World news in brief

SOMALIA: The country's appeals court has dropped charges against a woman who claims she was raped by government security forces but was convicted of defaming the government.

Mogadishu Judge Mohamed Hassan Ali said today that there wasn't enough evidence to substantiate the charge.

A journalist who interviewed the rape victim and was tried alongside her had his sentence reduced from one year to six months.

But Human Rights Watch Africa director Daniel Bekele said that the court had missed a chance "to right a terrible wrong" by not freeing the journalist.

PA finance chief quits over deficit

PALESTINE: Palestinian Authority Finance Minister Nabil Qassis announced his resignation today in a show of frustration over the widening budget deficit.

Mr Qassis said that the authority's 2013 budget deficit is expected to reach $1.4 billion (£930 million).

He said he decided to step down after politicians and trade unions objected to proposed austerity measures.

The authority is in crisis due to cuts in US aid, Israel's slowness in handing over tax payments and the failure by Arab allies to deliver hundreds of millions of pounds in promised aid.

Retrial date set for Mubarak

EGYPT: The retrial of ousted president Hosni Mubarak on charges related to the killings of protesters during the uprising against him will begin on April 13.

Mr Mubarak and his former interior minister were sentenced to life in prison in June for failing to prevent the killing of protesters during the 18-day revolution in 2011 that ended his 29-year rule.

But an appeals court overturned the sentences in January and ordered a retrial.

Critics believed that Mr Mubarak should have been convicted and sentenced to death.

Thousands out against poverty

BULGARIA: Tens of thousands of people protested against poverty and corruption across the country today.

Protesters marched through the capital Sofia and other major cities on the country's national day.

The demonstrations were sparked by public anger over high utility bills and widespread poverty but gradually grew into a full-scale campaign against the centre-right government and established order.

ECB 'not taking care of jobless'

FRANCE: Industrial Recovery Minister Arnaud Montebourg said today that the European Central Bank is shirking its responsibilities to Europe's unemployed.

Mr Montebourg said: "It's not dealing with growth. It's not taking care of the unemployed. It's not taking care of the European people. And it has a duty to do so."

He also said the bank is keeping the euro strong, which is hurting exports.

"What I am asking is to give us the weapons to fight unfair offshoring," he explained.

Police blamed for protesters' deaths

GUYANA: A government-appointed commission has found that police were responsible for the deaths of three protesters last year.

It said that authorities found no evidence that any of the protesters had been carrying weapons.

The killings occurred in July when police fired into a crowd that was protesting against electricity price increases in a south-western bauxite mining town.

Police claimed that unidentified people had killed the protesters.

Teen shot dead at Conakry march

GUINEA: The Red Cross in Guinea said today that a teenager was shot dead during clashes between security forces and opposition marchers in the capital Conakry.

The 13-year-old boy was shot twice by security forces early on Saturday and died from his injuries.

Abdoulaye Sow's body was taken to a nearby hospital. At least seven others were hurt in clashes today.