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Three people drowned on Monday in a flooding in Southern Romania, with a 13-year-old boy among them.

Two more have been reported missing after heavy rainfall caused rivers to swell, according to Bulgaria's public broadcaster BNT.

Traffic is disrupted on a few roads after the flooding caused landslides.

The Crimean Peninsula could become a gambling zone, after Russian President Putin introduced Monday a bill into Parliament.

BELGRADE - The Old Palace, the former residence of the Obrenovic and Karadjordjevic dynasties, has on Saturday opened its doors to mark 130 years since the construction of the downtown building, as part of Belgrade Days.

Bulgaria’s President Rosen Plevneliev discussed the Ukraine crisis with US Vice-President Joe Biden over a phone conversation on Thursday.

Ukraine’s interim government has prepared an Amnesty Bill for pro-Russian separatists who leave the occupied buildings and hand in their weapons.

BELGRADE - Leader of the New Democratic Party (NDS) Boris Tadic said Thursday that the party will be in opposition to the new government despite agreeing with the program of the future prime minister, as it cannot be a part of the government which comprises the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS).

The recording released amid a tense election campaign in Macedonia comes a day after opposition Social Democrats accused Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski of taking a bribe of €1.5 million for expediting the sale of Makedonska Banka AD to Serbian businessman Jovica Stefanovic, aka “Gazda Nini” ["Boss Nini"] in 2004.

BELGRADE - Party of Democratic Action (SDA) leader Sulejman Ugljanin said on Thursday he expected an invitation to talks concerning the next government from the future prime minister designate, but that the SDA would not become a part of that government at all costs.

BELGRADE - The most important tasks which the new Serbian government will have to tackle by the end of this year include the search for a solution to the fate of restructuring companies and the adoption of reform laws, Vice President of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and outgoing Energy Minister Zorana Mihajlovic stated.

Algerians are casting their ballots on Thursday in a presidential vote that might lead Abdelaziz Bouteflika to become head of state for the fifth time.

Security has been stepped up across the country, with over 260 000 policemen protecting the 50 000 polling booths, Al Jazeera has reported.