TEAMS Hull v TottenhamHull: Duke, Ricketts, Turner, Gardner, Dawson, Marney, Ashbee, Zayatte, Kilbane, Garcia, Cousin. Subs: Myhill, Doyle, Barmby, Geovanni, Halmosi, Manucho, Mendy.Tottenham: Cudicini, Corluka, Woodgate, King, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Jenas, Palacios, Modric, Keane, Bent. Subs: Gomes, Zokora, Bentley, Huddlestone, Pavlyuchenko, Dawson, Chimbonda.

1915: Hello. I am a troubled Cheese. I'm wondering if this is shaping up to be one of the worst Premier League seasons ever. Manchester United look like they'll win the title at a canter, their rivals fading one by one into the distance. Meanwhile, the entire bottom half of the table are engaged in an unedifying battle to find out who's more rubbish. Could Hull v Tottenham restore my faith in Premier League 08/09? You never know...

Spanish justice minister resigns

Mr Fernandez Bermejo was accused by the opposition of political meddling

Spain's justice minister has announced his resignation after being criticised for going on a hunting trip with a prominent investigative judge.

Mariano Fernandez Bermejo was accused of interfering in a probe by Judge Baltasar Garzon into alleged corruption in the opposition Popular Party.

Mr Fernandez Bermejo has admitted it was "untimely" to go hunting with the judge during the investigation.

On Friday, Mr Garzon was taken to hospital following an anxiety attack.

AR Rahman wins Oscars for music

Rahman is a composer with a staggering range

Indian composer AR Rahman has won two Oscars for his work in Danny Boyle's Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire.

Rahman won an Oscar for the best score, and another for his song Jai Ho from the film, a rags-to-riches tale set in the slums of Mumbai.

He praised Slumdog Millionaire's theme of hope and optimism.

Rahman is the third Indian to win an Oscar, after costume designer Bhanu Athaiya for her work in Gandhi in 1983 and director Satyajit Ray in 1992.

British director Danny Boyle has won best director for Slumdog Millionaire, and the film also took best picture. Altogether, it netted eight awards.

Mumbai celebrations

Rahman, 43, picked up the Oscar for best original score before, minutes later, picking up a second for the best song.

"I just want to thank again the whole crew of Slumdog Millionaire, especially Danny Boyle, for giving me such a great opportunity," he said, while accepting the award.

The composer said he hailed "all the people from Mumbai and the essence of the film, which is about optimism and the power of hope and our lives".

He went on: "All my life I've had a choice of hate and love. I chose love, and I'm here. God bless."

The BBC's Prachi Pinglay in Mumbai says there have been celebrations in the slums of Mumbai, where two of the film's actors live.

Many slum dwellers have been watching the Oscar ceremony on television sets.

Rafique, the father of Rubina Ali - who portrays the youngest version of the leading lady Latika in the film - said: "It's a proud moment for India that the film has been awarded an Oscar. I am waiting for my daughter to return home with the stories."

A neighbour, Shameem, said Slumdog's success would spur the children in the area to succeed in life.

"Rubina should continue to act, she should not give it up. We are really happy for her," he said.

Cairo is hit by deadly bomb blast

At least one person has been killed and 12 injured in a bomb explosion in the Egyptian capital Cairo, police say.

They say foreigners were among the victims after the blast outside a cafe in the historic Khan el-Kalili area popular with tourists.

It was a relatively small blast and was most likely caused by a home-made explosive device, police say.

The explosion occurred near the Hussein mosque and a well-known bazaar which was crowded with shoppers.

Reuters news agency quoted police as saying that four people were killed in the blast, including two foreigners.

The area has been sealed off as bomb disposal experts are trying to defuse a second device which failed to explode, reports say.

So far no-one has claimed responsibility for the blast.

The area was targeted in 2005, when three people - including an American and a French tourists - were killed in a blast.

