51 killed in Syria

Beirut, April 29 (Reuters): Car bombs and mortar attacks killed at least 51 people in Syrian government-held areas of Damascus and the central city of Homs today.

Homs, at least 37 people, including children, were killed by twin car bombs near a busy roundabout in the Alawite neighbourhood of Zahraa. A local security source put the death toll at 42.

central Damascus, two mortar shells struck an education complex in the mainly Shia district of Shaghour, killing at least 14 people and wounding dozens.

US storm

Tupelo, Mississippi (Reuters): At least 30 people across six states were killed in tornadoes unleashed by a vicious storm system that levelled towns and was threatening to cause more mayhem in heavily populated parts of the US South.

Turkey cleric

Ankara (Reuters): Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday he would ask the US to extradite an Islamic cleric he accuses of plotting to topple him.

Yemen Qaida

Aden (Reuters): Yemeni troops, backed by air force planes, launched a major offensive against al Qaida strongholds in the south of the country.

UK strike

London (Reuters): Commuters struggled to reach work on Tuesday as London Underground train workers staged their second 48-hour strike this year to protest job cuts.