Afghanistan: the civilian toll
A new Human Rights Watch report accuses the Taliban, Hezb-e-Islami and other armed groups in Afghanistan of war crimes as they slaughter civilians through suicide bombings, car-bombings, kidnappings and shootings. The civilian death toll has risen dramatically in recent months.
US troops killed and injured more than 40 civilians in an indiscriminate attack last month after their convoy was struck by a suicide attack. Military authorities have not decided yet whether they will place the soldiers before a court martial.
The 15 April deadline imposed by Pakistani on unregistered Afghan refugees to repatriate to Afghanistan has passed, leaving hundreds of thousands of undocumented refugees in legal limbo.
Sadr pulls out of government
The political movement headed by Iraqi Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has withdrawn from the Iraqi government, vacating six cabinet positions. Though the move is unlikely to topple the government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, it is bound to further unsettle the delicate balance of Iraqi politics.
American military officials claim that they have new intelligence that suggests that Iran has supplied arms to both Shia and Sunni militant groups in Iraq.
Energy politics
A gas pipeline opened between Iran and Armenia on 19 March has begun to stir the interest of Georgia. Though a firm ally to the United States, Georgia will risk aggravating Washington if it can draw from the lucrative well of Iran's gas reserves.
Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez is hosting an energy summit of South American leaders in an effort to tighten regional opposition to the United States and to paper over growing rifts with Brazil over the use and production of ethanol.
Muslim nations call for Philippine peace
The Organisation of the Islamic Conference, an umbrella Muslim group, has called for Philippine soldiers and militants of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to stop their three day battle that has displaced thousands and killed dozens. Philippine planes have dropped 250-pound bombs on alleged MNLF positions on the southern island of Jolo over the weekend. The Philippines has been in the grip of numerous insurgencies in its restive, largely Muslim south.
Another rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), has agreed a deal with UNICEF that will allow the vaccination of almost 30,000 children on the war-torn island of Mindanao.
Arab Israeli MK under attack
Azmi Bishara, the most prominent Arab Israeli politician and a member of the Knesset, is being investigated by Israeli authorities for alleged criminal acts. Bishara has denounced the allegations against him as false and farcical. His outspoken anti-Zionism and occasional "solidarity" trips to "enemy" countries like Syria have drawn the ire of Israeli officials and public.
Syria has denied engaging Israel in secret talks.
Somali talks delayed
A proposed peace and reconciliation conference in Somalia has been delayed by continuing fighting between insurgents and Ethiopian and government troops.
David Shinn writes of the Somali government's need to reconcile with its foes on terrorism.opendemocracy.net.
Moroccan slum raided after attacks on US consulate
Two Moroccan youths blew themselves up near the American consulate in suburban Casablanca on Saturday. The assailants were brothers from the slum of Sidi Moumen, which has now been raided by police. Another brother has been taken into police custody. The more affluent parts of Casablanca are increasingly falling under the cross-hairs of militants.
Last week's bombings in Algeria - that killed 23 people and attacked high-profile targets - have triggered fears across the Maghreb and in France of a growing terrorist threat.
Kurdish violence grows
Nearly 10,000 Turkish troops were involved in the fighting between government forces and Kurdish separatists that has left at least ten dead in the restive southeast of the country.
Iraqi Kurds have shrugged off Turkish threats of intervention if they don't expel Turkish Kurdish fighters from their havens on the Iraqi side of the border.
