World news from the BBC.

The Syrian opposition has announced it's formed a national council to present a united common front against its president

Assad. At a meeting in Istanbul opposition leaders said their goal was to build a new democratic Syria. The announcement came as both government and opposition sources said the town of Rastan has been retaken by government forces.

Basque

separatists

in Spain have launched a new political party to campaign for pro-independence votes in next month's general elections. The new coalition named Amaiur would fill a political void left by Batasuna which was banned in 2003 because of links with the armed seperatist group ETA . Spain's courts will have to decide whether to let Amaiur compete in the elections.

There have been protests across the Pakistani province of Punjab over power cuts which now lasts up to 18 hours a day. Over the weekend technical problems in several electricity plants made the situation worse. Here is Marianne Landzettel.

Power cuts in Pakistan are frequent but over the past two days most parts of Punjab have had virtually no electricity at all. Protesters burned tires, blocked roads and

pelted

buses with stones before being dispersed by police with batton charges.

Business leaders say production in all industries has ground to a halt. Some hospitals are running short of fuel for generators and Pakistani government officials say the power cuts are aggravating an outbreak of dengue fever. They say even the energy supply for emergency units can not be guranteed.