Human Rights Watch (HRW) have demanded that the Burmese government take immediate action to stop sectarian violence against the Rohingya Muslim population in the Arakan state. HRW has obtained satellite imagery which shows extensive destruction of homes and properties in a predominantly Rohingya Muslim populated coastal town. The Burmese government needs to ensure aid and protection for Rohingyas and Arakanese in the Western state, HRW said. Deputy Asia director at HRW, Phil Robertson said: “Burma’s government urgently needs to provide security for the Rohingya in Arakan State, who are under...
At least 47 people were reported killed as a fragile ceasefire observed during the Eid al-Adha holiday in Syria began to unravel. The most serious incident was that of a car bomb explosion in Damascus, blamed by rebels on government forces. Speaking to the Telegraph , a Free Syrian Army rebel said, "Everyone in this area is with the revolution," "The people hurt are children from this area. I don't think people would try to kill their own children. So I think it was very clear who did this. It is unacceptable." The Syrian government and rebel forces declared a ceasefire for the Muslim...
The Sudanese government has said it will report Israel to the United Nations, over explosions in an arms factory, which Khartoum claims was caused by Israel. Israel has not commented on the claims, but the Sudanese envoy to the UN, Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman, said Israel had entered Sudanese air space three times in the last few years. Sources from Sudan told the BBC that the factory is thought to have been operated by Iranians. Leaked US documents also suggest that weapons manufactured on Sudan were being smuggled into Gaza through Egypt, which would be seen by Israel as a legitimate cause...
The British Foreign Secretary, William Hague, met with Kosovo's Prime Minister Thaci Pristina on Thursday, to discuss the country's progress towards EU membership. Speaking after the event Hague said: "As I have discussed with Prime Minister Thaci, a new chapter in EU/Kosovo relations is opening. This is enormously positive for Kosovo. But Kosovo will now need to make progress against the same conditions and be treated the same as any other country in the Western Balkans. Progress towards EU membership will benefit all of Kosovo’s citizens. But it will require hard work and fundamental reforms in areas such as the economy, rule of law, the fight against corruption, electoral reform and public administration. I am pleased to have discussed some of the plans for these reforms during my meetings and welcome Kosovo’s commitment to the reform process.
The appointment of a civilian judge to investigate the responsibility of three prominent former Egyptian generals for the abuse of protesters is an opportunity for President Morsi to push for accountability for abuses committed under military rule, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday. According to HRW, military courts which have sole jurisdiction over any acts committed by military personnel have failed time and again to properly investigate military abuses against protesters. Only two cases were referred for trial, in which prosecutors did not examine senior responsibility in giving...
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has opened a memorial in Berlin, dedicated to Roma Holocaust victims, earlier this week. Speaking at the opening of the genocide memorial, a pool of water with a plinth in the middle located near the German Parliament, Merkel said , "Every single fate in this genocide is a suffering beyond understanding. Every single fate fills me with sorrow and shame," "It is not only the responsibility of educational institutions, as important as they are, but it's our responsibility, it's the responsibility of each and every one of us, because in indifference, in a culture...
A Russian military official has claimed that weapons from the US have ended up in the hands of Syrian rebels. Gen Nikolai Makarov said to the Interfax news agency that the origin of surface-to-air anti-aircraft missiles, including US-made Stingers, should be “cleared up”. "We have reliable information that Syrian militants have foreign portable anti-aircraft missile systems, including those made in the USA... it should be cleared up who delivered them," Gen Makarov told reporters. Russia is the largest supplier of arms to the Syrian regime. In other developments, UN special envoy Lakhdar...
The African Union lifted the suspension against Mali on Wednesday, following a decision for intervention, in order to regain ground from Islamist militants. Pledging that proposals for the intervention would be ready by within weeks, the AU outlined a political road map for the country, which saw elections being held as early as April next year. The chair of the AU Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, said: "We are working ... to finalise the joint planning for the early deployment of an African-led international military force to help Mali recover the occupied territories in the North." "At...
The Congolese government described Rwanda’s seat at the UN Security Council as an act that condoned the violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo provinces. The Congolese government spokesperson Lambert Mende, said on Tuesday, “The decision is a very bad signal because it trivialises the horrific situation created by this country in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where it continues to disrupt peace and security.” Rwanda was elected into the 15-member Security Council, as a non permanent member, last week, despite a recent UN report that accused Rwanda of supporting the human...
Libya's new authorities announced the capture of Bani Walid, the former stronghold of Muammar Gaddafi, on Wednesday. The authorities state that all military operations have now ceased, and the troops will now be providing security and aid. The announcement came after fighting that has forced hundreds of to flee into neigbouring towns. However, according to the BBC , some of its correspondents have said that 'pockets of resistance' continue.