Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 04 April 2015 | 14.59
Hardline Somali al Shabaab extremists who have carried out an armed raid on a university in eastern Kenya are responsible for a catalogue of deadly terror attacks in the region.
With the raid in Garissa the latest, here are some of the other atrocities committed by the group:
Guests flee the al Shabaab attack on the Maka Al-Mukarramah Hotel
March, 2015: At least 24 people, including six militants, were killed during a siege at the Maka Al-Mukarramah Hotel in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu.
February, 2015: A suicide attack at the Central Hotel in Mogadishu killed 25 people and wounded 40 others. Government officials were meeting in the hotel at the time, and Mogadishu's deputy mayor and two legislators were among the dead.
1/9
Gallery: Terror Attack At Kenyan University
A siege by militants at a university in eastern Kenya has ended after four gunmen were killed. At least 147 people have been killed, with 79 confirmed as wounded
Somalia's al Shabaab terror group has claimed responsibility for the pre-dawn attack, which began when many students were sleeping
A tentative deal to curb Iran's nuclear programme has been heralded as "a first step towards productive interactions with the world" by the country's president.
As celebrations broke out on the streets of Tehran, Hassan Rouhani made a televised address to the Iranian people.
He said: "Today is a day that will remain in the historic memory of the Iranian nation. Some think that we must either fight the world or surrender to world powers.
There were celebrations on the streets of Tehran after Mr Obama's speech
"We say it is neither of those, there is a third way. We can have co-operation with the world."
Mr Rouhani rose to power in a landslide two years ago - making a pledge to voters that he would bring decades of international isolation to an end.
Video:Obama Announces Iran Deal
In the agreement reached on Thursday, Iran would reduce its reserves of enriched uranium, which some nations fear could be used to produce a nuclear bomb.
Additionally, the country would dismantle nearly 13,000 centrifuges - and invasive inspections from international bodies would prevent Iran from violating the deal.
In return, many sanctions would be lifted - providing £100bn of relief to the Iranian economy.
Even though President Barack Obama has hailed the deal as a "historic understanding", diplomats have said that tough negotiations lie ahead of a final deadline on 30 June - warning that the deal could be prone to collapse at any time.
Video:White House Hails 'Historic' Deal
Other world powers involved in brokering the deal included Russia, China, France, Germany and the UK - yet Israel has voiced public opposition to the agreement, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claiming it could lead to the destruction of his country.
In a statement, he said: "Israel demand that any final agreement with Iran will include a clear and unambiguous Iranian commitment to Israel's right to exist."
Responding to Mr Netanyahu's claims, a White House spokesman pledged that the US would not support a deal which could endanger Israel - a key regional ally to the States.
Iran has always maintained its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.
Five people have been arrested in connection with the massacre of 148 people at Kenya's Garissa University, as the al Shabaab terror group threatened more bloodshed.
The arrests were reported by CNN, citing Kenyan Interior Minister Joseph Nkaissery.
They come after a reward of £148,370 was offered for the capture of alleged mastermind, former teacher Mohammed Mohamud.
At least 148 people were killed and 79 hurt as Somalia's al Shabaab extremists targeted Christians, some praying at a lecture hall.
The hall was one of the first sites the gunmen targeted.
Video:Timeline: al Shabaab Attacks
That suggested the masked attackers, who were strapped with bombs and armed with AK-47s, planned their operation extensively, said students.
They claimed many victims were forced to phone their parents and urge them to call for Kenyan troops to leave Somalia - before they were shot.
Others appeared to have been killed by knives in the attack in eastern Kenya, near the Somali border.
But some students were freed, apparently because they were Muslim.
The 12-hour siege ended with four gunmen killed and one suspect arrested.
Video:Footage Emerges From Kenya Massacre
The militant group has struck Kenya several times in recent years including at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi in 2013 where 67 people were killed.
Al Shabaab said the attack was in retaliation for Kenya sending troops to Somalia in 2011 to fight the militants and stabilise the Mogadishu government.
They warned of "another bloodbath" in a "long and gruesome war", saying in an emailed statement: "Not only are you condoning your government's oppressive policies by failing to speak out against them, but are reinforcing their policies by electing them.
"You will, therefore, pay the price with your blood."
Written By Unknown on Jumat, 03 April 2015 | 14.59
By Sky News US Team
After exhausting and contentious talks, Iran and six world powers have agreed on a framework for a deal that would curb Iran's nuclear programme.
The apparent breakthrough came after talks were twice extended beyond a 31 March deadline to reach an outline for a deal.
Speaking at the White House, President Barack Obama called it a "good deal" that would address concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called it a "win-win outcome".
The deal needs to be finalised by the end of June.
John Kerry (2nd L) and others watch a tablet in Lausanne as Mr Obama speaks
Among some of the key points to the pending deal was Iran's agreement to halt construction of any new uranium enrichment facilities for 15 years, US Secretary of State John Kerry said.
Iran would also reduce its current number of centrifuges from 19,000 to 6,104, and all enriched uranium would be capped at 3.67%, which is standard for civilian nuclear power.
Video:Obama Announces Iran Deal
Iran also agreed to reduce its current stockpile of low-enriched uranium from 10,000kg to 300kg for 15 years, Mr Kerry said.
The top US diplomat called Thursday's breakthrough a "critical milestone" in the quest to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
He added, however, that many technical details needed to be worked out ahead of the 30 June deadline for a final accord.
Western powers have been working to reach a deal that would stop Iran from developing the capacity to build a nuclear weapon, in exchange for easing international sanctions that are crippling its economy.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said an end to the nuclear-related sanctions would be "a major step forward" for the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Video:'True Dialogue Can Solve Problems'
"We have stopped a cycle that was not in the interest of anybody," Mr Zarif said from Switzerland.
"I hope that at the end of this process we will all show that through dialogue and engagement with dignity we can in fact resolve problems, open new horizons and move forward."
