The United States announced it would now recognise the Syrian opposition coalition as "legitimate representative of the Syrian people".

In an interview with ABC News, US President Barack Obama said,

"We've made a decision that the Syrian Opposition Coalition is now inclusive enough, is reflective and representative enough of the Syrian population, that we consider them the legitimate representative of the Syrian people in opposition to the Assad regime."

An investigation has been launched to shed light on how new Swedish-made weapons entered Burma despite European Union sanctions on arms sales to Burma.

The Swedish Agency for Non-Proliferation and Export Controls (ISP) announced that an investigation had been launched after it received information about several weapons recovered by Kachin rebels from Burmese troops in the on-going conflict.

Violence between supporters of opposing Syrian groups has killed 6 people and injured 40 in the Lebanese capital Tripoli.

Existing sectarian tensions in Lebanon have increased since the escalation of the conflict in Syria.

Groups of young men were seen firing machine guns and rocket propelled grenades at each other in the Bab al-Tabbana area.

The opening of Sweden's first genocide trial, where a 54-year-old man faces charges over his role in the Rwandan genocide, has been lauded by Amnesty International.

The trial will see the accused, face charges over alleged involvment in leading a Hutu militia in murdering Tutsi civilians.

In an interview with Swedish radio, Elisabeth Löfgren from Amnesty International Sweden commented,

Representatives of rebels attending peace talks with the Congolese government dodged a crucial meeting, in which the government was to respond to criticism that it was facing.

The Ugandan official Cripis Kiyonha, who was chosen to mediate the talks, after speaking to the rebel representatives,  said that the M23 had no interest in hearing what the Congolese delegation had to say.

The Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi announced that he would annul his decree that gave him sweeping powers, late on Saturday following days of mass protests and talks at the presidential palace.

However, the referendum on the draft constitution, due to be held on 15th December will go on as planned, despite opposition demands to postpone it. Many liberals walked out of the talks at this point, stating that their voices were not being heard.

The South Sudanese army has shot and killed 10 protestors in the northwest of the country.

Protestors blocked roads in the town of Wau after local government officials said they would move their offices to another location.

A UN spokesperson is reported by the BBC as saying that security personnel had demonstrated “excessive use of force”, whilst breaking up the protest on Saturday, killing four people.

Another six died when troops fired on another demonstration on Sunday.

A monk and his nephew have been arrested in Sichuan province for “goading” Tibetans to self-immolate in protest of China’s control over Tibet, reported Xinhua news agency.

Lorang Konchok (40) is said to have taken orders from the Dalai Lama and his followers, and recruited his nephew to encourage more protests.

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".