Libyan militiamen have taken control of most government ministries in the capital Tripoli, the government said.

"We announce that most ministries, institutions and state bodies in the capital Tripoli are out of our control," a government statement said.

Maryam al-Khawaja, a prominent Bahraini human rights activist was arrested on Saturday, as she attempted to enter the country, in order to visit her father, who is currently serving a life sentence.

Ms Khawaja, the co-director of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, was denied entry by officials at the airport, who said she had been stripped of her citizenship.

According to her popular twitter feed, she is being charged with "insulting the King" and "assaulting the police”.

Nabeel Rajab, president of the BCHR and who himself was detained for two years, said her imprisonment was absurd.

"She wanted to see her father, as simple as that," he told Middle East Eye.

"There are hundreds of people who were deported and not allowed to come back to Bahrain by their own government,

“If there is no international coverage of what’s going on – and unfortunately I don’t expect much attention in her case – then the government of Bahrain can continue prosecuting human rights defenders and activists and bring them before a court that does not respect human rights," he told MEE.

Ukrainian forces are falling back from their positions, in the face of an advance by pro-Russian rebels.
According to officials, over 700 Ukrainian soldiers have been captured and the army was forced to withdraw from Luhansk airport.

Russia continued to deny assisting the rebels, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov calling for an immediate ceasefire.

Ukraine's defence minister said on his Facebook page, they were now fighting a "great war" with Russia.

"A great war has arrived at our doorstep - the likes of which Europe has not seen since World War Two," he said.

"Unfortunately, the losses in such a war will be measured not in the hundreds but thousands and tens of thousands."

“This announcement, like every other settlement announcement Israel makes, planning step they approve and construction tender they issue is counterproductive to Israel’s stated goal of a negotiated two-state solution with the Palestinians. We urge the government of Israel to reverse its decision.”

The Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Martin McGuiness has urged Irish republican dissidents to end their violence on the 20th anniversary of the ceasefire by the Irish Republican Army.

McGuiness, a former IRA commander, said the groups should "take that same step into politics and away from conflict" and that there could be "no return to the violence and repression that scarred this society for so long".

"In 1994, dialogue offered the only way out of perpetual conflict and Irish republicans entered that dialogue confidently," he said in a speech in Derry, marking the anniversary.

"Successive agreements supported by the vast majority of the Irish people have removed any rationale for armed struggle and have put in place peaceful and democratic alternatives," he said on Sunday.

“the sovereignty, security and development interests of the country are at stake there is a need to proceed in a prudent and steady manner.”

"We should provide the Ukrainians with the type of defensive weapons that will impose a cost upon Putin for further aggression... This is no longer the question of some rebel separatists, this is a direct invasion by Russia. We must recognise it as that."

"I think that may very well be on the table right now. These are changed circumstances."

"Although they were surrounded and outnumbered, they held their ground for seven hours...We commend our soldiers for exhibiting resolve even while under heavy fire."