According to the framework agreement, the sanctions would only be lifted after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had verified that Iran took all agreed steps.
Mr Obama hailed the breakthrough as "historic".
"It is a good deal - a deal that meets our core objectives," he said.
Video:3 March: Israeli PM Warns Of Threat
"This framework would cut off any pathway that Iran could take to develop a nuclear weapon."
Preempting critics of the pending deal, the President added: "If Iran cheats, the world will know. If we see something suspicious we will inspect it."
The American leader also spoke by telephone with Mr Netanyahu, perhaps the sharpest critic of the diplomacy with Iran.
The Israeli prime minister told Obama a deal based on the agreement "would threaten the survival of Israel".
Iran has said its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.
Hardline Somali al Shabaab extremists who have carried out an armed raid on a university in eastern Kenya are responsible for a catalogue of deadly terror attacks in the region.
With the raid in Garissa the latest, here are some of the other atrocities committed by the group:
Guests flee the al Shabaab attack on the Maka Al-Mukarramah Hotel
March, 2015: At least 24 people, including six militants, were killed during a siege at the Maka Al-Mukarramah Hotel in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu.
February, 2015: A suicide attack at the Central Hotel in Mogadishu killed 25 people and wounded 40 others. Government officials were meeting in the hotel at the time, and Mogadishu's deputy mayor and two legislators were among the dead.
1/9
Gallery: Terror Attack At Kenyan University
A siege by militants at a university in eastern Kenya has ended after four gunmen were killed. At least 147 people have been killed, with 79 confirmed as wounded
Somalia's al Shabaab terror group has claimed responsibility for the pre-dawn attack, which began when many students were sleeping
We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.
Video:Footage Emerges From Kenya Massacre
An attack by masked terrorists who stormed a university in eastern Kenya has left at least 147 people dead.
Around 80 more have been confirmed as wounded in the siege at Garissa University, which has now ended after the four attackers detonated their suicide vests.
The gunmen hurled grenades and fired automatic rifles as students were sleeping, shooting dead dozens before setting Muslims free and holding Christians and others hostage.
The authorities are offering a reward for a man linked to the attack
There were unconfirmed reports from some Kenyan media sources that a number of the students had been beheaded.
Winnie Njeri, one of those who escaped, told News24 Kenya: "We saw beheaded bodies when we escaped. It is very bad, they have killed many people."
Video:Militants Attack Kenya University
Survivors said the masked attackers singled out non-Muslim students and gunned most of them down without mercy.
Others ran for their lives as bullets whistled through the air.
Two security guards, one policeman and one soldier were also killed in the siege, which ended 15 hours after the gunmen launched their assault.
The four gunmen had strapped themselves with explosives which they detonated as soldiers burst into the dormitory where they were holed up, according to Interior Minister Joseph Nkaiserry.
When gunfire struck the attackers, the militants exploded "like bombs," Mr Nkaissery said, adding that the shrapnel wounded some of the officers.
Somalia's al Shabaab militant group has claimed responsibility for the pre-dawn attack, which is the country's deadliest since the US embassy bombings in 1998.
1/9
Gallery: Terror Attack At Kenyan University
A siege by militants at a university in eastern Kenya has ended after four gunmen were killed. At least 147 people have been killed, with 79 confirmed as wounded
Somalia's al Shabaab terror group has claimed responsibility for the pre-dawn attack, which began when many students were sleeping
]]>
The militants, who have links to al Qaeda, have in the past vowed retribution against Kenya for sending troops to Somalia
]]>
The militants shot dead dozens before setting Muslims free and holding Christians and others hostage at Garissa University
]]>
Survivors said the masked attackers singled out non-Muslim students and gunned them down
]]>
Student Michael Bwana, who managed to flee, said most of those taken hostage were girls.
Kenya Police Chief Joseph Boinet said the gunmen forced their way into the university at 5.30am by shooting at the guards manning the main gate.
It is not clear if any of the students the militants said they were holding were alive at the time of the final assault.
However, officials said more than 500 students had been rescued.
Authorities have offered a $215,000 (£145,000) reward for a man called Mohammed Mohamud, who has been identified as a possible mastermind of the attack.
Collins Wetangula, the vice chairman of the student union, said he was preparing to take a shower when he heard gunshots coming from a dorm.
Video:Gunmen Storm University Campus
"All I could hear were footsteps and gunshots; nobody was screaming because they thought this would lead the gunmen to know where they are," he said.
"The gunmen were saying sisi ni al-Shabab (Swahili for we are al-Shabab).
"If you were a Christian you were shot on the spot.
"With each blast of the gun I thought I was going to die."
Grace Kai, a student at a neighbouring college, said there had been warnings of an imminent attack.
"Some strangers had been spotted in Garissa town and were suspected to be terrorists," she said.
1/10
Gallery: A Look At The History Of Somali Terrorist Group Al Shabaab
Al Shabaab ("the Youth") emerged from a group called the Union of Islamic Courts which controlled Mogadishu before being forced out by Ethiopian troops in 2006
The group has been banned by both the US and UK but has 7000-9000 fighters, many of them foreign, and it is thought to have close ties with al Qaeda
]]>
"Then on Monday our college principal told us ... that strangers had been spotted in our college.
"On Tuesday we were released to go home, and our college closed, but the campus remained in session, and now they have been attacked."
Kenya's northern and eastern regions, which border Somalia, have been most affected by attacks blamed on al Shabaab Islamists.
The militants, who have links to al Qaeda, have vowed to take retribution against Kenya for sending its troops to Somalia.
Al Shabaab was responsible for the deadly attack in 2013 on the Westgate shopping mall.
The US said it condemned the latest attack in the "strongest terms", while the British government pledged to continue to support Kenya in the country's battle against terrorism.
