"We have called on Assad to change but the regime did not want to know, which is not acceptable. We are ready to strengthen the sanctions."

"It is not normal that the [United Nations] Security Council has not made any decision so far... I hope those blocking any resolution will be aware of the reality of the situation."

“If the regime rejects the requests, it shows the world community and the Arab world that it is only trying to buy time. Then the file will be transferred to the international community, to the UN.”

“We consider this initiative dead.

Let the government implement just one clause of the Arab League plan, and we will stand down."

"The Syrian people are not waiting for the decision of the Arab League or the international community.

They waited eight months and saw nothing but more and more blood." 

Sudanese rebel groups expressed surprise and regret at the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon's condemnation of the formation of a rebel alliance - the Sudanese Revolutionary Force - on the 11th November.
 
On Monday, Ban Ki Moon expressed concern at the growing tension between Khartoum and Juba, and argued that the establishment of the rebel alliance would only serve to further escalate the conflict in the region.
 
The groups, hailing from the Blue Nile, Darfur and South Kordofan regions, situated along the border between Sudan and South Sudan, and include Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Sudan Liberation Movement factions of Abdel Wahid Al-Nur (SLM-AW) and Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) and the SPLM-N (Sudan People's Liberation Movement - North).
 
Yasir Arman, the Secretary General of SPLM-N and the former presidential candidate of the SPLM last year, said he was "surprised" at Ban Ki Moon's statement and argued that it showed that Ban Ki Moon was supporting "the aggressors and war criminals" instead of "supporting the victims and the right of the Sudanese people to democracy and the respect for human rights and the rule of law".
 
The rebel groups asserted that the solution to the conflict, lay in a political and armed struggle to overthrow the government in Khartoum.

 
Act for Sudan, a US based advocacy group consisting of human rights activists, Sudanese diaspora and a representative of Sudanese rebels, urged , urged the UN to condemn the Sudanese government's repression of the people.
 
Martina Knee, a spokesperson of Act for Sudan, said:

"In condemning the new rebel alliance and calling for more fruitless talks, Secretary General Ban and the United Nations fail to acknowledge [both] that the government is the primary aggressor in Sudan’s internal conflicts."

Meanwhile the UN has maintained its focus on urging both sides towards negotiations.
 
Addressing the Security Council on Tuesday, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hervé Ladsous, commented on the criticism of Ban Ki Moon's statement,

"This represents a step further in a pattern of escalation that is counter-productive. The United Nations continues to stress that all parties to the different conflicts between the Government of Sudan and its peripheries need to return to the table of negotiations and resolve their differences through political dialogue."

The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda has handed down a sentence of 15 years to a former mayor, after he was found guilty on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity.

Gregory Ndahimana was mayor of the Kivumu district in 1994 when a church was bulldozed by police, killing more than 2,000 people trapped inside.

While he was cleared of directly participating in the massacre himself, Ndahimana was found to have played a crucial role in the killings.

The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda said in a statement,

"The chamber ... found Ndahimana guilty of genocide and extermination by aiding and abetting as well as by virtue of his command responsibility over communal police in Kivumu."

Ndahimana is the third person to be tried and convicted by the ICTR for the church massacre in the town of Nyange.

The church's priest Athanase Seromba was sentenced to life in prison in 2008 and Rwandan businessman Gaspard Kanyarukiga was sentenced to 30 years earlier this month after being found guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity.

More than 800,000 Tutsis were slaughtered during a 100-day killing spree in Rwanda during the infamous 1994 genocide.

Addressing the Australian parliament on Thursday, US President Barack Obama, lauded freedom, stating that "prosperity without freedom is just povery", and reiterated the US stands for "an international order in which the rights and responsibilities of all nations and people are upheld." 

Watch his address in full here.

Extracts reproduced below:

"History shows that over the long run democracy and economic growth go hand in hand. And prosperity without freedom is just poverty."

"Every nation will chart its own course, yet it also true that certain rights are universal.

"Among them - freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, the freedom of citizens to choose their own leaders."

"These are not American rights, or Australian rights, or Western rights."

"These are human rights. They stir in every soul, as we've seen in the democracies that have succeeded here in Asia."

