Three months before Kenya’s deputy president is due to go on trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, 93 victims of violence that followed a disputed election in 2007 have pulled out from proceedings.

The Cambodian parliament has passed a bill that criminalises the denial of atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge.

Individuals found guilty face a maximum sentence of two years imprisonment under the new law.

Human rights organisations have said that the law is an election stunt and could be used against the political opposition by Prime Minister Hun Sen.

"The EU reaffirms its full support for the UN Secretary-General's efforts, commends the work of his Personal envoy Ambassador, Mr Christopher Ross, and encourages the parties to work towards achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, in agreement with relevant UN Security Council resolutions."

"The EU remains concerned about the implications of this conflict for the security and cooperation in the region. The EU has repeatedly called on all parties to refrain from violence and to respect human rights".

In a briefing published today, Amnesty International outlined the on-going disappearance, torture and killing of civilians, despite the French army’s intervention over five months ago.

The UK will compensate those tortured by British colonial forces during the 1950s Mau Mau uprising up to £20million in total. 

Publicly recognising that torture did indeed take place, and stating that the UK "sincerely regrets" it, the British Foreign Secretary William Hague said: 

The M23 rebels announced today that it will send a delegation to recommence  peace talks with the Congolese government that were suspended in May.

US soldier Staff Sgt Robert Bales has pleaded guilty to killing 16 Afghan civilians, mostly women and children in March last year.

His plea means that Bales will not be executed, but will be sentenced to life with or without the possibility of parole.

China and Russia, joined the US, UK, France and Germany, in expressing concern at the stalled UN nuclear agency investigation into Iran's facilities on Wednesday, reports Reuters.

In a joint statement, the six powers said:

France’s president Francois Hollande has said the international community is obliged to act as more proof of the use of chemical weapons in Syria emerges.

"We have the elements which now allow us to give certainty over the use of chemical weapons in Syria - at what level we still do not know."

In an analysis of the latest draft of Tunisia’s constitution, Amnesty International, noted that though there were improvements, the text still undermined tenets of international human rights law.

The United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, today highlighted the need for Egypt to ensure that its draft laws conform to international human rights standards and respond to the aspiration of its people, as the country looks to progress in its democratic transition.

A team of UN human rights investigators said they had "reasonable grounds" to believe that 'limited amounts' of chemical weapons had been used in Syria, reports Reuters.

Speaking at a news conference in Geneva, the chair of the UN commission of inquiry, Paulo Pinheiro said:

Two British soldiers have admitted abusing Afghan civilians, including indecent conduct towards a child and racial abuse.

The patrol commander of the soldiers, who were granted immunity, was cleared of any wrong doing at the court martial in a British army base in Germany.