Gunmen 'seize hostages' in Kenya

Gunmen from the militant Islamist group al-Shabab have killed at least 15 people and taken students hostage at a university in north-eastern Kenya.

Reports say 65 others were wounded when gunmen stormed a university in Garissa. Troops are engaging the gunmen.

Witnesses said masked attackers fired indiscriminately and there are fears there could be more casualties.

Al-Shabab, which is linked to al-Qaeda, said it was holding Christians hostage and freeing Muslims.

Hostages from the two groups had been separated, and 15 of the Muslims had already been released, a spokesman for the group told the BBC.

In previous attacks in north-eastern Kenya, al-Shabab spared the lives of Muslims while killing non-Muslims.

Live updates from Garissa siege

About five masked gunmen are said to have stormed the university.

Kenya's Interior Minister Joseph Nkaissery told journalists that one of the militants had been killed as he tried to flee.

Out of 815 students, 535 had not yet been accounted for, he said.

A policeman at the scene told Reuters news agency that some students had been taken hostage.

"We can't tell how many but they are many since the college was in session," the unnamed policeman is quoted as saying.

The Kenyan Red Cross said about 50 students had been "safely freed", but an unknown number were still being held, AFP news agency reports.

Security forces have laid siege to the area around the university

Some students managed to flee the campus

Kenyans have repeatedly been targeted by al-Shabab

Security forces were now trying to flush out the gunmen, a police statement posted on Twitter said.

It urged people to stay away from the area. The statement did not confirm that hostages had been taken.

At the scene: Bashkas Jugsooda'ay, BBC Africa, Garissa

Fleeing students took shelter in nearby homes

I can hear gunfire from inside the campus. Ambulances are rushing in and out with the wounded.

One teacher told me some students managed to run away from the gunfire, and came to her house early in the morning to seek shelter.

But a huge crowd has gathered outside the house, mostly of people who are worried that friends and relatives may be still trapped inside.

Some of them are trying to enter the campus but the security forces are holding them back. Troops have also surrounded the main hospital, restricting public access to it as medical staff battle to cope with the wounded.

Most shops in Garissa are shut, and people are staying at home.

The town's hospital has been sealed off.

Who are al-Shabab?

Al-Shabab cash lures Kenyans

The gunmen reportedly ordered students to lie down on the floor, but some of them are known to have escaped and are at a military facility.

"It was horrible, there was shooting everywhere," student Augustine Alanga told the BBC's Newsday programme.

He said it was "pathetic" that the university was only guarded by two police officers in such a volatile area.

The Westgate attack in Nairobi in 2013 left 67 dead

The university opened in 2011 and is the only place of higher education in the region. It has some 700 students from across the country.

The BBC's Anne Soy in Nairobi says that because of its proximity to Somalia, Garissa is an easy target for al-Shabab militants and there have been several attacks in the past.

She says that the UK and Australia issued alerts this week warning of potential terror attacks in parts of the country, including Garissa.

There has also been a specific alert for universities in the country.

Garissa, 150km (90 miles) from the border with Somalia, has a large population of Kenyan Somalis.

Al-Shabab has carried out a number of attacks in Kenya since 2011, when Kenyan troops were sent to Somalia to help fight the militant group there.

The deadliest attack targeted the Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi in September 2013, when 67 people were killed.

Al-Shabab is fighting to create an Islamic state in Somalia and is banned as a terrorist group by both the US and the UK.

Are you in the Kenyan town of Garissa? Did you witness the attack in the town's university? Are you affected by the attack? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

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Strict water limits for California

The governor of California has implemented the first mandatory water restrictions in the state's history.

The order implements a 25% reduction in water usage for cities and towns across the parched state.

Vast areas of government-owned lawns will be replaced by drought-tolerant landscaping, and towns will be banned from watering ornamental grass.

Last year, Governor Jerry Brown proclaimed a state of emergency after years of drought.

The snow in the mountains is at its lowest level since records began, so water supplies from melting snow will be lower than normal in coming months.

"We are standing on dried grass, and we should be standing in five feet of snow," said Mr Brown, speaking in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

"People should realise we're in a new era. The idea of your nice little green grass getting lots of water every day - that's going to be a thing of the past," he said.

The state is no longer asking, it is ordering

Lake beds have run dry

A new meaning for water divining

The new order will require university campuses, cemeteries, golf courses and other large landowners to make major cuts in their water usage.

