The judges at the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig ruled against retired German theologian Hartmut Zapp.

Strong warning is an apparent rebuke of Western calls for an end to Syrian President Bashar Assad's rule.

Since announcing his ambitions, Bidzina Ivanishvili has been stripped of his citizenship and fined millions of dollars.

"I think it's important that the whole political game resumes in Italy, hopefully with a higher degree of responsibility and maturity."

Turkey's Dogan news agency says the blast occurred in the city of Tunceli; Kurdish militants belived to be responsible.

Orlando Ranaldi, 53, was accused of being part of a gang of 10 Italians and Albanians who ran a cocaine ring operating in southern Rome.

In car-mad Italy, record-high petrol prices are changing the motoring habits of a lifetime.

"We are certain that Belarussian citizens were able to make their conscious choice," a Russian Foreign Ministry statement said.

Officials said four have been arrested; claiming links to the coalition challenging president's party.

Reportedly called officers "plebs," a derogatory term for the working class; incident has reinforced impressions of government elitism.