Outrage at war grave desecration in Libya

Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt has expressed outrage at the recent attack on war graves in two British cemeteries in Benghazi. 200 graves of British and Commonwealth nationals, most of who died in World War 2, were damaged in attacks by unknown individuals. " It's horrific and wrong and we have expressed to the Libyan authorities our profound distress at what has happened on behalf of those who have loved ones there," Mr Burt told the BBC. "The Libyan authorities have responded in kind. They are horrified by what has happened. "These are not actions carried out by the government of...

Russia, China join UN Security Council in unanimous condemnation of Syria

Expressing "deep disappointment" at the Assad regime's failure to allow Valerie Amos, UN's under secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, into the country, and strongly urged that she be. In a unanimously agreed statement, the UN Security Council said, "[They] deplore the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation" in Syria, where the United Nations says security forces have killed more than 7,500 civilians during an 11 month government crackdown on pro-democracy protesters." "The members of the Security Council call upon the Syrian authorities to grant [Amos] immediate and unhindered...

North Korea, US announce nuclear suspension and aid

North Korea announced Wednesday that it would freeze nuclear tests, long-range missile launches and uranium enrichment at its Yongbyon plant, even as the US promised food aid to the country. The North Koreans also agreed to the return of nuclear inspectors, who were kicked out of the country in 2009, though they are limited to the Yongbyon site. At the same time, the US has offered 240,000 metric tonnes of nutritional assistance, a great part of it in the form of biscuits, as part of the ‘Leap-day deal’. While the North portrayed it as a deal, the US said it didn’t link humanitarian help with...

ICC seeks arrest of Sudan minister

The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for the Defence Minister of Sudan for crimes alleged to have been committed in Darfur. The Defence Minister, Abdelrahim Mohamed Hussein, is alleged to be responsible for 20 counts of war crimes and 21 counts of crimes against humanity. At the time, Mr Hussein was Interior Minister and the Sudanese government’s representative in Darfur. The ICC said in a statement that Mr Hussein should be prosecuted for war crimes such as persecution and torture and war crimes including murder and rape. "The plan of the counter-insurgency campaign...

ICRC evacuation of Homs begins, as Syria conference condemns impunity

The International Committee of the Red Cross has begun moving civilians including the wounded and children out of the Syrian city of Homs. The announcement came as delegates from over seventy countries had gathered at the 'Friends of Syria' conference in Tunisia, aiming to increase pressure on the Assad regime. The conference ended with delegates adopting a declaration calling on the regime to end violence immediately and allow humanitarian aid. The declaration read: "Participants committed to take steps to apply and enforce restrictions and sanctions on the regime and its supporters as a...

UN humanitarian official to visit Syria

The UN's under secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, Valeria Amos, will be visiting Syria in order to negotiate access for aid workers to areas most affected by the conflict, announced the spokesperson to the UN Secretargy General Ban Ki Moon. The spokesperson, Del Buey, said that Amos, a former member of the House of Lords, would be sent to "to assess the humanitarian situation and renew the call for humanitarian access". Adding that a "comprehensive" approach was required, Ban Ki Moon said, " I n addition to humanitarian (issues), one needs to discuss all political issues. But the...

UN accuses Syria of crimes against humanity

The UN has accused Syria of committing ‘crimes against humanity’ against its people, in a report released today after an inquiry by a UN panel. The panel was refused entry into Syria and had to gather information from outside sources including regime defectors and human rights activists. The report alleges that "army snipers and Shabbiha gunmen [from pro-Assad militias] posted at strategic points terrorised the population, targeting and killing small children, women and other unarmed civilians. Fragmentation mortar bombs were also fired into densely populated neighbourhoods." "Security...

Veteran war journalist Marie Colvin killed in Syria

Accomplished war correspondent Marie Colvin of the Sunday Times has been killed in the Syrian city of Homs. It was reported that the house she was staying in was shelled, killing her alongside French photographer Remi Ochlik. Two other journalists were also wounded in the rocket attack. Paul Conroy, a freelance photographer with the Sunday Times, and Edith Bouvier of the French newspaper Le Figaro were named as the journalists injured in the attack which killed 24 others, apart from Colvin and Ochlik. The acclaimed journalist was the last journalist to talk to the LTTE’s Political Head B...

US republican proposed bill to recognise Baluchistan's right to self-determination

Republican, Dana Rohrabacher, introduced a bill recognising Baluchi nation's right to self-determination last week. The bill stated that the Baluchi nation “ have the right to self-determination and to their own sovereign country; and they should be afforded the opportunity to choose their own status .” Rohrabacher said, “ The Baluchi, like other nations of people, have an innate right to self-determination ,” “ The political and ethnic discrimination they suffer is tragic and made more so because America is financing and selling arms to their oppressors in Islamabad .” There have been...

Sexual violence as a weapon of war destroys 'fabric of society'

Writing in the Huffington Post, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Margot Wallstrom, condemned sexual violence as a weapon of war and pledged to "push for an end to impunity and ensure perpetrators are brought to justice". See here for article in full. Extracts reproduced below: "Of particular concern is the fact that many of the reported cases of sexual violence seem to have been perpetrated by national security forces -- the very same people who have a mandate to protect their own citizens . Whereas the uniform should symbolize...

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