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　　The United Nations Security Council has condemnedtwo suicide car bombings which left at least 55people dead in the Syrian capital Damascus. Thecouncil members acknowledged the internationalpeace plan for Syria was under strain, but they insisted there was no alternative. BarbaraPlett at the UN headquarters has more.

　　The Security Council issued a strong condemnation of the attacks, but gave no sign it wasready to admit the failure of peace efforts. Instead, it called on all parties to keep theircommitments to stop the violence and reaffirm support for the peace plan of the specialenvoy, Kofi Annan. Syria's ambassador, Bashar al-Ja'afari, told the council his country hadevidence that foreign fighters and groups linked to al-Qaeda were behind a growing number ofterrorist operations. He repeated accusations that some regional countries were arming andfinancing Syrian rebels, and he urged the council to exert maximum pressure on those statesto end such support.

　　Millions of Egyptians are watching their country's first live television debate between presidentialcandidates. Two front-runners, the former head of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, and themoderate Islamist, Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, are going head-to-head. Yolande Knell hasbeen watching.

　　Several polls suggest that Amr Moussa and Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh are closely leading thepresidential race. This high-profile debate, shown on two private TV networks, was a chancefor the two to confront each other – in a style that's new to the Arab world. Each was asked awide range of questions, including how their powers should be limited as president to ensurethey did not turn into a dictator. They were also allowed to challenge each other. Amr Moussaattacked the record of his rival as a former leading member of the powerful MuslimBrotherhood, while Mr Aboul Fotouh called the former foreign minister a 'remnant of theousted regime'.

　　The polls have closed in Algeria's parliamentary elections. Dozens of new parties have beentaking part, but the interior ministry has said just 35% of the electorate turned out to casttheir ballots.

　　Reports in the United States suggest that an undercover agent who helped foil a bomb plotby infiltrating al-Qaeda in Yemen was a British man. The bomb was hidden in underwear andintended to be detonated on board a passenger plane flying to the US, but instead, thewould-be suicide bomber gave the device to US intelligence. Here's Gordon Corera.

　　The official response from British sources is to neither confirm nor deny that the agent whoinfiltrated al-Qaeda in Yemen was a British national. US reports claimed that the individual wasof Middle Eastern origin, but held a British passport. That person managed to convince al-Qaeda in Yemen that he was willing to carry out an attack using an underwear bomb, butinstead, delivered the device to the US. When the story initially emerged, the US said thatinternational partners had played a crucial role, and there have been indications that Britishintelligence was involved from early on.

　　World News from the BBC

　　The President of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, has told neighboring South Sudan that his country willrespond vigorously to attacks on his territory. In a televised speech, he warned SouthSudan against supporting rebels oppose to his government. He said that if they did, he'drespond by backing rebels in the south. "If they want tit for tat", the president said, "we areready."

　　A sheriff in the US state of Arizona, who's known for his tough stance on immigration, is beingsued by the federal authorities. Sheriff Joe Arpaio's department is accused of racially profilingLatinos during their patrols. From Washington, Paul Adams has more.

　　The Department of Justice began investigating Joe Arpaio almost four years ago, followingallegations that his police officers were discriminating against Latinos. Last December, thedepartment accused him of fostering a culture of disregard for basic constitutional rights.Months of subsequent negotiations failed to result in a deal to train the sheriff's officers in howto avoid racial profiling while conducting routine traffic stops. The sheriff accuses federalgovernment of undermining his authority, and says he's not afraid of going to court.

　　The Olympic torch has been lit at an elaborate ceremony in Greece before it begins its journeyto London for the Games which start in July. Actresses dressed as priestesses in queen pleatedrobes performed ritual dances at the ceremony at the site of the ancient Games in Olympia.The torch was lit by the sun's rays reflected from a parabolic mirror. The flame will be carriedaround Greece for eight days before being flown to Britain.

　　Archeologists working in Guatemala say they've discovered the oldest calendar yet from thenancient Maya civilization in Central America. They found that it undermines the idea that theMayans predicted the world would end in 2012. Hieroglyphs on the 9th century calendaruncovered in the ruins of the ancient city of Xultun predicted at least another 7,000 years.

　　BBC News