Sunday's explosion would be of a huge concern to Egypt's security services, the BBC's Christian Fraser in Cairo says.

These are tense times for the Egyptian government, our correspondent says.

He adds that the government has been criticised for its stance over over a recent conflict in Gaza and has many enemies.

---

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Toll climbs in China mine blast

More than 40 miners have died and dozens remain trapped underground after a gas explosion in a coal mine, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reports.

The blast at the mine in Gujiao City, in Shanxi province, occurred before dawn when 436 miners were underground.

Xinhua said 340 miners had managed to escape, but some had died in hospital and others were badly hurt. Initial reports suggested 11 miners had died.

China's mining industry is the world's deadliest, with 3,200 deaths last year.

However, China has said safety is improving, with the number of fatalities from coal mining accidents falling 15% in 2008 compared with the previous year.

Xinhua also reported that the number of accidents had fallen by 19% to 413,700 last year.

The Shanxi Jiaomei Group is China's largest producer of coking coal and operates 28 mines, according to the Associated Press news agency.

Politkovskaya murder hunt reopens

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Anna Politkovskya was a vocal critic of the Russian authorities

A Russian judge has ordered a new investigation into the murder of journalist Anna Politkovskaya, following the acquittal of three men.

On Thursday, a military court in Moscow acquitted the men, who were accused of aiding the murder in October 2006.

Ms Politkovskaya, famous for exposing human rights abuses by the Russian army and its allies in Chechnya, was shot in her apartment building in Moscow.

Judge Yevgeniy Zubov has now sent the case back to Russian state prosecutors.

The military court's jury acquitted ex-police officer Sergei Khadzhikurbanov and brothers Dzhabrail and Ibragim Makhmudov.

A third brother, Rustam, is accused of the actual murder and remains at large.

FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service

The brutal killing of the reporter, who worked for the small-circulation Novaya Gazeta newspaper, highlighted the risks run by journalists in Russia.

She was the 13th journalist to be killed in a contract-style killing in Russia during Vladimir Putin's period as president, according to the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists.

A former FSB (Federal Security Service) agent, Pavel Ryaguzov, was also acquitted by the jury of an extortion charge relating to the case.

A spokesman for the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which monitors media freedom in Europe, said after the verdict that Russia's failure to solve the murder of Ms Politkovskaya amounted to a "human rights crisis".

He said those on trial had not been the masterminds, or even the actual killers.

Brazilian woman 'invented attack'

Paula Oliveira said she had lost twins in the attack

A Brazilian woman has admitted faking an attack by Swiss skinheads and lying about miscarrying twins, according to prosecutors in Zurich.

Paula Oliveira, a 26-year-old lawyer, had said she was attacked by three knife-wielding skinheads near the city, causing the miscarriage.

But prosecutors say that while being interrogated last week, she acknowledged she had lied.

Police had already suggested she was not pregnant, contrary to her claims.

Reports of the alleged attack had caused shock in Brazil, where it had been widely reported along with graphic images of the wounds inflicted on Ms Oliveira.

Photos of Ms Oliveira showed her stomach and legs with some 100 cuts from a carpet knife, and the initials of the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) carved into her body.

The woman, who alleged that she was assaulted, has admitted to police that she had given false evidence Police statement

Brazil's Foreign Minister Celso Amorim had described the assault as "grave" and "shocking".

But doubts arose when Zurich University forensic medicine chief Walter Baer said: "Any experienced forensic doctor would not hesitate to assume that this was a case of self-infliction."

All of the wounds were reachable by hand, and none were severe, he said.

Having been confronted with this evidence, Ms Oliveira admitted no attack had taken place and she had cut her own skin, and confirmed she was not three-months pregnant, police said.

"The woman, who alleged that she was assaulted, has admitted to police that she had given false evidence," read a police statement.

Prosecutors are now investigating Ms Oliveira on suspicion of misleading police.

She could face up to three years in prison if convicted.

