A prominent Syrian opposition politician said peace talks to begin on Jan 25 were unrealistic unless Assad’s sieges are lifted and humanitarian aid is allowed in for civilians, reports Reuters.

Responding to a statement by the UN Syria Envoy on Wednesday, George Sabra, said,

A suicide bomb attack with armed gunmen in Indonesian capital of Jakarta on Thursday morning, left at least 6 people dead.

The death toll is believed to include 5 attackers who were shot dead by police.

Locals reported hearing several explosions and an exchange of fire between gunmen around a popular shopping area also home to foreign embassies.

Indonesian officials say the situation is now under control, however cautioned against making conclusions over who is responsible.

UN investigators have been gathering evidence from the besieged Syrian town of Madaya, confirmed the head of a Commission of Inquiry to Reuters on Tuesday.

The commission's chairman Paulo Pinheiro stated his team had been in contact with residents of Madaya, where a convoy arrived on Monday, delivering much needed aid to the town’s 40,000 trapped civilians.

The residents "have provided detailed information on shortages of food, water, qualified physicians, and medicine,” said Mr Pinheiro. “This has led to acute malnutrition and deaths among vulnerable groups in the town."

 "Siege tactics, by their nature, target the civilian population by subjecting them to starvation, denial of basic essential services and medicines," he added.

"Such methods of warfare are prohibited under international humanitarian law and violate core human rights obligations with regard to the rights to adequate food, health and the right to life, not to mention the special duty of care owed to the well-being of children."

A former Serb paramilitary commander who is living in Australia has been indicted for war crimes by a Croatian court.

Dragan Vasiljkovic, also known as Daniel Snedden, lost a court battle blocking his extradition to Croatia in July, where he is due to face charges of war crimes and possibly genocide.

Mr Vasiljkovic, who has been working as a golf instructor in Australia is accused of being behind an attack on the town of Glina in July 1991, where civilians were killed, property destroyed and captive Croatian soldiers tortured and killed.