US President Barack Obama said sending weapons to Ukraine may still be an option however added that a decision was yet to be made on the matter.

"It is true that if, in fact, diplomacy fails, what I've asked my team to do is to look at all options," said Mr Obama. "But I have not made a decision about that yet."

His remarks came at a joint press conference with German chancellor Angela Merkel, after talks at the White House on Monday. “I’ve consulted with not just Angela [Merkel] but will be consulting with other allies about this issue,” said Mr Obama. He further added,

"Can we be certain that any lethal aid that we provide Ukraine is used properly, doesn't fall into the wrong hands, does not lead to over-aggressive actions that can't be sustained by the Ukrainians? What kinds of reactions does it prompt, not simply from the separatists but from the Russians? Those are all issues that have to be considered."

A former Taliban militant, who recently joined Islamic State, was killed in a Nato drone strike on a car he was travelling in.

Former Taliban commander Mullah Abdul Rauf was crossing a desert in northern Helmand, along with his brother-in-law and four Pakistani nationals, when their vehicle was hit.

Mr Rauf, who was detained in Guantanamo Bay for 6 years, pledged allegiance to Islamic State after falling out with Taliban leader Mullah Omar.

Militants suspected to be from Boko Haram, carried out a number of attacks in Cameroon, whilst abducting at least 20 people reports the BBC.

Militants seized a public bus and drove it towards the Nigerian border.

Elsewhere, the militants attacked a prison, injuring Cameroonian soldiers and killing a journalist.
Another set of militants, attacked a nearby town of Kolofata, looting food and livestock.

The attacks in Cameroon come after a series of assaults on the border towns of Bosso and Diffa in Niger.

The European Union (EU) has raised the threat of sanctions against those who obstruct peace efforts in Libya, reports Reuters, after a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels.

"Those responsible for violence and those who obstruct or undermine Libya's democratic transition must face consequences for their actions," they said in a joint statement.

Three Sudanese aid workers were killed by militants announced Sudan’s government humanitarian body on Sunday.

"Sudanese Red Crescent Society aid workers were killed in the Blue Niles state…. whilst returning from the town of Kurmuk after finishing a task related to distribution of humanitarian aid in the region,” said the head of the Humanitarian Affairs Commission, Ahmed Mohamed Adam in a statement.

The UN Security Council warned unspecified “further steps” would be taken after Houthi militants took control of the Yemeni government and dissolved parliament.

UN Security Council members said they were "gravely concerned" and "called in the strongest terms for all parties, in particular the Houthis, to abide by the GCC initiative and the national dialogue conference."

Security Council President Liu Jieyi further warned the body was ready to "to take further steps" if negotiations were not "immediately" restarted.

African nations collaboratively pledged a regional force of 8,700 personnel including troops, policemen and civilians to aid in Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram militants.

“The representatives of Benin, Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria and Chad have announced contributions totalling 8,700 military personnel police and civilians,” the countries said in a statement.

The representatives agreed to work towards “a safe and secure environment in the impacted regions.”