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Militants Kill 147 In Kenyan University Attack
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Video:Footage Emerges From Kenya Massacre
An attack by masked terrorists who stormed a university in eastern Kenya has left at least 147 people dead.
Around 80 more have been confirmed as wounded in the siege at Garissa University, which has now ended after the four attackers detonated their suicide vests.
The gunmen hurled grenades and fired automatic rifles as students were sleeping, shooting dead dozens before setting Muslims free and holding Christians and others hostage.
The authorities are offering a reward for a man linked to the attack
There were unconfirmed reports from some Kenyan media sources that a number of the students had been beheaded.
Winnie Njeri, one of those who escaped, told News24 Kenya: "We saw beheaded bodies when we escaped. It is very bad, they have killed many people."
Video:Militants Attack Kenya University
Survivors said the masked attackers singled out non-Muslim students and gunned most of them down without mercy.
Others ran for their lives as bullets whistled through the air.
Two security guards, one policeman and one soldier were also killed in the siege, which ended 15 hours after the gunmen launched their assault.
The four gunmen had strapped themselves with explosives which they detonated as soldiers burst into the dormitory where they were holed up, according to Interior Minister Joseph Nkaiserry.
When gunfire struck the attackers, the militants exploded "like bombs," Mr Nkaissery said, adding that the shrapnel wounded some of the officers.
Somalia's al Shabaab militant group has claimed responsibility for the pre-dawn attack, which is the country's deadliest since the US embassy bombings in 1998.
1/9
Gallery: Terror Attack At Kenyan University
A siege by militants at a university in eastern Kenya has ended after four gunmen were killed. At least 147 people have been killed, with 79 confirmed as wounded
Somalia's al Shabaab terror group has claimed responsibility for the pre-dawn attack, which began when many students were sleeping
]]>
The militants, who have links to al Qaeda, have in the past vowed retribution against Kenya for sending troops to Somalia
]]>
The militants shot dead dozens before setting Muslims free and holding Christians and others hostage at Garissa University
]]>
Survivors said the masked attackers singled out non-Muslim students and gunned them down
]]>
Student Michael Bwana, who managed to flee, said most of those taken hostage were girls.
Kenya Police Chief Joseph Boinet said the gunmen forced their way into the university at 5.30am by shooting at the guards manning the main gate.
It is not clear if any of the students the militants said they were holding were alive at the time of the final assault.
However, officials said more than 500 students had been rescued.
Authorities have offered a $215,000 (£145,000) reward for a man called Mohammed Mohamud, who has been identified as a possible mastermind of the attack.
Collins Wetangula, the vice chairman of the student union, said he was preparing to take a shower when he heard gunshots coming from a dorm.
Video:Gunmen Storm University Campus
"All I could hear were footsteps and gunshots; nobody was screaming because they thought this would lead the gunmen to know where they are," he said.
"The gunmen were saying sisi ni al-Shabab (Swahili for we are al-Shabab).
"If you were a Christian you were shot on the spot.
"With each blast of the gun I thought I was going to die."
Grace Kai, a student at a neighbouring college, said there had been warnings of an imminent attack.
"Some strangers had been spotted in Garissa town and were suspected to be terrorists," she said.
1/10
Gallery: A Look At The History Of Somali Terrorist Group Al Shabaab
Al Shabaab ("the Youth") emerged from a group called the Union of Islamic Courts which controlled Mogadishu before being forced out by Ethiopian troops in 2006
The group has been banned by both the US and UK but has 7000-9000 fighters, many of them foreign, and it is thought to have close ties with al Qaeda
]]>
"Then on Monday our college principal told us ... that strangers had been spotted in our college.
"On Tuesday we were released to go home, and our college closed, but the campus remained in session, and now they have been attacked."
Kenya's northern and eastern regions, which border Somalia, have been most affected by attacks blamed on al Shabaab Islamists.
The militants, who have links to al Qaeda, have vowed to take retribution against Kenya for sending its troops to Somalia.
Al Shabaab was responsible for the deadly attack in 2013 on the Westgate shopping mall.
The US said it condemned the latest attack in the "strongest terms", while the British government pledged to continue to support Kenya in the country's battle against terrorism.
Written By Unknown on Kamis, 02 April 2015 | 14.59
Heavy gunfire has been heard after masked gunmen stormed a university in northeastern Kenya.
Two security guards have been killed and at least 29 people wounded, four critically, in the attack at Garissa University.
Explosions have also been reported at the campus building.
Kenya Police Chief Joseph Boinet said: "Gunmen forced their way into Garissa University by shooting at the guards manning the main gate at around 5.30am.
At least 29 people have been wounded
"The gunmen shot indiscriminately while inside the university compound.
"Police... engaged the gunmen in a fierce shootout; however, the attackers retreated and gained entry into one of the hostels."
The area has been sealed off and the army called in to try and "flush out" the attackers.
Students reported seeing up to four masked gunmen.
A policewoman at the scene told Reuters there may be hostages.
She added: "We can hear gunshots from inside the compound but at this point we can't tell who is shooting at who or what."
Gunmen have exchanged fire with security services for several hours, said the Red Cross, who are evacuating the wounded.
Kenya's northern and eastern regions, which border Somalia, have been most affected by attacks blamed on al Shabaab Islamists from Somalia.
The militants have vowed to take retribution against Kenya for sending its troops to Somalia.
No group has claimed responsibility for the raid yet.
China has called for both sides to compromise in nuclear talks between Iran and world powers, warning that all previous efforts will be wasted if a deadlock continues.
The talks in Lausanne, Switzerland, will drag on into Thursday, the State Department said, a day after negotiators agreed to a one-day extension.
After Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi left the meeting, a rare statement from his delegation said: "It is important to give political guidance to the negotiations ... it is important to narrow down the differences.
"If the negotiations are stuck, all previous efforts will be wasted.
