• UN resolution condemns Syria

    Dec 02
    The UN Human Rights Council has passed a resolution condemning “the continued widespread, systematic and gross violations of human rights” in Syria, as a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests enters the ninth month.

    At an emergency meeting the resolution was approved by 37 votes in favour to four against, and six abstentions. Russia and China were amongst those who voted against the resolution.

    UN human rights chief Navi Pillay told the council that over 4000 people had been killed so far, including 307 children. She said,
    "In light of the manifest failure of the Syrian authorities to protect their citizens, the international community needs to take urgent and effective measures to protect the Syrian people."
    The move was welcomed by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who said that it showed
    “that the Assad regime is now more isolated and under greater international pressure than ever before."
    In a statement released in Washington, she stated,
    "It is clear that the Syrian government is willing to do anything to strangle the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people."
    She also told the "people of Syria, the world stands by you, and we will not ignore your plight in the face of ongoing violence."

    The U.S. ambassador, Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe also commented on the resolution saying,
    "We've set the stage in a very substantive way for strong action by the U.N. if other entities choose to take the opportunity."
    Asked if this included the ICC, she replied,
    "Absolutely, including the ICC if the Security Council chooses to refer this matter."
    Responding to Syrian claims that armed groups were responsible for the violence in the country, State Department spokesman Mark Toner stated,
    "The overwhelming use of force has been taken by Assad and his regime. So there's no kind of equanimity here."
  • British soldier jailed for stabbing Afghan boy

    A British soldier has been jailed for 18 months and dismissed from the army for stabbing a 10-year old Afghan boy for “no reason”, the Guardian has revealed.

  • Myanmar to allow some peaceful protest

    Myanmar's president, Thein Sein, approved a bill to allow citizens to protest peacefully if granted permission on Saturday.

    Protesters will be required to inform authorities of the location, timing and reason for protest, five days in advance.

  • ICC seeks arrest warrant for Sudan’s defence minister

    The International Criminal Court is seeking the arrest of the Sudanese defence minister Abdelrahim Mohamed Hussain.

    Chief Prosecutor of the ICC, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, has requested the ICC to issue an arrest warrant for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur from 2003 to 2004.

  • Next ICC Chief Prosecutor pledges universal accountability

    Gambian lawyer, Fatou Bensouda, has emerged as the consensus canditate for the International Criminal Court's next Chief Prosecutor.

    Bensouda, who has been the Deputy Prosecutor of the ICC since 2004 and a former minister of justice in Gambia, also served at the UN tribunal on Rwanda's 1994 genocide.

    In a statement, Bensouda said,

    "I am deeply grateful for the nomination and remain committed to the goals of the court to end impunity for those responsible for the gravest offences, bring justice to their victims and prevent future crimes."

    “Those who are trying to bring unspeakable atrocities, suffering to civilians anywhere in the world will be held accountable.”

  • EU impose economic sanctions on Iran

    The European Union agreed to impose fresh economic sanctions on Iran, on Thursday.

    In a statement, EU ministers said,

  • Clashes as Papuans mark anniversary of independence declaration

    Indonesian security forces are reported to have attacked a rally marking Papua’s 50th anniversary of its declaration of independence.

    Activists across Papua rallied in traditional dresses and protested against the continued occupation of the restive province by Indonesia.

  • Arab League ‘very serious’ on Syria

    The Secretary General of the Arab league has warned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that the imposition of sanctions was a ‘very serious’ message that they were sending, and urged him to cease the ongoing violence in the country immediately.

  • Turkey imposes Syria sanctions

    Turkey has announced tough economic and financial sanctions against Syria on Wednesday.

    The move by Syria’s largest trading partner comes after similar sanctions were imposed by the Arab League, the European Union and the US.

  • Anti-UK protests in Tehran grows, UK accuses government of complicity

    Protesters in Tehran burn British flag - Getty images

  • Clinton touches down in Burma
    US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has arrived in Burma, becoming the first senior US official in more than 50 years to visit the country.
  • ICC takes ex-head of state, Gbagbo, into custody

    Former president of Ivory Coast, Laurent Gbagbo, has been taken into the custody of the International Criminal Court on Tuesday, becoming the first ex-head of state to be detained in ICC custody.

  • UN report alleges crimes against humanity in Syria
    A UN report has concluded that crimes against humanity have been committed in Syrian forces and called for a full independent investigation, as violence against pro-democracy protestors continues in the country.

    Released on Monday the report says,
    "The commission is gravely concerned that crimes against humanity have been committed in different locations."
    "These crimes include murder, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence of comparable gravity, imprisonment or other severe deprivation of liberty.”

    Torture by Syrian forces was described as “rampant”, with the commission saying it was

    "particularly disturbed over the extensive reports of sexual violence, principally against men and boys, in places of detention".

    The UN went on to recommend a "prompt, independent and impartial investigations under both domestic and international law to end impunity, ensure accountability and bring perpetrators to justice."

    See Al Jazeera's interview with UN commission member Yakin Erturk below.
  • Kenyan court orders Bashir arrest warrant

    A Kenyan court has ordered the goverment to arrest Sudan's president Omar Al-Bashir "should he set foot in Kenya in future",

    The ruling came after the Kenyan chapter of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) filed a suit seeking a new arrest warrant.

    In response, Khartoum has taken the decision to expel Kenya's ambassador.

  • Libya still holds 7000 prisoners – UN

    Around 7000 prisoners, many of them sub-Saharan African mercenaries hired by Gaddafi, are still being held in detention across Libya, the UN says.

    The men are held without access to legal services as courts are not yet fully working in the country.

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