In the mean time, they have blocked her passport to prevent her leaving the country.

Obama set for first foreign trip

President Obama is likely to get a warm welcome

Barack Obama is set to make his first foreign trip as US president, travelling to Canada for talks with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Trade, the global economy and the war in Afghanistan are the main issues to be discussed during the six-hour visit.

As America's biggest trade partner, Canada is worried about the "Buy American" measures in the $787bn (

Offline security warning sounded

Working offline can come with an unexpected risk

A security expert has sounded a warning on features that allow offline access to websites.

Offline web applications allow people to store data on their own computer, so that they can use services like web-based e-mail when not online.

But sites with poor security that use the feature put their visitors at risk of being robbed of their data.

Michael Sutton disclosed the threat at the Black Hat security conference in Washington, DC.

Offline web applications are taking off because of services such as Gears, developed by Google, and HTML 5, a new HTML specification that is still in draft form.

It was introduced to many web users in January, when Gmail introduced a Gears-powered offline mode. Offline Gmail lets users read and write e-mail when they're not connected to the internet.

Mr Sutton stressed that Gmail, Gears and HTML 5 are considered secure, but websites that implement offline features without proper security could put users at risk.

"You can take this great, cool secure technology, but if you implement it on an insecure website, you're exposing it. And then all that security is for naught."

Mr Sutton found that websites which suffer from a well-known security vulnerability known as cross-site scripting are at risk.

A hacker could direct a victim to a vulnerable website and then cause the user's own browser to grab data from their offline database.

Be cautious when you get an email that says "there's a problem with your password, click on this link and we'll fix it" Michael Sutton

Unlike phishing, the whole attack could take place on a reputable site, which makes it harder to detect.

As a proof of concept, Mr Sutton was able to swipe information from the offline version of a time-tracking website called Paymo. Mr Sutton alerted Paymo and it fixed the vulnerability immediately.

Web developers must ensure that their sites are secure before implementing offline applications, said Mr Sutton.

"Gears is fantastic and Google has done a great job of making it a secure technology. But if you slap that technology into an already vulnerable site, you're leaving your customers at risk," he explained.

Security expert Craig Balding agreed that it was up to developers to secure their sites, as the line between desktop applications and web applications becomes more blurred.

"Every website wants to keep up in terms of features, but when developers turn to technologies like this they need to understand the pros and cons," he told BBC News.

Enemy within

He said it was almost impossible for users to protect themselves, because the vulnerability lies in the website. Having up-to-date antivirus software and other protections would not help, he added.

"We've always told people to make sure your system is patched and make sure you surf reputable sites. Here's an example of an attack where those aren't going to protect you," explained Mr Sutton

Mr Sutton predicted that the majority of attacks would use spam email to direct the victim to a vulnerable website. He advised users to beware of any email that links to a website and seems untrustworthy.

"Be cautious when you get an email that says there's a problem with your password, click on this link and we'll fix it. Banks don't send those emails, for a reason."

Guadeloupe protests turn deadly

Protesters threw stones at lines of police from behind burning barricades

France has appealed for calm on its Caribbean island of Guadeloupe after a local official died during protests against the rising cost of living.

The union representative was shot dead as he drove up to a barricade set up by youths in Guadeloupe's biggest town, Pointe-a-Pitre, local officials said.

Earlier, police had responded after coming under a barrage of stones from protesters who burned cars in the town.

Several were reportedly injured as police used tear gas to disperse them.

In recent days, the month-long general strike on Guadeloupe has spread to the French island of Martinique, 160km (100 miles) to the south, where looting has been reported amid thousands-strong rallies demanding higher wages.

Holidays cancelled

Violence would not solve the problem, government spokesman Luc Chatel told Europe-1 radio, urging both workers and employers to resume stalled salary negotiations.

Mr Chatel said a return to calm was "the most important thing".

The protests and strikes have brought the islands to a standstill. They escalated on Tuesday night as protesters burned cars and looted buildings in Pointe-a-Pitre and Sainte-Anne.

