A fierce critic of the Tunisian government's dealings with radical Islamists was shot dead today, sending protesters onto the streets two years after their Jasmine Revolution sparked revolt across the Arab world.
The Arab League approved economic sanctions on Syria to try to force Damascus to halt an eight-month crackdown on protests against President Bashar al-Assad that Qatar said may prompt international intervention.
Syria agreed on to extend the mission of Arab League observers monitoring implementation of a peace plan aimed at ending 10 months of violence in which thousands of people have been killed.
The Arab League said today it had suspended its monitoring mission in Syria because of "the critical deterioration of the situation" as state security forces battled rebels holding three suburbs just outside Damascus.