World News from the BBC.
The newly-appointed US special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Marc Grossman, has stressed the importance of pursuing a diplomatic settlement in Afghanistan alongside military operations. During his first visit to Kabul, he said the United States supported the Afghan government’s move towards talks with the Taliban, but he said it was important that the Taliban end its alliance with al-Qaeda.
In the latest stage of an offensive against Islamist militants in Somalia, forces loyal to the transitional government have captured a key town near the border with Kenya and Ethiopia. Ethiopian soldiers were also reported to be involved in the fighting for the town of Bulo Hawo. Will Ross reports.
The Kenyan and Ethiopian authorities will be hoping that Bulo Hawo stays in the hands of pro-Somali government troops. They want al-Shabab as far away from their borders as possible. Meanwhile, in the Somali capital Mogadishu, the African Union peacekeeping force, known as AMISOM, says it has foiled a suicide bomb attack by Islamist insurgents. A spokesman said a jeep flying a black flag was heading towards an AMISOM base, but he said soldiers destroyed the vehicle, killing all the suicide bombers inside.
Hundreds of people have taken part in a protest in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo against the arrest of a retired Bosnian army general accused by Serbia of war crimes. Jovan Divjak was detained at Vienna Airport on Thursday at Serbia’s request. On Saturday, his supporters gathered outside the Austrian embassy in Sarajevo to demand his release.