WORLD NEWS

World News

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)…

PKK leader calls for an end to hunger strike

The jailed leader of the PKK, Abdullah Ocalan, called for an end to the 67 day hunger strike of Kurdish prisoners in Turkey, raising speculation that an agreement had been found to end the protest.

In a statement, Ocalan's brother Mehmet said,

"Today I went to see my brother Abdullah Ocalan face-to-face in Imrali prison,"

Australian government approves extradition of genocide accused

The Australian government has approved the extradition of a man accused of war crimes to Croatia, where he is wanted for questioning for charges which include murder and genocide.

Australian Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare’s decision that Dragan Vasiljkovic could be extradited, could make him the first ever accused war criminal to be extradited from the country. A spokesman for the Minister said,

United Nations attack Congolese rebels

United Nations combat helicopters attacked Congolese M23 rebels as they advanced on the largest city in the eastern region of Congo, Goma.

Obama insists Burma still has “long way to go”

US President Barack Obama has insisted that Burma still has progress to make on reforms, as he becomes the first ever sitting US President to visit the country.

Speaking from Thailand, President Obama told a press conference,
“President Thein Sein is taking steps that move us in a better direction... don’t think anybody’s under any illusion that Burma’s arrived. The country has a long way to go.”

Send Gaza back to the Middle Ages' - Israeli Minister

Israeli jets have bombed government buildings in Gaza, as speculation mounted over reports that Israel was preparing for a ground invasion, with the call up of over  75,000 more reserve soldiers.

Israel reportedly bombed 200 sites overnight, including Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya's office. Gaza militants were also reported to have fired rockets into Israel, with one being aimed at Tel Aviv having been intercepted.

The violence continues as the Arab League met in Cairo and agreed to send a delegation to the Gaza strip in the next few days.

Burmese import ban lifted by US

The US government has lifted a ban on the import of most Burmese goods, a few days before a historic visit by President Obama.

The sanctions, which had been in place for a decade, were lifted after rapid reforms implemented by the Burmese government in recent times.

Obama will be the first US president to visit the country and the trip shows the importance the US places on normalising relations between the countries.

France to have Syrian opposition ambassador

Continuing its pro-active endorsement of the newly formed Syrian opposition coalition, France is set to accept an ambassador from the Syrian opposition's coalition as an envoy to France.

After meeting the coalition's leader Moaz al-Khatib, the French president Francois Hollande announced on Saturday that Mounzir Makhous would be appointed as the envoy, as a further step to "assure its [Syrian opposition coalition] legitimacy and credibility."

Ex-KLA fighters arrested in Kosovo

Three former members of the Kosovan Liberation Army have been arrested by EU police on suspicion of war crimes committed in 1999.

Blerim Krasniqi, spokesman for the EU’s rule of law mission, told Reuters that two of the three men were members of the Kosovo Security Force, which receives training by Nato.

"The suspects are charged with war crimes against the civilian population," said Krasniqi.

Encouraged by Syrian opposition coalition says Hague

Meeting the new Syrian coalition and its President in London today, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said he was encouraged, and welcomed their wish to be a "credible, political alternative to the Assad regime".

In a statement, Hague said:

Croatian Generals freed by war crimes court

A court in The Hague has freed two Croatian generals, who were convicted of committing atrocities against Serbs in the 90s.

General Ante Gotovina and General Mladen Markac were sentenced to 24 years and 18 years respectively last year, for crimes of murder, persecution and plunder.

Their release was met by jubilations across Croatia, where the majority of people see both men as war heroes.