France has warned Iran of tougher sanctions if it doesn’t negotiate seriously over its nuclear program.

Laurent Fabius, the French foreign minister, said the EU should implement an agreed oil embargo from July 1.

Recent talks between Iran and the US, China, Russia, Germany, France, and the UK, also known as the P5+1, left ‘significant gaps’ according to EU foreign policy head, Catherine Ashton.

The P5+1 demand that Iran suspend enrichment of uranium to 20%, close down an underground enrichment facility and export its stockpile of 20%-enriched uranium - measures described by one Western diplomat as "stop, shut and ship".

Iran’s Chief negotiator Saeed Jalili agreed further talks are needed but reiterated Iran’s ‘non-negotiable’ right to enrich uranium.

"it reflects the ministers busy schedules ahead of the Olympics and widespread concerns about selective justice and the rule of law in Ukraine."

"giving political support to some things which have been happening in Ukraine which we don’t agree with".

The MV Alaed, currently off the coast of Scotland, is believed to be carrying Mi-25 attack helicopters and anti-ship missiles for Syria, a move that drew the ire of the United States.
 
After alleged pressure from the UK, the vessel’s insurance was withdrawn, with insurer Standard Club saying in a statement,

"We were made aware of the allegations that the Alaed was carrying munitions destined for Syria."

"We have already informed the ship owner that their insurance cover ceased automatically in view of the nature of the voyage."

A spokesperson for Standard Club also went on to state,

"There was no pressure at all from the UK government that I am aware of."

British foreign Secretary William Hague earlier confirmed reports that the ship was heading back towards Russia, telling Parliament,

"I am pleased that the ship that was reported to be carrying arms to Syria has now turned back apparently towards Russia."

"We have in place a European Union arms embargo on Syria. We discourage anyone else from supplying arms to Syria."

"We've had discussions with Russia about that specifically and I'm pleased that the ship that was reported to be carrying arms to Syria has now turned back apparently towards Russia."

“The Foreign Secretary made clear to Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov when they met on 14 June that all defence shipments to Syria must stop. We are working closely with international partners to ensure that we are doing all we can to stop the Syrian regime’s ability to slaughter civilians being reinforced through assistance from other countries.”

The Sudanese government's security wing, the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) ordered three independent newspapers not to distribute their Sunday edition this weekend, despite having printed them.

The daily newspapers, Al-Ahdath, Al-Watan and Al-Jarida, were also ordered not to publish Monday's editions until further approval by the NISS agent.

Sudanese newspapers already operate under intense scrutiny and restrictions. Reporting on statements by South Sudanese officials, or rebel groups within from the South Kordofan, Blue Nile, or western region of Darfur is strictly prohibited.

British Prime Minister David Cameron and Argentine President Cristina Kirchner were involved in a confrontation on the sidelines of the G20 summit.

Cameron approached Ms Kirchner before the first session of the summit, and told her she should ‘respect the views’ of Falkland Islanders.

"I am not proposing a full discussion now on the Falklands but I hope you have noted that they are holding a referendum and you should respect their views.

"We should believe in self determination and act as democrats here in the G20." Cameron said to the President.

Ms Kirchner is reported to have replied with ‘ramblings’, according to Downing Street aides.

Later on Kirchner was seen showing the Prime Minister some documents. Some reports indicated, she was trying to hand him an envelope, but a Downing Street official denied this.

"We don't need an envelope from Kirchner to know what the UN resolutions say.... All the UN resolutions do refer to the UN charter, which enshrines the principle of self-determination and that is what we are asking the Argentines to respect," the official said.

Before Tuesday's session, Mr Cameron said in a TV interview:

"The Falkland Islanders have decided to have a referendum. They are going to ask a very simple question of whether they want to continue with the status quo or whether they want to change.

"The message to Argentina is very clear - listen to what the people of the Falkland Islands want.

"We should all believe in this day and age in self-determination, not colonialism."