Farmers in the United States' largest farm state have been hit hard in recent years.

But Mr Brown's critics said his order did not go far enough to address agricultural use of water.

"In the midst of a severe drought, the governor continues to allow corporate farms and oil interests to deplete and pollute our precious groundwater resources that are crucial for saving water,'' said Adam Scow, California director of the group Food & Water Watch.

Previous extremely dry years led to catastrophic wildfire seasons in California in 2003 and 2007.

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'Sharp rise' in foreign fighters

More than 25,000 foreign fighters from 100 nations have travelled to join militant groups such as al-Qaeda and Islamic State (IS), a UN report says.

It said the number of foreign fighters worldwide had soared by 71% between the middle of 2014 and March 2015.

Syria and Iraq were by far the biggest destinations and had become a "finishing school for extremists".

It also said if IS were defeated in Syria and Iraq, the foreign fighters could be scattered across the world.

The UN Security Council had asked experts six months ago to investigate the threat from foreign fighters joining Islamic State and other militant groups.

In the report filed to the council late last month, the experts say the flow of foreign fighters has risen from a few thousand a decade ago and is now "higher than it has ever been historically".

Defeating IS in Syria and Iraq could have the unintended consequence of scattering fighters elsewhere

They say: "For the thousands of [foreign fighters] who travelled to the Syrian Arab Republic and Iraq... they live and work in a veritable 'international finishing school' for extremists, as was the case in Afghanistan during the 1990s."

Syria and Iraq were said to house 22,000 foreign fighters, with 6,500 in Afghanistan and hundreds in Yemen, Libya, Pakistan and Somalia.

Foreign fighter case studies

Texan Michael Wolfe, 23, planned to fly to Turkey via Iceland and then get into Syria to commit "violent jihad". But he unknowingly relied on an undercover FBI agent for travel advice, was arrested and admitted attempting to provide material support to terrorists.

Embarking on a path to jihad

Melbourne schoolboy Jake Bilardi travelled to fight with IS and reportedly died in a suicide attack in Iraq this year. The 18-year-old Muslim convert left Australia last year and flew via Turkey to Iraq.

Who are Australia's radicalised Muslims?

Briton David Souaan was jailed in December 2014 for preparing terrorist acts. Arrested at Heathrow last May after a tip-off from fellow students. Had previously been in Syria and had pictures of himself posing with guns.

Tracking UK's jihadists

A high number of foreign fighters had come from Tunisia, Morocco, France and Russia but there has also been an increase from the Maldives, Finland and Trinidad and Tobago.

The report called for greater intelligence sharing between nations to help identify foreign fighters.

It highlighted the effect of social media networks which had linked "diverse foreign fighters from different communities across the globe".

The chances of foreign travellers becoming caught up in terrorist incidents was "growing, particularly with attacks targeting hotels, public spaces and venues".

The Security Council adopted a resolution in September demanding all states make it a serious criminal offence for their citizens to travel abroad to fight with militants, or to recruit and fund others to do so.

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'Foreign troops' land in Yemen

Unconfirmed reports have emerged of foreign troops landing in the Yemeni port city of Aden. It is not clear what nationality they are.

Aden has been the scene of fierce fighting as Houthi rebels have tried to advance on the heart of the city using tanks and armoured vehicles.

A Saudi-led coalition has staged seven nights of anti-rebel airstrikes.

Last week the rebels seemed close to taking Aden, forcing President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi to flee.

The Houthis have said their aim is to replace President Hadi's government, which they accuse of being corrupt.

The rebels are supported by army units loyal to the former president, Ali Abdullah Saleh.

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Palestinians join war crimes court

Only the ICC's prosecutor and its judges have the authority to decide what cases to pursue

The Palestinians have formally joined the International Criminal Court (ICC), a key step towards being able to pursue Israelis for alleged war crimes.

Foreign Minister Riad Malki attended a low-key ceremony at The Hague.

The ICC's chief prosecutor launched a "preliminary examination" in January, after the Palestinians signed its founding treaty, the Rome Statute.

Palestinian officials said they would wait for the outcome of the review before considering further action.

Although Israel has not ratified the Rome Statute, its military and civilian leaders could face charges if they are believed to have committed crimes on Palestinian territory.

Palestinian militants will also be open to prosecution.

'Slow' procedures

On Wednesday, the Palestinians became the 123rd member of the ICC, 90 days after they lodged a declaration accepting the jurisdiction of the court over alleged crimes committed in the occupied territories of East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza from 13 June 2014.

