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BBC news 2012-03-20

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 incidents last week. In a nationwide television broadcast, Mr Sarkozy said the same weapon was used each time. French police also believe the same vehicle was used. Chris Bockman, a journalist who's in Toulouse, says similarities between the attacks have been clear from the start.

"This is no surprise after the attack which happened this morning. It bore all the hallmarks of the earlier ones. They are targeting ethnic minorities, using a motorcycle with a helmet, clear day and then fleeing. This city has about 800,000 people. It's the fourth biggest city in France. And you have to imagine this city now is in lockdown mode. Police have been drafted in from all around the country, and they basically have checkpoints up everywhere. I've never 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 that's continuing across the country. The statement comes after a meeting in Moscow between the Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the head of the ICRC, Jakob Kellenberger. From Moscow, Daniel Sandford.

It was the International Committee for the Red Cross that first proposed the idea of a ceasefire in Syria every day 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 Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr have held a rally in the southern city of Basra to mark the ninth anniversary of the US-led invasion which overthrew Saddam Hussein. Rami Ruhayem reports from Baghdad.

It's become an annual show 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 of the fall of the former regime. The cleric's supporters vented their anger at 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 demobilising the estimated 2,000 child soldiers still serving 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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The International Atomic Energy Agency says it's received an invitation to visit North Korea three years after its inspectors were expelled from the country. It comes less than three weeks after North Korea agreed to suspend nuclear and long-range missile tests, and to allow in UN nuclear inspectors in return for food aid from the United States.

Twelve Mexican police officers have been killed in an ambush as they searched for the bodies of 10 people whose heads were found on Sunday. A local official said the officers were attacked in a mountainous area near Teloloapan, the town where the heads were found. Messages threatening the La Familia drug cartel were found with the heads.

A court in Zimbabwe has found six people guilty of inciting public violence following their arrest last year while discussing the overthrow of the former Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak. They were among more than 40 political activists detained last February at a public meeting screening news reports on the uprising in Egypt. The prosecution had originally called for them to be charged with treason.

The British footballer Fabrice Muamba, whose heart stopped beating in the middle of a Premier League match on Saturday, is reported to be showing signs of improvement. His club, Bolton Wanderers, say he's now able to breathe independently. James Pearce reports.

Both the hospital and Bolton Wanderers football club are emphasising that there's a long road to recovery ahead. But today's progress reports on Fabrice Muamba have been so positive that, in many ways, they are remarkable. The player, who suffered a cardiac arrest during Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final and didn't begin breathing again until he reached hospital, is already recognising family and friends, and responding appropriately to their questions. Fabrice Muamba has received messages of support from all over the world. It's looking increasingly likely that the prayers for a miraculous recovery will be answered.

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