EU human rights record slammed by Russia

Russia has attacked the EU’s failure to address human rights abuses in member states. In a foreign ministry report , all 27 members of the EU are scrutinised using publications by the EU and NGOs. A spokesman from the Russian foreign ministry said human rights and democratic freedoms were "continuing to deteriorate". "At the level of institutions, the European Union is not taking adequate steps.” said Konstantin Dolgov. "We think that time has come for our European partners to change the situation to ensure the observance of international obligations by all the EU members." "We believe that...

Syrian rebels choose new military commander

The Syrian opposition have chosen a new military commander to lead the fight against the Assad regime. Brigadier Selim Idris is a former officer in the army, who defected during the uprising. Idris was elected on Saturday by 30 military and civilian members of the military command at talks taking place in Antalya in Turkey. The talks have been attended by Western and Arab security officials.

Exiled Hamas leader visits Gaza

The exiled Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal, visited Gaza for the first time today, via the Egyptian border crossing, after his safety was assured. Travelling with a convoy of masked Hamas fighters from the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades - Hamas' military wing, Meshaal visited the charred remains of Ahmed al-Jaabari's car, the military commander of Hamas who was killed by an Israeli airstrike last month. Meshaal was appointed leader after Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was assassinated by Israel in 2004. Speaking later that day, Meshaal said: “I hope God will make me a martyr on the land of Palestine in Gaza...

Protesters break through army barricades in Cairo

Tens of thousands of protesters broke through the barbed wire military barricades to demonstrate outside Egypt's presidential palace. The swelling of protests comes after the Egyptian president Mohamed Mursi had refused to consider opposition demands to withdraw the proposed constitution, in a defiant televised address on Thursday. Stating that he respected peaceful protests, Mursi blamed "thugs" and "infiltrators" for the violence that has already killed seven. Defending his widening of powers for himself, Mursi said, “it is my duty to safeguard the state against any tampering."

'Task beyond strength' of Syrian government says Russia

A senior Russian politician has stated that the Syrian government has not been capable of doing its job, in a sign that Russia may be trying to distance itself from its long-standing ally, reported Reuters . The head of President Putin's party group in the State Duma lower house Vladimir Vasilyev, was quoted as saying, "We have shared and do share the opinion that the existing government in Syria should carry out its functions. But time has shown that this task is beyond its strength, " "We have tried to create conditions for the internal forces in Syria to be able to get the situation under...

China warns India over oil exploration in South China Sea

China announced made it clear to India on Wednesday, that it would oppose any “unilateral” oil exploration in the disputed South China Sea. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said , “China opposes any unilateral oil and gas exploration activities in disputed areas in the South China Sea and hopes relevant countries respect China’s sovereignty and national interests, as well as the efforts of countries within the region to resolve disputes through bilateral negotiations.” Lei was responding to the remarks made by India’s Navy Chief Admiral D K Joshi who had earlier said that Indian...

India security forces commit widespread abuses in Kashmir - report

The Indian army has been accused of widespread human rights abuses in Indian-administered Kashmir, according to a report by human rights organisations based in the territory. The International Peoples’ Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice in Indian-Administered Kashmir (IPTK) and the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) have jointly released a report, naming over 500 soldiers, police and paramilitary officers, including those of senior ranks, and accused them of severe human rights abuses. The alleged abuses include murder, abduction, torture and rape. 214 offences were...

Colombia and Farc resume peacetalks

Peace talks between Farc rebels and the Colombian government have resumed, after air raids by the government killed over 20 rebels earlier in the week. A Farc negotiator refused to comment on how the strikes, just few days after the first phase concluded, will affect the talks, reported the BBC. The government has ruled out a truce, while the rebels are still abiding by a unilateral ceasefire, declared last month. President Juan Manuel Santos has set November 2013 as the deadline to reach an agreement and said that the government will continue to attack rebel positions until a final treaty,...

Tuareg rebels renounce hopes for independence

Tuareg separatists in Mali have given up hopes for an independent state in the north of the country. The rebels made the announcement after talks with the Malian government in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso on Tuesday. The talks, between the government, Tuareg forces and Islamist rebels, also saw the Islamist Ansar Dine, pledge to reject all forms of extremism. Rebels are currently in control of northern Mali, with Ansar Dine causing international outrage by destroying historic cultural sites in Timbuktu.

Desperate Assad could use chemical weapons - Clinton

The USA's Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has vowed to take swift action if Syrian President Bashar al-Assad uses chemical weapons. After a meeting with fellow foreign ministers of NATO, Clinton said: "Our concerns are that an increasingly desperate Assad regime might turn to chemical weapons, or might lose control of them to one of the many groups that are now operating within Syria." "We have sent an unmistakable message that this would cross a red line and those responsible would be held to account." Syria has not signed the international chemical weapons treaty banning the use of...

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