Boko Haram militants are on the back foot, according to Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, who said the tide had “definitely turned” against the group, as troops from the region recapture territory.

"The president assures all Nigerians and the people of the north-eastern states in particular that the days of mourning victims of incessant terrorist attacks in the country will soon be over as the tide has now definitely turned against Boko Haram," Mr Jonathan's office said in a statement.

Troops from Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon have been involved in heavy fighting with Boko Haram. Eight major towns have been recaptured by those forces in recent weeks.

Meanwhile two commercial centres in the north of the country were hit by bombings, killing 27 people. Mr Jonathan said the group had hit "soft targets" because of the recent setbacks.

The Lithuanian president announced the government will reintroduce conscription for 5 years, due to the "current geopolitical environment".

President Dalia Grybauskaite said conscription, abolished by parliament in 2008, would aim to "enhance and accelerate army recruitment".

Western officials have warned Russia could expand its controversial actions in eastern Ukraine to Baltic states, including Lithuania, which was a Soviet state and joined Nato in 2004.

British military personnel will train Ukrainian military personnel over the next few weeks to provide reports the BBC.

Britain’s Premier, on Tuesday, told the House of Commons that up to 75 British soldiers would go to an area away from the conflict zone to provide medical logistics, intelligence and infantry skills.

The British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, in a statement said, the move was a result of “continued Russian-backed aggression.”

Libya’s Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni criticised the US, UK and EU for failing to help his forces battle of the rival ‘Libyan Dawn’ militants  that took control of the capital last year.

Speaking to Arabic television on Tuesday, Thinni, said,

“Unfortunately the international community and especially the United States, Britain and the European Union have refused to arm the Libyan army.”

The announcement came as the officially recognised government, suspended its participation in the UN sponsored talks in protest of the involvement of several military factions.

Prominent Egyptian activist has been sentenced to 5 years in prison for breaking a law that forbids unauthorised protests from being organised.

Alaa Abdel-Fattah was an activist who played a leading role in organising protests in the country's 2011 revolt against former Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak. He had also opposed the military rule that followed the departure of Mr Mubarak, and was accused of breaking anti-protest laws that were subsequently put in place.