At least 31 civilians were killed in clashes between the opposing factions in the Central African Republic (CAR) said Red Cross officials.

“Yesterday, Red Cross volunteers collected 21 bodies, most of them civilians,” a local Catholic priest told Reuters.

The British Foreign Secretary William Hague, labelling the upcoming Syrian presidential elections as a ‘parody of democracy’, announced that the Syrian opposition would have its diplomatic status in the UK upgraded, reports the BBC.

William Hague, whilst hosting a meeting of the Friends of Syria group in London, said,

The US revealed yesterday that it was flying manned surveillance missions over Nigeria in an effort to find the 200 girls abducted by the militant Boko Haram group, reports the BBC.

US officials also announced that Nigeria was using US satellite imagery to aid its ground search missions.

The Ukrainian interim leadership today during talks to deescalate the rebellion in eastern regions outlined plans to allow regions greater autonomy over local affairs, reports Reuters.

The talks, which involved politicians and civil society groups, excluded representatives of the pro-independence movement in the eastern regions.

Officials form the International Criminal Court announced today that allegations of war crimes committed by British troops will be examined and verified by the court.

The Nigerian government is ready to talk to the Boko Haram militants, to negotiate the release of over 200 abducted school girls, announced cabinet minister Tanimu Turaki today, reports the BBC.

A French journalist has been killed in Central African Republic, announced the office of the French President Francois Hollande, today.

The journalist was found dead by French soldiers after they stopped a vehicle driven by Christian militias that predominantly fight with the Seleka rebels, reports Reuters.

The International Crimes Tribunal Bangladesh (ICTB), yesterday, charged a former parliamentary lawmaker with war crimes reports the Jurist.

Pro-separation rebels, in Ukraine’s eastern region of Donetsk claimed self-rule after alleging that 89% of the voted for independence in yesterday’s referendum, reports the BBC.

Results from the referendum from the region of Luhansk are expected shortly.

Ukraine's interim President, Olexandr Turchynov called the vote a farce that had no legal implications.

Boko Haram leaders said today that children they had abducted would be released if imprisoned militants were released. 

The Nigerian Interior minister Abba Moro, told the BBC that the government would not agree to any kind of swap deal.

Thousands voted today in a referendum held in the eastern regions of Ukraine to determine the creation of a separate ‘people’s republic,’ reports The Guardian.

South Sudan’s President Salva Kir and rebel leader Riek Machar, agreed a peace-deal today, reports the BBC.

The agreement calls for the establishment of an immediate ceasefire and formation of a transitional government followed by the drafting of a new constitution and new elections.

Serbia's new Deputy Prime Minister, Ivica Dačić, reiterated that the country would never recognise the independence of Kosovo, thanking Slovakia for its "principled stance on Kosovo" and its support for Serbia's EU membership bid.

“Your presence and engagement is invaluable,” said Mr. Dačić also Serbia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, was speaking to reporters after a meeting with his Slovakian counterpart, Miroslav Lajčak, in Belgrade on Friday.