Belgium: 'The Joker' Baby Killer Jailed

A Belgian man who stabbed two babies and a carer to death after he broke into a nursery dressed as Batman's nemesis The Joker has been jailed for life.

Kim De Gelder slashed babies, infants and their carers after he broke into the Fable Land nursery in Dendermonde, Belgium with his hair dyed red and his face painted white with black around his eyes.

He was found guilty of murdering the two babies - aged six and nine months - and a 54-year-old woman in January 2009, along with the attempted murder of 22 other people in the nursery.

De Gelder, now 24, was also convicted of the murder of an elderly woman in a separate attack a week earlier.

The trial had focused on De Gelder's mental state and whether his judgement was affected at the time of the murders.

But, after four hours of deliberation, the jury in Ghent found he was "not in a demonic state or mentally troubled".

During the trial, De Gelder described how he planned his crimes carefully, including practising how to slit throats on a wooden cutout in his apartment.

He also said that at the suggestion of his lawyer he had told psychiatrists that he had heard voices commanding him to kill.

Judge Koen Defoort told the court: "The defendant is guilty of murder, to have killed deliberately and with intent.

"The cowardly way in which the victims' lives were taken shows that Kim De Gelder totally lacks morals and empathy.

"You will be taken from society for a long time. I recommend that you use that time to think."

After the verdict, De Gelder said: "As it is now the last time I can speak to all these people, I wish to apologise for the suffering I caused for the victims and society.

"Furthermore I should add: to all the victims present in this room and I know you don't believe me, but I really am sorry."

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Israel Apologises For Gaza Flotilla Raid

The Israeli Prime Minister has apologised for a raid on a Gaza flotilla which resulted in the deaths of nine Turkish activists.

Benjamin Netanyahu announced the restoration of normal diplomatic relations with Turkey and expressed regret during a phone call with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

President Barack Obama helped arrange the call shortly before leaving Israel.

In a statement released by the White House, Mr Obama said: "The United States deeply values our close partnerships with both Turkey and Israel, and we attach great importance to the restoration of positive relations between them in order to advance regional peace and security.

Video taken on-board the ship showed the arrival of Israeli commandos

"I am hopeful that today's exchange between the two leaders will enable them to engage in deeper cooperation on this and a range of other challenges and opportunities," he added.

The flotilla incident severely harmed ties between the once-close allies. Turkey withdrew its ambassador from Israel, and diplomatic ties and military cooperation were greatly scaled back.

Mr Netanyahu said the "tragic results" were not intentional and Israel "expressed remorse" for the loss of life. He cited "operational mistakes".

The nine pro-Palestinian activists were killed aboard the Turkish-flagged ship Mavi Marmara on May 31, 2010, after passengers resisted a takeover by Israeli naval commandos.

The flotilla was en route to Gaza in an attempt to bring international attention to Israel's blockade of the Palestinian territory.

At the time, the former legal adviser to Israel's foreign ministry, Alan Baker, said it was tragic that lives had been lost, but there was no need for an apology.

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Syria Bombing Kills Pro-Assad Cleric Al Buti

A suicide bombing at a Syrian mosque has killed a senior cleric and supporter of President Bashar al Assad, state television has said.

Mohammed al Buti - imam of the historic Ummayyad Mosque - was killed when a bomber blew himself up during packed evening prayers at the Iman Mosque in Damascus.

The Syrian health ministry said 42 people died in the bombing and 84 were injured.

The attack took place at a mosque in Damascus

It is unclear if the explosion was caused by a car bomb or a mortar shell.

TV footage showed wounded people and bodies with severed limbs on the blood-stained floor of the mosque, which has since been sealed off by the military.

The Sunni preacher's death is a big blow to Syria's embattled minority Alawite leader, who is fighting mainly Sunni rebels who want to oust him.

The 84-year-old imam has been a vocal supporter of the Assad regime since the early days of his father and predecessor, the late President Hafez Assad.

In recent months, Syrian TV has carried his sermons from mosques in Damascus live every week.

He also has a regular religious TV programme.

In one of his televised speeches, Dr Buti had described the opposition to Mr Assad as "scum".

He also used his position to call on Syrians to join the armed forces and help Mr Assad defeat his rivals in the country's two-year-long rebellion.

