Meanwhile Syrian forces have launched new air and artillery strikes on rebel-held areas, in particular in the northern city of Aleppo, the pro-rebel Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

BBC: World powers welcome Lakhdar Brahimi as new UN envoy

But heavy artillery is nothing new in terrorist operations.

CNN: How technology makes us vulnerable

As a result the Liberal Democrats face a choice between contesting the middle ground against opponents with heavier artillery, or trying to establish a new and more defensible position on their flanks.

ECONOMIST: The Liberal Democrats

Hong Kong's Oriental Daily News hails China's Second Artillery Unit for "flashing a 'trump card' to deter the US and Japan" by deploying new missiles within "striking range" of Okinawa in Japan.

BBC: China media: Hacking dismissed