believe me good will come

Sudan ‘accepts UN Darfur force’

Sudan will agree in principle to the deployment of UN troops as part of an expanded peacekeeping force in Darfur, a top Sudanese envoy has confirmed.

Negotiator Sadig al-Magli told the BBC the deal showed his government’s commitment to peace [*cough*] - although he said the size of the force was not settled. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has until now opposed any involvement of the UN in the western region.

Nearly four years of fighting in Darfur has killed some 200,000 people. More than two million people have been displaced.

UN passes Iran nuclear sanctions 

The United Nations Security Council has unanimously voted to impose sanctions against Iran over its failure to halt uranium enrichment. 

Archbishop attacks Iraq strategy

The Archbishop of Canterbury (head of the Anglican Church) has accused the UK government of placing Christians in the Middle East at risk through its actions in Iraq.

[Joe's stag night of sorts] 

90% of Israel’s cluster bomb strikes on Lebanon during the Israel-Lebanon conflict of July-August 2006 occurred in the last 72 hours of the conflict, when Israel knew a ceasefire was in sight.

Despite official requests from the United Nations, Israel has still not provided maps for the areas it targeted with cluster bombs. The UN Mine Action Coordination Center has so far identified more than 400 bomb strike areas that are contaminated with as many as 100,000 unexploded bomblets.

A cluster bomb consists of a canister which breaks apart to release a large number of small bomblets. There is a significant “dud rate” of about 5% (meaning the bomblets don’t explode but sit on the ground, with the potential to explode years later).

UN denounces Israel cluster bombs
Israel must disclose details of cluster bomb attacks and accept a full investigation
Fact file: Cluster bombs - introduction

Targeting of civilian areas by Israeli and Lebanese forces

Chile’s former military dictator Augusto Pinochet has died on International Human Rights Day.

Pinochet evaded justice in this world - he never stood trial for the 3,000+ murders and “disappearances” at the hands of his regime.

Chile’s General Pinochet dies at 91