In brief: Arrest of activists ordered in Egypt

CAIRO – Tensions between Egypt’s Islamist-led government and the opposition increased Monday as the prosecutor general ordered the arrest of five activists, including a prominent blogger, for violent protests against the Muslim Brotherhood over the weekend.

The arrest warrants and complaints against scores of other opposition figures came a day after President Mohamed Morsi threatened to crack down on political groups that he said were behind a surge in attacks on Muslim Brotherhood offices. Nearly 200 people were injured Friday when protesters attempted to storm the Brotherhood’s headquarters in Cairo.

The prosecutor general issued arrest warrants for Karim Shaer, Ahmed Douma, Hazem Abdel-Azim, Ahmed Ghoneimi and Alaa Abdel-Fattah, a blogger and integral figure in the 2011 uprising that brought down President Hosni Mubarak.

Italian court delays decision on Knox

ROME – American student Amanda Knox and her former Italian boyfriend have to wait another day to learn if they must stand trial yet again in Italy for the 2007 murder of her roommate.

Italy’s top Court of Cassation put off until this morning its announcement of its decision on whether to definitively confirm their 2011 acquittals or throw out those verdicts and order what would be their third trial. Knox was waiting for the decision in Seattle, while her co-defendant and former boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, stayed in northern Italy to continue his studies.

Italian prosecutors have asked the high court to throw out the acquittals for the murder of British student Meredith Kercher and order a new trial.

Russian tycoon died by hanging

LONDON – A post-mortem examination found that self-exiled Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky died by hanging, and there was nothing pointing to a violent struggle, British police said.

Thames Valley Police said Monday that further tests, including toxicology examinations, will be carried out. The force did not specify whether the 67-year-old businessman hanged himself, but they have said there was no evidence to suggest anyone else was involved in the death.

Quake rumbles near Guatemala City

GUATEMALA CITY – A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck near Guatemala City on Monday, but residents said they barely felt the temblor and authorities had no immediate reports of damages or deaths.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake’s epicenter was located three miles northwest of San Jose Pinula and had a depth of 124 miles.