He was remembered for a sermon he gave early in the conflict, in which he told the president he had had a vision that Syria would "receive God's wrath", but would survive.

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Sarkozy Faces Charges In Corruption Probe

Preliminary charges have been filed against Nicolas Sarkozy over allegations he took financial advantage of an elderly L'Oreal heiress.

The move means the former French president is under formal investigation, accused of accepting envelopes stuffed with cash from Liliane Bettencourt to illegally finance his 2007 election campaign.

The 90-year-old was declared in a state of dementia in 2006 and was placed under the guardianship of her family in 2011.

The preliminary charges were issued after Mr Sarkozy was questioned for several hours in a Bordeaux courthouse, according to the prosecutor's office. 

A statement said he had been placed under investigation "for taking advantage of a vulnerable person in February 2007 and during 2007 to the detriment of Liliane Bettencourt".

Under French law, preliminary charges mean the investigating magistrate has reason to believe wrongdoing was committed, but allows more time to investigate. The charges may later be dropped or could lead to a trial.

Mr Sarkozy's lawyer Thierry Herzog criticised the decision as "legally incoherent and unfair".

Earlier, the former president was unexpectedly summoned for a face-to-face encounter with Ms Bettencourt's ex-butler Pascal Bonnefoy over the claims.

Jean-Michel Gentil, the judge in charge of the case, was hoping the confrontation would allow him to establish how many times Mr Sarkozy visited Ms Bettencourt during his successful campaign.

The 58-year-old has always maintained he visited her home only once, contrary to testimony from several members of the multi-billionaire's staff.

So far, 17 people have been charged in the case.

Liliane Bettencourt, 90, has been in poor health for years

In November, magistrates decided not to formally charge Mr Sarkozy after a 12-hour interrogation but continued investigating the allegations against him.

Ms Bettencourt's former accountant told police in 2010 that she had handed envelopes filled with cash to the heiress' right-hand man, Patrice de Maistre, on the understanding it was to be passed on to Mr Sarkozy's campaign treasurer, Eric Woerth.

Mr Sarkozy lost his immunity from prosecution when he was defeated in the 2012 presidential election by Socialist Francois Hollande.

Since losing office he has had to contend with a string of allegations relating to his five years in power and various electoral campaigns he has been involved in.

As well as the Bettencourt case, he faces probes into alleged cronyism in the awarding of contracts for opinion polls, an illegal police investigation into journalists and alleged kickbacks on a Pakistani arms deal used to finance the right in 1995, when Mr Sarkozy was budget minister.

He has always denied any wrongdoing and remains popular with right-wing activists despite being regarded as a divisive figure among the swing voters who tend to decide French elections.

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Obama: US Support For Israel 'Never Stronger'

President Barack Obama has pledged America's continued commitment to the security of Israel, while reinforcing the need to prevent a nuclear armed Iran.

During a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr Obama said: "America's support for Israel security is unprecedented and the alliance between the two nations has never been stronger."

The president is making the first overseas visit of his second term to the Middle East, including the three-day tour of Israel and the Palestinian Territories. He is then due to continue on to neighbouring Jordan.

Mr Obama said he would continue to work with the US Congress on securing funding for Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile defence system, which he toured earlier in his visit.

According to Israeli commentators, Obama and Netanyahu 'dislike each other'

On the issue of Iran, Mr Netanyahu commended the US president for his "great success in mobilising the international community" and said he is "absolutely convinced" Mr Obama is committed to keeping Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

However, the Israeli prime minister said his country "cannot cede the right to defend itself to others", hinting at a possible go-it-alone policy if necessary to halt Iran's nuclear programme.

Mr Obama said the US will continue to consult with Israel and other nations on a diplomatic solution on the issue, but did not rule out the possibility of military action, insisting that "all options are on the table".

The two leaders also echoed a desire to see a peaceful solution in Syria, and a shared determination to ensure that the deadly arsenal of weapons in the war-torn country do not fall into the wrong hands. 

But perhaps the most pressing question connected to Mr Obama's Middle East trip is whether peace talks can emerge between Israel and the Palestinians.

Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank protested against Obama's visit

The president will travel to the occupied West Bank on Thursday to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and US officials have said Mr Obama will try to coax the Palestinians and Israelis back to peace talks.

