The world this week

The BBC News website looks at what could be dominating the headlines around the world this week - and offers some key background on those stories.

MONDAY 3 APRIL

West Africa trial: Ex-Liberian President Charles Taylor is due to make his first appearance at a UN-backed tribunal in Freetown, Sierra Leone, accused of war crimes related to the civil war there.

Out of Africa?

WATCH OUT FOR: Special BBC coverage on Friday heralding the third anniversary of the US capture of Baghdad Laptop link-up with our Africa editor in Ethiopia A week of special features from Latin America Our series on prison populations, in the UK and overseas Last week at a glance

Homosexual rights: The Delhi High Court is due to examine a petition by a gay organisation to overturn laws that make homosexuality illegal in India. It dismissed a similar plea in 2004.

Italy leaders' debate: The second TV debate is due to take place between Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and opposition leader Romano Prodi ahead of the general election.

Mark Mardell: Contest of contrasts

Enron trial: Ken Lay, founder of the US energy giant, begins his defence in the long-running fraud case against him over Enron's collapse in 2001. He is expected to blame subordinates.

Profile: Fallen hero

TUESDAY 4 APRIL

French strike: Unions and students co-ordinate another national strike in protest at the controversial youth employment law.

What's driving student protests

Town for sale: The Californian town of Bridgeville is up for auction on eBay - for the second time in four years.

WEDNESDAY 5 APRIL

British politics: Prime Minister Tony Blair and his presumed successor, Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown launch the Labour party's campaign for local elections, amid continuing speculation of a rift.

Balance of power in Downing Street

THURSDAY 6 APRIL

The authorities in Nepal have vowed to halt the protests

Nepal protests: The multi-party opposition begins a four day strike in a major challenge to King Gyanendra, with a big rally planned for Saturday.

Heading for a showdown

Nato in Africa: The Nato alliance holds high-level talks with seven Mediterranean partners in Rabat, Morocco, in what is thought to be its first meeting in an Arab country.

Nato key events since 1949

FRIDAY 7 APRIL

Africa famine: The UN launches an appeal for emergency assistance for the drought-stricken Horn of Africa.

In depth: Africa's food crisis

SATURDAY 8 APRIL

Nepal rally: Opposition parties plan a big rally in protest at King Gyanendra's assumption of direct power last year. A similar event two months ago was met with arrests of political leaders and a dawn-to-dusk curfew.

China concert: The Rolling Stones will give their first performance in mainland China, in Shanghai. A previous attempt was cancelled three years ago because of outbreaks of the Sars virus.

SUNDAY 9 APRIL

Peru polls: The front-runner in the presidential election is former army officer Humala Ollanta, who led a failed military uprising in October 2000. His election would be a further headache for the Bush administration.

How the US 'lost' Latin America

Hungary voting: The first round of parliamentary elections. The Socialist-led government is slightly ahead in recent opinion polls.

Italy elections: Voting starts in Italy's general election, ending the next day.

Iraq anniversary: The third anniversary of the toppling of Saddam Hussein's statue in Fardus Square, Baghdad - an event symbolising his overthrow by US forces.

On This Day: Saddam toppled

This guide to the week ahead, published on Monday at 0800 GMT, is not intended as an exhaustive list, and the events noted may be cancelled or postponed.

---