A ceasefire agreement was signed between the government of Myanmar, and the ethnic Karen rebels on Thursday.

Speaking to Reuters, the deputy leader of the Karen National Union delegation, Saw David Htaw, said,

“We have never been more confident in our talks.”

“According to the changing situation everywhere, peace talks are unavoidable now; this is something we have to pass through without fail."

Responding to a video that has emerged showing US marines urinating over the bodies of three, apparently lifeless Afghans, the US military said it was "deeply troubled by the video" and promised a full investigation.

In a statement, the Marine Corps headquarters at the Pentagon said,

"The actions portrayed are not consistent with our core values and are not indicative of the character of the Marines in our Corps. This matter will be fully investigated."

"We will campaign for … drivers and teams to boycott. The government wants Formula One to tell the outside world that everything is back to normal. Formula One, if they come, they are helping the government to say [it is normal]. We would prefer it if they didn't take part. I am sure the drivers and teams respect human rights."

"[The FIA] should consider the serious abuse of human rights in Bahrain and the fact that to this day authorities continue to suppress pro-democracy protests."

"I doubt that Formula 1 can be a success in a country where serious human rights abuses have been committed. The political situation is unstable and polarised in Bahrain. We are very concerned about the government's commitment to implement meaningful reform."

"These latest self-immolations confirm that what we are currently witnessing in Tibet is a sustained and profound rejection of the Chinese occupation.

It is a damning indictment of the international community that 14 people, in different parts of Tibet, have now chosen to set themselves on fire and the international community has failed to respond."

Images of North Korea's new leader, Kim Jong-un, driving military tanks, in the cockpit of a war plane and riding a white horse have been broadcast across state television.

“We (the Sudanese) were the second to have suffered the most, after the Libyan people."

"Omar al-Bashir is an international fugitive from an arrest warrant for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes."

"Many governments have refused him entry into their countries. His arrival in Tripoli sends a disturbing signal about NTC's commitment to human rights and the rule of law."

"Following the end of decades of brutal rule in Libya, it is disturbing if Tripoli hosts a head of state on the run from international arrest warrants for grave human rights violations."

"Whatever the political history and ties between the NTC and Omar al-Bashir in the past, respect for human rights, not to mention concerns for hundreds of thousands of Darfur victims, takes priority."

"This is what adhering to the rule of law is all about."

Granting amnesty to individuals responsible for war crimes and human rights abuses in Yemen, as part of the peace agreement, would be against international law, warned the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, Navi Pillay.

In a statement, Pillay said,

"I have been closely following the events in Yemen, particularly the very contentious debate about an amnesty law to be presented to Parliament shortly,"

"International law and the U.N. policy are clear on the matter: amnesties are not permissible if they prevent the prosecution of individuals who may be criminally responsible for international crimes including war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and gross violations of human rights."