Here's a summary of the latest developments:

Syria

• Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has threatened Syria with retaliation for shooting down a military jet, and warned that Turkish armed forces will respond to any Syrian encroachment on the border.

• Nato secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the alliance stands by Turkey but is not considering a military response.

• At least six people are reported to have been killed in the suburbs of Damascus in heavy clashes between rebels and the army.

• UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous told the security council that increasing danger has made it impossible for the observers in Syria to consider resuming operations at the moment, Reuters reports.

• The head of Syria's national Olympic committee, General Mowaffak Joumaa, said it would be "an honour" to be banned from the London Games, since he is the victim of a "fabricated media campaign".

Egypt

• Defeated presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq left Egypt for the UAE early today – just hours after the country's prosecutor general opened an investigation into allegations that he wasted public funds as a minister under Mubarak.

• Reform advocate Mohamed ElBaradei confirmed that he had meetings over the weekend with the military council amid speculation that he could play a role in Morsi's new government.

Tunisia

• There is growing speculation that President Moncef Marzouki may resign in protest at the government's decision to extradite former Libyan prime minister Baghdadi Mahmoudi.

Egypt: A language school in Cairo (the sort that teaches Arabic to foreigners) has circulated an email reassuring customers about Morsi's election. Here is an extract:

Amongst those viewing developments from a distance, some concerns have arisen regarding the fact that Mr Morsi is from an Islamic political party and have asked whether this means that Egypt is on its way to becoming Iran? In short, the answer is "no". Mohamed Morsi is a US-educated businessman and engineer. His policy is to represent all Egyptians, regardless of religion or social background. He is currently seeking to establish a unity government comprised of Muslims and Christians representing all stands of the political spectrum. He has already entered into discussions with Nobel Peace Prize winner Mohamed ElBaradei for the role of prime minister. The stock market has responded well and bookings in the tourist industry have also improved in the last few days; all signs that point to Egypt being open for business as usual. In short, the mood here is one of cautious excitement and, above all, relief, that stability is beginning to return and life will get back to normal.

Syria: UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous told the security council today that increasing danger has made it impossible for the UN observer mission to consider resuming operations at the moment, Reuters reports citing a council diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Ladsous also told the security council that the Syrian government has barred the observer mission from using satellite telephones, a key tool for their work, the diplomat said.

The head of the observer mission in Syria, General Robert Mood, announced on 16 June that he was suspending operations due to the increasing risks to the 300-strong force of military observers, who have been targeted with gunfire and bomb attacks.

Syria: A resident of the upmarket Barzeh neighbourhood of north-east Damascus describes hearing explosions and witnessing a raid this morning.

Speaking via Skype, the man who did not want to be identified, told the Guardian:

I heard three or four explosions, one of them was in my neighbourhood, the others were distant. The security forces and troops were raiding my neighbourhood. I saw a house burning. There were snipers and an anti-aircraft machine gun mounted on a military vehicle. They arrested many people in my area. Now they have withdrawn. It is quiet now. We see many indicators here on the ground that they are losing grip. Day after day, the Free Syrian Army troops are moving closer to the city. Inside Damascus the security forces are fortifying their positions. They don't leave their stations. For the last two months life in Damascus has not been normal. Security compounds have turned into fortresses. You can see troops everywhere. It is like a city with martial law now.

Lebanon: Gunmen – believed to be Shia supporters of the Assad regime in Syria – put up roadblocks, burned tyres and fired into the air in downtown Beirut during the early hours of this morning, the New York Times reports.

The disturbances came after a Shia man was arrested on Monday on suspicion of firebombing the offices of New TV, a station critical of Assad's government. The arrested man, named as Wissam Alaaeddine, is believed to be a former member of the Lebanese Shia Amal movement.

According to the Beirut Daily Star the attacks came after New TV interviewed controversial Sunni Sheikh Ahmed Assir who allegedly made threats against Amal leader Nabih Berri and Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. New TV had apologised for Assir's remarks.

[This is a guest post by Kouichi Shirayanagi]

Syria: Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov (left) will attend a meeting this Saturday on the Syrian crisis after a request from international envoy Kofi Annan, Reuters reports.

"Sergei Lavrov has officially accepted the invitation to come to the actual meeting in Geneva on Saturday, June 30," UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters ahead of a closed-door meeting of the security council on Syria.

"We attach great importance to this meeting."

