The former French prime minister and conservative politician Dominique de Villepin has announced he'll stand for president in the election next year. Mr de Villepin is a long-time rival of the incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy. Mr Sarkozy himself hasn't formally declared that he's standing but is widely expected to do so. Mr de Villepin was linked to a smear campaign against Mr Sarkozy but was cleared of all charges last year.

There's been a low turnout in Ivory Coast in the first parliamentary election since a presidential poll a year ago that led to months of violence.

The vote was boycotted by supporters of the former leader Laurent Gbagbo, who faces charges of crimes against humanity in The Hague. President Alassane Ouattara said the election would help rebuild democracy.

"This parliament will be a real democratic parliament and one of consensus, and this parliament will contribute towards reinforcing democracy in our country."

World News from the BBC

Two bomb attacks in northeastern Kenya close to the Somali border have killed a member of the Kenyan security forces and wounded at least 10 others. Kenya has suffered numerous attacks since sending troops into Somalia in pursuit of militants from the Islamist group al-Shabab two months ago.

Syrian activists say they've received reliable reports of heavy fighting between the security forces and soldiers who've defected to the opposition. Sources inside Syria say dozens of new army defectors clashed with government forces in the southern province of Deraa. Jonathan Head reports from Istanbul.