"All parties must be prepared to meet each other half way to reach an agreement."
Video:21 March: Iran's Rouhani Optimistic
Mr Wang was one of three foreign ministers to leave the negotiations in the hands of representatives, with Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and France's Laurent Fabius also departing.
The significance of their absence was not clear.
Iran's foreign minister said earlier he was hopeful Tehran and the six world powers - the US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China - could begin drafting a preliminary deal after the negotiations were extended.
Mohammad Javad Zarif described the late-night talks as "very good", saying: "We hope to start drafting the text on Wednesday."
Britain's Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said: "We have made some very significant progress over the last few days, but it has been slow going.
Video:3 March: Israeli PM Warns Of Threat
"We decided to break last night. Some of the staff had been working through the previous night. We wanted people to be fresh as we started the last few issues that remain.
"We are now working on them this morning. I'm optimistic that we will make further progress this morning, but it does mean the Iranians being willing to meet us where there are issues that we still need to deal with.
"So fingers crossed and we hope to get there during the course of the day."
Western powers aim to stop Iran from having the capacity to develop a nuclear bomb, in exchange for easing international sanctions that are crippling its economy.
Stumbling blocks related to Iran's enrichment research and the speed of lifting the sanctions are threatening to scupper an agreement.
Video:March: 'Progress' In Nuclear Talks
The aim is to reach an understanding that could serve as the basis for a final accord to be reached by the end of June.
The talks, which have lasted nearly two years, have already been extended twice since an interim agreement was reached in November 2013.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who opposes the negotiations, said the agreement being put together in Lausanne sends the message "that Iran stands to gain by its aggression".
Iran's foreign minister says he is hopeful Tehran and six world powers can begin drafting a preliminary nuclear deal later today after negotiations were extended in Switzerland.
Talks are scheduled to resume this morning in the Swiss town of Lausanne where the US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China have been working to break the negotiations deadlock.
A midnight deadline passed without any definitive agreement being reached over Tehran's nuclear programme, although negotiators agreed to a one-day extension.
Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif described the late night talks as "very good", adding: "We hope to start drafting the text on Wednesday".
President Barack Obama spoke with key national security advisors late on Tuesday amid suggestions negotiators were close to striking a deal.
Video:21 March: Iran's Rouhani Optimistic
Mr Obama was briefed by Secretary of State John Kerry and the Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz.
Marie Harf, a spokeswoman for the US State Department, earlier confirmed an extension of the deadline.
"We've made enough progress in the last days to merit staying until Wednesday," she said.
"There are several difficult issues still remaining."
Western powers aim to stop Iran from having the capacity to develop a nuclear bomb, in exchange for easing international sanctions that are crippling its economy.
Video:3 March: Israeli PM Warns Of Threat
Stumbling blocks related to Iran's enrichment research and the speed of lifting the sanctions are threatening to scupper an agreement.
The aim is to reach an understanding that could serve as the basis for a final accord to be reached by the end of June.
The talks, which have lasted nearly two years, have already been extended twice since an interim agreement was reached in November 2013.
Most of the parties had indicated they did not want another extension, although they also said the interim agreement would remain in place until 1 July.
The six powers want more than a 10-year suspension of Iran's most sensitive nuclear work.
Video:March: 'Progress' In Nuclear Talks
Tehran, which denies it is trying to develop nuclear weapons, is demanding a swift end to sanctions in exchange for temporary limits on its atomic activities.
Iran says it wants nuclear enrichment only for energy, science, industry and medicine.
But many countries fear Iran could use the technology to make weapons-grade uranium.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who opposes the negotiations, said the agreement being put together in Lausanne sends the message "that Iran stands to gain by its aggression".
A prosecutor has died of his wounds after a shoot-out brought an end to a hostage stand-off in Turkey.
Istanbul's police chief said security forces stormed the courthouse where a far-left group had taken Mehmet Selim Kiraz hostage.
Selami Altinok said the prosecutor underwent surgery after being taken to hospital, but died from his injuries.
An unverified image of one of the hostage-takers
"Because of gunshots heard from inside the prosecutor's office, our security forces carried out an operation," he said.
The two gunmen were also killed in the shoot-out.
Mr Altinok added that police had negotiated with the gunmen for six hours before storming the building.
An unverified photograph that emerged earlier appeared to show Mr Kiraz with a gun to his head and a hand over his mouth - with his hands apparently bound with cable ties.
Turkish riot police stand guard in front of the Justice Palace
Sky News has decided not to show an image of Mr Kiraz in distress.
The photograph was posted online by the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C) - a banned far-left organisation.
The group, which is listed as a terror organisation by the US, the EU and Turkey, had threatened to kill Mr Kiraz at 1.36pm UK time if its demands were not met.
Mr Kiaz had been the prosecutor investigating the death of a teenager who was hit by a police gas canister fired during nationwide anti-government protests in 2013.
A website close to DHKP-C said militants from the banned organisation had given authorities three hours to meet five demands, including forcing policemen held responsible for the teenager's killing to confess.
Deputy Chief Prosecutor Orhan Kapici confirmed the incident was related to Mr Kiraz's investigation into the boy's death.
Mobile phone footage taken from inside the Germanwings flight during its final moments has reportedly been recovered from the crash site in the French Alps.
European newspapers Paris Match and Bild have reported that the video, which Sky News has not seen, was discovered on a mobile phone found among the wreckage of flight 4U 9525.
Paris Match, which has not published the video, reported: "The scene was so chaotic that it was hard to identify people, but the sounds of the screaming passengers made it perfectly clear that they were aware of what was about to happen to them.
"One can hear cries of 'My God' in several languages."
The newspaper added that metallic banging can be heard in the footage, before the screaming gets louder and the video ends.
Video:New Details Of Co-Pilot's History
It comes after Lufthansa revealed that the co-pilot accused of deliberately crashing the Germanwings plane told officials at a training school that he had gone through an "episode of severe depression".
