Four policemen and an army officer who had joined anti-regime protesters were killed in an overnight clash at a checkpoint north of Yemen's capital, Sanaa.
AFP - Four policemen and an officer in an army unit that has sided with anti-regime protesters were killed in an overnight clash at a checkpoint north of Yemen's capital, a military official said on Wednesday.
"Police attacked an army checkpoint in Amran province," 170 kilometres (105 miles) from Sanaa, "killing one officer and wounding two soldiers," the official told AFP.
Four policemen also died as security forces traded fire with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades in the clash late on Tuesday, he said.
Amid tensions following the arrest of incumbent Ivorian leader Laurent Gbagbo, French and UN forces have uncovered large weapons and ammunition stockpiles in an affluent suburb of the country’s economic capital, Abidjan.
Large weapons stockpiles destined to be used by forces loyal to Ivory Coast’s incumbent leader were uncovered by French and UN forces on Tuesday in the economic capital, Abidjan, after his arrest a day earlier.
The weapons − including mortars, cannons and boxes of small-arms ammunition − were handed over to UN soldiers in Ivory Coast.
The munitions, stored in villas in the affluent Cocody suburb, were to be used by supporters of incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo to continue resisting forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara, the internationally recognised winner of November’s presidential run-off.
Endgame in Abidjan - the fall of Laurent Gbagbo
Gbagbo disputed the election results and refused to yield to his rival. After a protracted siege at Gbagbo’s presidential residence, French forces joined the fight that eventually led to Gbagbo’s arrest on Monday.
On the same day, five Gbagbo generals pledged their allegiance to Ouattara.
Meanwhile, Ouattara's government announced late on Tuesday that Gbagbo had been placed under house arrest, without specifying where he was being held.
"Pending the opening of a judicial inquiry, Mr. Laurent Gbagbo and some of his companions have been placed under house arrest," Justice Minister Jeannot Ahoussou-Kouadio said in a statement.
Gbagbo's arrest ended a four-month-long power struggle that had descended into an open conflict, with more than 1,000 killed and more than a million left homeless.
Atrocities and reprisals
Overnight on Tuesday, sporadic gunfire could be heard across Abidjan, while armed fighters patrolled the streets as Outtara called for calm.
However, human rights group Amnesty International said in a statement on Tuesday that, despite Ouattara's appeals, people thought to be Gbagbo supporters were at risk of violent reprisals.
"Today in Abidjan, armed men, some wearing military uniforms, have been conducting house-to-house searches in neighbourhoods where real or perceived supporters of Laurent Gbagbo are living, including Yopougon and Koumassi," the rights organisation said.
Keeping the peace is proving to be a significant challenge for Ouattara, whose support base is concentrated in the mainly Muslim north of the country.
In the offensive leading up to the attack on Abidjan, his forces were accused of massacring hundreds in the western town of Duekoue, although rights groups say both sides have been involved in atrocities in the ethnically divided country.
FRANCE 24's Mark Smith reports on the state of 'chaos' at former Gbagbo residence
Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak (centre) and his two sons have been detained for 15 days while allegations of corruption and abuse of authority are investigated.
AFP - Egypt's ex-president Hosni Mubarak has been placed in detention for 15 days, prosecutors said Wednesday shortly after state media reported his two sons had also been detained.
In a statement on the public prosecutor's Facebook page, a spokesman said the prosecutor Abdel Maguid Mahmoud authorised the detentions "as part of an inquiry into the use of force against protesters during the unrest in January and February."
Ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak lashes out at corruption charges
Mubarak was admitted to hospital on Tuesday in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh shortly after suffering a heart attack during questioning by prosecutors, state media said.
It was not immediately clear where his 15-day detention would take place.
Earlier, state television said Mubarak's two sons had also been detained.
"It has been decided to imprison Gamal and Alaa for 15 days for the needs of the inquiry," the report said.
They are accused of incitement to fire at demonstrators during a popular uprising that lasted from January 25 till February 11 when Mubarak reluctantly stepped down. Nearly 800 people died during the uprising.
A security source said the two brothers were heading for the Tora prison in Cairo from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh where they were interrogated.
On Sunday, public prosecutor Abdel Magid Mahmud ordered the inquiry, as part of a sweeping probe into corruption and abuse.
The Mubaraks were to be asked about allegations that they were "connected to the crimes of assault against protesters, leading to deaths and injuries", the official MENA news agency said.
Prosecutors had begun questioning Mubarak and his son Gamal earlier on Tuesday, Justice Minister Abdel Aziz al-Guindi said, adding that the questioning over acquiring wealth illegally had not yet started "as that will be handled by the department of illicit gains".
State television reported that Mubarak had refused to eat or drink since he received news on Tuesday morning that he was to be questioned.
He was admitted by his bodyguards to the VIP wing of the Sharm el-Sheikh International Hospital, the report said, adding that the hospital was not accepting any patients except for emergency cases.
Police cars and ambulances surrounded the hospital, as well as a heavy military police presence, the television said.
The former president was dressed in a black and white track suit, a witness said.
