Hizbollah said bomb that killed senior member of guerrilla group in Beirut 19 July planted by Israeli agents. Heightened tensions followed attack, with sides exchanging fire 20 July, leaving 2 Israeli soldiers and 1 guerrilla dead, and with Israeli jets breaking sound barrier over Beirut.

Morocco told Spanish authorities it had lost track of 400 al Qaeda-trained militants. Government moved to halt rise of radical Islam through construction of 20 state-sponsored mosques; agreed 22 July to set up joint security task-force with Algeria.

Government amnesty for militants who gave themselves up expired 23 July, with only 6 suspected extremists having turned themselves in.

EU and Syria reportedly close to signing landmark trade accord; sides still negotiating sensitive clause on Syria’s WMD program.

Spanish PM Zapatero, in Algiers, called for new negotiations between all sides in conflict over Western Sahara, including Algeria. Zapatero accused of shifting Spain’s support away from Baker plan and toward implicit backing of continued Moroccan sovereignty.

Fighting continued in northern Saada province between military and supporters of rebel Shiite cleric Hussein al-Houthi. According to government, death toll over past 6 weeks has reached 300.

Luanda government launched $370 million social/economic plan for troubled Cabinda province 3 June, meeting with local scepticism. UNITA welcomed governing MPLA moves toward renewed dialogue on 2005 elections, but questioned conditions MPLA says must be fulfilled before ballot can go ahead.

As country’s 3-year political transition nears 31 October end-date, pockets of violence continue in Bujumbura Rural province. Army, now including members of former CNDD-FDD rebels, clashed 14 June with forces of FNL/Palipehutu, only armed group not involved in ceasefire negotiations with transitional government. Fighting that broke out 26 May in Bukavu, DR Congo, has led to influx of Congolese refugees. UN High Commissioner for Refugees said some 34,000 crossed into Burundi, now in Rugombo, Cibitoke and Gatumba. Refugees wary of returning to DRC despite lessening violence. UN officially took over Africa Union mission in support of peace process 2 June.

Crisis in Darfur, Sudan, continues to have major impact: UNHCR estimates 200,000 Sudanese refugees now in Chad; logistical worries as no money for aid airlift and deteriorating transport situation with onset of rainy season. President Déby threatened to pull out of Darfur mediation role 18 June as 69 Janjaweed militia killed inside Chadian territory, claiming risk of interethnic destabilisation and Sudan support for Renewed National Front of Chad rebels. Sudan and Chad agreed to disarm militias on both sides of border, but deal yet to result in concrete action.

Struggle to keep Marcoussis peace process alive as government supporters blamed renewed clashes on UN and French forces, and political stalemate continued. G7 opposition group and President Gbagbo agreed reform timetable 30 June, though unclear if ministers fired May will be re-instated. Rebel Forces Nouvelles (FN) leader Guillaume Soro refused to take part calling talks “hypocritical”. UN Security Council delegation suggested sanctions if progress not forthcoming. FN denied involvement in fighting near Mamingui in French-patrolled demilitarised zone 7 June, with attack on Ivorian army and French positions, killing 7. Clashes between rebel groups in Bouake 20-22 June killed 17. FN alleged assassination attempt on Soro, blaming President Gbagbo and Guinean president Conte; government pointed to in-fighting between Soro and rival leader Ibrahim Coulibaly.