BBC News with Nick Kelly.

Parliament in Afghanistan has rejected more than two-thirds of President Hamid Karzai’s proposed new cabinet, dealing him a serious political blow. Those rejected include a former warlord who is accused of human rights abuses. Peter Greste reports from Kabul.

This has been a tortuous process with a painful outcome for President Karzai. The laborious secret ballot ran throughout Saturday, and by its close, only seven of his cabinet of 24 had managed to get the support of majority of parliamentarians. The rest, 17 in all, were rejected. They include Ismail Khan, a former warlord and perhaps the most controversial cabinet nomination. President Karzai wanted him to run the Ministry of Energy and Water. Guantu is the only female minister along with the nominations for justice, commerce,energy, economy, public health and communications.

A Somali man has appeared in court in Denmark charged with trying to murder a Danish artist whose cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed sparked riots and protests among Muslims around the world. Muslim organizations in Denmark have condemned the attack.Julian Isherwood reports from Copenhagen.

Rolled into court on a stretcher with a cover over his face to prevent him from being recognized, the man denied all charges brought against him over attempting to kill Kurt Westergaard and a policeman. KurtWestergaard was one of the 12 Danish cartoonists who in 2005 produced drawings of the Prophet Mohammed which incensed many Muslims. For the past four years,Mr. Westergaard has been under police protection because of several death threats.