The White House on Saturday strongly condemned a Taliban suicide attack on a Kabul restaurant that killed 21 people.

"There is no possible justification for this attack, which has killed innocent civilians, including Americans, working every day to help the Afghan people achieve a better future," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said in a statement.

Italy's Silvio Berlusconi was heckled by protesters on Saturday as he arrived amid tight security for a controversial meeting with the country's main center-left leader that has divided leftists.

"Shame!" and "No negotiations with criminals!" a group of a few dozen protesters shouted as the disgraced former prime minister's car arrived for the meeting with Matteo Renzi at Democratic Party headquarters.

At least 10,000 people marched in Burkina Faso's capital Saturday to protest against plans by President Blaise Compaore that could allow him to extend his mandate by another five years, police said.

The rally in Ouagadougou was called by the opposition over a planned change to the constitution which currently limits the president to two five-year terms. Compaore is set to reach that limit next year.

South Sudan's government said Saturday it was optimistic it may soon sign a ceasefire agreement with rebels, amid the first signs that peace talks underway in neighboring Ethiopia could be making progress.

A spokesman for President Salva Kiir said the government's chief negotiator, who had been back in Juba for consultations, was preparing to return to Addis Ababa intent on signing a truce.

Police in central Greece on Saturday said they had arrested seven people including five Bulgarians for attempted baby trafficking.

"A police operation prevented the illegal adoption of a ten-day-old baby for the sum of 5,000 euros ($6,800)," police in the central city of Larissa said in a statement.

South Sudanese government forces on Saturday recaptured the key town of Bor, defeating an army of thousands of rebels, an army spokesman said.

"Today the the gallant SPLA forces entered Bor, they have defeated more than 15,000 forces of (rebel leader) Riek Machar and frustrated his plans to attack Juba," army spokesman Philip Aguer told reporters.

Russian forces killed seven militants including an alleged would-be suicide bomber during a sweep in southern Russian three weeks before the Sochi Winter Olympics, officials said on Saturday.

The National Anti-Terrorist Committee said the militants killed in the majority-Muslim North Caucasus region of Dagestan were possibly linked to an attack on a local restaurant in which 16 people were injured Friday evening.

The Vatican revealed Saturday that some 400 priests were defrocked during the pontificate of now pope emeritus Benedict XVI, following an explosion in claims of child sex abuse by clergymen.

"In 2012 there were around 100, while in 2011 there were around 300," Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said.

Myanmar's army has freed 96 children and young people from its armed forces, the United Nations said Saturday, hailing a "historic step" towards ending the use of child soldiers in the formerly junta-run nation.

The move was the largest single release of child recruits since Myanmar's new reformist government and its "tatmadaw" army signed a June 2012 pact with the U.N. on the issue.

South Sudanese troops were battling rebel forces Saturday for control of the key oil town of Malakal, the army said, though it admitted having trouble contacting its commanders on the ground.

"Communication is still difficult. We will find out today how the fighting ended yesterday. We still feel we're still sharing Malakal with the rebels, but by the end of the day (the army) must clear the rebels from Malakal," army spokesman Philip Aguer told AFP.