However, the White House has deliberately minimised hopes of any major breakthroughs, a reversal from Mr Obama's first four years in office when aides said he would visit the Jewish state only if he had something concrete to accomplish.

Mr Netanyahu said he "hoped the president's visit will help Israel turn the page in its relations with the Palestinians" and lead to negotiations "that will end our conflict once and for all".

Mr Obama insisted that a central element for a lasting peace must be a strong and lasting Israel state that exists alongside its Palestinian neighbour.

The president said he would have more to say on the issue after he flies to the West Bank city of Ramallah to meet Mr Abbas.

In Ramallah on Tuesday, Palestinian police scuffled with scores of demonstrators protesting against Mr Obama's visit.

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Julia Gillard: Oz PM Calls Leadership Ballot

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has caved in to building pressure and called a leadership ballot.

"I have determined that there will be a ballot for the leadership. In the meantime, take your best shot," she told parliament.

She said the meeting would vote on the positions of prime minister and deputy prime minister.

The ballot is meant to end destabilisation from lawmakers who want former prime minister Kevin Rudd to return as leader to halt a slump in opinion polls.

More follows...

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Cyprus Bailout: Savings Tax Rejected By MPs

The Cypriot parliament has voted overwhelmingly against a deeply unpopular plan to tax bank deposits, putting an international bailout in jeopardy.

The 56-seat legislature buried the bill with 36 votes against and 19 abstentions. One member of parliament was not present.

The seizure of savers' deposits, in return for shares in the lenders, was meant to raise 5.8bn euros (£4.96bn), towards the country's financial rescue.

But outrage from Cypriots and the impact on international markets had already apparently pushed politicians to consider an exemption for smaller savers.

The draft bill being discussed in parliament was believed to suggest a 6.75% tax on all savings between 20,000 and 100,000 euros and 9.9% on all savings over 100,000 euros.

Thirty-six members of the 56-seat parliament voted against

But even that was dismissed after the ruling party tried to delay the vote for a day before deciding not to take part.

Opposition member Pambos Papageorgiou told Sky News: "We were asked to legitimise the confiscation of savings, that has never happened anywhere in the world.

"It would have set a very dangerous precedent for the whole of Europe. Don't forget that for the whole of Europe there is a law protecting up to 100,000 euros in terms of savings."

Outside parliament, thousands of protesters gathered holding up banners reading "Hands Off Cyprus" and chanted: "It will not pass."

When the bill was rejected they cheered and sang the national anthem.

EU countries said before the vote that they would withhold 10bn euros (£8.5bn) in bailout loans unless depositors in Cyprus shared the cost of the rescue.

Cypriot banks have been closed until at least Thursday

However, amid the backlash against the plan to hit all savers, eurozone finance ministers had pushed Nicosia to only target accounts with more than 100,000 euros.

The European Central Bank said after the vote it was still committed to providing liquidity to Cyprus' cash-strapped banks within "existing rules".

Banks have been closed since before the weekend in order to prevent a run on them and were not due to reopen until Thursday.

Nicholas Papadopoulos, the chairman of the parliamentary finance committee, said banks would now stay shut "for as long as we need to conclude an agreement".

He stressed this would be "in the next few days".

Protesters gathered outside parliament before the bailout vote

Meanwhile, a British military plane has arrived in Cyprus with one million euros onboard to ensure soldiers have access to cash during the crisis.

British soldiers stationed on the island and their families would be able to borrow from the money if cash machines and debit cards in Cyprus stop working completely, the Ministry of Defence said.

"The MoD is proactively approaching personnel to ask if they want their March, and future months' salaries paid into UK bank accounts, rather than Cypriot accounts," it said in a statement.

"We're determined to do everything we can to minimise the impact of the Cyprus banking crisis on our people."

Around 2,500 to 3,000 British military personnel are currently stationed in Cyprus.

Chancellor George Osborne has already pledged that military personnel and civil servants would be protected from the levy, telling Cabinet they would be "compensated in full" for any losses.

Earlier it was reported that Cyprus' finance minister had resigned amid the fallout from the original proposal, but Reuters said Michael Sarris had told them by text message that there was "no truth" to the story.

He has flown to Moscow to seek Russian financial assistance for the island.

President Nicos Anastasiades is due to meet party leaders on Wednesday morning in an attempt to find a way forward.

