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“We hope that these commitments signal a new approach by the Israeli authorities founded on respect for prisoners' human rights”
Ann Harrison, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa

Two thousand Palestinians held in Israeli prisons suspended a month-long hunger strike after Israel agreed several measures to improve prison conditions – a move seen by Amnesty International as a step toward compliance with Israel's human rights obligations.

The Sudanese authorities must halt the ongoing harassment of independent media, Amnesty International said after a prominent journalist was re-arrested and copies of a national newspaper seized in Khartoum on Tuesday.

Faisal Mohammed Saleh, a columnist with several national newspapers who has reported in 2011 on the alleged rape of an activist by National Security Service (NSS) agents, is currently being held by the NSS.

The Amnesty International Annual Report 2012 launches on Thursday 24 May 23.01 GMT.

The Amnesty International Report 2012 400-page report details the state of human rights in 155 countries and contains a lengthy section on Africa. This year’s report focuses on the impact of protests across the globe and the change they have brought.

In most African countries protests have seen governments clamp down on freedom of expression and brutally repress dissent causing horrific human rights violations; however some have led to positive changes.

In response to yesterday's killing of Radio Daljir reporter Farhan Jemiis Abdulle by two gunmen on the eve of World Press Freedom Day, Amnesty International's Somalia researcher Benedicte Goderiaux said:

"Farhan Jemiis Abdulle is the sixth journalist to die in a targeted killing in Somalia in the past six months, and the second journalist shot dead in Galkayo in Central Somalia this year.

Warring parties in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) must take measures to ensure civilians are protected, Amnesty International urged as fighting between the army and armed groups intensified in the country’s eastern province of North Kivu.

Violent clashes which flared up over the weekend between the Congolese army, the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), and FARDC deserters reportedly loyal to General Bosco Ntaganda have put the civilian population of North Kivu region at risk, prompting thousands to flee.

“ Egypt’s ruling military council must make sure that attacks like this weekend are independently and impartially investigated ” - Ann Harrison, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa

The Egyptian authorities must protect protesters in the run-up to presidential elections on 23 May, Amnesty International said today.

A violent attack on protesters in Cairo on Saturday night reportedly left one person dead and scores injured. The attack, carried out by an unknown group of people, led to clashes which lasted into Sunday morning.

The conviction of Charles Taylor by the Special Court for Sierra Leone sends out a clear message to leaders the world over that no-one is immune from justice but while the verdict brings some satisfaction for his victims more must now be done, said Amnesty International.

"There is no doubt that today's verdict sends an important message to high-ranking state officials; no matter who you are or what position you hold, you will be brought to justice for crimes," said Brima Abdulai Sheriff, Director of Amnesty International Sierra Leone.