Syria/Turkey:The shooting down of the Turkish jet was "stupid move" by Syria that could internationalise the crisis, according to Middle East analyst Juan Cole. Writing on his blog, Informed Comment, he says:

Syrians may have deliberately been sending Turkey a message, to back off. It was a stupid move. As long a Syria did not engage in hostilities with other states in the region, it was teflon, since Russia and China were protecting it at the UN. But now that it has fired on a Nato plane, it has offered Turkey and its colleagues a legal way to use force. I don't think either Turkey or other Nato members will be at all happy to be drawn into military action in Syria. (Nor do I think that would be a good idea). But they might be drawn into creating a humanitarian corridor at Hatay in Turkey, and guarding it from Syrian attack. By its unwise aggression against Turkey, Syria may have internationalised its civil war, something it and its allies had desperately been trying to avoid. Moreover, if Turkey really does stop helping with electricity exports to Aleppo, that step could contribute to further discontent in one of the few major cities where protests have been muted and somewhat infrequent.

Since the post was published Nato has confirmed that it stands by Turkey but does want to get drawn into the dispute.

Egypt: Some intriguing details about Ahmed Shafiq's hasty departure for Abu Dhabi, as reported by the Egypt Independent:

• Shafiq arrived at Cairo international airport 15 minutes before the departure of his plane. • Employees from the public relations department [of the airport?] gave him a send-off as others gathered around him in protest. • Shafiq was transported to the plane in a private car while his daughters arrived on a shuttle bus.

Egypt: Reuters is reporting that a court has overturned the controversial decree allowing the military to arrest civilians. There are no details as yet.

The decree had been viewed by many as a back-door way of reintroducing the long-standing emergency law which was allowed to lapse earlier this year.

Syria: The number of people killed in Syria has increased to 38, according to an email update from Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

It claimed 10 were killed in the suburbs of Damascus, after clashes in the Qudsayya suburb were followed by an army bombardment.

It also said one of those killed was shot by sniper fire in the Jobar area.

The local activist group, the Revolution Council of Damascus named six of those killed in Qudsayya, and circulated footage showing their bodies.

The umbrella opposition group, the Local Co-ordination Committees in Syria, claimed 44 people have been killed today, including 20 in the suburbs of the capital.

Syria: French support for a western military intervention in Syria is waning, an opinion poll showed today, with 52% of respondents in favour against 65% in Spain and a minority in Germany and Italy.

The survey by pollster Ifop found that respondents in all four countries were less in favour of having their own armies participate in any action, Reuters reports.

French support for action slipped from 58% in a survey by the same pollster three weeks ago.

In Germany, only 45% of those surveyed approved of the west taking military action in Syria, while in Italy the figure was just 43%. In both cases some two-thirds of respondents were against their own country getting involved.

Syria/Turkey: Turkey has sent troop reinforcement to the Syrian border, after Erdogan's warning that soldiers approaching the border will be treated as target, the Turkish daily Zaman reported citing the Cihan news agency.

It said 15 military vehicles, including tanks and cannons, were dispatched to the border from Diyarbakir.

p>Video has also emerged purporting to show Turkish tanks being taken to the border area

Egypt: The Washington Post has a video clip of yesterday's meeting between the military council and president-elect Mohamed Morsi. An awkward moment, with interesting body language.

Syria: Activists in the outskirts of Aleppo say that 280 soldiers defected today in Idlib near the main highway leading to Aleppo, al-Jazeera reports.

There is no independent confirmation but if the report is correct it would be one of the largest mass defections so far.

According to the activists cited by al-Jazeera, there were clashes between the defectors and the Syrian army. One helicopter was allegedly shot down and six tanks destroyed.

Syria: Iran is not on the same side of the Syrian conflict as the US and its allies, but it does have a big stake in ending the bloodshed and finding a political solution to the crisis, Iranian journalist Mohammad Ataie argues in an article for Comment is free.

"This is common ground that should not be ignored in any genuine initiative to stop the unrelenting bloodshed," he writes.

The Islamic republic has stood firmly behind the Syrian regime in the expectation that President Assad would be serious about reform – and is now showing signs of disappointment, Ataie says.

Iranian leaders have repeatedly defended their Syrian stance by emphasising that Assad is intent on implementing reforms and that his reform plans enjoy the backing of a majority of Syrian people. But, particularly since the recent parliamentary election in Syria, there has been an increasing sense of frustration in Tehran with the sluggish Assad-led political reforms.

p>The head of Syria's national Olympic committee, General Mowaffak Joumaa (left), has told a newspaper it would be "an honour" to be banned from the London Games, since he is the victim of a "fabricated media campaign".

There were reports last week that British authorities have turned down the general's visa application, though Syrian athletes will be allowed to compete.

In a statement published today by the Syrian newspaper al-Baath, Joumaa said if such a ban was issued, "it would be an honour for me as a Syrian citizen who loves his people and homeland".

