Local election held in Syria despite fighting

DAMASCUS, Dec 12 (agencies): Syria is holding local elections despite continuing violence between security forces and protesters. The authorities said the vote would be freer than in previous years, but the opposition has called for a boycott. Turnout is expected to be very low. Correspondents say many Syrian voters will not risk going to the polls amid escalating violence. Sunday saw further bloodshed in several cities. Syria has refused to allow international election monitors. The UN estimates more than 4,000 people have died in the nine-month uprising, including 307 children. The Syrian government says it is fighting armed groups. Many army defectors have joined the opposition in recent months. About 43,000 candidates are competing for more than 17,000 seats in local councils across the country on Monday. The interior ministry distributed invisible ink to prevent fraud and ensure the honesty of elections, the state-run Sana news agency said. 12 alleged Qaeda inmates escape Yemen prison Twelve alleged Al-Qaeda militants plus two other inmates have tunnelled their way to freedom from a prison in the south Yemen city of Aden, a security official said Monday. The prisoners fled through the tunnel they dug at the western end of Aden's central prison, the official said. Gunfight erupts near Tripoli airport Gun battles broke out near the international airport in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, army officials said. An army spokesman told Libyan TV two gunmen opened fire on Saturday on a convoy accompanying army chief Maj-Gen Khalifa Haftar but called it an "isolated incident". It was reportedly followed by hours of clashes along the coastal road. The violence adds to concerns over stability in Libya after the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi earlier this year. Israel approves 40 settler homes near Bethlehem Israel has approved construction of 40 homes and a farm in two new settler enclaves near the southern West Bank town of Bethlehem, Haaretz daily reported on Monday. Meanwhile:Israel has closed a controversial wooden access ramp to Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque compound over public safety concerns, police said Monday, in a move that quickly sparked Palestinian anger. The ramp was closed just three days before a deadline imposed by the Jerusalem city council, which had threatened to enforce a closure order if the Foundation failed to close off the structure because of fears it could collapse. The city says the ramp poses a fire hazard and could collapse onto the women's prayer section by the Western Wall. Kuwait begins trial of dozens of protesters A Kuwait court Monday charged 31 stateless people with illegal assembly and assaulting police during demonstrations earlier this year to demand citizenship and other basic rights. Twenty-six defendants were present at the start of the hearing, which was also attended by representatives of local human rights groups and activists supporting the rights of stateless, locally known as bidoons. More trials will be held for three others on Wednesday and 16 people on December 18. All the men were arrested following weeks of protests in February and March that witnessed clashes with riot police.