The Palestinians accepted the ICC's jurisdiction from 13 June 2014, shortly before the 50-day Gaza Conflict

This covers events prior to and during last summer's 50-day conflict between Israel and militants in Gaza, which left more than 2,200 people dead.

On 16 January, ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda announced that she had opened a preliminary examination to determine whether the criteria had been met to merit pursuing a formal investigation.

There are "no timelines" for the preliminary examination, according to the ICC, and Mr Malki told Voice of Palestine radio on Wednesday: "I don't want to disappoint our people, but the ICC procedures are slow and long and might face lots of obstacles and challenges and might take years."

There are reports that the Palestinians are set to lodge a complaint against Israel at the ICC, but experts say only the prosecutor and in some instances its judges have the authority to decide what cases to pursue.

'Objectionable' pressure

The Palestinians faced strong opposition over their decision to join the ICC, with critics claiming it undermined chances for a negotiated peace deal.

The US stated that it did not believe Palestine was a sovereign state and therefore should not qualify to join, and warned that it would cut funding to the Palestinian Authority.

The Palestinians are not known to have carried out any investigations into alleged war crimes by militants

Israeli Prime Minister accused the Palestinians of choosing "a path of confrontation" and froze the transfer of about $400m (£270m) in tax revenues collected on behalf of the PA between January and March.

On Wednesday, Human Rights Watch called on governments seeking to penalise the Palestinians for joining the ICC to end their pressure.

"What's objectionable is the attempts to undermine international justice, not Palestine's decision to join a treaty to which over 100 countries around the world are members," said Balkees Jarrah, the US-based group's international justice counsel.

Human Rights Watch said it had documented unlawful attacks, including some that it believed were war crimes, during the 2014 hostilities in Gaza. But, it added, both sides had "yet to make meaningful progress in providing justice for serious laws-of-war violations".

Israeli military inquiries into the conflict are ongoing, and the Israel government has announced an investigation by the state comptroller. The PA and Hamas, the militant group that dominates Gaza, are not known to have carried out any investigations.

Action is also being considered by the Palestinians against the expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem - land Israel has occupied since the 1967 Middle East war.

Israel's government is expected to use third-party NGOs to pursue their own complaints against Palestinians in the ICC.

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Joni Mitchell in 'intensive care'

The 71-year-old suffers from Morgellons Disease, a rare skin condition

Singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell is in intensive care after being found unconscious at her Los Angeles home.

The 71-year-old was rushed to hospital on Tuesday afternoon. It is not immediately clear what illness she has.

A statement released on her website said she "regained consciousness on the ambulance ride to an LA area hospital".

The Canadian-born artist is "currently in intensive care undergoing tests and is awake and in good spirits," it added.

Los Angeles fire officials said paramedics had answered a 911 call in Bel Air, where Mitchell lives, and had taken a patient whom they did not identify to hospital.

In December she told Billboard magazine that she had a rare skin condition, Morgellons disease, which prevented her from performing.

"I can't sing any more - don't miss it. I can't play any more - don't miss it. I've got all these instruments laying around and hopefully one day I'll pick them up," she was quoted as saying.

Morgellons is a controversial condition and is not recognised by mainstream medical authorities. Sufferers say it is characterised by crawling and stinging sensations under the skin but many in the medical community believe it is a psychiatric disorder.

Mitchell's Blue is ranked 30th on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time

Her website urged fans to "Light a candle and sing a song, let's all send good wishes her way"

Musicians took to social media to send messages of support. Boy George tweeted: "A prayer for Joni Mitchell."

Billy Idol also sent best wishes: "Sorry to hear today's news about Joni Mitchell. I sang on her 'Dancing Clown' single many moons ago, all the best 4 her recovery."

Mitchell has released 19 original albums, with her last in 2007.

Best known for her 1970 hit Big Yellow Taxi, Mitchell was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

Her 1971 album, Blue, is ranked 30th on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

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Nigeria's Buhari hails poll victory

Gen Buhari's supporters have been celebrating, especially in the north

The winner of Nigeria's presidential poll, Muhammadu Buhari, has hailed his victory as a vote for change and proof the nation has embraced democracy.

Mr Buhari also praised outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan as a "worthy opponent" who peacefully relinquished power.

Gen Buhari beat Mr Jonathan by 15.4 million votes to 12.9 million.

