BBC News with Michael Powles
President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia has announced that he'll not stand for re-election in 2014.
The president, who has enjoyed almost unchallenged power for more than 20 years, was speaking as violent demonstrations against unemployment and falling living standards
escalate
d and reached the centre of the capital Tunis.
Here's our Middle East editor Magdi Abdelhadi.
In his third televised speech since the crisis began nearly a month ago, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali offered major political
concession
s including a promise not to run for office again in three years' time. This is one of the key demands of the thousands of protesters who've taken to the streets across the country. Mr Ben Ali also said he has given orders to the security forces to stop using live ammunition against the demonstrators. He promised to reform the political system and allow the media to operate freely.
The Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has visited the scenes of the floods and landslides north of Rio de Janeiro, which have claimed well over 400 lives. Mrs Rousseff flew over the region before landing to chat to residents and officials in two of the worst-hit towns, Teresopolis and Nova Friburgo. David Shukman reports.
Rescuers are struggling to reach people trapped as their homes collapsed. In 24 hours, this region received as much rain as it normally gets in a month, and the floodwaters tore through buildings and roads. Overcrowding and