BBC News with Julie Candler.
A British newspaper, The Guardian has reviewed the identity of the man who leaked information about an American surveillance program which monitors computer and telephone networks around the world. The disclosures sparked widespread concern about the extent of secret information gathering. The newspaper said Edward Snowden, a 29-year-old former CIA assistant, was being identified at his own request. Mr Snowden told The Guardian newspaper reporters Glenn Greenwald and Laura Poitras why he had leaked the information.
"When you are subverting the power of government, that's a fundamentally dangerous thing to democracy, and if you do that in secret consistently, you know, as the government does when it wants to benefit from that secret action that it took. It'll, kind of, give its officials a mandate to go, 'Hey, you know, tell the press about this thing and that thing so the public is on our side.'" President Obama has said the surveillance program is vital for uncovering potential terrorist activity.
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German officials say they are deeply worried to learn about the sophisticated American surveillance program which monitors internet traffic around the world. The Data Protection Commissioner Peter Schaar has described the measures as monstrous. He's urged the United States to clarify the aims of the program and said the government in Berlin must protect the privacy of its citizens.
Libya's army chief of staff is stepping down after the country's national assembly accepted his resignation. The announcement came shortly after the army was ordered to take control of all bases run by the Libya Shia militia in Benghazi after the deaths of more than 30 people. Protesters had marched on a militia's barracks on Saturday demanding its dissolution. Rana Jawad reports.
Libya's army chief, Youssef al-Mangoush, was due to be replaced soon, but the deadly events in Benghazi appear to have accelerated the process. The General National Congress has adopted a six-point decree which includes accepting the chief of staff's resignation, breaking up militias and three days of mourning over the deaths in Benghazi.
Turkey's Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned anti-government demonstrators they will pay a heavy price for continuing their protests. More than 10,000 people have packed Taksim Square in central Istanbul. From where, Mark Lowen reports.
Here in Taksim Square, there has been one of the largest demonstrations since these unrests began over a week ago. Thousands came for concerts and speeches chanting for the Prime Minister to resign. But Recep Tayyip Erdogan has rallied his troops too, he told the supporters in Ankara, that his patience was running out and the protesters were looters and marginal elements, warning them you have started this fight against us, you will pay the price very heavily. While the Prime Minister has lost control of the central Istanbul, his supporters now plan large rallies in the days to come.
World News from the BBC
Voters in Switzerland gave their overwhelming backing to a tightening of the rules on asylum. Final results from a nationwide referendum showed that almost 80% approve changes made to the asylum law last September. Under the new rules, military desertion is no longer a reason for granting asylum, and people are prevented from applying for asylum through Swiss embassies in other countries.
At least six people have been wounded in Kenya by an explosion in the port city of Mombasa. Attackers on a motorbike hurled an improvised bomb into a church service. One report says a separate attack took place in the capital Nairobi where a grenade is said to have been thrown at a crowd in a largely ethnic Somali district of Eastleigh injuring three people.
One of Britain's best known authors, the novelist Iain Banks has died at the age of 59. He was diagnosed with cancer in March. In his final book, The Quarry, to be published later this month, he details the emotional and physical trauma wrought by his cancer. Nick Higham looks back at his life.
For a man, whose books were so dark, Iain Banks was a remarkably sunny fellow, open, engaging, and funny. His first published novel, The Wasp Factory appeared in 1984. It was about a teenage murderer and torturing enthusiast living on a Scottish Island, it was bleak and disturbing. Some called it 'macabre and depraved', it was also very funny. He published more than two dozen novels, and another book celebrating his love of whisky and fast cars, Raw Spirit. When he announced he'd been diagnosed with terminal cancer. In a statement, he said he'd asked his long-term partner, Adele Hartley to do with the honor of 'becoming my widow', the couple married on Good Friday.
The Spaniard Rafael Nadal has won the record eight French Open Tennis championship beating David Ferrer in straight sets. No other man has won an individual Grand Slam tournament as many times. The victory completes Nadal's comeback from injuries which severely limited his tennis for much of the past year.