Observers have generally praised the election, though there have been allegations of fraud.

Live reaction to Buhari victory

Mr Buhari, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has become the first opposition candidate to win a presidential election in Nigeria.

The former military ruler in a victory speech on Wednesday described his win as "historic". He said that the vote had vindicated the people's belief in democracy.

He also praised President Jonathan as "a worthy opponent" and said that he was extending "the hand of fellowship" to him.

Analysis: BBC's Will Ross in Lagos

This is a hugely significant moment in Nigeria's turbulent history. Never before has a sitting president been defeated in an election.

Since independence from Britain in 1960, there have been numerous coups and although the 2011 vote was an improvement, most elections have been rigged or even annulled by the military.

Of course in a relatively close election, there will be millions of people who are not pleased with the outcome. But the whole process is a sign that democracy is deepening in Nigeria and may be a tonic to other countries in Africa.

Nigerians can start to believe that it is possible to remove politicians through the ballot box.

Historic moment for Nigeria

Mr Buhari told his supporters at APC headquarters: "We have proven to the world that we are people who have embraced democracy. We have put the one-party state behind us."

"You, Nigerians, have won. The people have shown their love for this nation and their belief in democracy."

On Tuesday, Mr Jonathan said in a statement: "I promised the country free and fair elections. I have kept my word."

Muhammadu Buhari in focus:

• Muslim from northern Nigeria, aged 72
• Military ruler of Nigeria from 1984 to 1985, deposed in a coup
• Seen as incorruptible
• Poor human rights record
• Disciplinarian - civil servants late for work had to do frog jumps
• Survived apparent Boko Haram assassination attempt

Five reasons why Goodluck Jonathan lost

Profile: Muhammadu Buhari

Profile: Goodluck Jonathan

The outgoing leader urged his supporters to stay calm: "Nobody's ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian. The unity, stability and progress of our dear country is more important than anything else."

He said he had conveyed his "best wishes" to Mr Buhari, and urged "those who may feel aggrieved to follow due process... in seeking redress".

However, analysts say the margin of victory is likely to prevent any successful legal challenge.

His spokesman Reuben Abati told BBC World News he did not know what Mr Jonathan would do after he hands over power on 29 May.

Boko Haram effect

Gen Buhari beat Mr Jonathan by 15.4 million votes to 12.9 million

Nigerians in the city of Jos celebrate Mr Buhari's victory

Observers have generally praised the way the election was conducted

This election was the fourth time that Gen Buhari, 72, had contested presidential elections.

He gained much of his support in the north, in particular the north-east, which has suffered from Boko Haram's six-year insurgency.

It has killed thousands of people in its drive to establish an Islamic state.

Many people accused Mr Jonathan of not taking Boko Haram seriously and thought Gen Buhari would be better positioned to defeat the militants.

The election was delayed by six weeks to allow the army enough time to recapture territory from Boko Haram.

The former military ruler won 94% of the vote in the worst affected state, Borno.

How did you vote in the Nigeria elections? What do you think about the outcome? If you are willing to have your comments featured on the BBC News website, please send a picture and your story to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk

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Alps crash video 'must be handed in'

The remains of all the victims have reportedly been removed from the remote ravine where the plane went down

A lead investigator into the Germanwings crash has called for anyone with footage of the disaster to hand it over to the authorities.

French prosecutor Brice Robin said he was not aware of a video, reported by German and French media, showing the last seconds before the crash.

Bild and Paris Match said on Tuesday they had mobile phone footage from inside the plane.

Airline bosses spoke of their regret on a visit to the crash site on Wednesday.

Their statement comes amid mounting questions about how much the co-pilot Andreas Lubitz's employers knew about his mental health after it emerged he had disclosed a previous bout of "severe depression".

A recording from the cockpit of the aircraft suggests Lubitz, 27, deliberately caused the disaster, killing all 150 on board.

'Sound of screaming'

Mr Robin said investigators were not yet examining mobile phones found at the crash site, and he was not aware of footage from phones having been recovered.

German newspaper Bild and French news magazine Paris Match said they had obtained a video which recorded the sound of passengers screaming and the sound of a metal object striking the cockpit door.

Mobile phones found at the crash site have not yet been analysed, officials say

Anyone with footage "must hand it over immediately to investigators," AFP news agency quoted the French prosecutor as saying on Wednesday.

