Briefly

SENEGAL

French military ends permanent presence

France handed over control of its last two military bases in Senegal on Thursday, leaving Paris with no permanent army camps in either west or central Africa. France returned Camp Geille, its largest base in the west African country, and its airfield at Dakar airport, in a ceremony attended by top French and Senegalese officials. Senegal's chief of staff, General Mbaye Cisse, said the handover marked "an important turning point in the rich and long military journey of our two countries".

SYRIA

Govt troops quit Druze heartland

Syrian troops on Thursday pulled out of the Druze heartland of Sweida on the orders of the interim government, following days of deadly clashes that killed nearly 600 people. The city of Sweida was desolate on Thursday, AFP correspondents on the ground reported, with shops looted, homes burnt and bodies on the streets. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that 594 people had been killed in clashes in Sweida Province since Sunday.

SOUTH KOREA

Heavy rain kills 4 as thousands evacuate

More than 5,000 people in South Korea have been forced into shelters as heavy rain pounded parts of the country for a third day, with the deluge killing at least four people, the Interior and Safety Ministry said on Friday. Torrential rain warnings remain in effect for most of the country's western and southern regions and the weather service has advised extreme caution against landslides and flooding through Saturday.

Agencies - Xinhua