Tbilisi, August 07: Bonfires were lit across Georgia overnight to mark a year since the former Soviet republic’s five-day war with Russia over breakaway South Ossetia.

Pro-Western Georgia launched an assault on South Ossetia late on August 7 after days of clashes with separatists and years of escalating tension with Moscow, drawing a devastating Russian counter-strike that ended on August 12.

The war killed at least 390 civilians and at its height displaced some 190,000. A year on, an unfulfilled ceasefire pact and sporadic gunfire keep alive the risk of renewed hostilities.

Brasilia, August 07: Brazil’s Supreme Court has approved the extradition to Argentina of retired Uruguayan military officer, Manuel Cordero, wanted for his role in Operation Condor, a plan to eliminate political opponents, in the 1970s.

The top Brazilian court said on Thursday that Cordero faces several charges, including responsibility for the 1976 “disappearance” of Argentine child Aldaberto Soba Fernandes.

Melbourne, August 07: A Uighur activist called on Friday for a UN investigation of recent violence in western China as 100 people demonstrated outside the Chinese consulate in Melbourne.

Rebiya Kadeer told protesters waving the light blue flags of the World Uighur Congress that Beijing had blamed her for inciting the violence in Xinjiang province in order to cover up “their heinous crime”.

Melbourne, August 07: A Uighur activist called Friday for a U.N. investigation of recent violence in western China as 100 people demonstrated outside the Chinese consulate in Melbourne.

Rebiya Kadeer told protesters waving the light blue flags of the World Uighur Congress that Beijing had blamed her for inciting the violence in Xinjiang province in order to cover up “their heinous crime.”

Africa, August 07: Attempts by President Robert Mugabe’s old guard to derail Zimbabwe’s democratic progress are mere “sulks from a dying breed”, according to the Finance Minister, Tendai Biti.

Mr Biti, who is also the secretary-general of the former opposition, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), last week became the most high-profile target of intimidation when he received a 9mm bullet and a death note at his home. In what the MDC describes as a strategy to wipe out its parliamentary majority, 12 of its MPs are facing a range of court cases and one has already been jailed.

Washington, August 07: Two former Blackwater security contractors are accusing the notorious security firm of orchestrating a crusade to kill Muslims and undermine their faith, reported.

(Eric Prince) views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe, one contractor, identifyied anonymously as John Doe 2, said in a sworn affidavit lodged at Virginia court, referring to Blackwater founder.