Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari stepped down Sunday, leaving his official residence after a record five years in power overshadowed by worsening security and a weakening economy.

The first democratically elected president of the Maldives, who was ousted from power last year, faces a runoff after falling short of a clear majority in the first round of Indian Ocean archipelago’s presidential election.

Syrian rebels, including jihadists linked to Al-Qaeda, have taken control of the historic Christian town of Maalula, north of Damascus, a watchdog and a resident said on Sunday.

Syrian anti-regime activists say government shelling has killed 16 people, mostly rebels, near Damascus. The attack near the Syrian capital comes as Secretary of State John Kerry lobbies European allies to back Washington’s proposed military action against the Syrian regime.

Islamabad: Hafiz Saeed, a Pakistani Islamist with a $10 million US bounty on his head, appeared openly at a rally in Islamabad on Friday, denouncing India as a terrorist state as thousands of his sup

Seven Afghan Taliban leaders, including Mansoor Dadullah, were Saturday freed by Pakistan to boost the troubled reconciliation process in Afghanistan, taking the total number of commanders released so far to 33.

Somali militants attacked a restaurant near Mogadishu’s seat of government for the second time in less than a year Saturday, detonating two large blasts that killed at least 15 people and wounded nearly two dozen, an official said.

Voting was held Saturday in Maldives for the second multi-party Presidential elections with long queues of people outside polling stations in this Indian Ocean archipelago, which has seen a series of unsettling political events in the last 18 months.

Seven minority Shia Muslims, including a prominent community leader, have been shot dead by four unidentified men in Pakistan’s Punjab province.

Millions of Australians voted in national elections Saturday with conservative challenger Tony Abbott heading for a thumping victory over Labour Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.