Setback for British nurses in Saudi murder trial

Two British nurses accused of murdering a colleague in Saudi Arabia have been ordered by a Saudi court to seek "reconciliation" with the dead woman's family. The move was announced at a hearing during which the trial of Lucille McLaughan and Deborah Parry, was also adjourned until 7 July.

They are accused of murdering the Australian nurse Yvonne Gilford, found dead last December at the King Fahd military complex in Dhahran, where all three worked. They face possible execution if found guilty. Both plead innocence and claim false confessions were extracted under duress. Yesterday's hearing was a setback for the pair's defence lawyers, who had challenged whether Frank Gilford, brother of the dead nurse, had the right to insist on the death penalty. Kate Watson-Smyth