EU interior and justice ministers, during their meeting in Luxembourg Tuesday, had an in-depth discussion on Syria with particular reference to the protection of refugees, said the ministers in a statement tonight.

Islamic extremists have taken the offensive around Gao in north Mali, wounding two civilians Tuesday when they blew up a bridge, a day after shelling the town and injuring a soldier. “Early this Tuesday, Islamists dynamited one of two small bridges near … Bentia, about 50 kilometres (31 miles) from the border …

The death toll from weekend clashes between Islamists and police has reached 57, a senior Egyptian health ministry official announced on Tuesday. Khaled al-Khatib said that 48 people died in Cairo and nine in other parts of the country. Authorities had previously given a toll of 51.