Asked if Mubarak was in good health, hospital director Mohammed Fathallah replied: "Somewhat."
The state-owned daily Al-Ahram, citing sources in Sharm el-Sheikh, said on its website that Mubarak had gone to hospital "under the pretext of being unwell in order to avoid facing questioning".
The former president was also to be quizzed about allegations of graft, MENA added.
The prosecutor's summons came after the broadcast of an audio tape in which Mubarak defended his reputation and after weeks of mounting protests calling for him to be put on trial.
In the audio message aired on the pan-Arab television network Al-Arabiya, Mubarak complained he was the victim of a smear campaign.
He pledged his assistance in a probe of his family's foreign assets, but his defiance in threatening lawsuits against the media angered Egyptians who have been pressing for his trial.
After he resigned, Mubarak and his family moved to a residence in Sharm el-Sheikh. Although he is subject to a travel ban, his relative freedom has been a thorn in the side of the military rulers.
Weekly protests demanding his trial have attracted tens of thousands and eventually led to a deadly clash with soldiers early Saturday after they tried to clear an overnight demonstration in Cairo's Tahrir Square.
The attack at Tasso da Silverira school shocked the country
Brazilian lawmakers say they will propose a national vote on whether to ban the sale of guns, after a deadly shooting at a school last week.
The Senate leader said legislators would rush through a bill to allow a referendum to be held this autumn.
A similar proposal in 2005 was rejected by voters and kept gun sales legal.
Brazil observed three days of mourning after the attack on 7 April, in which a gunman shot dead 12 children in a school in Rio de Janeiro.
Brazil is no stranger to gun violence, with frequent shoot-outs in major cities, but the attack in Rio de Janeiro shocked the nation.
The shooting sparked a debate over gun sales that has left lawmakers unable to ignore the issue.
'Critical condition'
The bill would have to be approved by both the Senate and the House before going on the ballot.
The leader of Brazil's Senate, Jose Sarney, said any referendum would be held at the beginning of October - the earliest possible date for the bill to pass and the referendum to be called.
Some groups held protests against weapons trafficking in the wake of the attack
Brazil held a similar referendum in 2005 under former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, but 64% voted against a ban.
Four students remain in hospital, two of them in critical condition, after the attack, the Rio state health department said on Tuesday.
Police are investigating the motive of the gunman, Wellington Menezes de Oliveira, a 23-year-old former pupil at Tasso da Silverira school.
Officials say he went into a classroom with two revolvers and lined victims up before shooting them in the head at close range.
Security video footage shows children running down hallways to escape as he reloaded his guns.
He shot himself in the head after being shot in the leg by a policeman, officials said.
The 12 children killed were between 10 and 13 years old, and all but two were girls.
International air strikes have failed to break the military deadlock in Libya
International delegates are starting talks in Qatar on the conflict in Libya, amid calls for Nato to intensify its campaign there.
Rebels seeking to topple Col Gaddafi are making their first high-profile diplomatic appearance and will meet the newly formed "contact group" on Libya.
Ahead of the meeting, the French and British foreign ministers said Nato should be doing more in Libya.
But a Nato general said the alliance was doing a "great job".
The talks come amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in the rebel-held city of Misrata, where pro-Gaddafi forces have continued to launch fresh attacks.
The last rebel-held area in the west, Misrata has been under siege for more than six weeks, with rights groups warning of a shortage of food and medical supplies.
'Isolating the regime'
The "contact group" was formed at an international ministerial conference in London on 29 March and includes European powers, the US, allies from the Middle East and a number of international organisations.
On his way to its summit in Qatar, British Foreign Secretary William Hague noted that the military situation had gone back and forth, telling the BBC that more pressure - both political and military - could be necessary.
"What may appear at the moment a military deadlock is not a deadlock in the world of diplomacy and sanctions, the isolation of the regime, and I hope the recognition of many in the regime that it has no long-term future," he said.
Analysis
James RobbinsDiplomatic correspondent, Qatar
There are three main areas of discussion in Qatar. Firstly to intensify pressure on Col Gaddafi to leave office. Britain, France and others would like to see specific language in the documents from this meeting saying that he has to go. The last meeting in London merely said that he had lost legitimacy. Getting agreement on that could be quite difficult.
The second thing is to look further into Libya's future and give more active encouragement to political development by the opposition - so they can offer a more fleshed-out alternative to Col Gaddafi. The third thing is the possibility of setting up an international fund so countries can donate money directly to help support essential services in rebel-held cities.
Mr Hague said he could not predict when the operation would end but said that its air strikes had "saved thousands of lives".
France and Britain both want more Nato states to contribute combat aircraft to the mission in Libya, with French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe saying on Tuesday that Nato's efforts in Libya were so far "not enough".
"Nato must play its role fully. It wanted to take the lead in operations," he said.
Italian foreign ministry spokesman Maurizio Massari said ahead of the talks that "discussion about arming the rebels is definitely on the table".
Air strikes have so far failed to tip the military balance decisively against Col Gaddafi's regime.
