Officials from the Obama administration suggested to the Associated Press today that approval to provide lethal aid to the Syrian rebels could be decided upon this week, and outlined the possibilities of enforcing a no fly zone over Syria. 

White House meetings have been scheduled over the next few days, to consider ways of acting upon urgent increasing calls for assistance in upholding the struggle against Assad, by rebellion movements.

US officials outlined that despite ruling out intervention that required US personnel, President Barack Obama was leaning towards sending weapons to the rebels.

A Peruvian court has sentenced Florindo Flores, also known as Comared Artemio to life in prison.

Flores, one of the leaders of the Shining Path rebel group, was found guilty of terrorism, drug trafficking and money laundering.

Judge Clotilde Cavero said: "It was proven that he (Artemio) ordered the execution of a number of civilians, police and soldiers. It was proven that he belonged to the Central Committee of the Shining Path. It was proven that he was the top leader in the (Alto) Huallaga (Valley),"

Flores denied the charges of terrorism, saying that he was a “revolutionary”.

Three months before Kenya’s deputy president is due to go on trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, 93 victims of violence that followed a disputed election in 2007 have pulled out from proceedings.

According to Kenyan media outlet, CapitalNews, the 93 victims informed the court that they did not support the prosecution of Kneya’s newly elected president Uhuru Kanyatta and deputy president William Ruto, who stands accused of orchestrating the violence.

The International Criminal Court, declined to comment on the withdrawals, indicating that they would have no consequences on the trial.

The Cambodian parliament has passed a bill that criminalises the denial of atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge.

Individuals found guilty face a maximum sentence of two years imprisonment under the new law.

Human rights organisations have said that the law is an election stunt and could be used against the political opposition by Prime Minister Hun Sen.

"It's a tool to try to intimidate the opposition but also to galvanise his side, to demonise the opposition as unfit to govern, and to show that he's in charge, to show the country that he can completely dominate the opposition - and make them squirm," Brad Adams of Human Rights Watch said.

"The EU reaffirms its full support for the UN Secretary-General's efforts, commends the work of his Personal envoy Ambassador, Mr Christopher Ross, and encourages the parties to work towards achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, in agreement with relevant UN Security Council resolutions."

"The EU remains concerned about the implications of this conflict for the security and cooperation in the region. The EU has repeatedly called on all parties to refrain from violence and to respect human rights".



"Western Sahara related issues are regularly discussed in the framework of the EU-Morocco political dialogue and at meetings of the joint bodies established under the Association Agreement"

"On that basis, The European Commission is seeking to obtain an agreement that contains a clause of compliance with human rights, which is fully compliant with international law and serves the interests of all the local populations concerned In particular, The European Commission is proposing that Morocco should regularly report on the economic and social impact of the sector support provided for by the Protocol, including its geographical distribution. In case of serious violations of Human rights by Morocco, the application of the future fisheries Protocol could also be suspended"

In a briefing published today, Amnesty International outlined the on-going disappearance, torture and killing of civilians, despite the French army’s intervention over five months ago.

Amnesty International researcher and member of the research mission, Gaetan Mootoo, said, “The Malian security forces human rights record since January is, simply, appalling. They continue to violate human rights with apparently no fear of being held accountable.”

The rights organisation also expressed concern that the French military, as well as West African (AFSIMA) troops, including forces in Chad and Niger, handed over prisoners, to Malian authorities when they knew or should have known the detainment were at real risk of being tortured or ill-treated.

The UK will compensate those tortured by British colonial forces during the 1950s Mau Mau uprising up to £20million in total. 

Publicly recognising that torture did indeed take place, and stating that the UK "sincerely regrets" it, the British Foreign Secretary William Hague said: 

"I would like to like to make clear now, and for the first time, on behalf of Her Majesty's government, that we understand the pain and grievance felt by those who were involved in the events of the emergency in Kenya," 

"The British government recognises that Kenyans were subject to torture, and other forms of ill-treatment at the hands of the colonial administration."

"The British government sincerely regrets that these abuses took place and that they marred Kenya's progress towards independence."

The M23 rebels announced today that it will send a delegation to recommence  peace talks with the Congolese government that were suspended in May.

The political head of the rebel movement, Bertrand Bisimwa, said in a statement,

"The M23 confirms that its delegation will go to Kampala this Sunday June 9 in order to continue the dialogue."

Bisimwa noted that the movements decision was an outcome of a regional tour in May y UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and talks with the special envoy, Mary Robinson, who visited the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda.

US soldier Staff Sgt Robert Bales has pleaded guilty to killing 16 Afghan civilians, mostly women and children in March last year.

His plea means that Bales will not be executed, but will be sentenced to life with or without the possibility of parole.

Residents of the village where the massacre took place and relatives of the victims have reacted with outrage at what they say is a lenient sentence.

"It is our firm demand that Afghanistan, the US and the international community condemn this American to death. He martyred our family members... and went back with his body full of blood of his victims to his camp," villager Mullah Baran told the BBC.

Another villager, Haji Baqi, whose brother was killed by Bales, said: "We want him to be hanged. The international community should not ignore our grief."

Bales pleaded guilty at a hearing on Wednesday, where he detailed each killing in the same terms.

"I left the VSP [Village Stability Platform] and went to the nearby village of Alkozai. While inside a compound in Alkozai, I observed a female I now know to be Na'ikmarga. I formed the intent to kill Na'ikmarga, and I did kill Na'ikmarga by shooting her with a firearm. This act was without legal justification, sir."

When asked why he had carried out the murders, said: "There's not a good reason in this world for why I did the horrible things I did.”

China and Russia, joined the US, UK, France and Germany, in expressing concern at the stalled UN nuclear agency investigation into Iran's facilities on Wednesday, reports Reuters.

In a joint statement, the six powers said:

"We are deeply concerned that Iran continues to undertake certain nuclear activities contrary to UN Security Council and IAEA board resolutions"

According to Reuters, Western states had intended a stronger statement, however envoys said this was not possible if Moscow and Beijing were to come on board. Both have previously made clear that they believe Western sanctions against Tehran are counterproductive.

France’s president Francois Hollande has said the international community is obliged to act as more proof of the use of chemical weapons in Syria emerges.

"We have the elements which now allow us to give certainty over the use of chemical weapons in Syria - at what level we still do not know."

"What has happened in Syria must be one more piece of pressure that can be put on the Syrian regime and its allies," he said on Wednesday.

Hollande spoke as Syrian forces retook the town of Qusair from rebels, after a two-week blockade.

Read more on the Guardian here.