"If this vast region [Asia-Pacific] and its people teach us anything, it is that the yearning for liberty and progress will not be denied."

"The currents of history may ebb and flow, but over time they are moving decidedly, decisively in one direction,"

"History is on the side of the free - free societies, free governments, free economies, free people.

"And the future belongs to those who stand firm for those ideals, in this region and around the world."

"This is the work we will carry on together for the security, prosperity and dignity of all people."

On the US' economic policy, Obama reiterated the US' commitment to free markets and free trade,

"We seek economies that are open and transparent."

"We seek trade that is free and fair and we seek an open international economic system where rules are clear and every nation understands them."

Commenting specifically on US-China relations, Obama said,

"The United States will continue our efforts to build a cooperative relationship with China."

"All of our nations have a profound interest in the rise of a peaceful and prosperous China."

"We've seen that China can be a partner, from reducing tensions on the Korean penninsula to preventing proliferation. And we'll seek more opportunities for cooperation with Beijing, including greater communication between our militaries to promote understanding and avoid miscalculation."

The Arab League gave Syria an ultimatum of three days on Wednesday, to "stop the bloody repression" of protesters and permit observers into the area.

At a meeting in Morocco, the Qatari Foreign Minister, Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim al Thani, threatened Syria with sanctions and stated that diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict were "close to the end of the road".

Pro-government mobs in Syria responded to the Arab League's statement by attacking the embassies of the UAE and Morocco. Morocco has recalled its ambassador to Syria.

Responding to the on-going clamp down on peaceful protesters by government forces, the Free Syrian Army, has vowed to defend civilians.

Earlier on Wednesday, the rebels launched an attack on an air force intelligence base.

Speaking to Channel 4, a rebel commander said,

"The Free Syrian Army attacked the air force intelligence base and they killed the guard and they burnt the place. They occupied the compound before beating a tactical retreat.

"We will conduct such attacks so long as the regim targets civilians."

"The attacks will escalate."

US President Barak Obama and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard have announced plans to station US troops in Australia from next year.

Initially 250 marines will be stationed in the Northern Territory, increasing to 2,500 troops in the next few years.

The move is seen as a more assertive role for the US in the Asia-Pacific, particularly to counter the influence of China in the region.

Mr Obama said the US was "stepping up its commitment to the entire Asia-Pacific", including China.

"The main message that I've said, not only publicly but also privately to China, is that with their rise comes increased responsibility," he said.

"It is important for them to play by the rules of the road."

China has expressed unease over the deployment.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Liu Weimin said to the AFP news agency: "It may not be quite appropriate to intensify and expand military alliances and may not be in the interest of countries within this region,"

"The United States is also trying to get involved in a number of regional maritime disputes, some of which concern China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," a commentary from China's official Xinhua news agency said.

Tensions in the South China Sea, which is claimed by several nations, including China, Vietnam and the Philippines, are thought to be one of the reasons of regional concern for the US.

The Arab League invited the Syrian Opposition, the Syrian National Council, for talks in Cairo on Tuesday, to discuss the planned transition of power.

After meeting officials from the Arab League, Abdel Basset Sedah, of the opposition Syrian National Council's executive office, said,

"The Arab League will announce soon a date for a conference to include many of the Syrian opposition groups to discuss the ways and time needed to move to a transitional period."

Meanwhile, Burhan Ghalioun, the head of the Syrian National Council met Russian diplomats in Moscow. Urging the two sides to start a dialogue, the Kremlin has refused to back calls for the resignation of President Bashar Al-Assad.

Ghalioun said,

"We were unable to change the position of the Russian government, and they also could not change our position."

See our previous posts:

Foreign embassies attacked as Arab League suspends Syria (13 Nov 2011)

Human rights groups urge Arab League to back Syria's referral to ICC (11 Nov 2011)

Syrian death toll rises despite Arab League deal (07 Nov 2011)

The UK’s International Development Secretary, Andrew Mitchell has called on the Burmese regime to release all political prisoners, during the first visit by a British minister in decades.

Mitchell told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that “enough had changed to justify a visit and engagement like this.”

"It is clear that there are grounds for cautious optimism, but the picture is mixed," he said.

