World News: Spain's holiday weekend up in the air as controllers strike

Spain had to close most of its airspace after air traffic controllers began an unannounced strike.

Spanish airport authority Aena said the action began at 4pm GMT yesterday, when controllers began abandoning their posts, claiming sick leave.

At one point Aena said the whole of Spanish airspace was closed except for the southern region of Andalucia. The controllers have been involved in a dispute with Aena over hours and conditions.

Madrid's Barajas airport was one of the first to be affected, along with airports on Majorca, Ibiza and Menorca in the Balearic Islands.

It is understood the action has disrupted air traffic across the country at the start of a holiday weekend, with many passengers left stranded on runways. Aena called the action irresponsible, accusing the controllers of holding the country hostage, and has threatened to take punitive action against them.

"The decision to paralyse air traffic in the country is extremely serious and, as well as being extremely serious misconduct that could be punished with disciplinary dismissals, it constitutes a crime," Aena said.

Obama warns of difficult times

President Barack Obama told US troops in Afghanistan there were "difficult days ahead" as he paid a surprise visit to Bagram Air Field.

The visit is Obama's second to Afghanistan and comes days before an important review into the nine-year conflict.

Ivory Coast faces turmoil

Fears of a return to civil war in the Ivory Coast have been raised after the country's Constitutional Council declared President Laurent Gbagbo the winner of Sunday's run-off elections.

The verdict overturned earlier results that gave victory to former prime minister Alassane Ouattara. The constitutional council annulled results in seven provinces, giving Mr Gbagbo a margin to win.

The opposition warned that any attempt to reverse results would risk a return to civil war.

Wiki providers pull service

Wikileaks has been forced to switch servers to an address in Switzerland after being shut down in other countries.

The site was dropped by two US internet providers, while Paris tried to ban French servers from hosting its details of leaked documents. Users were directed to www.wikileaks.ch

Israel fights huge forest fire

Israeli firefighters have struggled to control a massive fire raging in the north of the country.

Every available firemen in the country has been called up to tackle the forest fire near the city of Haifa.

At least 41 people have died in what is thought to be Israel's largest blaze.

Mexican army arrests teen 'hired killer'

Mexico: The Mexican army has arrested a 14-year-old boy on suspicion of being a hired killer for a drug cartel. Officials allege that Edgar Jimenez took part in beheadings under the influence of drugs.

Haiti: The UN has warned that the cholera epidemic in Haiti could see 650,000 people infected over the next six months.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the number of deaths could be twice as high as the official figure of 1,800.