BBC News with Sue Montgomery

The United Nations and Arab League envoy Kofi Annan has told President Bashar al-Assad of Syria that he is extremely worried about the violence there. The UN said Mr. Annan who is in Damascus suggested a (complete cease-fire) and talks between the government and the opposition. President Assad rejected any dialogue while opposition forces are fighting for an end to his rule. John Donnison reports

Kofi Annan met President Assad for around two hours----his mission to deliver a plan to bring an end to a year of violence----but Mr. Annan’s two main aims, a cease-fire by both sides eventually leading to (political dialogue) seemed at least in the short term unlikely. President Assad said no political talks would take place as long as what he called terrorists continued to spread (chaos). Such words and the Syrian leader’s statement that he’s ready forward his peace efforts with (outraged) anti-government activists.

Five Taliban leaders held in the US detention center in Guantanamo Bay have agreed to be transferred to the Gulf State of Qatar. The move approved by Afghan officials would be a key step towards (peace talks) between the Afghan government and the insurgents which in turn would allow American troops to leave in 2014 as planned. But the transfer will also need support from the US congress.

A series of explosions have killed at least four people and wounded many others in the center of the Kenyan capital Nairobi. Many of the injured are said to be in a (critical condition). Will Ross reports from Nairobi.

Eyewitnesses said three grenades were thrown from a passing vehicle. They exploded close to a busy bus station in downtown Nairobi. This incident was similar to the attacks which were carried out last October, then one person was killed and more than 20 were injured as (grenades) were thrown into a bar and targeted another bus station. Those attacks happened just days after the Kenyan military had crossed into Somalia to fight al-Shabab at the time the Kenyan (authorities) suggested sympathies of the Islamist militant group may have been behind the blasts.

State media in Burma say a new labor law has come into effect allowing works to strike for the first time since the 1960s. Officials say the legislations promise workers to form trade unions and (strike) under certain conditions. Here is Abby Mosley

Burmese state media say that the labor organization law came into effect on Friday replacing legislation that effectively banned (trade unions). It was signed by the President Thein Sein in October as part of series of reform following decades of military rule. Opposition supporters and the international labor organization have said it’s an improvement on the past. But some labor activists say it won’t allow union to be sufficiently (independent).

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