"We must make our utmost possible efforts to ensure accountability for all perpetrators, including those who have attacked UN observers in Syria,"

"The government of Syria should immediately cease the use of heavy armaments and shelling of populated areas, as such actions amount to crimes against humanity and possible war crimes."

US President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have urged an immediate end to violence in Syria in a joint statement released on Monday, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Los Cabos Mexico.

The statement read:

"In order to stop the bloodshed in Syria, we call for an immediate cessation of all violence,

"We are united in the belief that the Syrian people should have the opportunity to independently and democratically choose their own future."

Mr Obama said that he and Mr Putin are going to work with "other international actors, including the United Nations, Kofi Annan, and all interested parties" to attempt to find a solution to the crisis.

Russia and China have twice blocked US-backed resolutions against the Syrian regime at the UN.

Correspondents say there were no smiles between the two leaders during the press conference, and that their interactions seemed ‘stiff and strained’.

Early election results for Egypt's first democratically elected President, appeared to indicate that Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood defeated Ahmed Shafik, Hosni Mubarak’s former Prime Minister, by a margin of about 4 percentage points, or approximately one million votes.

Election results will only be confirmed later this week. However, a spokesperson for Shafik declared him the true winner and asserted that the Brotherhood had “terrorised voters” but offered no evidence for it.

Meanwhile, ruling generals have imposed martial law, as Brotherhood parliamentarians, refuting the authority of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf) or the Supreme Court to dissolve the parliament on the eve of the election, vow to turn up to the chambers as scheduled on Tuesday.

Martial law grants the military power to detain and try civilians in military courts, and the ruling generals have suggested that this could be applied in the case that someone should try to enter the parliamentary building, which is currently guarded by soldiers and police to keep the lawmakers out.

On the eve of the election, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf) dissolved the Brotherhood-dominated Parliament and proclaimed all legislative power. The move, made under the guise of a court ruling by a panel of judges appointed by Mubarak, prompted many to suggest it was a pre-emptive attempt by the ruling generals to prevent Islamist control over both presidency and legislature.

The decision breaks the generals' promise to hand over all power to elected civilians by the end of June.

Liberals and Islamists alike have deplored the move as a military coup.

Representatives of the military council, Gen. Mandouh Shahin and Gen. Mohamed el Asser asserted, “we don’t want power”, in an attempt to dissolve fears of the re-establishment of a military-backed autocracy. Speaking at a news conference, the generals highlighted the presidential election as proof of their democratic intentions.

To soften the blow of the power-grab, the ruling military have entered into a period of negotiations over the balance of executive, legislative and military powers with the prospective president. The military council acknowledges that it would have monopoly on lawmaking as well as control over the national budget. The new president would be able to veto any new laws and appoint the Prime Minister and cabinet officials.

State media reported that the generals had picked their own panel to draft a permanent constitution, ignoring the panel chosen by the Parliament although the generals had said that this report was premature.

Brotherhood officials have insisted meanwhile that the struggle had just begun.

Jihad al Hadded, and adviser to the Brotherhood’s lead strategist said that the group was determined to contest the dissolution of Parliament and the creation of another constitutional assembly.

Fatema AbouZeid, a senior policy researcher for the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice party and a media co-ordinator for the Morsi campaign, said:

"Over the past 18 months we were very keen to avoid any clashes or confrontations with other components of Egypt's political system because we felt that it would have negative consequences for the democratic system and for society as a whole,"

"But now it's very clear that Scaf and other institutions of the state are determined to stand in the way of what we're trying to achieve, and we won't accept this any more. Egypt will not go back to the old regime through any means, legal or illegal.

"If we find that Scaf stands firm against us as we try to fulfil the demands of the revolution, we will go back to the streets and escalate things peacefully to the highest possible stage,"

"Now we have a new factor in Egyptian politics, the Egyptian people themselves, who will not accept a return to the old regime in any form, not after so much Egyptian blood was shed to remove it."

"The revolution is facing a life or death moment and the Egyptian people have put their faith in Dr Morsi to represent them at this time."

