Anti-government demonstrators in Syria have held another day of protest in many parts of the country following Friday prayers, calling for international protection from the security forces. Activists say at least 17 people have been wounded across the country. Foreign journalists aren't allowed in Syria. Owen Bennett-Jones sent this report from Beirut in neighbouring Lebanon.
In the Kurdish northeast, in the south near Jordan, in Idlib near the Turkish border, Homs, Hama and the Damascus suburbs - all over Syria - protesters have been out demanding change, and once again they have failed to
mobilise
people in the centres of the two biggest cities - Aleppo and Damascus. Protest organisers have tried to give each week's demonstrations a common theme, and this time round it's the demand for the first time for greater international protection.
The Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has called for humanitarian corridors in Somalia to be protected by African peacekeepers so that aid could reach people struck by drought and famine in rebel-held areas. Mr Meles was speaking at a Kenyan summit on the crisis. The UN humanitarian coordinator for Somalia, Mark Bowden, said aid was increasing to all areas of the country.
World News from the BBC
Security has been
stepped up
in New York and Washington over a possible bomb threat to
coincide with
the 10th anniversary on Sunday of the 9/11 attacks. Police have increased patrols at possible targets and have been searching vehicles, causing big traffic jams. The American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the threat was