'Place of mourning'

Thomas Winkelmann, chief executive of Germanwings, and Carsten Spohr, head of the parent company Lufthansa, visited Seyne-les-Alpes on Wednesday to inspect recovery operations based there.

The Lufthansa boss said it would take a "long, long time" for investigators to establish the cause of the crash, and said "we're sorry" over the disaster.

Thanking rescue workers and local residents, Mr Spohr said: "Everybody at Lufthansa knows how hard this work has been... We are very grateful."

"We know the burden that has been put on this area, where nothing is the same anymore.

"We will do everything we can to turn this place into a place of mourning for relatives of the victims, and to restore this beautiful countryside."

They laid a wreath at a memorial to those killed but refused to take questions from journalists about the investigation.

Mr Spohr had previously said that Lufthansa was not aware of anything that could have driven the co-pilot to crash the Airbus A320.

Who were the victims?

The faces of some of the passengers on board the Airbus 320

• From 18 countries on board, although most were Spanish or German
• Sixteen students and two of their teachers, from Joseph-Koenig school in Haltern, western Germany, were travelling back from a Spanish exchange trip
• Marina Bandres Lopez-Belio, a Spanish filmmaker living in Manchester, was travelling back from a funeral with her seven-month old son Julian Pracz-Bandres
• Opera singers Maria Radner and Oleg Bryjak had been performing in Barcelona. Radner's husband and baby were also on the plane
• German media named the captain of the flight as Patrick Sonderheimer. It is believed he had gone to bathroom shortly after take-off, leaving co-pilot Lubitz in charge of the aircraft

Read more stories of the victims

German pupils devastated by deaths of classmates

The plane went down on 24 March as it travelled from Barcelona to Duesseldorf, killing all 150 people on board. The victims included babies, exchange students, two opera singers and football reporters.

A memorial service is due to take place later on Wednesday in Haltern, Germany, for the 16 exchange students and their two teachers who died.

None of the victims were found intact after the plane's 700kph (430mph) impact, but different strands of DNA have been identified at the site. Teams are still searching for a second flight recorder.

Lufthansa said on Tuesday it had set aside $300m (€280m; £200m) to deal with possible costs from the crash, as French aviation investigators said they were examining "systemic weaknesses" that could have led to the disaster.

Andreas Lubitz: Germanwings co-pilot

Andreas Lubitz left no letter, investigators say

• Started training in 2008, at Lufthansa flight school in Bremen and in Arizona
• Took a break from flight school and sent information about a depressive episode to instructors in 2009
• Subsequently passed all medical tests and eventually secured his license
• Working as co-pilot, or first officer, since 2013. Appeared pleased with his job
• Lived in town of Montabaur, near Frankfurt, reportedly with his parents. Kept a flat in Duesseldorf and had many friends
• Facebook profile suggests the active lifestyle of a keen runner, with an interest in pop music

Who was Andreas Lubitz?

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Myanmar drafts ceasefire with rebels

Thein Sein would not put a timeframe on a reduction in the military's political role

Myanmar's President Thein Sein has witnessed the signing of a draft ceasefire agreement between the government and 16 rebel groups.

The agreement, which came after seven rounds of talks, is a significant step towards ending decades of conflict.

Negotiators from the armed rebel groups still have to consult with their leaders before giving final approval.

Rebels from the newest and most active conflict in Kokang did not attend the talks.

The United Nations said the move was a "historic and significant achievement" and provided a basis for "genuine and lasting peace in the country".

Myanmar has been engaged in armed conflict with various ethnic rebel groups seeking greater autonomy since independence from the British in 1948.

While many have come into the political fold for peace deals, sporadic outbreaks of violence have continued.

Rebels from the newest and most active conflict in Kokang did not attend the talks

All but two of the ethnic armed groups at the talks already have bilateral ceasefires in place.

"The people need peace, they desire peace and they expect peace," Thein Sein was reported by AFP as saying to negotiators on Tuesday.

He added that a full agreement could be signed in months. "After that is signed, the road is open for political dialogue. This action will ensure the peace-builders a place in Myanmar's history," he said.

The BBC's Jonah Fisher says one representative from the armed groups told him on Monday that the government had compromised significantly at the last moment to make a deal possible.

Our correspondent says the idea is to bring all the rebels into a process that will lead on to talks on greater devolution of power and resources - something that the Burmese government has always fiercely resisted.

