French President Nicolas Sarkozy, visiting former colonies in North Africa on Tuesday, said France should recognise its colonial history but not repent for it.

Whether it be mothers who lost their sons in combat or other Shiites whose homes were destroyed in Israel’s blitz of Beirut a year ago, Hizbollah is still riding high on its home turf.

Sunni gunmen seized control of a remote village northeast of Baghdad in a fierce battle with residents who pleaded for rescue by Iraqi army and police as they tried to defend their homes, the deputy provincial governor said Tuesday.