An UN official has told reporters that the body wants to send troops to intervene in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to fight rebels in the east of the country.

The official said that an intervention force of 2,500 soldiers would be added to the UN’s existing Monusco peace keeping mission in the country.

Catalania declared its region as a sovereignty entity on Wednesday in a largely symbolic act which paves the way for a referendum on independence from Spain.

The declaration reads: "The people of Catalonia have - by reason of democratic legitimacy - the character of a sovereign political and legal entity."

The United Kingdom's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) amended its travel advisory to Libya on Thursday, advising all British nationals to leave Benghazi immediately as well as to avoid travel at all to some parts of the country.

The US has decided to end the ban on female soldiers serving in front-line combat, according to a senior Pentagon official.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused armed opposition groups in Syria of deliberately destroying religious sites in November and December 2012, following investigations in mixed areas of Northern Syria.

According to evidence examined and witness statements, a Shia mosque was destroyed and two Christian churches looted after their respective towns fell into opposition control.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Turkey of abusing anti-terror laws after an Istanbul court ordered the pre-trial detention of nine human rights lawyers.

The lawyers were among 12 arrested last week during early morning raids.

Former Liberian president Charles Taylor has appealed last year’s verdict at The Hague, which saw him sentenced to 50 years in prison for aiding and abetting rebels in Sierra Leone during the country’s brutal civil war.

His legal representatives appealed on more than 40 grounds, saying that the verdict was based on "uncorroborated hearsay evidence".

The US criticised the prolonged delay in oil exportation by South Sudan and Sudan on Tuesday, arguing that it undermines the peace process. Oil export has been delayed since the two states were unable to come to an agreement on how to withdraw their armies from the disputed border territories.

A court in Johannesburg has convicted Nigerian militant Henry Okah of 13 terrorism counts, over a car bombing in Abuja in 2010.

Okah pleaded not guilty to the charges and denied being the leader of the militant group Mend, which claimed responsibility at the time.