World News from the BBC
The Pakistani ambassador to the United States has resigned over allegations that he wrote a memo asking for Washington's help to restrain Pakistan's military. Husain Haqqani denied any involvement in the memo forwarded to America's most senior military officer Admiral Mike Mullen. Aleem Maqbool reports from Islamabad.
Though he denies it, the accusation is that earlier this year, as ambassador to Washington, Mr Haqqani drew up a memo to America's most senior military officer Admiral Mike Mullen. In it, it's alleged the Pakistani government asked for American help to weaken the Pakistani army, which it was feared might stage a
coup
. That for many Pakistanis amounted to nothing less than
treason
, and so there has been a clamour for Mr Haqqani to go.
A Nigerian senator has appeared in court accused of having links with the militant Islamist group Boko Haram. Senator Ali Ndume faced a number of charges, including intimidation and
felony
, all of which he denied. His detention follows the arrest of a man claiming to be a spokesman for Boko Haram, who alleged that the senator had ties with the movement.
Italy's former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has appeared in court on tax evasion charges. Mr Berlusconi attended a hearing in Milan investigating allegations that he managed a media deal to illegally reduce his tax liabilities. The former Italian leader is involved in three legal cases, and it's the first time he's appeared in court since he was forced to resign as prime minister earlier this month.