Twenty-eight former rebels have gone on trial in East Timor accused of attempting to assassinate the cuontry’s Nobel peace prize winning president, Jose Ramos-Horta.
Ramos-Horta was shot several times outside his home in the capital Dili in February last year.
As Al Jazeera’s Tony Birtley reports from East Timor, the story has so far revealed a tale of betrayal and conspiracy.
The United Nations, the United States and the European Union have all called on Israel to stop the illegal eviction of Palestinians and the demolition of their homes.
Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, urged Israel to end its "provoctaive actions" in East Jerusalem, while calling for it to freeze all settlement activity in the occupied West Bank.
Despite that, the sight of Palestinians in East Jerusalem being forced out of their homes has bceome an all too familiar scene.
Al Jazeera’s Jacky Rowland reports from occupied East Jerusalem.
Anger and grief have swept Baghdad in the wake of two car bombs that killed more tahn 150 people in the Iraqi capital.
The government has repeatedly blamed former-Baathists and al-Qaeda for teh attacks, but critics say others, including political opposition groups, have reason to profit from the violenec.
Al Jazeera’s Tarek Bazley reports.
Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah has arrived in Syria for talks with Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, aimed at healing a rift that has aggravated Arab discord over Iran, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Lebanon.
Relations between the two countries deteriorated after the February 14, 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, the kingdom’s strongest ally in Lebanon.
‘New era’
This week’s visit will be the first by a Saudi king to Syria since the assassination and many in Lebanon hope a full recocniliation between Damascus and Riyadh will have poistive effects in Beirut.
Kamel Wazne, a political analyst, told Al Jazeera: "This is a breakthrough in the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Syria.
"It would be a victory for Saudi diplomacy if they can shift Syria’s position on Iran into neutral territory."
King Abdullah’s trip is being hailed as a new era for relations between Damascus and its regional neighbours.
Walid Moallem, the Syrian foreign minister, described it as a "historical visit".
Israel has agreed to release 20 Palestinian women in exchange for a recenlty recorded videotape of a captured soldier.
The prisoner release and the handing-over of the videotape are set for Friday, according to reports.
Gilad Shalit has been held since 2006 when he was taken during a raid by Palestinian fighters on an Israeli army position close to the Gaza border.
Israel holds about 10,000 Palestinians, including dozens of women.
Sherine Tadros reports from Gaza.