Funeral of ex-Syrian prime minister

The funeral has been held in Syria of the former prime minister, Mahmoud Zubi, who the authorities say committed suicide while awaiting trial on corruption charges.

There was no official presence at the ceremony in Deraa province, south of Damascus.

Mr Zubi who resigned from his government post in March and was dismissed from the ruling Baath party two weeks ago.

The interior ministry says he shot himself when a police officer arrived to give him a summons. In another development, a former transport minister, Mufid Abdel Karim, has been arrested on charges of corruption and misappropriation.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service