Serbia Breaking: General Ratko Mladic Arrested for War Crimes (Al Jazeera English)

Al Jazeera English reports:

Ratko Mladic, the Bosnian Serb general wanted for alleged war crimes committed during the 1992-95 Bosnian conflict, has been arrested, Serbia has announced.

"On behalf of the Republic of Serbia we announce that Ratko Mladic has been arrested," Boris Tadic, the country's president, said.

"Today we closed one chapter of our difficult history that will bring us one step closer to full reconciliation in the region.

"All criminals must face justice," he said.

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Iran Analysis: The Uproar over Former President Khatami's Call for "Reconciliation" (Farhi)

Amid intensified factional fighting among conservatives who dominate the presidency, the parliament, and the office of the Islamic Republic's Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, an appeal for national reconciliation and forgiveness by a former reformist president is making a major splash in Iran's political discourse.

The May 18 speech of Mohammad Khatami to a group of Iran-Iraq War veterans has taken friends and foes of the former president by surprise in a country where charges of electoral fraud and the regime's brutal suppression of post-election protests have completely polarised the population.

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Georgia Video and Report: Riot Police Break Up Opposition Protest

A young man takes on Georgia security forces

Georgian riot police have used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon to disperse several hundred opposition protesters from outside the Parliament building in central Tbilisi.

Several thousand people gathered in the early hours of Thursday to demand the resignation of President Mikheil Saakashvili, the Georgian president, accusing him of authoritarianism. About 300 remained when police moved in.

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Egypt: Why We Should Still Protest (Sandmonkey)

What I would like to discuss now, is why you, the general public, should go to the May 27 protests.

Now, I won’t ask you to do so for my demands (although it would be nice if you did), nor for those of the protesters ( and god knows there are 7 different demands circulating right now, and many people who are going without a clear set of demands of their own) who are disorganized and divided and have given up on talking to anyone but themselves at this point, nor even to go there to defend the revolution. No, I want to talk to the silent Majority today regarding their set of interests: The Economy, Security and Stability, and why more than anyone, they should be going to May 27 to protest, because , seriously, if those are the three things you care about the most, well, you are getting screwed, and --- just like the days of (former President Hosni) Mubarak ---not by us!

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EA on the Road: Talking Business & Politics after Bin Laden

I'll be speaking with members of the British-American Business Council in Birmingham, England this morning about the political and economic situation after the killing of Osama bin Laden, "yesterday's man", and amidst the conflicts beyond Al Qa'eda, "yesterday's movement".

LiveBlogs will resume and new features will be posted from 0930 GMT.

US and Britain: Scott Lucas on BBC "Does London Need America?"

More chat with Sky TV and with several British radio stations today, as President Obama continued his visit --- the concern here, at least in these discussions, was "Does Britain Need America?" Two examples:

BBC Radio Wales: the item starts at the 1:07.18 mark.

BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester: the audio starts around the 38.00 mark.

See also Obama and Britain: Scott Lucas on the BBC

Video & Transcript: Obama Speech to British Parliament "If We Fail to Meet Our Responsibility, Who Would Take Our Place?"

An extract from President Obama's speech today to the British Parliament, followed by the transcript --- we'll post further video when it is available:

Because we have always believed that the future of our children and grandchildren will be better if other people's children and grandchildren are more prosperous and free --- from the beaches of Normandy, to the Balkans to Benghazi. That is our interest and our ideal. And if we fail to meet that responsibility, who would take our place?

Our action --- our leadership --- is essential to the cause of human dignity. And so we must act --- and lead --- with confidence in our ideals, and an abiding faith in the character of our people, who sent us here today.

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The Latest from Iran (25 May): Oil and Politics

The funeral of legendary footballer and manager Nasser Hejazi in Azadi Stadium, Tehran (see 0750 and 1625 GMT)

2035 GMT: The Fire at the Refinery. Ebrahim Nabavi, reviewing yesterday's blaze at the Abadan oil refinery, notes that President Ahmadinejad ordered widespread purges in the National Iranian Oil Company and Oil Ministry during the past two years.

Meanwhile, the NIOC has denied that the refinery was opened too early, leading to errors in construction.

2025 GMT: Football and Politics. Mardomak reports clashes at the funeral of revered footballer Nasser Hejazi (see 0750 and 1625 GMT), with at least 15 people arrested.

The site also posts claimed video of women at the funeral.

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Yemen, Syria, Libya (and Beyond) LiveBlog: A Battle in the Capital...Expanded

2145 GMT: The Egyptian regime has appointed former Assistant Foreign Minister Hani Khalaf as the special envoy to the Libyan opposition in Benghazi.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil al-Araby said the decision follwed Egypt's determination to follow up on developments in Libya and ensure the safety and rights of Egyptian citizens in the country.

2140 GMT: Claimed video of a protest in Daraa in southern Syria today:

2130 GMT: Fighting continues tonight in Yemen's capital Sana'a, in the Hasaba neighbourhood and near the airport.

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Sudan Feature: Khartoum Bombards and Seizes the Border Town of Abyei (Flatman)

Republic of Sudan President Omer Hassan al-BashirUPDATE 1240 GMT: A United Nations spokesman said four UN helicopters were fired upon, probably by militias allied to Republic of Sudan forces, during a visit to Abyei late on Tuesday.

Hua Jiang said 14 rounds were fired when the helicopters took off, but the crews landed safely.

Jiang said militias of the Arab Misseriya tribe were probably responsible for the attack, adding that they were now moving southwards after civilians had left the main settlement of Abyei.

UPDATE 0745 GMT: On Tuesday, President Bashir said that Abyei belongs to the Republic of Sudan: "Abyei is northern Sudanese land. We will not withdraw from it."

Bashir said he had authorised his army to respond to any possible "provocation" by the army of South Sudan.

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