For the first time since July 2011, the Bahraini government and opposition held talks to try to solve the political deadlock and mass protests.

The protesters, mainly of Bahrain's Shi'ite majority, had demanded that the Sunni ruling family create a consitutional monarchy and call for elections.

Speaking to journalists after the talks, opposition negotiator Abdulnabi Salman, from the Democratic Progressive Tribune group, said:

"So far so good, and we will continue for the next session, but there is no guarantee that we will continue forever."

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad has admitted that western pressure is affecting the country and said Iran is ready to enter talks.

Both Washington and Tehran have recently dropped hints about the possibility of talks over the nuclear programme.

"You pull away the gun from the face of the Iranian nation, and I myself will enter the talks with you," Ahmadinejad said at a ceremony marking the anniversary of the 1979 revolution.

"Today, because of dishonorable pressure by enemies, people are under pressure. The government is concerned about the uneasy situation of a big portion of the country.”

However Ahmedinejad struck a defiant tone over its right to nuclear technology.

"The Iranian nation will not give up one iota of its rights," he said.

"Your efforts had aimed at preventing us from become nuclear, but we did."

Swiss authorities have refused to re-open a case examining corruption accusations leveraged against Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari, reported Pakistan's law ministry.

The accusations have seen Pakistan's Supreme Court take on the ruling Pakistan People's Party and called on Swiss authorities to re-open cases on Zardari and his late wife, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who were alleged to have laundered at least $12 million in kickbacks through Swiss banks.

The scandal saw former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani ousted last year, after he refused to write to Swiss authorities and urge them to re-examine the case.

However, it has now been reported that Swiss officials have stated Zardari has immunity as head of state, with law ministry official Yasmin Abbasey, telling AFP,

"They have responded to the letter and said the president has immunity... This was the main issue and they have confirmed it, that the president enjoys immunity."

See the report from AFP here. 

"It's worrying because the trend is pointing at exonerating political leadership from the responsibility of the genocide,"

"We shall end up with a situation where the tribunal has convicted the rank and file and left out the real big fish."

"As far as Rwandans are concerned, (the ICTR is) dismantling its image, its legacy,"

"I will not be surprised if in the several appeals that are pending and involve cabinet ministers, if they are also acquitted".

Twenty Tibetan protesters have been detained in the ethnic Tibetan area of Qinghai, announced the Chinese government.

The Tibeten protestors are calling for Beijing to allow greater religious freedom and the return from exile of the Dalai Lama.

The government's response to protests has included sending in security forces to seal of areas and prevent information from leaking out, arresting people associated with protestors, and seizing satellite TV dishes. The government justified the clamp down on protests as a way of combating foreign forces that want to separate Tibet from the mainland.

Despite the apparent crack down, the frequency of protests and self-immolations have increased in the region.

The US state department have expressed growing concern over the deteriorating Human Rights situation in Tibetan areas.

The US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said:

"Our concern is that there are deep grievances within the Tibetan population which are not being addressed openly through dialogue by the Chinese government,"

A rocket attack on an Iranian dissident camp in Iraq has killed six people and injured dozens.

UN officials confirmed the attacks on Camp Hurriya, a former US base, currently used by Mujahadin-e-Khalq (MeK), an Iranian group calling for regime change in Tehran.

In a statement on the website of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), of which MeK is a member, said that the camp was attacked by missiles and mortars.

"Six residents including a woman have been slain and more than 50 were wounded. Some of the wounded are in serious condition and the number of slain might increase," the statement said.

The group complained that Iraqi authorities provided no support and have blocked the transportation of wounded to hospitals.

It is thought the attack was committed by the Badr Brigade, a Shia militant group believed to be close to the Iranian regime.

MeK was removed from the US list of proscribed terrorist organisations last year and have some support within Congress.

An Israeli football club’s move to sign Muslim players has resulted in its offices subjected to an arson attack.

No injuries were reported, however extensive damage was caused to Beitar Jerusalem’s administrative offices.

Beitar Jerusalem was the only leading team remaining in Israel which had not employed any Muslim players due to pressure from fans, until last month’s signing of two Chechen Muslims.

Fans have protested the decision, displaying anti-Muslim banners at matches. The arson attack comes a day after four fans were charged over racist chanting.

Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned the attacks as “shameful”.

