Egypt (and Beyond) Live Coverage: Beatings, Molotovs, & a Death in Clashes

See also Syria Live Coverage: Aid Reaches an Opposition-Held Town
Friday's Israel, Palestine (and Beyond) Live Coverage: UN Declares Jewish Settlements in West Bank "Illegal"

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1945 GMT: Mali. French President Francois Hollande has said his Government will help rebuild Mali, three weeks after France's military offensive that swept Islamists from urban areas in the north of the country.

Hollande declared French troops would stay in Mali "as long as necessary", handing over to African troops "once the sovereignty of Mali is restored".

"Terrorist groups have been weakened, but not disappeared," Hollande said.

Speaking alongside the French President, Mali's interim leader, Dioncounda Traore, thanked France for freeing the north to from "barbarity and obscurantism".

1935 GMT: UAE. This week 94 political activists, many of them linked to the Al Islah movement, were referred for trial on charges of trying to undermine the state, after months in detention.

US Ambassador Michael H. Corbin explains why this has nothing to do with human rights:

The country just made a very successful presentation to the Human Rights Council in Geneva on the subject of what the UAE does, such as focusing on human trafficking. There are issues that every country is facing in this region and the announcement by the UAE that they’re going to try 94 people for working against the country is not a human rights issue because the accusations are over what the charges are in these cases and now the Government is going to present the cases, so we’ll see. When you look at countries that are under the spotlight for human rights, this is not one of them.

1725 GMT: Turkey. The leftist Revolutionary People's Liberation Party (DHKP-C) -- has claimed responsibility for Friday's suicide bombing at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara.

A security guard died when the bomber, Alisan Sanli, detonated the explosive at a gate for people seeking visas.

Turkish authorities have detained three people in Istanbul and Ankara over the attack.

The DHKP-C said "E. Alisan Sanli has become a martyr after accomplishing the action on the American Embassy in Ankara. We are going to build the future with sacrifices."

1125 GMT: Bahrain. A police officer has been imprisoned for seven years for killing Ali Abdulhadi al-Mushaima, the first person to be slain after the start of mass protests on 14 February 2011.

Mushaima was hit at close range by birdshot in Sanabis, near the capital Manama. His family say that he was standing outside his home when the officer opened fire without provocation.

The police had said the officer, who has not been named by authorities, fired in self-defence.

0935 GMT: Egypt. Footage by journalist Bel Trew of last night's clashes near Tahrir Square in Cairo:

0635 GMT: Egypt. At least one person has been killed and at least 79 wounded as security forces confronted protesters in front of the Presidential Palace and near Tahrir Square.

After a "Friday of Defiance" across the country, the trouble in Cairo reportedly began when some marchers tossed Molotov cocktails. Security forces responded with water cannon and tear gas.

Witnesses reported police officers near Tahrir stripping and beating demonstrators. One group of officers was caught on a TV camera assaulting a man, stripping him naked, and dragging him along the pavement.

The Minister of Interior apologised for that incident, saying it was "the actions of individuals" and not standard police practice.

Near the Presidential Palace, multi-coloured fireworks bounced off the shields of riot police in a scene of "complete mayhem", as the officers chased demonstrators and set their tents ablaze. Petrol bombs briefly set fire to a building inside the compound.

President Morsi vowed that security forces would "act with utmost decisiveness" to protect State buildings. His office said the government would hold opposition groups deemed to be behind the violence "politically accountable".

The opposition National Salvation Front said it "had no connection whatsoever with the trouble that erupted suddenly in front of the Presidential Palace". It condemned all acts of violence and urged security forces to exercise "utmost restraint".

In Port Said, where at least 38 people were killed last weekend, thousands marched and chanted, "There is no God but God and Mohamed Morsi is the enemy of God." Holding up portraits of those killed, they shouted: "We will die like they did, to get justice!"

Protesters also rallied in Alexandria, Suez, and Ismailia.