Andreas Lubitz, 27, informed instructors in 2009 that he had to break off from his pilot training for several months because of his illness.
After he had resumed training six years ago, he provided the school with medical documents which showed he had gone through a "previous episode of severe depression," Lufthansa said.
1/9
Gallery: Tributes Laid Near Crash Site
A memorial, carved in French, German, Spanish and English, in memory of the victims of the Germanwings Airbus A320 crash, in the small village of Le Vernet, French Alps
The chapel prepared for the families of the victims and the medico-legal tents for investigators at Seyne les Alpes near the crash site
Written By Unknown on Selasa, 31 Maret 2015 | 14.59
Raffaele Sollecito has given a news conference in Rome after he was acquitted of the murder of British student Meredith Kercher.
The 31-year-old began the conference by thanking his family for supporting him, but said he had been accused of "being an assassin without an element of proof".
He said: "I feel today as though I'm a prisoner who after seven years and five months am free again.
"For me it was a rebirth.
Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito in Perugia before their arrest
"Seven years and five months is an incredibly long time when you're suffering, when you're living an unbearable tragedy. I felt desperate.
"I can't tell you that I no longer have any pain. I still feel the pain.
Video:Amanda Knox Acquitted
"I don't expect from now on ... to be called an assassin and I'll be ready to defend my dignity."
Mr Sollecito and his former girlfriend Amanda Knox were acquitted of murder on Friday by Italy's Supreme Court.
The judges, after 10 hours of deliberation, concluded that a conviction could not be supported by the evidence. Their reasoning will be released within 90 days.
Ms Kercher, who was 21 and from Coulsdon, Surrey, was sexually assaulted and stabbed to death in Perugia in 2007.
Ms Knox and Mr Sollecito spent four years in jail for her murder, but were freed on appeal in 2011.
The American returned to the US before an appeal court threw out the acquittal and reinstated the guilty verdicts last year.
Speaking from Seattle on Saturday, she said: "The knowledge of my innocence has given me strength in the darkest times of this ordeal."
1/24
Gallery: Meredith Kercher Murder: Key Events
2 November 2007: The body of Meredith Kercher, 21, is found in her Perugia apartment. Investigators say she was killed the night before
Ms Kercher's flatmate, Amanda Knox, is pictured kissing her then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito in the days after the murder
Jihadists who travel to Syria to join Islamic State are being "logistically and militarily" supported by Turkey on a daily basis, according to Bashar al Assad.
The Syrian president has accused his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, of ignoring would-be terrorists as they attempt to cross the border between the two nations.
As many as 500 Britons are thought to have made their way to Syria to join the ranks of Islamic State – including three teenage girls from east London, who are now believed to be in the city of Raqqa, an IS stronghold.
The trio were last seen on CCTV at a bus station in Istanbul on 17 February.
Despite this, several terror suspects have been successfully captured in Turkey before they have managed to cross the border, including three teenage boys, who have since been arrested by the Metropolitan Police on suspicion of terrorism offences.
Video:Efforts To Secure Turkey's Borders
In an interview with CBS, Mr Assad described President Erdogan as "somebody who's suffering from political megalomania" – and labelled him a "Muslim Brotherhood fanatic".
Speaking to Charlie Rose on 60 Minutes, the Syrian leader also warned that Islamic State has expanded its reach in his country considerably, even though US-led air strikes have tried to stymie the spread of the terror organisation.
"This is not regular war. It's not about capturing land and gaining land. It's about winning the hearts and minds of Syrians," Mr Assad added.
Video:Missing Schoolgirls: New Video
The president also rejected allegations that his military helicopters had been used to drop barrel bombs and chlorine gas during the four-year civil war – and insisted such claims were "malicious propaganda against Syria".
When asked why his administration's legitimacy has been brought into disrepute by world leaders, he told Mr Rose: "Because the West, and especially the United States, doesn't accept partners – they only accept followers.
"Even Europe is not a partner of the United States. So, this is their problem with Syria. They need somebody to keep saying 'yes'."
Video:UK Teenage Terror Suspects Bailed
During the interview, Mr Assad pledged he would give up power if he lost the support of the Syrian people, or if he no longer represented Syrian interests and values.
"Every conflict, even if it's a war, should end with a political solution," the president concluded.
The relatives of the Germanwings victims may have to wait months for their loved ones to be identified, with no guarantees they will all be found, Germany's Bild newspaper has reported.
The head of the Criminal Research Institute at France's National Gendarmerie said it would take forensic teams between two and four months to complete the DNA identification process, according to Bild.
Even then, "we cannot promise that we will be able to identify all of the victims," Colonel Francois Daoust said.
Colonel Francois Daoust said they may not be able to find all the victims
The violence with which the plane crashed into the mountainside in the French Alps last week has severely hampered the identification of the remains of the 150 people on board.
Recovery teams scouring the crash site have said not a single body has been found intact.
Video:New Details Of Co-Pilot's History
Some 78 different DNA profiles have been isolated so far from around 400 body parts, although none have been directly linked to the victims.
Family members have been asked to provide forensic teams with DNA samples to help in the identification.
Investigators are currently working on the theory that the 27-year-old co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz, deliberately crashed the plane.
1/16
Gallery: The Victims Of The Germanwings Crash
American Emily Selke, a recent graduate, was on the plane with her mother Yvonne. Raymond Selke has described his wife and daughter as 'amazing people'. Pic: Facebook
Iranian sports journalist Hussein Javadi was on his way to Austria to cover a football match. A friend said he was 'a kind, loving, caring man'. Pic: Maysam Bizær/Hossein Javadi
Written By Unknown on Senin, 30 Maret 2015 | 14.59
Technology offers the hope that the Germanwings plane disaster will never happen again, experts have told Sky News.
