World News: Britons flee riots in Tunisia as president leaves country

Thousands of UK holidaymakers were returning from strife-torn Tunisia today after violent rioting swept through the North African country. Tour companies have implemented emergency evacuation programmes after escalating unrest, which yesterday saw its ousted president flee abroad.

Thomson and First Choice plan to fly almost 1500 remaining customers safely back to the UK by tomorrow night, while Thomas Cook has suspended its Tunisia programme and has already evacuated nearly 1800 holidaymakers.

The Foreign Office has advised against all non-essential travel to the republic after days of violence between police and protesters peaked yesterday.

Tunisia has been rocked by unrest sparked by anger at unemployment and at a leadership seen as corrupt.

Prime minister Mohammed Ghannouchi yesterday said he was assuming power after President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled the country to the safe haven of Saudi Arabia.

The president earlier declared a state of emergency after saying he would dismiss his government and call new elections within six months.

Zsa Zsa has leg amputated

Zsa Zsa Gabor's right leg was amputated in an operation doctors said was necessary to save her life. Gabor, 93, was being watched carefully, but there were no complications, doctors at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Centre said. They described the star's condition as "frail".

Endangered seabird joy

A short-tailed albatross has hatched outside Japan, the first time the endangered seabird has done so in recorded history. It hatched at Eastern Island, one of three small flat coral islands in Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge about 1,300 miles north-west of Honolulu.

Volunteers help mop up

A VOLUNTEER army waded through stinking mud and drenched homes today in a massive clean-up operation as flood waters receded in Brisbane, Australia. About 7000 residents joined 600 military personnel on "Salvation Saturday" to shovel muck and clean properties inundated by the Brisbane River this week, after weeks of flooding across Queensland. Armed with garbage bags and cleaning supplies, the volunteers were bused to the areas in most need.

Soap pooch annoys Venzuela

Venezuelan authorities are demanding a TV station stop airing a Colombian soap opera that they say is denigrating to their country.

Chepe Fortuna features an unscrupulous secretary named Venezuela who has a dog called Little Hugo, an apparent reference to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Gun attack on oil supplies for military

ISLAMIST gunmen in south-west Pakistan have set ablaze 14 tankers carrying fuel for US and Nato troops in Afghanistan. And a driver was wounded during today's attack, according to a government official. Local official Fatteh Mohammed said the attack occurred in the Dera Murad Jamali area in Baluchistan province. The tankers were parked at a roadside restaurant when eight gunmen struck.