Dutch Brig Gen Mark Van Uhm, head of Nato operations in Libya, said he felt Nato was doing well "with the assets we have".
The alliance had been successful in establishing a no-fly zone, protecting civilians and enforcing an arms embargo, he said.
Late on Tuesday, the coalition said its air strikes had destroyed five tanks near Misrata.
The Pentagon said Nato had not asked the US to increase its role in the mission.
The Libyan government on Tuesday repeated its condemnation of the West's "imperialist way of thinking".
Government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said: "We are ready to fight if it's necessary. Not the Libyan army but every man and woman and every tribe in Libya."
He also dismissed summit hosts Qatar as "more of an oil corporation than a true nation".
Koussa's 'insights'
Earlier this week the rebels' Transitional National Council (TNC) rejected an African Union proposal for a ceasefire in Libya, because it did not provide for Col Gaddafi's immediate departure from power.
The plan included a call for an immediate end to hostilities, unhindered humanitarian aid, protection of foreign nationals, dialogue between opposing sides and an end to Nato air strikes.
The Transitional National Council, which attended on the sidelines of the London conference, has been invited to address the meeting in Qatar as it continues its campaign to gain international recognition as the voice of the Libyan people.
Council spokesman, Mahmud Shammam, said: "We want to move from the de facto recognition of the council to an internationally recognised legitimacy."
Among those also due to attend the talks will be former Libyan foreign minister Moussa Koussa, who fled to the UK late last month.
He is expected to meet the Qatari government on the sidelines of the talks and offer "insights" on the current situation in Libya, according to British officials.
Mr Koussa is a former head of Libyan intelligence and has been accused of being involved in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing.
A spokesman from the UK government said that Mr Koussa was "a free individual, who can travel to and from the UK as he wishes".
A Transitional National Council spokesman, Mustafa Gheriani, told Agence France-Presse that Mr Koussa was not connected to it "in any way or shape".
Hosni Mubarak is said to have been refusing food and drink while in detention
Egypt's prosecutor general has ordered the detention of former President Hosni Mubarak, ahead of an investigation into corruption and abuse allegations.
Mr Mubarak, 82, is in hospital after reportedly suffering heart problems. His detention order will be in place for 15 days, state TV reported.
His sons Alaa and Gamal have also been detained amid allegations of corruption and violence, police say.
Mr Mubarak stood down in February after a popular uprising against his rule.
Since then, tens of thousands of protesters have staged weekly Friday protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square, demanding that he stand trial.
At least 360 people are thought to have been killed during the protests, as police opened fire and cracked down on the crowds. Rights groups say the figure is much higher.
There are also widespread allegations of corruption and abuse of power under Mr Mubarak's 30-year rule.
Sons pelted
"The prosecutor general orders the detention of former President Hosni Mubarak and his sons Gamal and Alaa for 15 days pending investigation after the prosecutor general presented them with the current state of its ongoing investigations," said a post on the prosecutor general's Facebook page on Wednesday.
Analysis
Yolande KnellBBC News, Cairo
This is an exceptional turn of events in the Arab world. The prosecutor is trying to send a message that Mr Mubarak is not immune from prosecution.
However the general public is suspicious at the timing of his heart problems and worried that ill-health, combined with old age, could prevent him from being tried.
Adding to the speculation are medical sources quoted by Egyptian state television saying the 82-year-old refused to eat or drink for two days ahead of questioning.
The fact that Mr Mubarak's two sons are also in custody, like several of their close allies in the former government, has been welcomed.
The announcement came a day after Mr Mubarak had been admitted to hospital with heart problems, although reports indicated that he was well enough to undergo questioning.
The former Egyptian leader had been keeping a low profile in Sharm el-Sheikh, a Red Sea resort, after fleeing to his holiday villa there when he was overthrown.
Late on Tuesday, a crowd of about 2,000 people had gathered outside the hospital, demanding that the sons be arrested.
As a police van with drawn curtains took away the two brothers for questioning, the crowd pelted it with water bottles, stones and their flip-flops, the AP news agency reported.
On Wednesday morning the pair were transferred to Tora prison complex in Cairo, home to other fallen officials and and some of the country's most notorious political prisoners.
Speculation that the younger son, Gamal, was being groomed to take over from his father helped to galvanise Egypt's protest movement.
Rachid Mohamed Rachid, trade and industry minister
Detained pending investigation
Hosni Mubarak and sons Alaa and Gamal
Safwat Sherif, information minister
Fathi Sorour, parliament speaker
Gamal, an investment banker, was a high-ranking member of President Mubarak's ruling party. His close associates were billionaires and held top positions in the ruling party and the government.
Mr Mubarak, along with his sons and their wives, have been banned from leaving the country. The family's assets have been frozen.
In a pre-recorded audio message on Sunday, he broke his silence of the last two months to say his reputation and that of his sons had been damaged and he would work to clear their names.
On Tuesday, Egyptian soldiers and police moved into Tahrir Square in Cairo and ended a sit-in by protesters demanding civilian rule and swifter prosecution of former officials.
A military council has been ruling Egypt since Mr Mubarak stepped down.
