BBC News with Zoe Diamond

Ecuador says the founder of Wikileaks, Julian Assange, has requested political asylum after taking refuge at its embassy in London. Mr Assange is facing extradition from Britain to Sweden, where he's been accused of sexually assaulting two women. He denies the allegations and has written to the left-wing president of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, complaining of the prosecution. Leonardo Rocha has more.

Mr Assange grabbed the headlines in 2010 when Wikileaks published a vast number of secret diplomatic cables from the American State Department. He's facing extradition to Sweden after losing a long legal battle to stay in Britain. In a letter to President Rafael Correa, Mr Assange says he's being prosecuted for publishing the truth and damaging the interests of the powerful. He asked for the protection of the government of Ecuador and adds that he can't go back to his native country Australia, which, in his words, abandoned him.

Tens of thousands of Egyptians have heated calls from the Muslim Brotherhood and other political groups to gather in Tahrir Square in Cairo to protest against sweeping new powers taken by the ruling military council. The protests are taking place as the presidential election result is still awaited. Lyse Doucet reports from close to Tahrir Square.

The Muslim Brotherhood yesterday called for a 'million man march'. They wanted people to come out to declare their opposition to the army's continuing hold on power. I don't think there's a million people in the square, but the crowds are growing louder and larger by the hour. The Muslim Brotherhood in the square below is already celebrating victory, while members of the rival camp of Ahmed Shafiq, the former prime minister, say they're the ones who won.

Britain says a Russian ship allegedly transporting attack helicopters to Syria has turned back while sailing off the Scottish coast. The vessel's London-based insurers withdrew cover after being told by British officials that they were in possible breach of European Union sanctions on weapon supplies to Syria. Colin Blane reports.

The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton complained about the ship last Tuesday when she claimed it was taking armaments to President Assad. Onboard, it was reported they were helicopters which belonged to Syria, but which have been repaired and maintained by Russia. The ship's progress was halted when its London-based insurers withdrew cover when it was off the Outer Hebrides, saying the nature of the voyage was in breach of their rules.

And the Supreme Court in Pakistan has disqualified the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani from holding office. He was convicted of contempt of court two months ago for refusing to reopen corruption cases against President Zardari.

This is the latest World News from the BBC.

The British Prime Minister David Cameron says he's refused to accept a letter from the President of Argentina Christina Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner at the G20 summit in Mexico about the sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. Mr Cameron said he'd spoken to President Kirchner and told her that Argentina should respect the views of the islanders who will vote in a referendum on sovereignty next year. Argentina claims the Islands which it calls the Malvinas.

A Canadian man accused of killing and dismembering a Chinese student has pleaded not guilty to five charges, including murder. Luka Rocco Magnotta became the subject of an international manhunt before being extradited from Germany on Monday. Lee Carter reports.

Luka Rocco Magnotta appeared before a judge in a Quebec courtroom by video link from the detention center where he is being held. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him. They include first-degree murder and threatening the Canadian prime minister following the killing and dismemberment of Jun Lin, a 33-year-old Chinese national studying in Montreal. The victim's hands and feet were sent in the post to Canadian political parties and to schools. Defense lawyers say they may request a psychiatric evaluation for Mr Magnotta, who will appear again before a judge later this week.

East Asia has again come out as a major hotspot for animal extinctions in the latest Red List of Threatened Species published by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Prominent on the list are the world's biggest venomous snake, the king cobra, and the Burmese python.

At the Euro 2012 Football Championships, both the cohosts, Ukraine and Poland, have failed to reach the quarter finals. Ukraine lost 1-0 to England; Poland had already been knocked out . France also qualified for the latest stages of the tournament despite a 2-0 defeat by Sweden in Kiev.

BBC World News