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Al Qaeda Says It Beheads French Hostage

Al Qaeda says it has beheaded a French hostage in reprisal for France's military intervention in Mali, according to reports.

Its North African arm claimed responsibility, Mauritania's ANI news agency reported, citing a commander for the group.

A French foreign office spokesman said they were trying to verify the report of the killing of Philippe Verdon, adding that "we don't know at the moment" whether it is reliable.

In a telephone call to the news agency, the group spokesman said Mr Verdon had been beheaded on March 10 "in response to the French military intervention in the north of Mali", ANI reported.

The AQIM commander described Mr Verdon as a French spy and said France's President Francois Hollande "bore the responsibility for the remaining hostages".

Mr Verdon and another Frenchman, Serge Lazarevic, were kidnapped from their hotel room on November 24, 2011, in the northern Mali town of Hombori.

Their families denied that the two men were mercenaries or secret service agents.

It is not known whether Mokhtar Belmokhtar is dead or alive

The killing, if proved true, would be a worrying development for Mr Hollande.

Another 14 French hostages are detained in Western Africa, including seven believed to be held in the Sahel region by al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and its affiliates.

in August last year a video showing Mr Verdon describing the "difficult living conditions" was released on a Mauritanian website.

The hostages' families have in recent weeks expressed growing fears for their loved ones in the light of France's military actions in Mali.

Earlier Tuesday, Mr Verdon's father Jean-Pierre, complained that the families were hearing nothing from the French authorities.

"We are in a total fog and it is impossible to live this way," he told RTL radio. "We have no information."

French soldiers on the ground in Timbuktu

Asked about France's refusal to pay ransoms to kidnappers, he replied that the families had no say in such "decisions of state".

Terror chief Mokhtar Belmokhtar, an AQIM leader and one of the world's most wanted men, had pledged revenge and vowed to attack western targets in Africa after France launched a campaign to help the country's embattled government drive Islamist militants out of northern Mali.

France now has more than 4,000 troops on the ground in Mali.

It launched a nine-week assault in January to dislodge the group and other Islamist militants who had hijacked a Tuareg rebellion in Sahel and seized the northern half of the country.

They were driven out from the main cities of Gao, Timbuktu and Kidal, after which some 1,600 French and Chadian troops began searching for Islamist rebels in their pocket hideouts in the mountainous region of northern Mali.

When asked by the ANI news agency whether Belmokhtar had been killed, the AQIM commander neither denied nor confirmed it.

There have been conflicting reports on whether he was killed in the French military campaign against the rebels.

Soldiers from Chad fighting Islamists in Mali had claimed to have killed Belmokhtar, who is said to have been the mastermind behind the recent Algerian hostage crisis at a remote gas facility in the Algerian desert.

The one-eyed gangster, nicknamed Mr Marlboro because of his involvement in cigarette smuggling, had also been dubbed "The Uncatchable" by French intelligence after being linked to a series of kidnappings of foreigners in north Africa over the past decade.

France has been carrying out DNA tests to determine whether militant leaders Belmokhtar and Abdelhamid Abou Zaid are among those killed in recent fighting in Mali.

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Ohio Rape Case: Teen Girls 'Threaten' Victim

Two girls have been arrested for allegedly threatening an Ohio rape victim in the aftermath of a trial that convicted her two attackers.

The teenagers are being held for allegedly making threats against the 16-year-old victim via Facebook and Twitter on Sunday.

It happened on the day two Steubenville High School football players were convicted of rape.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said the girls are being held in a juvenile detention facility on allegations of aggravated menacing following an investigation by state and local police.

Richmond is comforted by his lawyer after the judge read his verdict

Mr DeWine said he hoped the arrests will end harassment of the victim.

Trent Mays, 17, and Ma'Lik Richmond, 16, broke down in court on Sunday when they were found guilty of raping the girl during and after an alcohol-fuelled party in August.

The case was made notorious when a video of boys laughing about the assault on the drunk girl went viral.

In one video, high school boys laughed about watching the rape, saying the girl "deserved to be peed on".

Brian Mays (R) hugs his son after the guity verdict is delivered

Other videos and photos showed Mays and Richmond lifting the unconscious and nearly naked victim by her hands and feet.

