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.

Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan arrived, on Tuesday in Tunis, from Morocco for a short visit as part of a Maghreb tour. Ali Zeidan was seen in at Tunis-Carthage airport by his opposite number Ali larayedh.