Weeks of fighting in parts of Darfur have raised concern over the plight of civilians, as insecurity has prompted humanitarian agencies to suspend activities in some areas.

The clashes have led to displacements in eastern Jebel Marra in South Darfur and North Darfur states, and in western Jebel Marra and the Jebel Moon region in West Darfur state, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in an update on 2 March, stressing that accurate information from the ground was very scarce because of lack of access.

The rebel Sudan Liberation Army, Abdul Wahid al Nur faction (SLM-Nur), which refuses to join peace talks with the Sudanese government until a full cessation of hostilities is implemented, has accused government forces of attacking its positions east of Jebel Marra.

The News:
http://www.irinnews. … .aspx?ReportId=88293

Catalonia’s unofficial polls have shown the Spanish region is strongly in favor of separation. But as calls for a referendum on independence continue, the issue seems far more complicated.

Catalonia’s political struggle for independence is centuries-old. The prosperous province of seven million people already has enough national symbols, its own language, world-renowned architecture and an iconic football team, worshipped by fans worldwide.

The News:
http://rt.com/Top_Ne … pain-referendum.html

Georgia and Russia have re-opened their only usable land border crossing for traffic and trade for the first time in four years.

The border post, in the Georgian region of Kazbegi, opened to traffic on Monday at 7am (0300GMT) after a brief, pre-dawn ceremony.

The agreement to open the crossing came after a request from Georgia’s landlocked neighbour, Armenia.

The News:
http://news.bbc.co.u … i/europe/8542746.stm

At least 4 people have been killed and more than others have been wounded in south of Galkacyo town in Mudug region after two clan militias’ dispute for the ownership of land in south of the town, witnesses told Shabelle radio on Monday.

Reports say that both clan militias were the member of the residents in the town and exchanged gunfire in south of Galka’o town which is partially controlled by the administration of the semi-autonomous region of Puntland killing 4, most of them civilians.

Residents at Garsorka neighborhood and most of the people in the area where the two militias fought had expressed concern about the new violence between the two sides as each group were arguing ownership of the land in the town.

The News:
http://www.shabelle. … ews.asp?NewsID=11853

The military chief» of basque terrorist organization of Eta, Ibon Gogeascoechea Arronategui, has been arrested in north-west of country, in Lower Normandy. The Spanish Interior Ministry announced in a press.

The News:
http://www.corriere. … d-00144f02aabe.shtml
http://www.tgcom.med … articolo475167.shtml

Abkhazia is interested in establishing diplomatic relations with Argentina, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia Maxim Gvindzhia who heads the Abkhaz delegation visiting Latin America told ITAR-TASS.

“There are no diplomatic relations between Argentina and Abkhazia for the time being, but we hope to establish them”, he said. “Meanwhile we plan to open three embassies in Latin America: in Nicaragua, Venezuela and Argentina”.

The News:
http://www.abkhaziag … /detail.php?ID=28929

Somaliland military said it thwarted a Puntland militant attack on members of it’s 12th division stationed in east of Lasanod on Monday morning.

Mr. Saleban Guled, Somaliland Defense minister, said there were no casualties on either side but the militants fled back to Puntland.

The attack came as Somaliland prepares the last leg of voter-registrations in the region.

The News:
http://somalilandpre … -attack-on-military/