BBC News
Thousands of protesters calling for the reinstatement of the ousted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi are preparing themselves for expected moves by the security services to clear them from two huge sit-in camps in Cairo. Street vendors have been quoted as saying they've sold hundreds of gas masks to protesters. Senior army officers suggested that disperse could start as early as daybreak on Monday.
Polls have officially closed in Mali's run-off election to decide who will be the next president. The day has been marked by pouring rain which observers say could have led to a lower turnout than in a previous round of voting. One of the candidates is the former Prime Minister Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who said the elections marked a change for the country. “We are laying down the foundations of a new Mali, the foundation stone of which will, from now, be absolute integrity from the point of view of ethics and morality and, zero tolerance for corruption.” Mr. Keita is running against the former Finance Minister Soumaila Cisse, who said the country needed basic facilities like drinking water schools and adequate health care.
A huge fire has broken out in one of the largest oil refineries in Venezuela, sending large plumes of black smoke into the sky. Venezuelan authorities have ordered the evacuation of the area around the Puerto La Cruz refinery. Refinery officials say a storage tank was hit by lightening sparking the blaze. There is no word of any casualties.