The UN Decolonisation Committee reaffirmed its belief that self-determination and independence are the inalienable right of all people on Monday with particular reference to the people of Western Sahara, currently living under Moroccan rule.

Pakistani prime minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani, reiterated the country's support for Kashmiri autonomy.

Addressing a crowd gathered for a session of the Council of Pakistan controlled Kashmir, held in Islamabad on Wednesday, Gilani said,

A German judge has resigned from his role working in an UN-backed war crimes tribunal in Cambodia, citing interference from the Government of Cambodia.

The judge, Siegfried Blunk, described "repeated statements which will be perceived as attempted interference by government officials".

Whilst stating that he would not by swayed by such opposition, he said his "ability to withstand such pressure by government officials and to perform his duties independently could always be called in doubt."

Pressure has been placed on the tribunal to halt proceedings by current Cambodian Prime Minister and former Khmer Rouge commander Hun Sen, who left the movement before its collapse. He allegedly said further trials, beyond what was currently taking place “was not allowed”.

Blunk also quoted the Cambodian information minister, who he claimed said that judges who wanted to pursue further cases should “pack their bags and leave.”

The move comes a week after criticism from Human Rights Watch for failing "to conduct genuine, impartial and effective investigations" into what are known as Case 003 and 004.

Afghan intelligence services and national police are accused of “a compelling pattern and practice of systematic torture and ill-treatment”  of detainees in an UN report released on Monday.

Syria has threatened countries who recognise the recently formed opposition council with ‘tough measures’.

The US assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Kurt Campbell, publicly apologised for the rape of a South Korean woman by a US soldier.

The soldier was handed over to South Korean authorities by the US Second Infantry Divsion, deployed by the border with North Korea.

Human Rights Watch have accused both parties to Ivory Coast’s unrest after elections of war crimes.
Military leaders, including those under the command of President Alassane Ouattara, are said to have executed civilians and raped women during the violence.

The government’s failure to charge those loyal to Ouattara over the crimes set the stage for ‘victor’s justice’, said HRW.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called on Turkey to recognise the killings of over 1.5 million Armenians in 1915 by Ottoman Turks as Genocide.

Speaking during his visit to the Armenian capital Yerevan, President Sarkozy threatened Turkey that continued refusal to accept the killings as Genocide, may force France to outlaw such denials.

Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) have written to the Belgium Prime Minister, Yves Leterme, urging Belgium to stop the Urban Development Minister, Kamal Nath, from entering the country and be arrest for his alleged role as leader of a mob that massacred a large number of Sikhs during the November 1984 Sikh riots.