UN observers who came under fire in north Syria on Tuesday have spent the night with the rebel Free Syrian Army.

Maj Gen Robert Mood, the head of the UN mission, said the six observers in Khan Sheikhoun had "told us that they are happy and safe where they are".

A BBC Arabic investigation has uncovered cases where children have been seriously injured in Jordan's private care homes for the mentally disabled.

Nasar Sharmain trusted the al-Helal Centre in Amman with his 15-year-old son Ahmad.

A man convicted of killing an Iranian nuclear scientist in Tehran two years ago has been hanged, Iran's state media report.

Majid Jamali Fashi, 24, was convicted of killing Professor Massoud Ali Mohammadi by detonating a bomb outside his home in January 2010.

At least 23 soldiers have died in heavy clashes in the central Syrian city of Rastan, according to activists.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said dozens were wounded in the attack in the city, in the restive province of Homs.

At least 23 soldiers have died in heavy clashes in the central Syrian city of Rastan, according to activists.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said dozens were wounded in the attack in the city, in the restive province of Homs.

The UN Security Council has condemned car bomb attacks that killed at least 55 people and wounded almost 400 in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Thursday.

The council urged all sides to "immediately and comprehensively" implement the peace plan for Syria.

Egypt has held its first-ever live debate between presidential candidates.

It featured the two expected front-runners in the presidential vote later this month - former Arab League head Amr Moussa and moderate Islamist Abdul Moneim Aboul Fotouh.

Two explosions have hit the Syrian capital, Damascus, killing at least 40 and wounding 170 in what Syrian state TV say were "terrorist bombings".

State TV footage of the blasts showed massive destruction in the al-Qazzaz suburb to the south of Damascus said to house a military intelligence complex.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has struck a deal to form a new coalition cabinet, avoiding snap elections he sought earlier, officials say.

They say that - in a surprise move - Mr Netanyahu's Likud party will be joined by the opposition Kadima party.

The brother of the man who killed Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin has been freed after more than 16 years in jail for complicity in the murder.

Left-wing activists chanted "disgrace" as Hagai Amir left Ayalon prison, south of Tel Aviv. But he told Israel Radio: "I am proud of what I did."

At least four people have been killed as security forces and militiamen raided student accommodation in Syria's second city, Aleppo, activists say.

Live ammunition was reportedly used to disperse an anti-government protest outside dormitories adjacent to Aleppo University's campus late on Wednesday.

Unknown assailants have killed at least eight people protesting against Egypt's ruling generals near the defence ministry in Cairo, officials say.

Witnesses described how the attackers set on them at dawn using rocks, clubs, firebombs and firing shotguns.

Leading Bahraini opposition activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja is to have his case retried along with 20 other activists, an appeal court has ruled.

The retrial will take place in a civil court. A military court sentenced Khawaja to life in prison last June for plotting against the state.

Former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq is the latest candidate to be disqualified from Egypt's presidential election.

Mr Shafiq was barred by the electoral commission on Tuesday under an amended law that prevents senior officials from the Hosni Mubarak era from standing.

A sharp rise in the number of deaths in the Syrian uprising is casting fresh doubt on the success of a UN peace plan, and testing a ceasefire deal.

Activists said nearly 70 people were killed on Monday, most in a government crackdown in the city of Hama.

Security has been tightened in Bahrain in preparation for protests, as Formula 1 cars take to the track for practice sessions ahead of Sunday's Grand Prix.

Security forces fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse anti-government demonstrations overnight in mainly Shia villages around the capital, Manama.

The Spanish government has warned it will defend its interests as a row with Argentina over the nationalisation of oil company YPF intensifies.

The majority stake in YPF is owned by Spanish oil firm Repsol, whose shares fell by 8% in early trading in Madrid.

The first observers from the UN are starting work in Syria, where they are monitoring a fragile ceasefire.

A UN spokesman told the BBC that the six-strong advance party would make contact with the Syrian government and opposition, before beginning fieldwork.

A ceasefire has come into force in Syria amid doubts expressed by Western countries about the government's willingness to stick to it.

Correspondents say the truce appears to be largely holding, with no reports of casualties or deaths so far

The UN and Arab League envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan, says he has received assurances from Damascus that it will respect his ceasefire plan.

Speaking during a visit to Iran, Mr Annan said there could be "improved conditions on the ground" by Thursday morning, if all sides did so.