WORLD NEWS

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Latest news from and about the homeland

  Three United Nations (UN) experts called for a full and independent investigation into the killing of three Lebanese journalists by Israel last week, which they described as ‘another attack on press freedom by Israeli forces.’ On March 28, Israeli forces killed Al Mayadeen reporter Fatima Ftouni, her brother and cameraman Mohamed Ftouni, and Al Manar TV reporter Ali Shoeib as they were…

Cameron urged to raise human rights with visiting Burmese leader

The Burmese president Thein Sein is due to visit the UK and will meet British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Thein Sein will discuss trade, aid, democracy and human rights with the PM, but human rights organisations have urged Cameron to raise concerns about continuing violence against Muslims and repressive laws.

Azam convicted in Bangladesh for compliance with genocide

The Bangladeshi war crimes tribunal today found, the former leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) party, Ghulam Azam,  guilty of, planning, conspiracy, incitement and complicity to commit genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1971 conflict.

Ugandan rebels attack DRC town

The Congolese town of Kamango has been attacked by members of the Ugandan rebel Allied Democratic Forces on Thursday.

Over 30,000 were forced to flee the border town after the attack. The Congolese army has now retaken the town from the rebels.

The sudden movement of a large number of refugees caught the authorities and aid agencies, with many having to sleep outside, with no food available.

Unrest ahead of Bangladeshi war crimes tribunal

Violent clashes between street protesters and police erupted ahead of a court verdict against a prominent Islamist, Ghulam Azam, for allegedly orchestrating atrocities during the 1971 war against Pakistan.

Boko Haram denies truce and calls for more attacks

The head of Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram has called for more attacks on schools that teach “Western education”, in a video released this weekend supporting an attack that left 46 students dead earlier this month.

Abubakar Shekau, the leader of Boko Haram (roughly translated to ‘Western education is sin’), stated,

"We fully support the attack on this Western education school in Mamudo".

Morsi to be investigated over links with militant groups

Egypt's deposed President Morsi is to be investigated over his escape from prison in the lead-up to the uprising which forced predecessor Hosni Mubarak from power.

The inquiry, a move which follows allegations that militant groups including Hamas and Hezbollah had helped in the escape, signals Egypt's new rulers' intention to legally pursue Morsi.

Peacekeepers killed in Sudan

At least seven international peacekeepers have been killed and 17 wounded after coming under heavy fire from a large group of armed personnel in Sudan’s Darfur region.

The incident took place in a region where Tanzanian forces hold responsibility for keeping peace. Events in Darfur are very hard to verify as Sudan continues to severely restrict travel by journalists, aid workers and diplomats in the region.

Second night of riots in Belfast

Riots continued for a second night in North Belfast, with petrol bombs being thrown at police, as hundreds more police officers being drafted in from the UK mainland and water cannon was deployed.

Violence broke out after the Orange Order march was banned from the nationalist Ardoyne district. Whilst the move was welcomed by nationalist politicians, the Orange Order deemed the decision "absurd", and accused The Parade's Commission of "rewarding those who engage in violence and go out of their way to be offended by our traditions".

Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly said:

Rwandan genocide suspect arrested in France

A former Rwandan colonel was arrested in France over his alleged role in the 1994 genocide earlier this week, his lawyers announced on Saturday.

75-year-old Laurent Serubuga was caught near the northern French city of Cambrai on Thursday, having had an international warrant for his arrest over his alleged role in the genocide that left 800,000 people dead. Serubuga was the deputy chief of staff of the Rwandan Army.