Main headlines
March 4, 2013
Following the arrests of 50 Copts accused of evangelizing in Libya, a church in Benghazi is attacked by gunmen.
Shia fighters from Iraq and Lebanon have travelled to Syria to help local allies defend a shrine, south of Damascus, which they believe is under threat from Sunni rebels, Reuters reports.
A former engineer blows himself up between the two most holy shrines of Shia Islam, causing an unknown number of casualties.
Deadly clashes continue in Port Said leading to hundreds of injuries and the first reported civilian death. The Egyptian army denies exchanging fire with the police.
March 3, 2013
Britain's foreign secretary, William Hague, dismisses Assad's criticisms of Britain's attempts to arm the Syrian opposition as "delusional".
Violent clashes continue in Port Said and Mansoura, leaving one dead and dozens injured.
Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, former interior minister Habib El-Adly and six aides will face retrial on 13 April for killing of protesters during revolution.
According to global advocacy group, Human Rights Watch, the detainees' lawyers are not being given access to adequate information.
Al Qaeda in North Africa commander, Mokhtar Belmokhtar, is killed by Chadian soldiers in Mali.
The president moves his former presidential campaign adviser into the position ahead of his planned trip to the region this month.
After the Israeli PM fails in talks with potential partners for his coalition, President Shimon Peres extends the deadline.
In a rare interview, the Syrian president tells foreign powers to stop interfering in Syrian affairs.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry urges bickering Egyptian political leaders to forge a consensus to pave the way for aid that could help lift their country out of its deep economic crisis.
March 2, 2013
The Persian state has barred the Voice of Russia website from operating inside the country, leaving speculation about its motives.
Clashes between police and demonstrators in the Egyptian city of Mansoura leave one dead after allegedly being run over by a police vehicle.