Systems are already in place to fly unmanned planes from the ground, but they are currently only used in the military sphere.
French prosecutors have said that the captain of the Germanwings plane was locked out of the cockpit as Andreas Lupitz sent the Airbus A320 into a mountain in the French Alps.
In 2009, Honeywell was awarded a patent for a fly-by-wire system that could take control of a plane's cockpit controls and remotely pilot a commercial plane to prevent "unauthorised-flight" and maintain "stable flight".
It has been suggested that the system or others like it could have helped prevent not only the Germanwings disaster but also the disappearance of MH370 if there had been a way to alert ground staff to an on-board emergency.
Video:Pilot Said He Would 'Do Something'
Mischa Dohler, Head of King's College London's Centre for Telecommunications Research, told Sky News: "We have all the technology in place so the aircraft can talk to the ground directly or via the satellite link, so that is all possible. It's just a question of cost.
"At the end of the day, you just need to pay for the infrastructure or a data plan, in the same way as you might pay for your mobile phones.
"The airlines have to decide whether they are willing to invest that money to add that extra real-time safety to airplanes."
Video:Plane Crash: Special Report
David Cummins, Head of Flight Operations at UMS Aerogroup and an expert on unmanned aircraft, said: "We not at the stage where we are talking about autonomous systems that will operate and look after the aircraft.
"We are talking about automated systems where ultimately man, an operator, will always be in the loop."
He told Sky News there are systems in existence that could keep a plane safer without requiring one to be controlled from the ground.
Video:Airbus Video On Anti-Terror Doors
"We need a number of years (before) we will ever see the first unmanned commercial aircraft but there are checks and balances that can be put into play.
"You can look at collision avoidance - the Germanwings is an example - there is technology that exists and is in place that could help.
"There's also sense-and-avoid systems on aircraft that will also be the pilot's eyes on an aircraft. So there are a number of steps we can take.
Video:Was Crash Planned Or Impulsive?
"We are years away from doing it, but the technology exists and its about putting the time and effort and ultimately the finance.
"What the aviation industry is very good at is not knee-jerk reaction. You've got to remember that this is still an incredibly safe method of travel."
Saudi-led airstrikes have destroyed every fighter jet in Yemen and forced Houthi rebels out of government air bases, a Saudi military leader has claimed.
A coalition of 10 countries began bombing Yemen on Thursday, targeting the Shia rebels and allied troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.
Saudi Brigadier General Ahmed bin Hasan Asiri said the aerial campaign had also "devastated" all known Scud missile launching pads in the Arab state.
The international airport in the rebel-controlled capital Sanaa was disabled and 15 pro-rebel troops killed.
A military helicopter pictured at Sanaa International Airport
The Houthis began their offensive in September, seizing Sanaa, and holding President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi under house arrest.
The rebels later took control of the government and forced Mr Hadi to flee the country.
Video:Yemen President On Houthi 'Puppets'
Mr Hadi accused Iran of being behind the Houthi offensive as leaders at an Arab summit in Egypt agreed to create a military reaction force in the Middle East.
Arab League chief Nabil al Arabi said the Saudi-led offensive would continue until the rebels "withdraw and surrender their weapons".
Egyptian officials said the planned reaction force would be made up of 40,000 elite troops, backed by jets, warships and tanks.
It raises the prospect of a regional conflict pitting Sunni Arab nations against Shia powerhouse Iran.
1/15
Gallery: Yemenis Flee As Rebels Bombed
Houthi fighters on the tarmac at the airport in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa
Inside the airport, people get ready to board flights out of the country
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Video:Alps Plane Crash: DNA Recovered
The captain of the Germanwings jet that crashed in the French Alps reportedly screamed at his co-pilot to "open the damn door" as he tried to get in the cockpit.
Andreas Lubitz, 27, apparently locked the captain out of the cabin and deliberately flew the Germanwings jet into a mountain, killing 150 people.
The older pilot left to use the toilet and then desperately tried to open the cockpit door during Flight 4U 9525's eight-minute descent, according to the black box voice recorder.
Germany's Bild on Sunday newspaper said he is heard shouting "For God's sake, open the door!" as passengers scream in the background.
He then tries to smash through the heavily reinforced door with an axe, while yelling at a silent Lubitz to "open the damn door".
1/16
Gallery: The Victims Of The Germanwings Crash
American Emily Selke, a recent graduate, was on the plane with her mother Yvonne. Raymond Selke has described his wife and daughter as 'amazing people'. Pic: Facebook
Iranian sports journalist Hussein Javadi was on his way to Austria to cover a football match. A friend said he was 'a kind, loving, caring man'. Pic: Maysam Bizær/Hossein Javadi
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Argentinian Sebastian Greco was on board with his girlfriend. Pic: Facebook
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Argentinian Gabriela Maumus, 28, was the daughter of a firefighter. Pic: Facebook
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Spanish victim Carles Milla Masanas, 37. The businessman was on his way to a food industry fayre. Pic: Facebook
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Before leaving the cockpit, the captain is heard telling Lubitz he did not have time to go to the toilet before they left Barcelona for Dusseldorf.
German prosecutors believe Lubitz hid an illness from his airline, and had been written off sick on the day of the crash.
He had also sought treatment for vision problems which could have threatened his career, officials told the New York Times.
The Dusseldorf University Hospital said Lubitz had been evaluated at its clinic in February and on 10 March. The hospital has an eye clinic, but it did not comment on why he was being treated, citing patient privacy laws.
Video:Plane Crash: Special Report
Police found medicines for treating psychological conditions during searches at his home in Dusseldorf, according to German newspaper Welt am Sonntag.
And Lubitz's ex-girlfriend has claimed he told her: "One day I'm going to do something that will change the whole system, and everyone will know my name and remember."
She told Bild that if he did deliberately crash the plane, it was "because he understood that because of his health problems, his big dream of a job at Lufthansa, of a job as captain and as a long-haul pilot, was practically impossible".
