Egypt's former president Hosni Mubarak returns to court Sunday to face charges over protester deaths, as Muslim Brotherhood leaders make their first appearances in court on similar but unrelated charges.

Thousands of Swazis voted Saturday in the first round of parliamentary elections that pro-democracy groups have dismissed as window dressing in Africa's last absolute monarchy.

The UK and the US have threatened a "serious response" if it emerges Syria used chemical weapons last week.