Desi Bouterse, the former dictator and later elected president of Suriname, who became a fugitive of justice for the killing of political opponents, has died at 79, the government said Wednesday.

The United States and Europe on Wednesday warned against any blockade of decision-making bodies in Bosnia's Serb Republic, in protest at the trial of its leader Milorad Dodik.

Hamas said Wednesday that "new conditions" imposed by Israel had delayed the finalisation of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, but acknowledged that negotiations were still proceeding.