The Syrian government denied that heavy weapons and helicopters were used in clashes in Tremseh last week, reports Reuters.

Syrian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Jihad Makdissi, rejected the accusations, asserting that 37 rebel fighters and two civilians were killed by security forces in the village, from which the government claims rebels were attacking other areas.

Speaking at a news conference in Damascus on Sunday, Makdissi said:

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has placed a new arrest warrant for the Congolees general, Bosco Ntaganda, on the basis of alleged war crimes, varying from murder, rape and sexual slavery. Ntaganda is already wanted by the Hague based court for using child fighters in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The International Cmmitte of the Red Cross has declared the Syrian conflict a civil war, meaning that combatants are now officialy bound by the Geneva Conventions, which will make them more liable for war crimes prosecutions.

The ICRC said the fighting has now spread beyond the three main areas of fighting around Idlib, Hama and Homs.

Spokesman Hicham Hassan said Syria was now regards as a "non-international armed conflict", the technical term for civil war.

A humanitarian catastrophe is imminent in western Burma, aid workers say, as tens of thousands of displaced ethnic Muslim Rohingya are being isolated in camps.

Described by a worker as “open air prisons”, the Burmese government has made it clear that the camps for the Rohingya would remain in place for one year.

Those affected by the sectarian unrest have been struggling to receive aid, as Burmese authorities continue to hamper aid efforts. As many as 10 aid workers have been arrested by police, including 5 UN staff.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged a "full transition to civilian rule" during the first visit by a senior US official to Egypt since elections last month.

Clinton spoke to the new president, Mohammad Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood, at an hour-long meeting which was described as candid and cordial by a US official.

"I have come to Cairo to reaffirm the strong support of the United States for the Egyptian people and their democratic transition.

The attack on the village of Tremseh by Syrian government forces, which left over 200 people dead, was mainly targeting homes of rebels and activists according to the UN, contrary to initial reports, claiming a massacre of civilians.

The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her Chinese counterpart have announced on the sidelines of the ASEAN regional forum in Pnomh Penh that the two countries will cooperate on issues concerning Asia.

"I am delighted that we are going to be issuing a joint media note,'

''It is an important signal that the United States and China not only can but will work together in Asia." she told the meeting.

Critical questions about the UK’s arms export licenses have been raised by a cross-party Parliamentary group.

The Commons Committee on Arms Export Controls (CAEC) asked the government whether 600 licenses to Arab countries complied with the UK’s government policy.

The CAEC - made up of MPs from the business, defence, foreign affairs and international development committees – urged for sales of arms to be reviewed to ensure that authoritarian regimes did not use equipment to repress citizens.

The United Nations insisted that Kazakhstan allow an international investigation into deadly riots in oil towns, which exposed human rights abuses and growing inequality in Central Asia’s largest economy.

U.N high Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay said that the December riots in Zhanaozen, during which police opened fire on protesters, should show Kazakhstan that economic prosperity must not be prioritised above human rights.

The ban on U.S investment in Burma has been formally lifted, allowing investment by American companies.

The act was one of the most substantial steps taken by the US on their path of normalising relations with Burma.

These steps come in the midst of calls for caution from human rights groups and Burmese activists.

US President Barack Obama said in a statement that the US remained concerned about the Burmese economy.