"On the one hand, there is now proper dialogue between Aung San Suu Kyi and the government and they have released some of the political prisoners.

"But, on the other hand the ethnic conflicts which besmirched Burma continue and we've also seen also a failure to release a large number of political prisoners, some of whom are key to Burma's future."

Mitchell also said he had "unfettered access to all levels of government" during the visit, adding: "So in terms of a dialogue there is clearly significant movement, but there are a lot of words still, we need to see actions, and in particular, we need to see these political prisoners released."

The minister is expected to meet high-level government official and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was freed last year, after years under house arrest.

Burma has seen a shift in policy since it held its first election in 20 years in late 2010, replacing the junta with a military-backed civilian government, but critics claim the shift is designed to achieve the lifting of sanctions by the international community.

Burma is still accused of committing war crimes and genocide against ethnic groups in the country, including the Kachin and the Rohingyas, with human rights group accusing the Burmese army of rape and murder.

See our previous articles:

'US hails dramatic change in Burma as Kachin complain of atrocities' (11 Oct 2011)

'US urged on UN-led probe into Myanmar atrocities, as rapes escalate' (27 Sep 2011)

Speaking at the Asia-Pacific leaders’ summit, US President Obama has said that China, Russia and the US are united over the need to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear arms.

The talks with his counterparts resulted in an agreement on a major objective.

"All three of us entirely agree on the objective, which is making sure that Iran does not weaponize nuclear power and that we don't trigger a nuclear arms race in region," he said.

He added that the three countries will work closely together to explore available options to exert pressure on Iran and resolve the issue diplomatically.

He however stressed that no options are taboo regarding Iran’s nuclear ambition, indicating that the US will not rule out the use of force to stop Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.

International aid group, Oxfam, announced its decision to remove its staff from the South Sudan border on Sunday, citing worsening violence and fears for the safety of Oxfam's twenty-two staff present.

The announcement follows the bombing of a refugee camp in South Sudan on Thursday. Both the UN and South Sudan have accused Sudan of launching the attack.

The Oxfam aid workers had been providing clean water for 64,000 people.

In a statement, the aid group said,

"Oxfam teams were about to start an assessment in Upper Nile to provide aid to new refugees. They have fled attacks and walked for days to reach a place they thought would be safe."

"Oxfam staff there reported bombing and heavy artillery for several hours on Friday,"

"They have witnessed planes flying overhead and a build-up of South Sudanese troops over the past few days."

Tens of thousands of civilians have sought refugee across the border in South Sudan, since fighting escalating in the South Kordofan and Blue Nile region between South Sudanese rebels and Sudan's military.

See related articles:

US extends sanctions on South Sudan (Nov 2011)

UN calls for probe into Sudanese war crimes (Aug 2011)

"Kashmir is one of the most protracted and bloody occupations in the world, and one of the most ignored,"

“I think that the people of Kashmir have the right to self-determination. They have the right to choose who they want to be, and how they want to be.

The first step would be to demilitarise, to withdraw this absolutely unbelievable law the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)."

“Even as the world speaks about the Arab spring—three years ago there was massive unarmed uprising in the streets of Kashmir... they were killing young children.”

“In Kashmir freedom of speech is non-existent and human rights abuses were routine. Elections were rigged and press controlled and the lives of Kashmiris were made miserable by gun-toting security personnel.”

“Mass graves have been discovered and the conscience of the world remained unstirred.”

Tens of thousands of pro-government protesters have taken to the streets in Syria to protest against the suspension of the country from the Arab League.

Protesters attacked embassies of Arab League members and other countries, including France and Turkey, with the latter withdrawing all diplomatic staff and their families from Damascus.

18 of the 22 members of the pan-Arab organisation voted for the suspension of Syria, after it did not implement proposals by the Arab League, which were initially supported by Syria.

Iraq abstained from the vote, Syria, Yemen and Lebanon voted against the suspension.

The proposals included the end of violence against protestors, access to international media and the release of prisoners detained during the protests.

The last member to be suspended from the Arab League was Libya, paving the way for an UN Security Council resolution which authorised military action to support the rebels against Colonel Gaddafi.