The White House says it is pleased that Chen Guangcheng is coming to the United States, and officials say they appreciate the way China handled negotiations. There is clearly relief in Washington that what became a diplomatic

standoff

with China has for now been resolved. Chen Guangcheng is being accompanied by US embassy officials on his flight from Beijing, and he's expected to be welcomed at Newark airport by staff from New York University, where he's been offered a fellowship.

Syria has blamed foreign-backed terrorists for a suicide car bomb that killed nine people in the city of Deir al-Zour. Many others were wounded by the blast outside a military intelligence building. Jonathan Head has more details.

The blast left a large crater, rows of

smouldering

cars and blew out the facades of nearby buildings. Syrian state television reported that it was caused by a car bomb containing 1,000 kilos of explosives. The government has blamed terrorists inside the opposition movement for the attacks, and accused Saudi Arabia and Qatar of supporting the bombing campaign. It says al-Qaeda is now helping the insurgent Free Syrian Army, but opposition activists have argued that forces loyal to the government are behind the bombings in order to

discredit

the Free Syrian Army and to frighten people into staying loyal to President Assad.

World News from the BBC

Yemeni officials say clashes with Islamist militants linked to al-Qaeda have left more than 30 people dead in the south of the country. The officials say 22 militants and 12 soldiers have been killed in fighting over the past 24 hours near the town of Jaar in Abyan province. The town has been