French police investigator Jean-Pierre Michel has said Lubitz's personality was a "serious lead" in the investigation - but not the only one.
Video:Co-Pilot's Hometown In Shock
While the investigation continues, forensic teams are trying to isolate DNA from body parts recovered at the crash site - with 78 distinct strands found so far.
Prosecutor Brice Robin added that an access road was being built for all-terrain vehicles to reach the site.
Meanwhile, a father of one of the three British victims called for airlines to do more to look after their pilots.
"I believe the airlines should be more transparent and our finest pilots looked after properly. We put our lives and our children's lives in their hands," said Phillip Bramley, whose son Paul, 28, died in the disaster.
Video:How The Co-Pilot Took Control
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) documents suggest some 100 commercial airline pilots in the UK had a history of depression, with 42 still on medication, The Observer has reported.
But Professor Sir Simon Wessely, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych), said the aviation industry should not "rush" to action in the wake of the crash.
He cited health authorities' knee-jerk reaction to Dr Harold Shipman, who is thought to have killed between 215 and 260 people, as an example of ineffective policy.
Sir Simon said: "It is not a good idea to rush; it is like the response to Dr Shipman, an utterly bizarre and unpredictable event is not a good basis of policy.
Video:Crash Victim's Father On Loss
"The procedures that they then brought in would not have prevented Shipman.
"I have dealt with some pilots with depression and when they recover they are still monitored. But the two I have dealt with returned to very successful careers. Why should they not?
"What does cause trouble is saying that if you ever have a history of depression then you should not be allowed to do whatever.
"That is wrong, as much as saying that people with a history of broken arms shouldn't be allowed to do something."
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Crash Captain Screamed 'Open The Damn Door!'
We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.
Video:Alps Plane Crash: DNA Recovered
The captain of the Germanwings jet that crashed in the French Alps reportedly screamed at his co-pilot to "open the damn door" as he tried to get in the cockpit.
Andreas Lubitz, 27, apparently locked the captain out of the cabin and deliberately flew the Germanwings jet into a mountain, killing 150 people.
The older pilot left to use the toilet and then desperately tried to open the cockpit door during Flight 4U 9525's eight-minute descent, according to the black box voice recorder.
Germany's Bild on Sunday newspaper said he is heard shouting "For God's sake, open the door!" as passengers scream in the background.
He then tries to smash through the heavily reinforced door with an axe, while yelling at a silent Lubitz to "open the damn door".
1/16
Gallery: The Victims Of The Germanwings Crash
American Emily Selke, a recent graduate, was on the plane with her mother Yvonne. Raymond Selke has described his wife and daughter as 'amazing people'. Pic: Facebook
Iranian sports journalist Hussein Javadi was on his way to Austria to cover a football match. A friend said he was 'a kind, loving, caring man'. Pic: Maysam Bizær/Hossein Javadi
]]>
Argentinian Sebastian Greco was on board with his girlfriend. Pic: Facebook
]]>
Argentinian Gabriela Maumus, 28, was the daughter of a firefighter. Pic: Facebook
]]>
Spanish victim Carles Milla Masanas, 37. The businessman was on his way to a food industry fayre. Pic: Facebook
]]>
Before leaving the cockpit, the captain is heard telling Lubitz he did not have time to go to the toilet before they left Barcelona for Dusseldorf.
German prosecutors believe Lubitz hid an illness from his airline, and had been written off sick on the day of the crash.
He had also sought treatment for vision problems which could have threatened his career, officials told the New York Times.
The Dusseldorf University Hospital said Lubitz had been evaluated at its clinic in February and on 10 March. The hospital has an eye clinic, but it did not comment on why he was being treated, citing patient privacy laws.
Video:Plane Crash: Special Report
Police found medicines for treating psychological conditions during searches at his home in Dusseldorf, according to German newspaper Welt am Sonntag.
And Lubitz's ex-girlfriend has claimed he told her: "One day I'm going to do something that will change the whole system, and everyone will know my name and remember."
She told Bild that if he did deliberately crash the plane, it was "because he understood that because of his health problems, his big dream of a job at Lufthansa, of a job as captain and as a long-haul pilot, was practically impossible".
French police investigator Jean-Pierre Michel has said Lubitz's personality was a "serious lead" in the investigation - but not the only one.
Video:Co-Pilot's Hometown In Shock
While the investigation continues, forensic teams are trying to isolate DNA from body parts recovered at the crash site - with 78 distinct strands found so far.
Prosecutor Brice Robin added that an access road was being built for all-terrain vehicles to reach the site.
Meanwhile, a father of one of the three British victims called for airlines to do more to look after their pilots.
"I believe the airlines should be more transparent and our finest pilots looked after properly. We put our lives and our children's lives in their hands," said Phillip Bramley, whose son Paul, 28, died in the disaster.
Video:How The Co-Pilot Took Control
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) documents suggest some 100 commercial airline pilots in the UK had a history of depression, with 42 still on medication, The Observer has reported.
But Professor Sir Simon Wessely, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych), said the aviation industry should not "rush" to action in the wake of the crash.
He cited health authorities' knee-jerk reaction to Dr Harold Shipman, who is thought to have killed between 215 and 260 people, as an example of ineffective policy.
Sir Simon said: "It is not a good idea to rush; it is like the response to Dr Shipman, an utterly bizarre and unpredictable event is not a good basis of policy.
Video:Crash Victim's Father On Loss
"The procedures that they then brought in would not have prevented Shipman.
"I have dealt with some pilots with depression and when they recover they are still monitored. But the two I have dealt with returned to very successful careers. Why should they not?
"What does cause trouble is saying that if you ever have a history of depression then you should not be allowed to do whatever.
"That is wrong, as much as saying that people with a history of broken arms shouldn't be allowed to do something."