"If Britain issues such a decision under political pretexts and other illusions and justifications, then its objective will be to pressure Syria in all fields, including sports."

The Associated Press adds:

He stressed that sport, like anything else in Syria, was subject to pressures and conspiracy "to undermine the steadfastness and unity of the Syrian people." However, he said, all Syrian athletes stood behind the process of reforms and modernisation led by Assad. About 10 Syrian athletes are due to compete in London.

Bahrain: The government says it will pay $2.6m to 17 families over deaths last year during protests, Reuters reports.

"Disbursement of compensation to the families of 17 deceased persons has begun in keeping with the implementation of the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI)," said a government statement citing a justice ministry official, adding this amounted to $153,000 per individual. It gave no details on who the recipients were. The BICI, an investigative body head by international legal experts, said in November 35 people died during the unrest, which began in February 2011 after revolts in Egypt and Tunisia.

Here's a summary of events so far today:

Syria/Turkey

• Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has threatened Syria with retaliation for the shooting down of a military jet, and warned that Turkish armed forces would respond to any Syrian encroachment on the border. "Any military element that approaches the Turkish border from Syria by posing a security risk and danger will be regarded as a threat and treated as a military target," he said.

• Nato secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, said the alliance stands by Turkey, but confirmed it is not considering a military response. He said he did not expect the dispute between Turkey and Syria to escalate. "Should anything happen, allies will remain seized of developments. We closely monitor the situation, and if necessary we will consult and discuss what else could be done," Rasmussen said (see 10.50am).

• At least six people are reported to have been killed in the suburbs of Damascus in heavy clashes between rebels and the army. The International Committee of the Red Cross is to make another attempt to evacuate wounded civilians from the opposition stronghold of Homs.

• There has been an increase in the ranks and importance of those switching sides, according to the New York Times, after a Syrian general, two colonels, a major and a lieutenant defected with 33 other soldiers. A spate of other recent defections also includes a colonel who flew a jet to Jordan last week. Paul Salem, director of the Carnegie Mideast Center in Beirut, said: "There are hundreds of generals in the Syrian Army, but when the dam begins to crack, it starts with a trickle."

• The US has accused the UN of a "colossal failure" over Syria as the security council prepares for another briefing on suspending UN monitoring mission. The UN is considering cutting the size of the monitoring mission, according to diplomats.

Egypt

• Former prime minister Ahmed Shafiq has flown to the UAE, after congratulating his rival in the presidential run off, Mohamed Morsi. His parting shot was: "I congratulate Mohamed Morsi, the elected Egyptian president, wishing him success in his difficult mission", the Egypt Independent reports.

• Reform leader Mohamed ElBaradei confirmed that he had meetings over the weekend with the military council amid speculation that he could play a role in Morsi's new government. "I wish the next PM will be ElBaradei," says the prominent blogger Zeinobia.

Tunisia

• There is growing speculation that President Moncef Marzouki may resign in protest at the government's decision to extradite former Libyan prime minister Baghdadi Mahmoudi. According to Tunisia Live, 60 members of Tunisia's Constituent Assembly have signed a petition in protest against the decision.

Syria: The activist group, the Local Co-ordination Committee in Syria, claims 30 people have been killed so far today, including 15 in the suburbs around Damascus after reports of heavy fighting there.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says six were killed in the suburbs of the Damascus, out of a deathtoll of 23 so far today.

Its tally includes the death of three Syrian soldiers in a car bomb attack in Idlib.

Syria: Is Erdogan suggesting some form of safe zone inside Syria by threatening to target Syrian soldiers approaching the border?

AP quoted him saying:

The rules of engagement of the Turkish Armed Forces have changed. Any military element that approaches the Turkish border from Syria by posing a security risk and danger will be regarded as a threat and treated as a military target.

Our diplomatic editor Julian Borger says this is a significant move:

Most significant Erdogan remark was that #Turkey ROE changed. Syrian military activity near the border seen as threat. No more hot pursuit? — Julian Borger (@julianborger) June 26, 2012

Erdogan key quote: "Any military element that APPROACHES Turkish border from #Syria will be regarded as a threat + treated as a mil target" — Julian Borger (@julianborger) June 26, 2012

Changed #Turkey ROE, targeting #Syria military elements "approaching" border could mark start of mini safe zone, if maximally interpreted. — Julian Borger (@julianborger) June 26, 2012

Egypt: There are reports this morning that defeated presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq has left Egypt for Abu Dhabi in a hurry.

Citing an unnamed Cairo airport official, AP says Hosni Mubarak's last prime minister flew out of Egypt at dawn, just hours after the country's prosecutor general opened an investigation into allegations that he wasted public funds during his eight-year-term as a civil aviation minister under Mubarak.

