BBC News with Gaenor Howells

The French President Nicolas Sarkozy says the gunman responsible for the murders of a teacher and three children at a school in Toulouse was the same one that killed three soldiers in similar incident last week. In a (nationwide) television broadcast Mr. Sarkozy said the same weapon was used each time. French police also believed the same vehicle was used. Chris Bockman a journalist in Toulouse said (similarities) being through the attacks have been clear from the start.

This is no surprise after the attack which happened this morning in Toulouse. All the whole March of the earlier ones that targeting (ethnic minorities) using a motorcycle with a helmet, it cleared day and then fleeing. This city has by 800,000 people, is the fourth biggest city in France and you have to imagine this city now is in (lockdown mode). Police have been drafted it from all around the country and they basically have checkpoints out everywhere. I haven’t seen quite so many police everywhere just checking on everyone basically to find this one person.

Russia has urged the Syrian government and opposition forces to agree immediately to a daily (humanitarian ceasefire) in the fighting continuing across the country. The statement comes after a meeting in Moscow between the foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and the head of ICRC Jakob Kellenberger from Moscow Daniel Sanford.

It was the international committee for the Red Cross that first proposed the idea of a ceasefire in Syria everyday for at least two hours. The ICRC president Jakob Kellenberger said this was needed to bring the wounded out of the (conflict areas) and to help the civilian population. After meeting Mr. Kellenberger in Moscow the Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov appeared to give whole hearted support to the initiative. He said that both of them urged the Syrian government and the armed opposition groups to agree immediately to a (daily pause) in the fighting.

Tens of thousands of supporters of the Iraqi Shiah cleric Moqtada al-Sadr have held a (rally) in the southern city of Basra to mark the ninth anniversary of US-led invasion which overthrew Saddam Hussein. Rami Ruhayem reports from Bagdad.

It’s become an annual issue of force by one of Iraq’s most powerful men. Only the date has changed with this year’s March time to mark the beginning of the US invasion instead the fall of the former regime. The cleric supporters vented their anger of corruption, unemployment and most of all (poor services). Despite the country’s oil wealth, severe power cuts are a daily feature of life in Iraq through chilly winters and (scorching) summers.

A UN envoy says South Sudan’s leaders appear committed to demobilizing the estimated 2,000 child soldiers still serve in the army. The UN special representative says there’s a (determination) at the highest level in South Sudan to ensure that the former rebel army meets international standards.

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