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Latest news from and about the homeland

Photograph: Screenshot/ BLA video A fresh wave of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances has been documented across Balochistan this month, as Baloch rights groups recorded the recovery of several bodies of men who had earlier been forcibly taken, and appealed once more to international institutions that have largely ignored the province. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC)…

Catalan leader says will not declare independence during mandate

Catalan's leader, Carles Puigdemont, on Monday ruled out any declaration of independence during his mandate, reported AFP.

Mr Puigdemont, who was elected to power in January on a pro-independence platform said however the party would do all the work needed for independence.

"Because it's not planned and it's not our commitment," Mr Puigdemont said in an interview, adding, "we will do all the work necessary for this country to become an independent state."

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Erdogan vows to finish off PKK

The Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan on Monday vowed to finish off the conflict with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) after ruling out peace talks.

"We said 'resolution process', and they deceived us, their word cannot be trusted. That's over now, we are going to finish this off," Mr Erdogan was quoted by Reuters as saying in an interview aired on TRT,

"The terrorists can choose two paths: surrender to justice or be neutralized, one by one. There is no third way left in Turkey. We tried that repeatedly in the past," he added.

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Azerbaijan calls 'truce'

The Azeri government announced a unilateral ceasefire on Sunday, after clashes erupted with Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh, however reports indicate that the violence continued.

"Azerbaijan, showing goodwill, has decided to unilaterally cease hostilities," Azerbbaijan's defence ministry said in a statement, warning that it would retaliate if its forces were attacked.

But David Babayan, a Karabakh military spokesman, told AFP news agency that fighting had not stopped.

Israel extends maritime space for Gaza fishermen

Israel on Sunday extended the distance it permits Gaza fishermen to head out to sea along certain parts of the coastline which is currently controlled by Hamas militants.

Palestinians have frequently complained of Israeli interceptions and arrests of fishermen who stray from the fishing zone.

The chairman of the Gaza fishermen’s union, Nizar Ayyash, called the expansion insufficient as Israel’s interim Oslo peace deals called for a 20 nautical mile (37km) fishing Zone.

Dozens killed as Azerbaijan moves in on Armenian separatist territory

Dozen of people have been killed in clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia in two disputed Caucasus region of Nagorna-Karabakh.

Armenia said 16 ethnic-Armenia soldiers had died in the fighting, among the worst in two decades., reports the BBC.

The Azerbaijan armed forces said they had come under fire from large-calibre artillery and grenade launchers whilst taking over two strategic ills and  a village in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

The Nagorno-Karabakh has been in the control of ethnic Armenian separatists since the war ended in 1994.

UK rejects Syria unity government

President Bashar al Assad’s proposal to form a unity government including independent and opposition figures will not solve Syria’s conflict stressed the British foreign minister.

Speaking at a press conference in Beirut, Philip Hammond said,

“Bashar al-Assad talks about a unity government by which he means bringing one or two handpicked, regime-friendly oppositionists into minor posts in the government. There has to be the creation of a government that represents all the people, all the communities, all the faiths in Syria and it has to be a government that is not - or at least in the future will not - be led by Bashar al-Assad."

Columbia to commence talks with ELN

The Columbian government has announced it will hold peace talks with the National Liberation Army (ELN), the country's second-largest militant group after Farc.

Officials from both sides, who have been fighting for over five decades, made the announcement in Caracas, Venezuela, where they have been engaged in informal discussions.

A joint statement was read by the former peace commissioner Frank Pearl and ELN rebel Antonio Garcia at the Venezuelan foreign ministry in Caracas, the BBC reported on Wednesday.

Karadzic verdict ‘will resonate across the world’ – UN adviser on genocide

The United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide said the conviction of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity “will resonate across the world” as he reiterated the importance of accountability.

In a statement released in response to the conviction Adama Dieng said the verdict “sends a clear message that impunity will not prevail and that no one is above the law.”

“This verdict will resonate across the world and is a warning to all those who are committing or condoning the commission of acts that can incite or constitute atrocity crimes: it sends the message that wherever and whoever you are, sooner or later you will also face the weight of justice,” he said.

Mr Dieng went on to add that the verdict “is not only about the past but is also about the future”. “Accountability constitutes a critical component of prevention and also an important step along the path to national post-crisis reconciliation,” he said, adding “this verdict will assist the entire region to think about what happened, learn the lessons of the past and chart a future that fully acknowledges the past”.

Myanmar's first democratically elected civilian president sworn in

Myanmar has sworn in its first democratically elected president, the first elected civilian leader in more than 50 years.

Htin Kyaw an aide to National League for Democracy (NLD) chief Aung San Suu Kyi, takes over from Thein Sein, who introduced wide-ranging reforms during his five years in power with the junta.

Although NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi is barred from the presidency, she has said she will rule by proxy, the BBC reports.

Agreement between Colombia and Farc risks impunity - HRW

The justice agreement between Colombian rebels Farc and the government could allow those responsible for systematic crimes, including the execution of civilians, to escape justice, Human Rights Watch said, in an analysis of the agreement.

“The agreement is a checkmate against justice,” said José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. “The web of loopholes and ambiguities in the agreement could guarantee that many of those responsible for false-positive killings, ranging from low-ranking soldiers to generals, will escape justice.”