David Blair's Blog, page 118

Tony Blair: Western governments should help 'liberal and democratic' elements of Arab Spring

Western governments should do more to help the "liberal and democratic" strands of the revolutions in the Middle East, which are badly organised compared to their Islamist opponents, Tony Blair said on Thursday.

Kim Jong-il funeral: Kim Jong-un steps up as nation mourns

North Korea's new leader went on sombre public display on Wednesday, marching beside the coffin of Kim Jong-il during the late dictator's funeral in a snowbound capital.

Does Nigeria's Taliban have the West in its sights?

The Christmas Day bombings could be a worrying sign of things to come, says David Blair.

Libyan 'heir to the throne' returns home

A prince who claims to be heir to the throne of Libya has set foot on his country's soil for the first time since the monarchy was overthrown in 1969.

Turkey accuses France of Algerian genocide as row escalates

Turkey's prime minister accused France of conducting a "merciless" genocide in Algeria as he responded furiously to a vote in the French parliament concerning the mass killing of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire.

Iraq bombings: Nouri al-Maliki is playing with fire by inflaming sectarian tensions

When the last American soldiers left Iraq on Sunday, their commanders were bitterly aware that an upsurge of violence might take place behind them.

East Africa famine: Somali prime minister denies food shortage

As families starve in refugee camps in Mogadishu, Somalia's prime minister has denied the capital is in grip of a famine.

Baghdad bombs Q and A: What is happening in Iraq?

Iraq was in the midst of sectarian violence with at least 57 killed by a rush hour bomb blast.

Kim Jong-il dead: power struggle begins between three factions

A dynastic power struggle has begun in North Korea where experts have identified three rival factions jockeying for position behind Kim Jong-un, the country's new leader.

Kim Jong-un, the child soldier, takes over in North Korea

What is the nation's future under the control of a belligerent new 'Dear Leader' who is not yet 30?