Top news: A group tied to Al Qaeda has claimed responsibility for a bombing in Yemen's capital that killed more than 100 people yesterday. The bombing, carried out by a man dressed as a soldier at a rehearsal for a military parade in central Sanaa, was retaliation for attacks on militant bases in the south of the country, according to a Facebook post by the group, Ansar al Shariah.
A smaller and more somber version of the parade, meant to commemorate the 1990 unification of North and South Yemen, went ahead today amid heavy security.
The massive attack is likely to weaken morale among Yemeni troops and has shattered the relative calm in heavily-fortified Sanaa, which has been spared the worst of terrorist violence. It marks a change in tactics from Al Qaeda's Yemeni branch, which has generally avoided direct attacks against rank-and-file soldiers in an effort to encourage them to defect.
The bombing followed an attack on Sunday against a group of American contractors in the port city of Hodeida. U.S. counterterrorism officials say the Yemeni military's latest southern offensive is encountering stiff resistance.
Afghanistan: NATO has formally agreed on a plan to draw down their security role in Afghanistan.
Middle East
- Groups supporting and opposing the Syrian government clashed in Beirut on Monday.
- The IAEA expects to reach a deal soon on investigating Iran's nuclear program.
- The U.S. Senate approved a bill to tighten sanctions against Iran.
Africa
- The interim president of Mali was beaten by a mob who stormed the presidential palace on Monday. The ECOWAS bloc is threatening new sanctions against the country.
- A verdict is due in the trial of two men accused of killing a South African white supremacist leader.
- A controversial painting of South African President Jacob Zuma was attacked in Johannesburg.
Asia
- North Korea vowed to boost its nuclear deterrent in response to U.S. pressure.
- Former Sri Lankan army chief Sarath Fonseka was released from prison.
- Several members of Myanmar's main opposition party were arrested after protests against power cuts.
Europe
- Newly elected President Tomislav Nikolic has affirmed Serbia's commitment to join the European Union.
- French prosecutors are investigating new rape charges against former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Khan.
- The OECD is calling for jointly-guaranteed eurozone bonds.
Americas
- Mexican police have captured a suspect in this month's killing of 49 people.
- The U.S. Justice Department is investigating possible misconduct by the Drug Enforcement Agency in Colombia, unrelated to the Secret Service prostitution scandal.
- A former Haitian telecom official was sentenced to nine years in prison for bribery.
MOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP/GettyImages
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