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Turkey says Syria planting mines to stop refugees
As Turkey prepares more camps for Syrian refugees Ankara is adding its weight to claims that Damascus’ forces have planted mines along the border to stop people fleeing the country. Hundreds of people are said to be arriving in Turkey every day as a crackdown against opponents of President Bashar al Assad intensifies. Turkey’s foreign ministry says a Syrian general is among those to have fled. Many of the refugees have come from the region around Idlib. Syrian state media says government forces have cleared the city of what were described as “armed terrorists.” Fighting has continued in other areas as the revolt enters its second year. The UN estimates around 8,000 people have been killed in the past 12 months of violence, some 2,000 of them government forces. More about: Bashar al-Assad, Refugees, Syria, Turkey

Lavrov says boths sides to blame for Syria violence
Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, says the Assad regime should not be solely blamed for violence in Syria. During a heated meeting in Cairo, Arab league countries pressed Moscow to join their attempts to Isolate the Syrian President, but Lavrov said they should instead focus on getting aid into the country: Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister: “I believe that we all agree when we talk on Syria that the immediate task now is to end violence irrespective of the sources – like the Arab League initiative from 2nd November says – and allow humanitarian assistance to all those who are in need of it” Russia, a long standing ally of Damascus – and its main arms supplier – has vetoed two UN security council resolutions that blamed Assad’s regime for the violence. Along with China the two countries have shielded Damascus from its Western and Arab critics. Lavrov is also said to have held a meeting with Kofi Annan, the special envoy for Syria appointed by the UN and the League, ahead of his visit to Syria on Saturday. More about: Arab League, Bashar al-Assad, Kofi Annan, Syria

Tymoshenko daughter in jail plea
On the eve of International Women’s Day, the daughter of jailed former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, and the wives of her two imprisoned ministers (Yuri Lutsenko and Valeriy Ivaschenko) held a press conference to demand a meeting with President Viktor Yanukovich in an attempt to get their relatives released from prison. Evgeniya Tymoshenko said: ???We are asking President Yanukovych to meet us and to discuss the situation. We want to talk about political repression and understand what actions he intends to take as the protector of the constitution.??? All three have been jailed by the current government on charges of corruption. Valeriy Ivashchenko the former Deputy Defence Minister has been detained since August 2010 on charges of illegally selling a ship-repair factory in Crimea. Yuri Lutsenko, the former interior minister, was sentenced on Feb 27 to 4 years in prison for giving illegal bonuses and perks to his driver at the expense of the state. In October 2011 Yulia Tymoshenko was sentenced to 7 years for abusing her authority during the conclusion of gas contracts between Ukraine and Russia in 2009. Their relatives claim however that the allegations are trumped-up and amount to political repression. Inna Bohoslovska, the Head of the Parliamentary Temporary Commission that is investigating the signing of gas agreements, said: ???What can the president do in this situation? He can grant an act of pardon. But for this, Tymoshenko or her lawyers have to petition him for pardon.??? Tymoshenko has consistently refused to this however, saying that all three are innocent and pointing out that both the US and the EU have protested over her imprisonment and requested her immediate release. Our correspondent in Kiev, Sergio Cantone said, said: “This press conference seems to be an attempt to split President Yanukovich’s support by appealing to his less hawkish followers who might want to side with the European Union and the international community.” More about: From our correspondents, Jail, Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, Women’s rights, Yulia Tymoshenko

Karzai wants early exit for ISAF troops
Afghanistan’s President, Hamid Karzai, has called on NATO to end its military mission in his country a year early, in 2013. It comes as the Taliban announced it is pulling out of fledgling peace talks in Qatar with the United States, describing Washington’s stance as the main “obstacle” and blaming “shaky, erratic and vague” US statements. Tense relations have dropped to a new low after a rogue US soldier on Sunday gunned down 16 civilians in the volatile southern province of Kandahar. In response, the US and Afghan authorities have agreed that international security forces must pull out of Afghan village outposts and return to larger bases. Washington has also tried to calm tensions by flying the suspect out of the country but many voices in Kabul want the soldier to stand trial in Afghanistan. The Taliban and Karzai’s statements are a serious blow to NATO however some Western politicians may welcome calls for the withdrawal of foreign combat troops a year early. More about: Afghanistan, Afghanistan attack, Hamid Karzai, NATO

Fantasporto zooms in on fantasy film
The 32nd edition of Fantasporto in the Portuguese city of Porto was a close-up of the world’s finest fantasy films. The festival also paid tribute to British filmmaker Mike Hodges, of film noir classic Get Carter. More about: Cinema, Film festival, Portugal