"We must not accept such racist behaviour,

"The Jewish People, which has suffered boycotts and persecution, should be a light unto other nations."

Arab and Muslim players are prominent in other teams and have a long history of playing in the Israeli national side.

There were sporadic instances of violence in Tunis on Friday, as police and mourners clashed at the funeral of the assassinated opposition leader, Chokri Belaid.

Over 50,000 Tunisians came out onto the streets in Belaid's home district of Jebel al-Jaloud in Tunis.

Shouting anti-government and anti-Islamic slogans, the mourners called for a second revolution saying: "Belaid, rest in peace, we will continue the struggle."

Violence broke out by the cemetery with police using tear gas and mourners throwing stones in return and setting cars on fire.

Al-Qaeda linked, Islamist militant group 'Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa' (MUJAO), has claimed responsibility for a suicide attack in the northern Mali town of Gao on Friday morning.

It is believed to be the first known suicide attack in Mali, since the French troops entered the north in early January.

The attack was carried out by an individual on a motorbike, who detonated his explosives after approaching a group of soldiers at a checkpoint on the outskirts of Gao.

One soldier is reported to have been injured in the attack.

MUJAO vowed to carry out further attacks "against the Malian soldiers who chose the side of the miscreants, the enemies of Islam".

Meanwhile one person was killed and at least five injured in army infighting in the country's capital.

See here for full report on BBC News.

"Negotiating with America will not solve any problems,"

"If some people want American rule to be established again in Iran and are turning a blind eye to the country's national interests and independence in order to please Americans, then the nation will confront them".

The Ayatollah's speech was given after the United States announced a new round of sanctions on Wednesday, which were set to target the country's broadcasting authority and a major electronics producer.

David S. Cohen, the Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence said the moves was to “intensify the economic pressure against the Iranian regime”, commenting,

“We will also target those in Iran who are responsible for human rights abuses, especially those who deny the Iranian people their basic freedoms of expression, assembly and speech.”

Khamenei's speech also follows from US Vice President Joe Biden's comments on Saturday, where he said,

"There is still time, there is still space for diplomacy backed by pressure to succeed. The ball is in the government of Iran's court... But we have also made clear that Iran's leaders need not sentence their people to economic deprivation and international isolation."

The speech is likely to embarrass Iran's foreign minister Ali Akbar Salehi, who welcomed Biden's remarks, commenting,

"I would like to say that these are good signs … We are a rational government and we look into resolving all outstanding international issues through negotiation".

The United States government has cautioned Kenyan voters against electing a president who has been summoned by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.

Without naming the electoral candidate in question, U.S diplomat Johnnie Carson, spoke on the importance of correct choice, stating,

“Choices matter and they have consequences. Individuals have reputations, individuals have images, and individuals have histories. Individuals are known for who they are and what they do, what they have said, and how they act.”

Uhuru Kenyatta, one of the main candidates for presidential election faces trials for crimes against humanity committed in 2007-2008. Carson’s remarks suggest that a Kenyatta victory could strain relations between Kenya and the U.S.

Former CIA director nominee John Brennan today faced questioning at a Senate confirmation hearing about US drone strikes.

Mr Brennan said that drone attacks were only ever a last resort and refuted claims that strikes were used as punishments for past offences.

"Nothing could be further from the truth," he said.

"We only take such actions as a last resort to save lives when there's no other alternative to taking an action that's going to mitigate that threat."

He was also questioned about the use of water-boarding and said he found the practise "reprehensible and should never be done again"

"I had expressed my personal objections and views to some agency colleagues," he said.

"But I did not try to stop it, because it was something that was being done in a different part of the agency under the authority of others."

The hearing comes a day after the Justice Department agreed to send law makers documents explaining the legal rationale behind targeted killings of US citizens, thought to work with terrorist organisations.

The Justice Department confirmed the move after a memo, outlining some of the legal arguments, was leaked by NBC news earlier this week.

The Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal, has told the BBC's HardTalk programme, that the organisation is in talks with the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas regarding a national unity government, and presidential and parliamentary elections. 

Meshaal said:

"We are forging ahead with the reconciliation,"

"We are consulting about forming a government of national accord. Preparations for presidential, parliamentary and executive council elections are under way. We are reinvigorating the PLO and organising its meetings until new national council and executive committee are elected."

"We are keen on having good relations with all countries of the Arab and Muslim community, and the international community, with those who support our cause."