Kurdish rebels have killed at least 24 Turkish soldiers in eight simultaneous attacks Wednesday, marking one of the deadliest days for the army in the 27-year battle against the separatists.

Turkey hit back with cross-border air strikes on rebel bases and sent troops into neighbouring Iraq as Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan cancelled a foreign trip and called an emergency meeting of top security officials.

The attacks by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) occurred in Cukurca and Yuksekova in Hakkari province near the Iraqi border in the early hours of Wednesday.

The United States and European Union have condemned the attacks.

The PKK said in a statement on Wednesday that it launched the attacks in retaliation for earlier Turkish air strikes against its bases in northern Iraq and the arrest of hundreds of Kurdish politicians around Turkey.

Five rebels were killed in the latest attacks, which wounded 18 other Turkish soldiers.

Several hundred Turkish soldiers have crossed into northern Iraq to confront the PKK , Kurdish news agency Firatnews said.

See BBC’s analysis of Turkey’s Kurdish question here.

See also Reuters analysis here, and fact-box on the PKK here. 

Indonesian soldiers and police have attacked the Third Papuan People’s Congress, held in Padanbulan, Jayapura.

Thousands of Papuans from more than 250 tribes gathered to elect new leaders and to discuss the rights of Papuans.

The banned Papuan flag was raised before Forkorus Yoboisembut was elected president by the tribes.

Mr Yoboisembut in his speech declared the independence of the Papuan state from Indonesian rule, prompting the over 5000 strong Indonesian security forces to attack the gathering.

Reports indicate one person was killed and several injured, while the president was arrested.

A Papuan rights activist told AFP "They got in and started firing tear gas, trampling and beating up the crowd with their bare fists and rifle butts,"

Indonesian police denied any casualties and claimed that only warning shots were fired.

A police spokesman, Wachyono, told the BBC, "We cannot let them announce a transitional government for Papua. This move is against the law and we cannot let it happen. We fired warning shots to disperse them,"

Papuans have demanded a referendum on independence ever since West Papua was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969, with sporadic violence breaking out between separatists and Indonesian forces for decades.

Indonesian security forces have been accused of widespread human rights abuses and genocide during the ongoing conflict.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has demanded Malawi explain why it did not arrest Sudanese president, Omar al-Bashir, during his recent visit to the country, warning that it is considering referring the matter to the UN Security Council.

The ICC reports that Malawi, an ICC member state, was reminded of its obligation to arrest Bashir on 13th October, however is yet to repond.

The ICC issued an arrest warrant on Bashir in 2008, for charges of war crimes and genocide in Darfur. He is believed to be responsible for over 300,000 deaths since 2003.

Malawi has been instructed to submit a report to the ICC, by the 11th November, justifying why it failed to pursue the arrest warrant.

The UN Security Council have previously been urged, by the ICC, to take action against Kenya, Chad and Djibouti for failing to arrest Bashir during state visits, however no action has been taken.

See our earlier posts:

Britain criticises Malawi over Bashir (Oct 2011)

Outrage at Malawi's refusal to arrest Bashir (Oct 2011)

UN urge Malawi to arrest Bashir (Oct 2011)

In a letter to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, French President Nicolas Sarkozy restated France’s strong commitment to ensure that the killings of over 1.5 million Armenians in 1915 by Turkey will be recognised as Genocide.

The letter, released from the President’s press office, comes after Sarkozy visited Armenia and warned that unless Turkey did so, then he would “have to go further”.

Thanking his Armenian counterpart for the hospitality during the visit to the country earlier this month, Sarkozy said,

“Rest assured that France will not stop its commitment, since the massacres have not been recognized properly by the descendents of the perpetrators.”

He went on to acknowledge the contributions made by the Armenian diaspora in France, whom he called “the survivors of the Genocide who found refuge in our country.”

The call was reinforced by France’s Ambassador to Armenia Henri Reynaud who told reporters at a press conference,

“Turkey should look its history in the face and recognize the Armenian Genocide.”

Reynaud statement came as he told reporters of Armenia’s "rapidly" growing ties with the European Union.

See our earlier post: France warns Turkey over Armenian Genocide (Oct 2011)

Serbs in northern Kosovo have defied a deadline set by NATO to remove illegal barricades in towns on the border to Serbia.

Hundreds of Serbs gathered to protect the roadblocks from KFOR peacekeeping troops.

"I am disappointed with this outcome," NATO's top commander in Kosovo, Maj. Gen. Erhard Drews, said in a statement. "The north did not comply with the request to remove the roadblocks."

Serb politicians stressed, no action will be taken before a high level meeting to discuss a solution to the ongoing dispute on Wednesday.

Drews said that NATO will await the outcome of this meeting, before deciding on how to proceed, adding that KFOR troops are ready to take more serious action.

"KFOR is ready and resolved to take action on behalf of freedom of movement, if the municipality meeting on Wednesday does not have satisfactory results," Drews said. "Our focus is on enabling civilians to lead normal lives."

There have been sporadic clashes in the area since Kosovo declared independence in 2008, a move Serbia rejected.

Meanwhile, Serbia’s Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said on Sunday that the border should be redrawn and parts of Kosovo handed back to Serbia, if the dispute is to be resolved peacefully.

Around 40,000 Serbs inhabit the disputed region in northern Kosovo where they continue to reject the authority of the Kosovar state.

Related posts:

Serbs erect new barricade as tensions simmer (01 Oct)

Kosovo key to Serbia EU membership (13 Oct)

A majority of British voters outside Scotland back Scottish independence, a poll published Sunday found.

