spate
of kidnappings in Kenya. It said the Kenyan government's allegation that al-Shabab posed a significant threat to the Kenyan population was simply a
flimsy pretext
for the military
incursion
into Somalia.
A senior official at the Egyptian justice ministry says the two sons of the former President Hosni Mubarak have an estimated $340m in frozen Swiss bank accounts. Assem al-Gohari said most of the money was held by the eldest son Alaa and the Swiss authorities were now investigating whether he was involved in
money laundering
.
Israel's Supreme Court has heard petitions against a deal with the militant group Hamas that would see more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners freed in exchange for the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Judges are expected to rule today on a request to delay or block the prisoners' release. However, as Kevin Connolly reports from Gaza, Palestinians are already preparing for their release.
It is a little premature, and somewhere eyes are still being dotted and tears crossed. But the sound of celebration already fills the air in Gaza City. This was a wedding party making its way towards the main square, where in less than 24 hours huge crowds are expected to gather to welcome home their returned prisoners. To the Israelis and to many in the wider world, they are men and women of violence, but Gaza is preparing to acclaim them as heroes.
BBC News