Syria Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, under intense international pressure over Lebanon, agreed to a withdrawal of all military and intelligence personnel from the country, a UN envoy said. Iran Iran said it was determined to press on with its nuclear programme, snubbing an announcement by the United States that it would offer Tehran incentives to halt sensitive fuel cycle work. Mideast The militant Palestinian Islamic movement Hamas announced it would end a long-standing boycott and take part in Palestinian legislative elections in July. Iraq Iraqi captors indefinitely postponed their threatened execution of a Filipino hostage as religious leaders called for calm amid fears of revenge attacks two days after a suicide bomber killed 47 Iraqis at a Shiite funeral. Britain Britain's Home Secretary Charles Clarke signed control orders to restrict the movements of 10 "terrorism" suspects under legislation passed in an epic overnight battle this week between the two houses of parliament. US Prosecutors painted Michael Jackson as a "spendaholic" on the verge of bankruptcy, as they argued to win access to the superstar's financial records. US The United States said that North Korea need not completely dismantle its nuclear weapons arsenal before receiving benefits under an aid-for-disarmament proposal offered to the Stalinist state. US A massive manhunt was under way in the southeastern United States after a man on trial for rape grabbed a deputy's gun and shot dead a judge and two other officials in an Atlanta courthouse, before seizing a car and fleeing, police said. India Thousands of people began the long march across a vast expanse of arid western India to honour the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, India's independence hero and apostle of non-violence. Spain Spain ended an emotional day of mourning for the victims of the Madrid train bombings a year ago with a solemn requiem service attended by King Juan Carlos and leading politicians.