World News: Foreign office scrambles to get Britons out of Libya

Mr Hague said the government was working with airlines to lay on flights in order to help Britons escape Libya's "fluid and dangerous situation''.

He added that ''the safety of British nationals is of paramount concern''

Tens of thousands of foreigners are trying to flee Libya, after clashes between security forces and protesters reportedly left hundreds dead.

Egypt has boosted its military near the border and set up field hospitals, as thousands of its nationals return.

Several countries are evacuating their citizens and oil companies are relocating expat staff.

In an address to the nation, Gaddafi urged his supporters to attack the "cockroaches" and "rats" protesting against his rule.

Anyone who took up arms against Libya would be executed, he warned. During a rambling 75-minute speech, Gaddafi vowed to crush the revolt, saying: "I am not going to leave this land. I will die here as a martyr."

Kosovan premier is re-elected

Kosovo's parliament has elected former rebel leader Hashim Thaci to a second term as prime minister and chosen businessman Behgjet Pacolli as the country's new president.

Mr Thaci was voted in 65-1 to head a coalition government.

46 held over demo talks

Zimbabwean police have detained 46 people, including a former politician, for attending a lecture on mass uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, an independent lawyers group said.

Police confirmed the arrests at a meeting convened by the Zimbabwe branch of the International Socialist Organisation where videos were shown and an agenda item allegedly asked: "What lessons can be learnt by the working class in Zimbabwe and Africa?"

Man dies after gaming session

A Chinese man has died after a three-day online gaming session in which he did not sleep and barely ate.

The man reportedly lost consciousness at an internet cafe on the outskirts of Beijing. The 30-year-old man was said to have spent more than 10,000 yuan (928) on gaming in the month before his death.

Orangutans set to go wild

Malaysian researchers are testing whether three young orangutans which were reared in captivity can now adapt to life in the wild outside Borneo.However, activists insist that the experiment is a flawed way of trying to help the endangered primates.

Americans shot dead by Somali pirates

Somalia: Four Americans hijacked by Somali pirates off the coast of Oman have been killed by their captors, said US defence officials.

The US military said its forces trailing the vessel had found all the captives shot.

Suez Canal: Two Iranian warships have sailed through the canal to the Mediterranean Sea.

Iran has said the warships are heading to Syria for training, a mission Israel has described as a "provocation".