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Ukraine protesters blockade government sites

Demonstrators are blockading government buildings in the Ukrainian capital Kiev, as they step up their campaign for the resignation of the government.

Protesters have put up barricades on Independence Square, while others are entrenched inside city hall.

The unrest was triggered in November by President Viktor Yanukovych’s refusal to sign a deal on closer EU ties.

Opposition leaders have renewed demands that he stand down, and urged him to “stop political repression”.

The call was issued on Monday at a meeting in Parliament convened by Speaker Volodymyr Rybak, the Ukrainska Pravda news website reported.

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Tahrir Square clashes as constitution changes agreed

Police have fired tear gas to disperse supporters of Egypt’s ousted Islamist president Mohammed Morsi from Tahrir Square in the capital, Cairo.

The clashes came as a panel amending the constitution adopted during his time in office agreed on text changes.

The revised charter preserves the military’s wide-ranging powers – including the ability to try civilians in certain cases.

It will be put to a referendum which is expected to be held in January.

The 50-member panel completed a final draft after two days spent revising the charter adopted under former President Morsi.

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Lebanon city of Tripoli hit by deadly clashes

At least 10 people have died in north Lebanon in two days of gun battles between supporters and opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Clashes in the port city of Tripoli also left 49 people wounded including 11 soldiers, a security source said.

Tripoli, with a small Alawite community surrounded by a Sunni majority, is seen as one of Lebanon’s most volatile sectarian fault-lines.

President Assad is an Alawite and is fighting a Sunni-led revolt.

Correspondents say tensions have been high since last week, when residents of the Alawite district of Jabal Muhsin began flying Syrian flags in support of President Assad.

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Loughboroug Teenager faces retrial over bomb plot

A teenage boy accused of planning a “Columbine-style” attack on his former school is to face a retrial.

A jury at the Old Bailey was discharged after failing to reach verdicts on two charges under the Terrorism Act.

The 17-year-old from Loughborough in Leicestershire said the alleged attack plans, written in a notebook, were a fantasy to help him cope with bullying.

The teenager, who cannot be named, was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome after being arrested in February.

Recorder of London Judge Brian Barker QC discharged the jury of six men and six women following six days of deliberation.

A hearing will take place at the Old Bailey on 12 December to set a date for a retrial.

‘Anti-Islamic views’
The teenager has already admitted three charges of possessing explosives.

The trial heard that he was fascinated with mass murders and school shootings and expressed anti-Islamic views.

Police discovered weapons including partially-assembled petrol bombs and air rifles after searching the teenager’s home in February following reports he had confronted two boys with a knife.

The prosecution alleged that he had these for a purpose connected with terrorism, but the teenager denied this.

The trial heard that he listed six potential targets in his home town of Loughborough, including a mosque, council offices and cinema.

He claimed he had not intended to hurt anyone and his notebook contained “jottings, not actual plans”.

Jurors were also told that two of his friends, also aged 17, had admitted possessing explosives.

Iran delivers nuclear warning

Iran’s Supreme Leader has warned his country will not step back “one iota” from its nuclear rights, as it resumes talks with world powers in Geneva.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said he would not intervene directly in the negotiations, but that he had set “red lines” for Iran’s representatives.

President Barack Obama meanwhile urged US senators not to impose new sanctions on Iran to allow time for diplomacy.

He was unsure if it would be possible to reach an interim agreement soon.

“We don’t know if we’ll be able to close a deal with Iran this week or next week,” he told a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) forum in Washington on Tuesday.

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