South Korea to Disband Coast Guard over Ferry Disaster

A South Korean diver enters the water near floats where the capsized passenger ship Sewol sank, during the search and rescue operation in the sea off JindoReuters

South Korea is disbanding its coast guard as part of sweeping reforms over the recent ferry disaster that killed at least 286 people.

Making the announcement, President Park Geun-hye tendered a tearful apology and said she takes the entire responsibility for the disaster that struck the vessel Sewol in which most of the victims were high school students.

"As the president responsible for the lives and safety of South Koreans, I offer my sincere apology for all the suffering inflicted upon the people," Park said in a televised address.

Park has formally apologised over the accident on several occasions, but this is the first time she has addressed the nation on television more than a month after the ferry sank.

"The ultimate responsibility for the poor response to this accident lies with me," she said.

A new safety agency will be in place to deal with rescue operations in case of any maritime disaster while the police authorities will lead the investigation, Park said.

The South Korean government has been facing stinging criticism and public anger over its handling of the disaster as many believe if the situation had been managed properly, more lives could have been saved.

Park said: "A 20-year-old vessel was bought and refurbished to add excessive capacity, then it was loaded with much more cargo than allowed with a false reporting on weight, but not a single person in the position to supervise stopped any of it."

As she was reading out the names of the victims who died while trying to save others, tears welled up in her eyes. With a choked voice and tears running down her cheeks, she said: "I believe they are the true heroes of our times."

The captain and three other crew members of the vessel have been indicted on homicide charges for abandoning it while it was capsizing.

Libya: Rogue General Khalifa Haftar Storms Parliament in Attempted 'Coup'

General Khalifa Haftar attends a news conference in Abyar, a small town to the east of BenghaziReuters

Heavy gunfire has been heard outside the Libyan interim parliament in the capital Tripoli and the gunmen have also set fire to the building.

A spokesman for General Khalifa Haftar said his forces were responsible for the raid. The gunfire reportedly came from anti-aircraft weapons and rocket propelled grenades, according to News24.com.

Local Libyan TV reported that General National Congress (GNC) president Abu Sahmain and seven other MPS have been kidnapped, but these are unconfirmed reports.

A joint statement from Libya's government, army and congress has denounced General Haftar's actions as an attempted "coup", according to Mary Fitzgerald, a journalist working in Libya.

General Haftar's spokesman Mohammed al Hegazi told television channel Alahrar that the offensive was carried out in order to arrest Islamists, but General Haftar's forces were met with resistance.

"These are members of the Libyan National Army," he said, using the name of the forces commanded by General Haftar.

This image reportedly shows members of Libya's GNC being arrested by military in TripoliTwitter Fatima Said @fattysaid

Al Hegazi called the parliament the "heart of the crisis" in Libya, and added: "This parliament is what supports these extremist Islamist entities.

"The aim was to arrest these Islamist bodies who wear the cloak of politics."

A journalist from the Associated Press news agency reported seeing militias armed with machine-gun mounted vehicles near the building.

The parliament is split between Islamist and non-Islamist forces who have argued over choosing a new government and holding fresh elections.

A security official said the gunmen have also shelled a nearby military base controlled by an Islamist militia.

The Al Qaaqaa and Sawaaq militias are both based near the parliament. They operate under the government's mandate but support non-Islamist political forces.

General Hafter is said to be waging an offensive against militants in Libya's second largest city, Benghazi.

Authorities have accused him of carrying out a coup, but General Hafter has said they have no mandate and has vowed to continue.

More than 70 people were killed on Friday in clashes between irregular army forces and Islamist militants in Benghazi.

US and Israel Hold Anti-Missile Defence Drill Juniper Cobra

US and Israeli forces holding joint military drill. Reuters/Fars

A joint anti-missile defence drill dubbed Juniper Cobra, conducted by US and Israeli forces is under way.

About 1,000 American troops from the European Command in the region are taking part in the exercise.

Israeli Radio reported that the biennial military drill is to test the "joint abilities" of the two forces. The forces will test their military capabilities to defend projectile attacks.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) has not released specific details about the exercise.

The drill started earlier, but the anti-missile exercises are taking place only now.

As part of the exercise, US Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel held a meeting with top Israeli authorities including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Moshe Ya'alon.

Hagel reiterated the US commitment to stop Israeli rival Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

"America's commitment to Israel's security is resolute. The United States' support for Israel is anchored in our nations' commitment to democracy and freedom," said Hagel.

Last July, the two countries conducted an aerial exercise named "Juniper Stallion 13" in which several F-15 and F-16 fighter jets took part.

"If we were able to build a regional defence capability in say, Jordan, that capability could easily defend Israel, Jordan and even Egypt, if you so desired, adding one more layer to your multi-layered defence," chief defence attaché for the US embassy in Tel Aviv John Shapland told a gathering of experts recently.