The former Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik has been disqualified as a candidate in the forthcoming presidential election. He was barred by the electoral commission under a law that prevents former senior officials of the Hosni Mubarak era from standing. Mr Shafik is the latest of a series of candidates to be disqualified from an original

shortlist

of 23 - only 12 remain in the race.

The United States says it's concerned about reports that Israel has legalised the status of three settler outposts in the West Bank and is seeking further clarification">clarification from the Israeli government. A State Department spokeswoman, Victoria Nuland, said the Israeli move was unhelpful.

"We are obviously concerned by the reports that we've seen. We have raised this with the Israeli government, and we are seeking

clarification

. You know where we are on settlements. We don't think this is helpful to the process, and we don't accept the legitimacy of continued settlement activity."

The Palestinians condemned the decision, but Israeli officials have rejected accusations that they have

in effect

created the first new Jewish settlements for more than 20 years.

World News from the BBC

A former BP engineer has become the first person to face criminal charges in connection with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill two years ago. From Washington, Jane Little has the details.

Kurt Mix, a former BP engineer from Texas, was charged with two counts of obstruction of justice. According to court documents, he was involved in BP's efforts to stem the major oil spill, including Top Kill, the failed attempt to pump heavy mud into the Macondo wellhead. The Justice Department alleges that Mr Mix