World News: Envoy tells Greeks Gaddafi is seeking way out of crisis

An envoy of Muammar Gaddafi told Greece's prime minister the Libyan leader was seeking a way out of his country's crisis two weeks after his government's attacks to put down a rebellion sparked international air strikes, Greek officials said.

Abdul-Ati al-Obeidi, a former Libyan prime minister who has served as a Gaddafi envoy during the crisis, will travel next to Turkey and Malta in a sign that Gaddafi's regime may be softening its hard line in the face of the sustained attacks.

"From the Libyan envoy's comments it appears that the regime is seeking a solution," Greek foreign minister Dimitris Droutsas said after the meeting in Athens.

The minister said the Greek side stressed the international community's call for Libya to comply with the United Nations resolution that authorised the air strikes and demanded Gaddafi and the rebels end hostilities.

Yesterday, Gaddafi's forces pressed on with attacks against Misrata, the last key city in the western half of the country still largely under rebel control despite a weeks-long assault.

Government troops besieged civilian areas for around two hours with rockets and mortar shells.

Fear as rivals gear up for battle

Residents barricaded themselves inside their homes as forces loyal to the two men who claim Ivory Coast's presidency geared up for battle in commercial capital Abidjan. Laurent Gbagbo (pictured) is refusing to yield power to election winner Alassane Ouattara.

Vets examine 'sacred' turtle

Veterinary experts are examining a giant turtle considered sacred by many Vietnamese to try to determine how to treat its wounds, a day after it was captured in a central Hanoi lake.

Tests are being carried out to try to pinpoint what is ailing the creature, which has a shell the size of a desk.

Teacher 'beat boy to death'

An Islamic school teacher is in custody in Malaysia for allegedly beating to death a seven-year-old boy accused of stealing 1.40.

Saiful Syazani Saiful Sopfidee had multiple head injuries and internal bleeding after allegedly being tied to a window for two hours, beaten and strangled.

The child slipped into a coma and died in hospital from his injuries.

The 26-year-old teacher could be charged with murder, which carries a penalty of death by hanging.

Divers find pieces of crash jet

Underwater search teams have located pieces of an Air France plane heading for Paris that crashed in the Atlantic in 2009, offering a glimmer of hope in the hunt for clues.

Previous search efforts have proved futile in attempts to shed light on the cause of the crash, in which 228 people died.42 killed in suicide blasts at Sufi shrine

Pakistan: A pair of Taliban suicide bombers struck one of the country's most important Sufi Muslim shrines, killing 42 people and wounding 100 who were celebrating the anniversary of its founder Sakhi Sarwar's death.

Another bomber was wounded when his explosive vest partially detonated.

United States: A three-year-old boy died after falling out of a rollercoaster at a Chicago amusement park.