In an interview with a Mexican newspaper, Reforma, the Chinese President Hu Jintao, urged G20 members to approach the European debt crisis in a "constructive and cooperative way, encourage and support efforts made by Europe to resolve it and send a signal of confidence to the market"

Hu said,

"In the current world economic environment, the G20 members should stick together in difficult times and pursue win-win cooperation."

"We should continue to oppose protectionism in all forms and advance the Doha round negotiations. We should continue to give high priority to development and promote growth of developing countries so as to increase total global demand,"

"China's economy has maintained stable growth,"

"Facing a complex and grave external economic environment, China has taken targeted measures to strengthen and improve macroeconomic regulation, accelerate the shift of the growth model, adjust economic structure and build long-term mechanisms to boost domestic demand."

"We will continue to pursue a proactive fiscal policy and prudent monetary policy and maintain a balance between ensuring steady and robust growth, adjusting economic structure and managing inflationary expectations,"

The head of the United Nations observer mission to Syria has called on both sides to allow trapped civilians to leave the conflict zones.

In a statement issued on Sunday, General Robert Mood said:

“The parties must reconsider their position and allow women, children, the elderly and the injured to leave conflict zones, without any preconditions and ensure their safety,”

“This requires willingness on both sides to respect and protect the human life of the Syrian people,”

“I call on the parties to take immediate action to ease the pain of Syrians trapped in the violence and the UN Supervision Mission in Syria stands ready to monitor their release, once the decision is taken by the parties,”

Over a thousand families are currently trapped by fighting in Homs, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Scores of civilians have been killed in recent government attacks on rebel strongholds, while the UN observer mission has suspended its activities due to the escalating violence.

“First of all, let me say that yes, I am an African and I am very proud of that... But I am a prosecutor for 121 states parties.”

“Laurence Gbagbo [of the ivory Coast] is our first case... There will be others.”

 “As I speak, massive crimes continue to be committed in Darfur (Sudan); Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army’s acts of violence continue unabated in central Africa.”

“Nothing short of arresting all those against whom warrants have been issued will ensure that justice is done for millions of victims of the crimes committed by these fugitives.”

"We should not be guided by the words and propaganda of a few influential individuals whose sole aim is to evade justice but, rather, we should focus on, and listen to the millions of victims who continue to suffer from massive crimes."

“Syria is a case in point. It’s not a member of the ICC, we do not have jurisdiction over Syria unless the U.N. Security Council were to refer Syria to us.”

The UN observer mission to Syria has been suspended due to increasing violence.

The head of the mission, General Robert Mood, said on Friday that the observers would stay in their current locations and cease all monitoring activities.

In a statement, announcing the UNSMIS’s (UN Stabilisation Mission in Syria) suspension of operations, Gen Mood said:

"The observers will not be conducting patrols and will stay in their locations until further notice."

"This suspension will be reviewed on a daily basis. Operations will resume when we see the situation fit for us to carry out our mandated activities," he said, adding that a "return to normal operations remains our objective".

"The lack of willingness by the parties to seek a peaceful transition, and the push towards advancing military positions is increasing the losses on both sides: innocent civilians, men, women and children are being killed every day,"

"It is also posing significant risks to our observers." he said.

Nine Bahraini doctors were sentenced for upto five years on Friday, for supporting anti-government protests in the country last year.

Formally accused of 'conspiring to overthrow the Bahraini monarchy', prosecutors charged that the doctors had spilt blood over patients to exaggerate injuries, and used a hospital and ambulances to aid the armed rebellion.

All the doctors denied the charges, stating that they were forced to sign confessions after being tortured.

Nine other medics were aquitted, including Fatima Haji, who commented:

“This is no time to celebrate, my colleagues going to jail need my support right now. Putting one of us behind bars is an insult to us all as doctors,”

"[The prize] made me real once again: it had drawn me back into the wider human community. And what was most important, the Nobel Prize had drawn the attention of world to the struggle for democracy and human rights in Burma. We were not going to be forgotten."

"Hostilities have not ceased in the far north; to the west, communal violence resulting in arson and murder were taking place just several days before I started out the journey that has brought me here today."