A strict media blockade was imposed before Field Marshal Tantawi's appearance in Mr Mubarak's trial on Sep 24. His testimony was seen as potentially a crucial element in the trial with the grievous charge against the former president is that he ordered troops to fire on protesters. Mr Mubarak could face the death penalty if found guilty. Now in a speech in the official ceremony Mr Tantawi has said nobody ever asked the army to open fire.

The authorities in northern Nigeria said at least 19 people have died in violence in a village in Zamfara State. Eyewitnesses said about 150 people raided the village. Jonah Fisher reports from Lagos.

As people emerged from their homes they were either

hacked

to death or shot. One witness who the BBC spoke to in hospital said his house was targeted first and that he saw both his grand-daughter and his daughter-in-law killed. Zamfara State police commissioner said it was his belief that the attackers were a group of armed robbers seeking revenge. They had apparently being targeted by

vigilantes

from Lingyado a month ago. Both soldiers and police have now been dispatched to the area in an effort to prevent further reprisals.

It emerged in Yemen that a government warplane bombed its own troops in the south of the country on Saturday killing at least 18 soldiers. Other unconfirmed reports speak of higher casualty figures. But the official state media denies the incident took place.