The official says Shafiq was accompanied by his three daughters and grandchildren.

Ahram Online explains some of the background to the legal complaints against Shafiq:

Less than 24 hours after Ahmed Shafiq lost the presidential contest to Mohamed Morsi, several lawyers have filed complaints with the office of the prosecutor against Mubarak's last prime minister charging him with corruption. A high-level judicial source said that councillor Osama El-Seidi, a Justice Ministry investigator, will receive this week the report prepared by experts in the Illicit Profiteering and Real Estate Agency who have examined procedures for the allocation of land sold by the Cooperative for Construction and Housing for Pilots, which was headed by Ahmed Shafiq in the 1990s.

Syria: The EU has imposed a travel ban on Assad spokeswoman Bouthaina Shaaban as part of its 16th round of sanctions against Syria, Reuters reports.



European Union added the Syria International Islamic Bank (SIIB) and Syria's national oil transport company to its list of targeted groups, according to its official journal, where EU laws are published. "From 2011 to 2012, SIIB surreptitiously facilitated financing of 150 million dollars on behalf of the Commercial Bank of Syria," the EU announcement said. The bank has 20 branches and three offices in Syria and has already been sanctioned by the US Treasury, which has accused the bank of helping Syria's state-owned Commercial Bank to evade U.S. counter-proliferation sanctions. The bloc also added a travel ban against Bouthaina Shaaban, an adviser to Assad who has served as a government spokeswoman. A number of Syrian government bodies were also named in the sanctions list, including the defence and interior ministries, the national security bureau and the national radio and television corporation.

Syria/Turkey: The Turkish daily Zaman has more on Erdogan's bellicose speech.

It quoted him saying:

However valuable Turkey's friendship is, its wrath is just as strong. Don't take our common sense and cautious approach as a sign of passivity. Radar findings are all clear. They downed a reconnaissance jet that was on a solo test flight. This is a hostile act. The Syrian administration is tyrannical and not just," he said. "Turkey will be in solidarity with our brothers in Syria until a new regime is in place." Turkey will be in solidarity with our brothers in Syria until a new regime arrives. We will offer all the possible support to liberate the Syrians from dictatorship.

The Syrian authorities remain equally defiant. Foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi insisted that the plane was over Syrian waters.

We heard previous statements made by the Nato that they have no intention of military intervention in Syria. If the aim of the meeting is aggressive in nature, I want to reassure everyone that the Syrian territories, waters and airspace are sacrosanct for the Syrian army.

So far it is just a war of words.

Syria: Here's the full text of Nato's statement on the downing of a Turkish jet, after today's meeting.

The North Atlantic Council has met at Turkey's request to hold consultations within the framework of Article 4 of the Washington Treaty which states that "the Parties will consult whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence, or security of any of the Parties is threatened." The North Atlantic Council discussed the shooting down of a Turkish aircraft by Syria. We consider this act to be unacceptable and condemn it in the strongest terms. It is another example of the Syrian authorities' disregard for international norms, peace and security, and human life.

Our thoughts at this difficult time are with the missing Turkish aircrew, their families and their loved ones. We continue to follow the situation closely and with great concern, and will remain seized of developments on the South-Eastern border of NATO.



The security of the Alliance is indivisible. We stand together with Turkey in the spirit of strong solidarity.

Syria: Nato secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, said Nato stands by Turkey, but it will not immediately retaliate if Syria attacks another Turkish aircraft.

Speaking at a press conference after Nato's meeting Rasmussen said:

I would expect that such an incident won't happen again. Should anything happen, allies will remain seized of developments. We closely monitor the situation, and if necessary we will consult and discuss what else could be done ... Allies have expressed their strong support for and solidarity with Turkey. We will remain seized of developments. It is my clear expectation that the situation won't continue to escalate. What we have seen is a completely unacceptable act. And I would expect Syria to take all necessary acts to avoid such events in the future.

Syria: Turkey has suggested it will retaliate against Syria, by stating that it has changed the rules of engagement with its southern neighbour, AP reports.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkish Armed Forces "will respond to all violations on the Syrian border." He said Syrian helicopters have violated Turkish airspace five times recently, without Turkish response. Syria insists that the Turkish plane violated its air space. But Turkey disagrees, saying that though the plane had unintentionally strayed into Syria's air space, it was inside international airspace when it was brought down on Friday.

Syria: Turkey is looking to pile diplomatic and economic pressure on Syria, rather than consider military options, says the Guardian's Martin Chulov.

Speaking via Skype from Beirut, Martin said: