West Africa’s regional bloc Ecowas has agreed a deal with Mali’s junta for Djouncounda Traore to remain as president beyond Monday’s deadline. As part of the deal, coup leader Captain, Amadou Sanogo, will get all the benefits of a former head of state. Mr Traore was initially sworn in for 40 days in April, replacing Captain Sanogo who seized power the previous month. The coup, and... 

Former Libyan intelligence, chief Abdallah al-Senussi, has been charged in Mauritania with illegally entering the country, officials say. Mr Senussi, who fled Libya after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi, was held at Nouakchott airport after flying in from Morocco in March. Both Libya and the International Criminal Court want him extradited to face trial for crimes against humanity. Mauritanian officials... 

On Thursday, activists at Aleppo University streamed their rally live on the internet. Thousands of people have taken to the streets in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, activists say, in the biggest protests there since the revolt began. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said several people were injured by tear gas and live ammunition. Protests were reported elsewhere, a day after activists... 

Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladic is on trial in The Hague 20 years after the start of the conflict in Bosnia Former Bosnian Serb army commander, Ratko Mladic, intended to “ethnically cleanse” Bosnia, the opening day of his war crimes trial has heard. Gen Mladic faces 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including genocide, in connection with the brutal 1992-95 Bosnian... 

Charles Taylor will be sentenced by The Hague tribunal later this month Former Liberian President, Charles Taylor, has accused the prosecution of paying and threatening witnesses in his war crimes trial. Taylor, who was convicted last month, also told judges at The Hague he was “no threat to society”. It was the 64-year-old’s last chance to speak at the international court before... 

France's President-elect Francois Hollande is pictured at his campaign headquarters in Paris (CNN) – François Hollande arrived at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Tuesday to take the oath of office as the new president of France, assuming the role amid a period of financial turmoil across Europe. Hollande becomes France’s first Socialist president since François Mitterrand left office... 

  The city of Rastan has seen fierce fighting in recent weeks, despite a nominal UN-backed truce 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. Three troop carriers were destroyed in fighting, the group... 

Under the roadmap, the two countries must sort out their outstanding disagreements within three months South Sudan has accused Sudan of bombing within its territory, in violation of a UN Security Council resolution to end hostilities. Juba’s information minister told the BBC several areas had been targeted in air raids in the last 48 hours. But Khartoum said it had the right to respond to acts... 

Civil war possible in Syria (CNN) – Two strong explosions rocked the Syrian capital Thursday, state television reported, leaving bloody streets littered with debris as thick black smoke drifted into the sky. The number of casualties was unclear, but dozens were dead or injured, according to Syrian state television. The blasts occurred in Qazzaz neighborhood and destroyed the nation’s intelligence... 

Samsung has unveiled its latest flagship smartphone – the Galaxy S3. The handset has a 4.8 inch (12.2cm) screen, an increase on the 4.3 inch screen of its predecessor. The device is perceived to be critical to how people view both Samsung’s brand and the Android system it runs. Analysts say the popularity of the previous Galaxy – the S2 – was a major factor in the firm overtaking...