“The purpose of Geneva-2 is not to have an armchair discussion about Syria, it’s to have mutual agreement between regime representatives — without Assad — and the moderate opposition in order to form a transitional government,” Laurent Fabius told French radio.

France said Tuesday it would send hundreds of extra troops to the strife-torn Central African Republic after the UN warned the country was descending into “complete chaos”.

Mali’s parliamentary polls have been “another success” following the peaceful election of the country’s president in August, the European Union observation mission said on Monday, calling for a big turnout if a second round is