Egypt protests

Cairo, Dec. 4 (Reuters): Egyptian police battled thousands of protesters outside President Mohamed Mursi’s palace in Cairo today, prompting the Islamist leader to leave the building, two presidential sources said.

Police fired teargas at demonstrators angered by Mursi’s drive to hold a referendum on a new Constitution on December 15.

Some broke through police lines around his palace and protested next to the perimeter wall.

Iran drone

Dubai (Reuters): Iran on Tuesday said it had captured a US intelligence drone in its airspace over the Gulf, but the US military quickly denied having lost any unmanned aircraft in West Asia.

Malala friend

Islamabad: A powerful bomb targeting the house of Malala Yousafzai’s friend in the Swat Valley killed one person and wounded six others, including children, on Tuesday.

Philippines

Manila (Reuters): The strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year pounded the southern island of Mindanao on Tuesday, killing four, destroying homes and toppling power lines.