Mr DeWine said a grand jury will investigate whether additional charges should be brought against others for failing to speak up after the attack.

Other students, the school's headteacher, coaches and parents could potentially have broken the law, he said.

The crime shocked many in Steubenville because of the seeming callousness with which other students took out their mobile phones to record the attack and gossiped about it online.

The case initially came to light through a barrage of text messages, social media posts and online photos and videos.

It also led to allegations of a cover-up to protect the celebrated Steubenville High Big Red team.

Big Red football is central to life in Steubenville

Noting that 16 people refused to talk, many of them underage, Mr DeWine said possible offences to be investigated include failure to report a crime.

"This community desperately needs to have this behind them, but this community also desperately needs to know justice was done and that no stone was left unturned," he said.

Among those who have been interviewed are the owners of one of the houses where parties were held that night, the high school headteacher and the football team's 27 coaches, many of them volunteers.

Text messages introduced at the trial suggested the head coach was aware of the rape allegation early on.

Mr DeWine said coaches are among officials required by state law to report child abuse.

The coach and the school district have repeatedly declined to comment.

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Cyprus Urged To Protect Savings Under 100k

Eurozone finance ministers have urged Cyprus to protect savers with less than 100,000 euros (£86,000) in their accounts from a proposed tax on bank deposits.

Under a bailout deal agreed with the EU, Cyprus planned to impose a levy of 6.7% on all savings below that level.

The scheme was then changed  to a 6.7% tax on all savings between 20,000 and 100,000 euros and 9.9% on all savings over 100,000 euros.

But the finance ministers, known as the Eurogroup, said they favoured a higher, 15.6% tax on richer savers in order to protect those with smaller deposits.

A statement from the group's president Jeroen Dijsselbloem said: "The Eurogroup continues to be of the view that small depositors should be treated differently from large depositors and reaffirms the importance of fully guaranteeing deposits below 100,000 euros."

Sparing more modest savers in favour of the higher rate on bigger deposits, would not impact on the overall amount of the bailout - 10bn euros (£8.6bn) - the group said.

Protesters gathered outside Cyprus' parliament in Nicosia

On Saturday the Eurogroup told debt-ridden Cyprus it would not give it a bailout unless it recouped some of the money it needed from savers.

The scheme had the potential to affect thousands of Britons who had either moved to Cyprus to live or had money saved in Cypriot accounts.

Russia, whose citizens are thought to have up to $30bn of their cash tied up in Cypriot accounts, was left furious by the proposal.

Cyprus may still ignore the advice from the Eurogroup and its parliament is expected to vote on a plan to save its economy on Tuesday.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said Britain had been "separated" from contributing towards the bailout, adding that 3,000 Britons in the country would not suffer in the proposed raid on bank savings.

Large numbers of Russian millionaires have stashed savings in Cypriot banks

It is believed however that many British Cypriots may have millions in accounts that are not protected by UK rules.

It was also unclear whether British troops serving in Cyprus who had set up large savings accounts would be able to escape the tax.

Cyprus had been due to vote on the levy on Sunday but it was first pushed back until Monday and then Tuesday.

Banks were closed in the country on Monday because of a bank holiday, which prevented people withdrawing their money but cash machines across the island were emptied.

Branches will stay shut for another two days - Tuesday and Wednesday - to prevent people removing all their cash while the authorities decide what to do.

The decision to target bank accounts stunned Cypriots, and police sealed off parliament as about 400 people staged a noisy protest outside, aggrieved that their small island of one million people should be singled out for such treatment.

It is the first time within the EU that it has been proposed to tax savers in a country to pay for the failings of their government.

The euro and stock markets fell on concern that developments in tiny Cyprus could reignite the financial crisis in the 17-nation eurozone.

A large amount of cash was withdrawn from Cypriot banks on Monday

If Cyprus does tax large savers heavily there are fears that money could flood out of the country as two thirds of deposits are from abroad.

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Five Arrested Over Tourist Gang Rape In India

Five villagers in India have confessed to the gang rape of a Swiss tourist, according to police.

The woman was on a cycling holiday with her husband in the impoverished state of Madhya Pradesh state when they were attacked.

The five men were all arrested after they admitted to the crime.

Senior police officer D K Arya said detectives were searching for two more men involved in the attack.

