International

Al Qaeda-linked Islamist militants seized control of the headquarters of the local separatist rebels in the north Mali town of Gao on Wednesday after a bloody battle that killed at least 20, residents said.

Somalia’s president on Wednesday accused the international community of refusing to fund the creation of local security forces capable of tackling piracy and al Qaeda-linked militants and urged them to pay up.

Two bombs exploded outside the Palace of Justice in central Damascus, state television reported, without giving any immediate word on any casualties.