Protesters claimed that two of the demonstrators were beaten up by the army, a violent confrontation built up and the army moved in to clear the protest camp, burning the tents. As protesters massed in a neighbouring street, plain-clothes thugs were clearly visible, throwing rocks on them from the roof of a government building - thugs who must have been under government control. The new civilian government had promised it would not allow attacks on protesters, and this is one of the first times that soldiers have come directly into conflict with the demonstrators as well.

The United States has handed over to the Iraqi authorities the last remaining detainee in American custody in Iraq. The prisoner, Ali Mussa Daqduq, is accused of involvement in a raid in January 2007 in which five American military personnel were killed. A White House spokesman said Iraq had given assurances that he would stand trial.

The BBC African Footballer of the Year winner has been announced. He's Andre "Dede" Ayew, who plays on the wing for Ghana and the French side Marseille. Ayew said the award was all the more special for being decided on by the fans.

"Football is a game which has become so big and so popular because of the supporters and the fans. I think if there were no supporters and no fans, football would not be where it is today, and players would not become stars, how they are today. So if you have the opportunity to be loved by the fans and the people who love football, it's just an honour for me, and I'm very touched."