Blair announces Iraq troops cut

Prime Minister Tony Blair has told MPs that 1,600 British troops will return from Iraq within the next few months.

He said the 7,100 serving troops would be cut to 5,500 soon, with hopes that 500 more will leave by late summer.

Egyptian woman dies of bird flu

A 37-seven-year-old Egyptian woman has died of bird flu, bringing the number of confirmed deaths from the virus in Egypt to 13.

The woman, Nadia Abdel Hafez, came from Fayyoum - an area well known in Egypt for poultry breeding.

Factions clash despite Gaza truce

Sporadic gun battles are continuing in Gaza between the rival Hamas and Fatah factions, despite a renewed truce.

At least eight people have been wounded in fresh clashes, although calm has returned to some areas.