Syria, Libya and Middle East unrest - live updates

Libya claims 15 civilians killed in Nato raid on Brega
Turkey loses patience with Syria
Mourners shot dead at funerals of protesters in Syria

10.48am: Turkey is preparing for possible border clashes with Syria, according to the veteran Israeli journalist Zvi Bar'el.

The Haaretz Middle East analyst writes:

The situation between Syria and Turkey is explosive and could slide into a violent confrontation, a highly-placed Turkish source said yesterday. The source said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had convened a second meeting over the weekend following an earlier session on Thursday with the heads of the Turkish army, the intelligence service and the foreign ministry to explore possible scenarios involving Syrian military operations on Turkish territory. The concern is that the Syrians would try to hit refugee camps in Turkey that have already taken in 12,000 Syrian civilians.

10.31am: A Nato spokesman has challenged Libyan claims that civilians were killed in airstrikes on the coastal town of Brega.

Reuters quoted a spokesman as saying:


We have no indications of any civilian casualties in connection to these strikes. What we know is that the buildings we hit were occupied and used by pro-Gaddafi forces to direct attacks against civilians around Ajdabiya.

Unlike the pro-Gaddafi forces, we go to great lengths to reduce the possibility of any civilian casualties.

Meanwhile, Abdel Hafiz Ghoga, vice chairman of the rebel National Transitional Council has rei! terated that a political settlement was possible. He told reporters in Benghazi:

We have agreed to take a serious look at any proposal as long as Gaddafi does not remain in power. We are waiting for any proposals that are (being discussed) around the world. We have not received anything yet.

9.44am: Welcome to a Sunday instalment of Middle East Live. Here's a round down of the latest developments.

A human rights group says five Syrian civilians were killed during house searches and funerals of protesters, al-Jazeera reports, as the Turkish government loses patience with president Bashar al-Assad.

The first ship in a new Gaza flotilla has set sail from France, ahead of the launch of 12 ships on Tuesday. The US State department has warned Americans planning to board the boats that they face criminal prosecution.

The African Union is told hold talks in South Africa today in its latest attempts to end the conflict in Libya as rebels claims they expect to receive an offer from Gaddafi very soon. In the latest boost for the rebels 17 leading Libyan footballers, including the national team's goalkeeper, defected to the opposition.

Libyan state TV says 15 people were killed in a Nato airstrike on Brega. Nato says it hit military targets in Brega.


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