The Saudi foreign minister says confidence in the Syria peace plan brokered by the international envoy Kofi Annan is diminishing rapidly due to the continuing violence in the country. His comments come as heavy fighting between Syrian forces and rebels in the central city of Rastan is reported to have left at least 30 people dead, including 23 soldiers.
A prosecutor in Argentina is investigating the Vice-President Amado Boudou over allegations that he abused his position to make money. The inquiry comes after journalists accused Mr Boudou of peddling his influence, and of profiting illegally from state contracts. A federal judge will have to decide whether to charge Mr Boudou for the case to proceed. Here's Vanessa Buschschluter of our America's desk.
In Argentina, tax payers not only have to declare their income, but also their total wealth. A journalist, who was looking into the vice-president's finances, said there was discrepancy between his increasing wealth and his declared income as a politician. Now, a federal prosecutor says there is(are) sufficient calls to ask a judge to open an illegal enrichment investigation. Mr Boudou has denied any wrongdoing and says he's the victim of a media conspiracy.
The American politician Ron Paul says he's ending his active campaign to become the Republican candidate in the US presidential election in November. Mr Paul said he would no longer spend money campaigning in primaries, the contests in which the field of presidential candidates is narrowed down. Mr Paul insisted he would continue fighting for the nomination in state conventions.