Swiss bus crash reports in the Belgian press
Belgium was?�in shock?�this morning after the?�crash?�that caused the death of 28 people, including 22 children.?�State?�French-speaking TV?�dedicates a special news bulletin?�about the accident available online. ?�?� ?�?� This drama will shake up Belgium?�?�Is the headline of the biggest Belgian newspaper, Le Soir , which?�provides a very complete?�report on the accident. It covers for example the first reactions of King Albert II, who?�won’t go to Switzerland but will instead meet the families of the victims.?�The daily also?�provides a photo gallery of the accident and?�also follows every detail of the difficult trip of the victims?�from Belgium to Switzerland?�in two Belgian?�Defence airplanes.?�In its live?�coverage, Le Soir also gives links to?�the testimony of the emergency services at the scene?�?�Le Soir’s?�website opens a dedicated?�space where readers can give their condolences and express their grief. ‘La Libre Belgique’ has also created a live chat to allow readers to express their sorrow.?�?�In their special coverage titled “Belgium?�in shock“?�?�the newspaper offers all the details and the latest reactions to the accident. ?�The special coverage of French-speaking ‘La derniere heure’ newspaper is also titled ‘Belgium in mourning’ ?�And of course, every Flemish newspaper is giving extensive coverage of the tragedy as the children came from the region:?� Der Standaard DeMorgen Nieuwsblad ?� More about: Accident, Bus accident, Media, Switzerland, Traffic accidents

Bangladesh ferry death toll rises
Officials in Bangladesh say that at least 140 people are now known to have died in Tuesday’s ferry sinking in the country’s Meghna river. The vessel was reportedly carrying more than 200 people onboard. Authorities say 35 people swam to shore, while dozens remain unaccounted for. The boat’s operators did not collect a list of passengers. They said it is impossible to give the exact number of people onboard at the time. Ferry accidents are common in Bangladesh. They are often blamed on overcrowding, faulty vessels and lax rules. More about: Accident, Bangladesh, Victims

Latest polls show Sarkozy gaining on Hollande
As France’s two main rivals for the presidency both campaigned on French television, latest opinion polls put them neck and neck for the April first-round vote. One poll even had President Nicolas Sarkozy coming out on top although he was still forecast to lose the all important second round in May. Meanwhile, critics claim Sarkozy is determined to shed his friend-of-the-rich image with his latest election promise. “We will apply the same measures like the Americans do – tax linked to nationality,” said President Sarkozy. “Any tax exile, that is to say, anyone who has gone abroad for the sole purpose of avoiding having to pay French tax, will have to declare to the French administration the sum of what he paid in taxes abroad and if it is lower than what he would have paid at home in France, he must pay the difference.” Both Sarkozy and his Socialist challenger Francois Hollande are trying to win back voters tempted by the political extremes. After Sarkozy played the immigration card on Sunday, Hollande attacked his threat to pull out of Europe’s open-border Shengen zone: “He has no policies, he has not presented any programme of his own proposals, So he tries to improvise, and the latest improvised proposal is to review the Schengen treaty or even leave the zone entirely.” As the deadline approaches for candidates to accrue the 500 mayoral signatures needed to contest the election, third placed, National Front leader Marine Le Pen is falling short. However Sarkozy and Hollande say she should be allowed to stand to reflect the French electorate. More about: 2012 French presidential election, France 2012, Francois Hollande, French politics, Nicolas Sarkozy

Party time for Putin and his supporters
Supporters of Vladimir Putin were also out on Moscow’s streets but this time there was a mood of celebration. Putin, who secured almost 64 per cent of votes in Sunday’s election, portrayed his return for a third term as president as a victory over those whom he said were trying to undermine the Russian state. Post office worker Alla was one of many convinced by the Putin message: “I don’t know about the others,” she said, “but I voted for him because apart from Putin there are no other candidates that I saw, and I think that he should be a good president for our country.” The prime minister held his own party on Monday evening mixing with politicians, celebrity musicians and actors who had taken part in his campaign broadcasts. Putin is due to swap his premiership for the presidency in two months time. More about: Presidential elections, Russia, Russian elections 2012, Russian politics, Vladimir Putin Will Putin’s third presidential term make Russia stronger? A Javascript enabled browser that accepts cookies is required in order to participate in the poll. yes (48%)  no (48%)  i don't know (4%)  // pollTS[0]) { pollTS = cookie; cValid = true; }; }; warning.parentNode.removeChild(warning); if(cookie && cValid) { for(var i = 1; i < pollTS.length; i++) { votes += parseInt(pollTS[i], 10) || 0; }; var total = 0; for(var i = 1; i < pollTS.length; i++) { per = pollTS[i] > 0 ? Math.round(pollTS[i] / (votes / 100)) : 0; if(total + per > 100) { per = 100 - total; total = 100; } else { total += per; }; output[output.length] = '' + questions[i - 1] + ' (' + per + '%) '; }; pollHTML += "" + output.join("") + ""; }; if(!cookie) { pollHTML = ' yes no i don’t know'; }; if(pollHTML) { content.innerHTML = pollHTML; }; })();// ]]>