At talks in Yangon the final four points of contention were resolved. There will be a halt to recruitment by the armed groups, their territory and status were confirmed, as was the nature and composition of the political dialogue that will follow.

The negotiators are now taking the text back to their groups for approval. There will then be a meeting which may lead to a signing.

Over the decades, thousands have fled their homes from armed conflicts with the latest flaring up in Kokang

Meanwhile there is still heavy fighting in the Kokang region and there are still regular clashes in other areas.

The government declared a state of emergency in February as tens of thousands of refugees have been forced to flee their homes, some of them crossing the border into China.

Naing Han Tha, who led the ethnic group negotiators for the ceasefire agreement, told AFP news agency that they planned to discuss the Kokang conflict in future dialogues.

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'Good chance' of Iran nuclear deal

The representatives of world powers have been meeting for many months to secure a deal

Russia's foreign minister has said prospects of a preliminary agreement on Iran's nuclear programme are "very good" on the final day of negotiations.

Sergei Lavrov said he was rejoining the talks in Switzerland on Tuesday, suggesting they were close to a deal.

Marathon negotiations between Iran and foreign ministers from six world powers are nearing a self-imposed deadline.

Ministers want to restrict Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for relief from crippling sanctions.

Correspondents say difficulties remain, despite statements from officials saying definite progress had been made.

Mr Lavrov announcement that he was rejoining negotiations followed a statement, as he left the talks on Monday, that he would only return if there was a realistic chance of securing an agreement.

"I believe that the prospects are very good and promising," he told a news conference on Tuesday.

Mr Lavrov said on Monday that he would only return to the talks if a deal was likely

US Secretary of State John Kerry said talks on Monday had produced "a little more light".

But he said: "There are still some tricky issues. Everyone knows the meaning of tomorrow."

Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, but world powers are worried about the country developing nuclear weapons.

They want to keep Iran at least one year away from being able to produce enough fuel for a single weapon.

The final hours of negotiation in Lausanne are taking place between foreign ministers from the so-called P5+1 - comprising the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany - and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini is also present.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said he was "cautiously optimistic" about reaching a deal

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday that the "marathon-like" negotiations had entered the final stage and that he was "cautiously optimistic".

The differences between the parties were narrowing, he said.

At the scene: Barbara Plett, BBC News, Lausanne

Negotiators worked late into the night and are continuing talks this morning in an all-out effort to meet the deadline.

The six global powers are closer than they have ever been to resolving the longstanding tensions over Iran's nuclear programme. Progress has been made on steps to curb and monitor Iran's production of enriched uranium, which can be used to make the core of a nuclear warhead.

But substantive differences remain. These include the pace of sanctions relief and the nature of restrictions on Iran's nuclear research and development.

If a broad framework agreement is reached by the end of the day, it would be used as the basis of a final accord. No-one here has given a clear answer as to what would happen if it is not.

Sense of history at Iran talks

Six key points in the nuclear crisis

How do Iranians see the nuclear talks?

Ministers are aiming to agree on a political framework agreement by Tuesday night that would lead to a final and comprehensive accord by 30 June.

Senior Iranian negotiator Abbas Araqchi told Iranian TV that he was "hopeful" about a deal, but that ministers were not in a position to say whether they were close to resolving all the issues.

Iranian and Western officials have said that a deal is possible, but after almost 18 months of negotiations several sticking points remain.

Three of the major outstanding issues are:

• Length of restrictions - Iran's nuclear activities would be strictly limited for at least 10 years. After that, Iran wants all limits to be lifted. The P5+1 says they should be removed progressively over the following five years
• Sanctions relief - Iran wants the UN sanctions suspended soon after an agreement. The P5+1 says they should be eased in a phased manner, with restrictions on imports of nuclear-related technology remaining for years
• Non-compliance - The US and its European allies want a mechanism that would allow suspended UN sanctions to be put back into effect rapidly if Iran reneges on a deal. Russia reportedly accepts this, but wants to ensure its Security Council veto rights are protected

Another point of contention is Iran's desire to be able to develop advanced centrifuges, which could enrich uranium faster and in greater quantities. While enriched uranium is used as fuel for nuclear reactors, it can also be used to make nuclear bombs.

Adding to the list of issues to be resolved, Iran's lead negotiator has ruled out sending its existing stockpile of nuclear fuel abroad, one of the steps demanded by the P5+1.

Meanwhile, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to a deal, saying it would send the message "that Iran stands to gain by its aggression".

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