“On top of this, we must end any illusion the regime has that it can act with impunity in Syria. There is no doubt that mass murder is being committed. Some 6,000 people have already been sacrificed to the regime's brutal determination to cling to power. Those carrying out these crimes may well think that they will get away with it.

Thousands of protesters marched through the streets of Bahrain's capital, Manama, to mark the one-year anniversary of pro-democracy uprisings.

Protesters gathered around Pearl Square, now commonly referred to as 'Freedom Square', the epicentre of last year's demonstrations, and vowed to fight on. 

The Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao has told reporters that China will not protect Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria.

The statement, which marks a significant change in tone since vetoing a UN resolution condemning the crackdown on opposition activists, is thought to be a move designed to limit damage after widespread criticism of its perceived protection of the Syrian state.

An EU official has announced the approval of a $128m aid package for Burma to develop the country’s infrastructure, in a sign of further easing of sanctions placed on the state.

Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said the package would be for improving the country’s health, education and basic infrastructure.

The UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, criticised the Security Council for failing to agree on "collective action", which she said "appears to have emboldened the Syrian government.

Addressing UN delegates in New York Monday, Pillay said,

In commemoration of the 22nd anniversary of Nelson Mandela's release from jail, Mandela's image will be printed on five new South African bank notes — 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 rand.

Announcing the news, current president, Jacob Zuma, said,

“It is my honour and pleasure to announce that new South African banknotes will bear the image of President Mandela, the first President of a free, democratic South Africa."

“It is a befitting tribute to a man who became a symbol of this country’s struggle for freedom, human rights and democracy."

“With this humble gesture, we are expressing our deep gratitude as the South African people, to a life spent in service of the people of this country and in the cause of humanity worldwide.”

The notes will feature an image of Mandela taken in 1990, the year of his release.

In 1962, Mandela was arrested and convicted of sabotage, along with other crimes, and sentenced to life in prison.

A front-line anti-apartheid campaigner within the African National Congress (ANC), Mandela was one of the forming members and subsequent leader of the ANC's military wing - MK or Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation).

The ANC was outlawed as an unlawful organisation in 1960, and was until 2008, on the United States' terrorism watch list, along side Nelson Mandela and other ANC members.

In 1964, during his trial, Mandela defended the actions of the ANC and the justification for the actions of Umkhonto we Sizwe, in a speech - 'An ideal for which I am prepared to die'.

See here for speech in full and original recording.

Extracts reproduced below:

"Some of the things so far told to the court are true and some are untrue. I do not, however, deny that I planned sabotage. I did not plan it in a spirit of recklessness, nor because I have any love of violence. I planned it as a result of a calm and sober assessment of the political situation that had arisen after many years of tyranny, exploitation, and oppression of my people by the whites."

The king of Saudi Arabia, in an uncharacteristic outburst, criticised the veto of the UN Security Council resolution on Syria as "absolutely regrettable".

In a national televised address, King Abdullah said,

Citing the increasing sanctions imposed on Iran, India's minister of trade, Rahul Khullar, said Friday, there is no reason why India should not "tap that opportunity", and announced the visit of a "huge" Indian delegation to IRan later this month.

Khullar is reported to have said,

A man, believed to be a monk, has set himself alight in South-Western China, protesting against the Chinese government, becoming the 20th such person to do so in the past year alone.

A minister has been charged for the role he played in a massacre that killed scores of people in the Guinean capital Conakry in 2009.

Over 157 people were killed and at least 100 women were raped during an attack by Guinean troops on civilians protesting against military rule.

Members of the European Union and several Gulf countries have recalled their ambassadors to Syria.

Germany, France, Spain and Belgium announced the move today along with the Gulf Cooperation Council, whose members are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

A man accused of committing war crimes, while one of the leaders of a faction during the Liberian civil war, has been ordered to leave the US.

George Boley Sr. was the head of the Liberian Peace Council, which is accused of massacring dozens of villagers between 1994 and 1995 and of recruiting child soldiers.

"Your days are numbered. It is time and past time for you to transfer power responsibly and peacefully."

Official archives unearthed years after the end of civil war in Guatemala are aiding the prosecution of war crimes suspects, including senior military officials.