Written By Unknown on Minggu, 29 Maret 2015 | 14.59
Single candles placed discreetly in neat gardens indicate expressions of sympathy in the pretty German town of Montabaur.
Had it not been for the droves of camera crews however - you would hardly notice that this was the home town of co-pilot Andreas Lubitz.
In the shops and cafes you can hear people speaking quietly about the media presence in this little, part-medieval place but there's not much conversation about him.
"Do you think the outside world will associate us with him?" asks one shop assistant who prefers not to be named and studiously avoids mention of THAT name.
The town's mayor too chooses not to utter the word "Lubitz".
Video:Co-Pilot's Hometown In Shock
In a brief statement, Edmund Schaaf said: "Our hearts and minds go to all victims and their relatives. We ask the media to respect the privacy of the family. There will be no further statements."
Montabaur is dominated by a striking castle painted yellow. It overlooks the attractive hillside town which feels as though it can't wait to shake off winter.
These are the streets that Lubitz walked. These are the shops and bars where he spent his time and money. He grew up here and they know him but they're deeply reluctant to discuss him.
Video:Is Pilot Testing Rigorous Enough?
Cafe waitress Simona Nardelli offers the slightest glimpse of the man she served regularly.
"He was just a normal guy. He drank his cappuccino. Nothing else."
She's more keen to talk about the media presence.
Video:Plane Crash: Special Report
"Its sad there is so much journalistic interest in the family now," she said.
Technology offers the hope that the Germanwings plane disaster will never happen again, experts have told Sky News.
Systems are already in place to fly unmanned planes from the ground, but they are currently only used in the military sphere.
French prosecutors have said that the captain of the Germanwings plane was locked out of the cockpit as Andreas Lupitz sent the Airbus A320 into a mountain in the French Alps.
In 2009, Honeywell was awarded a patent for a fly-by-wire system that could take control of a plane's cockpit controls and remotely pilot a commercial plane to prevent "unauthorised-flight" and maintain "stable flight".
It has been suggested that the system or others like it could have helped prevent not only the Germanwings disaster but also the disappearance of MH370 if there had been a way to alert ground staff to an on-board emergency.
Video:Pilot Said He Would 'Do Something'
Mischa Dohler, Head of King's College London's Centre for Telecommunications Research, told Sky News: "We have all the technology in place so the aircraft can talk to the ground directly or via the satellite link, so that is all possible. It's just a question of cost.
"At the end of the day, you just need to pay for the infrastructure or a data plan, in the same way as you might pay for your mobile phones.
"The airlines have to decide whether they are willing to invest that money to add that extra real-time safety to airplanes."
Video:Plane Crash: Special Report
David Cummins, Head of Flight Operations at UMS Aerogroup and an expert on unmanned aircraft, said: "We not at the stage where we are talking about autonomous systems that will operate and look after the aircraft.
"We are talking about automated systems where ultimately man, an operator, will always be in the loop."
He told Sky News there are systems in existence that could keep a plane safer without requiring one to be controlled from the ground.
Video:Airbus Video On Anti-Terror Doors
"We need a number of years (before) we will ever see the first unmanned commercial aircraft but there are checks and balances that can be put into play.
"You can look at collision avoidance - the Germanwings is an example - there is technology that exists and is in place that could help.
"There's also sense-and-avoid systems on aircraft that will also be the pilot's eyes on an aircraft. So there are a number of steps we can take.
Video:Was Crash Planned Or Impulsive?
"We are years away from doing it, but the technology exists and its about putting the time and effort and ultimately the finance.
"What the aviation industry is very good at is not knee-jerk reaction. You've got to remember that this is still an incredibly safe method of travel."
The co-pilot accused of deliberately flying a Germanwings plane into the French Alps apparently sought treatment for vision problems before the crash, according to reports.
Andreas Lubitz, 27, hid a sick note which declared him unfit to work on the day of the disaster before boarding the Barcelona to Dusseldorf flight and flying it into a mountain on Tuesday.
Officials told the New York Times he was suffering from problems with his eyes which could have jeopardised his ability to continue flying aircraft.
The Dusseldorf University Hospital said in a statement on Friday that Lubitz had been evaluated at its clinic in February and on 10 March. The hospital has an eye clinic, but it did not comment on why he was being treated citing patient privacy laws.
German police have found medicines for treating psychological conditions during searches at Lubitz's home in Dusseldorf, according to German newspaper Welt am Sonntag.
Video:Co-Pilot's Motives 'Not Relevant'
"The 27-year-old has been treated by several neurologists and psychiatrists," the newspaper said.
Earlier, a former girlfriend told how he suffered nightmares and once woke up screaming: "We're going down!"
Identified only as Mary W, the woman told Bild newspaper that he had told her last year: "One day I will do something that will change the whole system, and then all will know my name and remember it.
"I never knew what he meant, but now it makes sense.
Video:Plane Crash: Special Report
"At night, he woke up and screamed 'we're going down!', because he had nightmares. He knew how to hide from other people what was really going on inside."
French prosecutors said on Saturday that Lubitz's mental health was a "serious lead" in the inquiry, but not the only one.
Police chief Jean-Pierre Michel, speaking to AFP news agency in Dusseldorf, said: "We have a certain number of elements which allow us to make progress on this lead, which is a serious lead but which can't be the only one."
He added that the investigation has not revealed a "particular element" in Lubitz's life which could explain his alleged actions.
1/16
Gallery: The Victims Of The Germanwings Crash
American Emily Selke, a recent graduate, was on the plane with her mother Yvonne. Raymond Selke has described his wife and daughter as 'amazing people'. Pic: Facebook
Iranian sports journalist Hussein Javadi was on his way to Austria to cover a football match. A friend said he was 'a kind, loving, caring man'. Pic: Maysam Bizær/Hossein Javadi
