Two of the Middle East's most entrenched rulers were battling to stay in power today amid reports of dozens of protesters killed in Libya and an offer of talks by Bahrain's king being rebuffed. Unrest has spread from Tunisia and Egypt to Bahrain, Libya, Yemen and Djibouti, presenting the United States with the dilemma of maintaining stability in the oil-rich region while upholding the right to demonstrate for democratic change.

A teenage belly dancer at the heart of the sex scandal involving sleazy prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has revealed how guests were naked at his infamous bunga bunga parties. Moroccan born Karima El Mahroug was only 17 when prosecutors say she was paid by Berlusconi, 74, for sex and given cash and jewellery in return, after attending one of his parties.