[Anderson:] You're watching Connect the World tonight live from Abu Dhabi. We're going to return now to our extended coverage of the Middle East, a region grappling with both new challenges brought about by unprecedented change and decades-long conflict. First, to the civil war in Syria where government forces have reportedly taken a rebel stronghold in the central city of Homs. The Kaliniya neighborhood under rebel control for about a year. And it's a strategic area for whoever wants to control Homs. It's a city that some analysts think the Syrian conflict, though, is spilling over into other countries like Iraq where violence has left an estimated 2,500 Iraqis dead since April, according to the UN. Earlier today, a wave of bomb attacks left at least 51 people dead, mostly in Shia areas of Baghdad. And in Egypt, the ouster of former President Mohamed Morsy has set off a bloody confrontation between his supporters and the country's new leaders. And to Tunisia, tensions have been rising following last week's assassination of an opposition politician, the second such killing in six months. On Monday, the government said it will hold general elections in December to diffuse the situation. Well, we've got correspondents across the region monitoring these developments. In a moment, we'll go to Reza Sayah with the latest from Cairo for you. First, though, to Nick Paton Walsh who is tonight in Beirut with the latest on Syrian government gains on the ground in Homs. Nick, what is the significance of today's military gains for what is the Syrian government troops?
[Nick Paton Walsh, Cnn International Correspondent:] Well, even certain rebels accept they've had to retreat in Khaladiya. It's important, because it's been a place that the regime hasn't been able to get into for over a year. And once you control it, particularly the regime can place particular pressure on the old city of Homs, making them closer to their obvious goal of taking that city. Homs itself is important, because it sits on the road between the coast, the Mediterranean and the capital. And the regime very much want to hold on to that for the years ahead if they have to create a ShiaAlawi enclave near the sea. This part of the broader narrative they've been pushing for the last couple of months since Hezbollah openly joined their side and they made the assault on the border town of al Qusayr, that they are now on the front foot forward advancing, Becky.
[Anderson:] Nick's in Beirut on the Syria story for you this evening. Over in Egypt, the European Union's top diplomat Catherine Ashton is trying to diffuse tensions between supporters of the deposed president Morsy and the military installed government that now officials say that she will actually be allowed to visit Morsy in custody. Earlier, the government denied its planning to declare a state of emergency after a decree was signed giving new powers to the interim prime minister. Well, he spoke with CNN's Hala Gorani sitting in for Christiane Amanpour on her show a short time ago. And given that we haven't seen the deposed president in what is nearly a month, she asked him where Morsy has been during this time.
[Hala Gorani, Cnn International Correpsondent:] The big question now is, where is Mohammed Morsy? There was an AP report there was an AP report that he's in prison, being interrogated, sometimes five straight hours. Is that the case?
[Hazem El-beblawi, Egyptian Interim Prime Minister:] Mohammed Morsy was kept to save his life. But I understand now that the European Commission sent their commissioner, Lady Ashton, which who is in Cairo now, and I understand that she will go to see him.
[Anderson:] All right, well let's bring in Reza Sayah from the capital Cairo. Reza, any further details on when and where Cathy Ashton will visit Mohamed Morsy? There's been much speculation about where he might be at this point.
[Reza Sayah, Cnn International Correspondent:] Yeah, that's not clear at this point. Authorities are telling us it could happen tonight. It could happen tomorrow, but I think the situation here has become so dire that a lot of people are looking for any glimmer of hope. And I think that glimmer of hope came today to Cairo courtesy of Catherine Ashton, the EU foreign policy chief, as you heard the interim prime minister telling CNN's Hala Gorani that Ashton will be meeting with the ousted president Mohamed Morsy. As far as we understand, she will be the first international political figure to be allowed to meet with Mr. Morsy ever since he was ousted back on July 3rd. And I think moving forward, Catherine Ashton, who has been trying to play the role of mediator in this conflict, is going to play a key role, because if you look at the situation domestically in these fighting factions, there's absolutely no indication, no evidence that they're able to sit down and talk to one another. They're taking a warlike attitude and us against them mentality, really digging in. So more and more, I think a lot of people looking onto the international community, people like Catherine Ashton, to see if they can play a key role and get these two sides to sit down and reconcile Becky.
[Anderson:] Your correspondent in Cairo, Reza Sayah this evening with the very latest on the story out of Egypt. And just to let you know, you can see more of that interview with Egypt's interim prime minister tonight on Amanpour coming up after this show, 10:00 in London, 11:00 pm in Berlin right here on CNN. All right, the latest world news headlines are just ahead as you would expect from this network. Plus, Pope Francis speaks freely on his plane ride back to Rome, causing quite a stir among the Catholic faithful. Plus, ever wonder how the modern Formula 1 race car came to be? Well, we will show you. And president and much more. We take a look at the Russian president's many talents. Stay with us, we're out of Abu Dhabi for you this evening. I'm Becky Anderson, this is CONNECT THE WORLD.