LONDON (Reuters) – While the world mourned the death of Apple founder Steve Jobs in California, many Syrians were quick to claim the computer genius as one of their own on Thursday through a little-known connection to his biological father.

Jobs, who died of cancer at the age of 56 on Wednesday, was given up for adoption soon after his birth in San Francisco to an American mother, Joanne Carole Schieble, and a Syrian-born father, Abdulfattah “John” Jandali.

BRUSELS/LONDON (Reuters) – A boast by Gaddafi loyalists that they had captured 17 foreign mercenaries this week has been greeted with skepticism, but the claim has highlighted the importance of covert military operations in the overthrow of the Libyan leader.

Gaddafi’s spokesman Moussa Ibrahim has so far not made good on his promise to put the group on television and he has produced no other evidence to back his story, which was quickly denied in Western capitals.

TUNIS (Reuters) – Muammar Gaddafi’s children earned reputations for extravagance, violence and dysfunctional behavior that attracted almost as many hostile headlines as their eccentric and ruthless father.

One son, Saif al Arab, was killed during the six-month armed revolt to overthrow the Libyan leader. Unconfirmed reports say another, Khamis, has also been killed.

LONDON (Reuters) – Muammar Gaddafi’s penchant for extravagant uniforms, gold regalia and Bedouin tents provided a theatrical backdrop for four decades of harsh repression at home and a foreign policy that made him a bete noire of the West.

On Tuesday night, those props were smashed, pilfered and paraded in mockery when rebels stormed his fortified compound. One man wore the familiar braided hat he said he found in his house. The tent where he received foreign dignitaries was set ablaze. The decapitated golden head of his statue was trampled.

LONDON, Aug 21 (Reuters) – Muammar Gaddafi appealed on
Sunday night for his people to “save Tripoli” from a rebel
offensive, but his four-decade-old rule appeared doomed.

While leaders of neighbouring Arab states folded quickly in
the face of popular uprisings, Gaddafi had put up a bloody
fight, taking on NATO as well as local insurgents who quickly
seized half the country.

LONDON, Aug 21 (Reuters) – Muammar Gaddafi appealed on
Sunday night for his people to “save Tripoli” from a rebel
offensive, but his four-decade-old rule appeared doomed.

While leaders of neighbouring Arab states folded quickly in
the face of popular uprisings, Gaddafi had put up a bloody
fight, taking on NATO as well as local insurgents who quickly
seized half the country.

TUNIS (Reuters) – A short while ago, Adel Klaifa was used to members of the Tunisian president’s family coming to the beach and riding on his camels.

The only problem was that they refused to pay like regular tourists.

Now six months after the overthrow of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, the first victim of the Arab Spring revolutions, Klaifa has another problem — not enough customers of any kind. Along with many of his fellow Tunisians, economic prosperity remains elusive.

LONDON (Reuters) – While other Arab leaders folded quickly in the face of popular uprisings, Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi has put up a bloody fight, taking on NATO as well as local insurgents who have seized half the country.

With his bedouin tents and heavily armed female bodyguards, along with a readiness to execute his opponents and turn his tanks on his opponents, Gaddafi has cut an eccentric and violent figure as Libya’s leader for more than 40 years.

LONDON (Reuters) – As his armed forces roll over rebel fighters, Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi has shaken off his delusional first response to the uprising and is reasserting his grip on the country he has ruled for more than 40 years.

After presidents in Tunisia and Egypt succumbed to popular revolutions, swift early gains by rebels in Libya made it look as though Gaddafi would be the next Arab domino to topple.

LONDON (Reuters) – With his penchant for bedouin tents and heavily armed female bodyguards, along with a readiness to execute his opponents, Muammar Gaddafi has cut a disturbing figure as Libya’s leader for more than 40 years.

For most of that time he held a prominent position in the West’s international rogues’ gallery, while maintaining tight control at home by eliminating dissidents and refusing to annoint a successor.