The couple told police that the woman had been raped by seven or eight men, but that it was dark and they could not be sure of the exact number, Mr Arya said.

The alleged rapists live in a village near the forested area where the couple had stopped to camp for the night.

They were en route to the popular tourist destination of Agra in northern India.

"They were passing by, noticed the couple putting up their tent and saw an opportunity to attack and rape the woman,"  local police official M S Dhodee said.

It is believed the man was beaten and tied to a tree while his wife was sexually assaulted.

The woman, who is thought to be around 39, was treated in hospital but released on Saturday.

Police at the scene of the attack

The Swiss embassy said it was in touch with local authorities in Madhya Pradesh and has urged a "swift investigation and for justice to be done".

The attack comes just a few days after the man accused of leading the fatal gang rape of a student on a New Delhi bus was found hanged in his prison cell.

Police say Ram Singh took his own life in the high-security Tihar jail, where he had been on suicide watch in an isolated cell.

The case made headlines around the world and raised the issue of sexual violence against women in India.

The student's internal injuries were so horrific she died two weeks later in a hospital in Singapore despite surgery to try to save her.

Four other men and a juvenile are on trial for that attack.

One woman is raped every 20 minutes in India, according to the National Crime Records Bureau.

But police estimate only four out of 10 rapes are reported, largely due to victims' fear of being shamed by their families and communities.

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Cyprus Bailout: Savings Tax Could Be Cut

Officials in Cyprus are reportedly trying to renegotiate a eurozone bailout deal in order to soften the impact of a levy on smaller savers.

Authorities had planned a 6.7% tax on deposits under 100,000 euros (£85,454), triggering queues at cash machines as people in Cyprus rushed to withdraw their money.

But the country's government is thought to be discussing cutting the tax rate to 3% while raising the rate for deposits over 100,000 euros from 9.9% to 12.5%.

In exchange for the tax levy, Cyprus will receive 10bn euros (£8.54bn) in aid to help recapitalise banks.

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades held talks with his cabinet

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, who was elected just three weeks ago, said the island had to accept a painful compromise or face bankruptcy.

In a televised address, he said the bailout "will eventually stabilise the economy and lead it to recovery".

Monday is a national holiday in Cyprus and measures need to be approved before banks open again on Tuesday.

Depositors in the eurozone's weaker economies have been unnerved by the levy, with investors fearing the move will set a precedent that could reignite market turmoil.

Their uncertainty could be reflected when European markets open later, with the euro having already seen sharp falls in Asia.

British government and military personnel in Cyprus will be protected from any levy on their bank deposits.

Foreign Secretary William Hague told Sky News that Britain had been "separated" from contributing towards the bailout, adding that 3,000 Britons in the country would not suffer in the proposed raid on bank savings.

The tax on deposits in Cyprus, which accounts for only 0.2% of the eurozone's economy, is expected to raise up to 6bn euros (£5bn).

Those affected will include rich Russians with deposits in Cyprus and Europeans who have retired to the island, as well as Cypriots themselves.

Savers have queued to withdraw their money from cash machines across Cyprus

The size of foreign deposits in Cyprus - estimated at 37% of the total - was one reason the eurozone agreed to the tax on savings.

It will apply to all deposits held in banks within Cyprus, including an estimated 2bn euros (£1.75bn) of British money, according to the European Central Bank.

It will not affect deposits held in the UK branches of Cypriot banks, such as Bank of Cyprus, whose UK subsidiary is regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

However, Laiki Bank UK said on its website: "Your eligible deposits with Laiki Bank UK are protected up to a total of 100,000 euro (£87.000) by the Cyprus Deposit Protection Scheme and are not protected by the UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

"Any deposits you hold above the 100,000 euro limit are not covered."

Cypriot banks lost 4.5bn euros (£3.8bn) - equal to a quarter of the island's gross domestic product - when eurozone leaders decided to write off Greek debt last year.

As part of its bailout deal, corporate tax will rise from 10% to 12.5%, while state assets will be sold off to help balance the public finances.

Cuts to government worker salaries and pensions have already been approved.

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Syrian General And His Son Defect To Jordan

A high-ranking general in the Syrian army who has defected to neighbouring Jordan has said morale among those still inside President Bashar al Assad's regime was low.

