France bombed an Islamist rebel hideout Monday in northern Mali's largest city, where troops rattled by guerrilla attacks intensified a security lock-down as the French-led campaign against the extremists entered its second month.

Police in Nigeria's Kano state said Monday that Islamist group Boko Haram was behind last month's attack on a key Muslim leader, adding that seven people had been arrested over the incident.

The Islamist movement Hamas which rules Gaza has set up its own news agency, called Al Rai (Opinion), the Palestinian territory's Hamas government announced on Monday.

Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki's secular party said on Monday that it would stay in the ruling coalition, but demanded the resignation of key Islamist ministers amid deepening political uncertainty.

Jihadist rebels killed 14 Syrian intelligence officers in twin suicide attacks against their offices in the northeast province of Hasakeh on Monday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki's secular party said on Monday that it would stay in the coalition government, pending the resignation of key ministers from the ruling Islamist party.

A French combat helicopter bombed a police station in Mali's northern city of Gao on Monday where Islamists and troops clashed at the weekend, witnesses told AFP.

An explosion shook the largest city in northern Mali early Monday, hours after Islamist gunmen battled French and Malian troops following two straight days of suicide bombings.

An explosion shook the largest city in northern Mali early Monday, hours after Islamist gunmen battled French and Malian troops following two straight days of suicide bombings.

Syrian rebels launched fierce assaults on government troops in several parts of the country, as a UN envoy urged the leader of the opposition to seek dialogue with the Damascus regime.

Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali's gamble on forming a new cabinet in defiance of his Islamist party after the murder of an opposition head left Tunisia in political limbo Sunday with possible resignations from the government.

Opposition forces have struggled to carve out an identity ever since Tunisia's post-revolution elections brought Islamists to power at a time of disunity between secular parties.

A gunbattle broke out in northern Mali's largest city Sunday following two straight days of suicide bombings, as Islamist militants continued to defy a lock-down on territory reclaimed by French-led forces.

An explosion that rocked the north Malian city of Gao late Saturday was a suicide bombing at an army checkpoint, the day after a similar attack at the same spot, said a Malian soldier, reporting no other wounded.

A massive explosion was heard near Gao in northern Mali, hours after villagers near the city detained two youths preparing for suicide bombings.

A massive explosion near Gao in northern Mali late Saturday raised fears of an Islamist attack, hours after villagers near the city detained two youths preparing suicide bombings.

Malian troops bolstered security at army checkpoints and villagers detained two youths allegedly strapped with explosives on Saturday after Islamists claimed responsibility for the country's first suicide attack.

Palestinian factions meeting in Cairo to seal a reconciliation deal between Fatah and Hamas were to hold a second round of talks on Saturday after the failure of initial efforts, delegates said.

Tunisia's prime minister threatened to quit on Saturday and warned of chaos unless key ministries held by fellow Islamists go to independents in a new government of non-partisan technocrats.

Thousands of backers of Tunisia's ruling Islamists rallied in the capital Saturday to denounce Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali's plan to form a new government of technocrats amid deepening political uncertainty.