The ComRes poll for The Independent on Sunday and Sunday Mirror newspapers showed that support for Scotland's independence has risen sharply in recent months.

Some 39% of adults in England, Wales and Northern Ireland thought Scotland should become an independent state (up six points since May), while 38% disagree (down 4 points).

Within Scotland, 49% agree (up 11%), while 37% disagree (down 9%).

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond's Scottish National Party (SNP), which advocates independence, wants to put the matter to a referendum towards the end of the five-year term his party won in May.

SNP campaigns director Angus Robertson told AFP the poll showed there was significant support in Scotland and England

"for our nations having a new relationship of equality as two independent countries, sharing a head of state and working together as partners in Europe".

Britain's head of state is Queen Elizabeth II. She's also head of state of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and a dozen other former colonies.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has called for the violence in Syria to be stopped immediately.

Speaking to reporters in Bern he said

"There are continuous killings of civilian people. These killings must stop immediately. I told Assad: 'Stop before it is too late.'

It is unacceptable that 3,000 people have been killed. The UN is urging him again to take urgent action."

His request came as renewed clashes in the city of Homs killed 27 people, mostly civilians. A total of 41 people were killed in the whole of Syria on Monday alone.

UN human rights chief Navi Pillay warned during the weekend that Syria risked "a full-blown civil war."
Pillay said that more than 3,000 people have been killed in the crackdown on anti-regime protests.

Read AFP report here.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, urged Malawi to arrest the Sudanese president, Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted for war crimes and genocide charges by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Speaking at a lecture in Johannesburg, Pillay said,

"I call on governments and remind them of their legal obligations, and I am disappointed when they do not keep up their obligations."

An arrest warrant was issued for Bashir, by the ICC, in 2008.

See Outrage at Malawi's refusal to arrest Bashir

In a statement released Sunday, Hague said he was “dismayed” by Israel’s announcement to build 2,600 new homes in the settlement of Givat Hamatos and to legalise housing in West Bank outposts.

“This provocative step, which further encloses East Jerusalem, is particularly disappointing given the international condemnation of the expansion of the Mordot Gilo settlement just a few weeks ago. Settlements are not only illegal under international law, but also undermine the possibility of a two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and those working for a sustainable peace.

"I call again for these announcements to be revoked. Together with our EU and other partners we will make very clear to the Israeli government the strength of our concern."

Earlier this week, European Union foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton labelled the move “unacceptable” and said they "run against roadmap obligations".

She went on to say that the proposed constructions were "of particular concern as they would cut the geographic contiguity between Jerusalem and Bethlehem".

The call was reiterated by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, who issued a statement calling the developments “unacceptable” and said that any further settlement activity “must cease”.

A statement released by his office said,

"The Secretary-General is deeply concerned at continued efforts to advance planning for new Israeli settlements in occupied East Jerusalem."

The condemnation comes as the UN Security Council assesses Palestine’s bid to attain full membership at the United Nations. Palestine has rejected talks with Israel since late 2010 due to Israel’s continued building of settlements, which have been deemed illegal under international law.

Syria has escaped suspension from the Arab League at an emergency meeting convened to discuss the crisis at its headquarters in Cairo.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani said that the League had decided to work towards national dialogue between the opposing sides.

The dialogue, if accepted by both sides, would be held under the auspices of the Arab League and based on the 7-point plan proposed at a League meeting last month.

However, both, the Syrian regime and the opposition are said to be unhappy at the proposals.

Damascus had already rejected a similar proposal put forward in September by Arab League Secretary General Nabil el-Arabi.

The Syrian opposition has said that only a change in regime will bring a solution to the crisis and that the time for dialogue has passed.

The government’s crackdown on anti-regime protesters is thought to have claimed over 3,000 lives in the past six months.

India has praised Burma’s transition to democracy during a visit by Burmese President Thein Sein to New Delhi.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh welcomed recent developments in Burma, including Friday’s release of 200 political prisoners.

The neighbours, who share a 1,600 km long border, have agreed deals to expand border trade and cooperation in oil and gas exploration.

India extended credit facilities worth £316m for investments in Burmese roads, ports and inland waterways.

Indian officials disputed rumours of economic rivalry with China, till date the biggest investor in Burma.

"We have an important relationship with Myanmar. And we have an important relationship with China. There is no competition," external affairs ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said.

See our feature on Burma’s reforms:

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

Guatemalan officials ordered the arrest of former president, Oscar Mejia, on Thursday, on charges of genocide. 

Police, who have raided 4 houses in an attempt to capture 80-year-old Mejia, have deemed him a fugitive.

Mejia is charged with ordering the massacres of Mayan leftist guerilla fighters, during 1982 to 1983, when he served as chief of the military. Mejia's military reign are widely asserted to have corresponded to the war's bloodiest years.

He later led a military coup agaist then dictator Efrain Rios Montt and appointed himself president from 1983 to 1986.

In total, 1960-1996 civil war between government forces and leftist guerrillasl left over 250,000 dead or missing. The majority of the dead were Mayan.

A United Nations-backed truth commission after the war found the army had committed hundreds of massacres.

See earlier coverage on Guatemala's attempts to ensure accountability and justice for victims of genocide:

Guatemala war criminal to be extradited to US (Sept 2011)

Former Guatemala army chief charged with genocide (July 2011)

Genocide charges - thirty years on (June 2011)