David Blair's Blog, page 119

Mogadishu dares to dream of a new future as militants are driven from Somali capital

After 20 years of chaos, there are signs that Mogadishu is becoming safer as African Union forces push back the Islamic extremists of al-Shabaab.

We have no famine, says Somalian prime minister

The world's aid agencies have become "lords of poverty" and their claim that famine has struck Somalia's capital is "absolutely" false, according to Abdiweli Mohammed Ali, the country's prime minister.

Children gunned down on Syrian streets

At least 14 people including four children were killed on Friday as Syria's opposition accused the regime of preparing a "massacre" in the city of Homs where thousands of troops are reported to be massing for an assault.

Syrian army masses outside Homs amid reports of imminent assault

Syria's opposition has accused the regime of preparing a "massacre" in the city of Homs where thousands of troops are reported to be massing for an assault.

Iran shows off captured US drone

Iran triumphantly displayed one of America's most advanced intelligence-gathering aircraft on Thursday after a spy drone crashed on its territory, leading Russia and China to ask to inspect its technology.

Analysis: Vladimir Putin is showing signs of political mortality

After dominating Russia for more than a decade, Vladimir Putin is showing the first signs of political mortality.

Afghanistan attack: parallels with Iraq in attempt to ignite sectarian civil war

The bloodiest chapter in Iraq's recent history opened with bomb attacks on Shia pilgrims during the festival of Ashura six years ago. The atrocities in Afghanistan have obvious parallels with that deliberate bid to ignite a sectarian civil war.

Hamas considers whether to pull leadership out of Syria

Hamas is considering whether to pull its exiled leadership out of Syria as the Palestinian Islamist organisation reassesses its alliance with President Bashar al-Assad.

UN urges 'urgent measures' to protect Syrian civilians

The United Nations urged "urgent and effective measures" to protect Syria's people from "ruthless repression", disclosing that 307 children have died in the country's turmoil.

Nato cross-border attack: confrontation that crossed the line puts reluctant alliance in jeopardy

More than a century ago, a Victorian diplomat with a secret ambition to be a novelist drew a line across the Indian subcontinent and created the frontier which now divides Afghanistan from Pakistan.