Major General Mohammed Ezz al Din Khalouf announced his defection from the Assad regime in a video aired on the al Arabiya news channel.

The footage, which could not be independently verified, showed Maj Gen Khalouf dressed in a civilian suit sat next to his son, Captain Ezz al Din Khalouf, who defected with him, and a rebel fighter.

Maj Gen Khalouf said that many of those within regime have lost faith in it, yet continue to do their jobs, allowing Mr Assad to demonstrate broad support.

"It's not an issue of belief or practicing one's role," he said. "It's for appearance's sake, for the regime to present an image to the international community that it pulls together all parts of Syrian society under this regime."

He also said fighters from the Lebanese military group Hezbollah were fighting in Syria in "more than one place," but did not give further details.

The Syrian government did not immediately comment on the defection.

An activist from one of the rebel groups that claims to have helped get the Khaloufs out of the country, said that Ezz al Din Khalouf - who headed a reconnaissance unit for the Syrian army - made contact with rebels about six months ago.

He then leaked information before he asked for help getting him and his father out of Syria, the activist said.

Maj Gen Khalouf was chief of staff of the army branch that deals with supplies and fuel.

While rebels lauded his defection as a blow to the regime, it was unlikely to have a significant effect on Assad's ability to wage war.

Widespread defections among conscripts and low-level soldiers have sapped the Syrian army's infantry, but high-level defections have been rare.

Still, cracks continue to spread through the Assad regime as rebel forces expand their areas of control and put increasing pressure on the capital, Damascus.

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Pope Francis: Fond Memories In The Slums

By Amanda Walker, US Correspondent

When it comes to Villa 1114 in Buenos Aires - the local advice to tourists is simply "don't go".

"Villas" are the city's slums - ghettoized neighbourhoods ridden with crime, poverty and drug abuse.

And Villa 1114 is one of the most notorious. Its 50,000 residents have little hope of escaping to a better life.

The Catholic church plays a big role by offering some light in an otherwise bleak world. The only safe way in is to be escorted by a priest.

As we enter, children and dogs rifle through rubbish strewn across pavements. Unemployment is high here - few stand a chance of getting work.

If potential employers know your address, residents say there's no chance - living in a Villa is a stigma. For many, drugs are the only way out of a depressing existence.

When Father Gustav Carrara wanted to set up the Hogar de Cristo drug rehabilitation centre he turned to a friend for help.

The leader of the Catholic Church was known for kissing the feet of addicts

Within 10 days he was granted a spacious building on the fringes of the Villa to use as a base. It's now a lifeline for those who otherwise feel forgotten and ignored. That friend who made it happen is now Pope Francis.

A year ago when he was Cardinal Bergoglio, he came to the shelter, in an area where few dare to tread, to hold Mass.

He washed and kissed the feet of recovering drug users. It's a ritual he's performed regularly for those in need across Buenos Aires.

He also baptised their children - including Catriel Tisiano, who is now two.

Pope Francis baptised children in the slum on his last visit

His mother Celia Dias said: "He blessed him - he opened up and brightened up son's life. The fact that he came here to wash the feet of someone like me shows humility. It felt like he was one of us. There aren't many people who would do that."

From someone so high up in the church it was a rare act but those who know him well say it's typical of Bergoglio.

Softly spoken Father Gustav Carrara, who runs the project, said: "In some places this might be unusual but we became used to the Cardinal doing these things - we came to see them as natural."

The recovering addicts finish lunch and then form a circle for their group therapy session.The big problem drug here is known as "paco" - a cocaine residue that's cheap and highly addictive.

These are some of the city's most vulnerable people, but despite Bergoglio's powerful new position they still relate to him as a friend.

The Pope speaks to villa residents last year

It's not just about curbing drug addition. Upstairs is a training centre where skills, such as woodwork and sewing are learnt with a view to rebuilding lives.

Arturo Lopez is in his fifties and it's obvious how much pride he takes in passing on his carpentry skills to young people at the centre.

Throughout this place there's a pervading and genuine admiration for the man who is now Pope Francis.

Arturo said: "I've known him for many years. He's had a big impact here and has given us the opportunity to help all these youngsters."

Bergoglio's appointment as pope may not change the fact that these people still face a tough future. But having a powerful new global voice to vouch for Catriel and others like him certainly offers some hope.

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