GREECE: General Metaxas is succeeded as Minister President by Alexander Koryzis, a civilian and a much less strong character.

LIBYA: Derna: For the first time in this desert war, British and Australian troops of the 19th Brigade,  found themselves facing a major counter-attack as Italian troops covered the evacuation of civilians - most of them Italian settlers - and the bulk of the garrison from this once-thriving seaport town.

Eight days after their successful attack on Tobruk, armour and infantry found the defenders making the best use of the rugged, hilly countryside, their artillery directing heavy and accurate fire with 20mm guns mounted on lorries. The Italian air force, which has not been seen for several days, joined in the attack, dive-bombing and machine-gunning British positions. As they forced the Italians back to an escarpment, the British faced two more desert foes - blinding sandstorms and thirst as water supplies, carried over 100 miles of desert, began to run out.

Derna has an ample supply of good "sweet" water - and perhaps that was one major incentive for the infantry and tanks to make the final assault on the escarpment and literally run down the other side into the town where the few remaining Italian troops waited with their hands up in surrender.

As the bulk of the Allied forces moves westwards across Cyrenaica, the strength of the resistance here suggests a tough fight at Benghazi, the ultimate objective.

EGYPT: Cairo: British Headquarters in Egypt announce:

The Italian occupation of Derna in Libya ended in Thursday morning.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-94 sank SS Rushpool in Convoy SC-19.