LIBYA Rebel fighters push increasingly leaderless regime gunmen to the outskirts of Tripoli, as severe shortages of fuel, water and electricity paralyze the battle-scarred capital and the stench of growing piles garbage filled the air. The rebels, who now control most of Libya, say they are preparing for an assault on Gadhafi's hometown of Sirte, his last major bastion, if negotiations with tribal leaders there fail. ___ SYRIA Syria's closest ally, Iran, warns that a power vacuum in Damascus could spark an unprecedented regional crisis, while urging President Bashar Assad to listen to some of his people's "legitimate demands." Thousands of protesters insist they will defy tanks and bullets until Assad goes. The 5-month-old uprising in Syria has left Assad with few international allies — with the vital exception of Iran, which the U.S. and other nations say is helping drive the deadly crackdown on dissent. ___ EGYPT EgyptAir has flown its first flight to Baghdad in 21 years in what Iraqi airport officials are hoping will be an economic boost from a fellow Arab nation. Baghdad International Airport Director General Ali Jawad says about 30 passengers arrived on the commercial airline's Saturday flight to the Iraqi capital. EgyptAir will fly four flights to Baghdad weekly and three to Irbil in the country's northern Kurdish region.