Three police were injured as they came under fire from the looters and more than a dozen arrests were made.

Guadeloupe's airport was closed on Tuesday as workers could not pass through debris-clogged roads.

Thousands of tourists - an important source of revenue - have cancelled their holidays in Guadeloupe and Martinique.

The islands have a high cost of living and use the euro.

Correspondents say many residents feel their salaries are not keeping up with rising prices.

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Lisbon clears major Czech hurdle

The Eurosceptic Czech president opposes the treaty

The lower house of the Czech parliament has approved the EU's Lisbon Treaty - a key step towards ratification.

The treaty has not yet been approved by the upper house, the Senate, where its passage is likely to be further delayed by right-wing opponents.

The Czech Republic - current holder of the EU's rotating presidency - is among a handful of countries that have not yet ratified the reform treaty.

It was rejected by Irish voters in a referendum last June.

It cannot take effect unless all 27 EU member states ratify it.

The Republic of Ireland government plans to hold a new referendum on the treaty this year, having secured sovereignty "guarantees" from EU leaders.

On Wednesday the Czech lower house voted 125 to 61 to adopt the document, aimed at streamlining EU institutions to make them more flexible after the 27-nation bloc's enlargement in recent years.

Obstacles

Czech President Vaclav Klaus has argued that the treaty would undermine Czech sovereignty.

The treaty is seen by opponents as a way to impose a federalist agenda, undermining national sovereignty.

Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, leader of the conservative Civic Democratic Party (ODS), has signed the treaty, but a substantial part of his own party opposes it.

There is pressure from some Czech politicians to delay ratification until parliament backs the plan to host a radar base for a US missile defence shield.

The Republic of Ireland was the only EU member state to hold a referendum on Lisbon. Other governments argue that it is an amending treaty which does not change the EU enough to justify a referendum.

In Germany the treaty has gone before the constitutional court. Poland's President Lech Kaczynski is also delaying ratification, insisting that the Irish battle over Lisbon must be resolved first.

Italian opposition leader resigns

Critics say Walter Veltroni has failed to capitalise on the recession

Italy's centre-left opposition leader, Walter Veltroni, has resigned after a his Democratic Party lost a key local election on the island of Sardinia.

The result consolidated the hold on power of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right alliance, after its candidate for governor won.

Mr Veltroni had been criticised for failing to make gains on the government despite the deepening recession.

He said he would give a press conference on Wednesday.

Mr Veltroni led the centre-left into the general election last April after Prime Minister Romano Prodi resigned, but lost to Mr Berlusconi and his allies. He has since failed to make up ground on his rival.

In Sardinia, Mr Berlusconi's candidate and son of his tax advisor, Ugo Cappellacci, ousted the centre-left governor, Renato Soru, the founder of the Tiscali internet company.

It put the prime minister's ally in charge of a region where he owns a luxury seaside mansion and spends lots of time.

Zimbabwe opposition MP in court

Mr Bennett, here with PM Tsvangirai, faces several charges

Zimbabwe MP Roy Bennett has appeared in a Mutare court and been charged with several offences, days after his party joined a power-sharing government.

The charges against the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) MP included terrorism, violating immigration laws and illegal firearms possession.

The MDC said his arrest was politically motivated and called for his release.

Meanwhile, President Robert Mugabe and PM Morgan Tsvangirai attended the new cabinet's inaugural meeting in Harare.

Mr Mugabe chaired the meeting of the 32-member cabinet, state radio reported, but no further details were immediately available.

'Shooting in the dark'

The MDC and the politician's defence team said the charges against Mr Bennett had changed several times since his arrest on Friday.

The MDC said Mr Bennett had been charged under Zimbabwe's Public Order and Security Act (POSA) with:

• Attempting to commit terrorism, banditry and sabotage
• Conspiring to acquire arms with a view to disrupting essential services
• Illegal possession of fire arms and weapons
• attempting to leave the country illegally

"The police know that they do not have a case against Roy Bennett, and the charge of attempting to leave the country illegally is malicious in that they want to keep Roy Bennett in custody," said the party in a statement.

Chris Ndlovu, for the defence, told the BBC: "Police are fishing for charges. They are shooting in the dark."

Mr Bennett, the MDC's treasurer, is the party's choice to be deputy agriculture minister in the new unity government.

A white farmer who lost his property under Mr Mugabe's land reform programme, Mr Bennett spent eight months in prison in 2004-05 for pushing a minister during an argument in parliament over land reform.

He recently returned to Zimbabwe after more than two years in South Africa, where he had fled after police sought his arrest in connection with an alleged plot to kill Mr Mugabe.

Behind the LRA's terror tactics

By Martin Plaut BBC News, Yambio

Mr Kony is said to relish recognition - and free food and cash at peace talks

The Lord's Resistance Army, once a Ugandan group, has driven tens of thousands from their homes in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan since it launched a campaign of terror at Christmas.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) estimates that by the end of January 130,000 Congolese and at least 10,000 Sudanese had been forced to flee.

In addition, the UNHCR reports that an LRA attack on the Congolese town of Aba, population 100,000, resulted in almost the entire population evacuating the town.

It believes that 5,000 have already crossed into Sudan at the town of Lasu.

See map of LRA attacks

This pattern of attacks, all along a 300km (186-mile) stretch of the Sudan-Congo border, follows a co-ordinated offensive against the LRA late in 2008.

On 14 December the forces of three countries

Australia fire deaths rise to 200

Australia has launched its biggest ever arson investigation into the fires

The number of people who died in Australia's bushfires has reached 200 and will rise further, police say.

The announcement came after fire investigators discovered 11 more bodies in and around the town of Kinglake, in south-east Victoria state.

More than 1,800 homes were destroyed and 7,500 people displaced by the hundreds of fires that swept the state.

Police suspect at least two of the fires were set deliberately, and have charged one man with arson.

As to what the number's going to get to I think we should await and let it unfold over the next week or 10 days Kieran WalsheVictoria Police Deputy Commissioner

On Monday a Melbourne court named the suspect as Brendan Sokaluk - despite fears for his safety prompted by public fury over the blaze.

Prosecutors allege that the 39-year-old deliberately set a fire in Churchill, Victoria, in which 11 people died.

He is facing charges of arson causing death and of intentionally starting a bushfire. He faces a maximum 25-year sentence for the first charge, and 15 years for the second.

The updated death toll came as Disaster Victim Identification teams examined some of the areas worst-hit by fires for the first time.

Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe said some of the victims would probably never be identified.

"It is a very difficult process in some cases to actually be able to determine whether the remains are human remains or not," he was quoted by ABC as saying.

"As to what the number's going to get to I think we should await and let it unfold over the next week or 10 days."

Voices: Queensland floods

Sunday has been announced as a national day of mourning for all victims of the bushfires.

Meanwhile, in the north of the country, major flooding caused by heavy rains has cut off towns along Australia's east coast.

Parts of New South Wales were declared a natural disaster area on Tuesday after high waters isolated thousands of people.

Much of Queensland state has been under water for weeks as a result of the worst flooding in three decades, with more rain forecast.

Emergency officials said the cost of the damage there would exceed A$210m ($135m;

Mixed reaction at Kosovo anniversary

By Helen Fawkes, BBC News, Mitrovica

Kosovo celebrates its independence declaration anniversary on 17 February

Adem Mripa is warming his hands on a bonfire of cardboard boxes and wooden planks - it is a bitterly cold evening in Kosovo.

By day the ethnic Albanian is the deputy head of a local school but by night he is part of an unofficial neighbourhood patrol.

''We are committed to staying here even though we are experiencing tremendous pressures from the Serbs living next door to us.'' Adem says.

Adem lives in a Serb part of the ethnically divided town of Mitrovica.

He is joined around the fire by other neighbours who all stand out on the streets after dark guarding their homes.

Just a couple of nights ago a hand grenade exploded in the area.

''Last month they were shooting at the window of the room where my kids were sleeping," Adem tells me.

"Six weeks ago a crowd of people came in front of my house and tried to set fire to it, then they moved away and burned three shops that were here in the neighbourhood. For all of this they are accusing Albanians because they say that we are provoking them.''

Since independence was declared a year ago on 17 February 2008, ethnic tensions have continued to smoulder in Mitrovica, which is the main town in the Serb-dominated north.

There is an entrenched criminal network and there are leaders without legitimacy and this needs to be addressed Pieter FeithInternational Civilian Representative

There has been sporadic violence. When trouble flared here back in March, a UN policeman was shot dead.

A year on from independence Kosovo has a new constitution and it is run by the government here instead of the UN.

But there is no sign that the government in the capital Pristina is able to assert its power over the north of Kosovo which is around a quarter of the territory.

Last month a Nato-trained Kosovo Security Force was launched.

It replaced the Kosovo Protection Corps, which consisted mainly of veterans of the independence struggle against Serbia.

The new force, which will be more than 2,000-strong, is supposed to be multi-ethnic but so far just six Serbs have applied to join.

Tense situation

Independence day will be ignored by Kosovo Serbs. Supported by Belgrade, they say that Kosovo is still part of Serbia.

''We've had a quite tense situation since 17 February 2008 because Serbs didn't recognise the independence but the Albanians thought everyone should recognise it," says Oliver Ivanovic, a moderate Serb leader and Serbian government official.

The EU mission's role is to monitor and advise in areas such as customs

"This creates a political tension which can easily escalate and we have had incidents in Mitrovica which have been motivated this lack of understanding.''

In the run-up to the anniversary, some EU police officials took part in their first joint training session with some of the 15,000 Nato peacekeepers in Kosovo.

The EU launched its largest ever civilian mission in December.

Its main role is not to police Kosovo but to monitor, mentor and advise in the areas of police, customs and justice.

Working alongside the customs service, EU officials are now based at the border and some of them work in mobile units which travel around the area.

At the Merdare border crossing with Serbia, a team of three EU customs officials turn up unannounced.

They watch as random checks are carried out on a long line of cars and lorries.

Last year in retaliation for the declaration of independence, Kosovo Serbs burnt down two of the customs posts.

A radical Kosovo Serb leader has said this should be done again to mark the anniversary.

''I've got officers on those gates, we are very concerned for their safety and the threat to burn the gates down again," says Paul Acda, head of Customs for the EU mission.

''Fortunately we are better prepared then they were last year. In the end the way to stop it happening is Belgrade needs to tell these people not to do it because if it does happen then the world should fall in on Belgrade for allowing it to happen.''

One of the biggest challenges for the Kosovo authorities is how to deal with Belgrade and the Serb-dominated north which refuses to accept the authority of the Kosovo government.

Black hole?

Due to objections from Serbia, the EU mission (known as Eulex) was delayed for months and is still not yet fully operational.

The KSF will work with Nato troops and Eulex police

The top international envoy in Kosovo is Pieter Feith, the International Civilian Representative; his role is to oversee the implementation of independence plan.

He says the north is a particularly serious problem.

''There is an entrenched criminal network and there are leaders without legitimacy and this needs to be addressed sooner or later," says Mr Feith.

"We have the Eulex rule of law mission deployed into the North but I think it's fair to say that to be efficient they need further co-operation with Belgrade.

"This is a general rule of law problem. We cannot leave the north as a black hole in this part of the world. ''

He admits the situation is fragile.

''We have seen over the past few weeks incidents of violence and it may erupt again very soon so its extremely unstable and we need to find a solution for this once and for all," he says.