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The West African regional bloc Ecowas has told incumbent Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo to stand down or expect to face "legitimate force". Ecowas said after its summit in Abuja, Nigeria, that it would send an envoy to the country to meet Mr Gbagbo. It would also convene a meeting of defence ministers to plan military action if he refused to back down, it said. Before the talks, Nigerian Foreign Minister Odein Ajumogobia ruled out a power-sharing arrangement between the rivals like those set up in Kenya and Zimbabwe following disputed elections. The BBC's Thomas Fessy in the main city Abidjan says the pressure from Ecowas has not come as a surprise, and means that Mr Gbagbo is now definitely boxed in on all sides. The Ecowas chairman, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan , has already written personally to Mr Gbagbo to ask him to step down, and offered him refuge. There have been suggestions that member nations send in troops to strengthen the presen

Indian border guards Border Security Forces (BSF) have shot dead a Bangladeshi youth at Hatibandha Upazila under Lalmonirhat District of Bangladesh today (December 25, 2010). Witnesses said Saifur Rahman, 22, a cattle trader and resident of Dakkhin Gotamari village at the Upazila fell victim to BSF firing while returning home from India around 6.30am on Friday. Earlier, a Bangladeshi national named Abdur Rashid, 35, son of Abu Chan Miadead was killed on Balapara frontier in Dimla upazila of Nilphamari District of the country in the early hours on December 17, 2010. Mentioned that, Mr. Saifur Rahman is the 4th victim of Indian BSF after the killing of Chapainawabganj, Jessore and Nilphamari within the last 15 days.  Lalmonirhat 31 Rifles Battalion deputy commander Maj Shafique Uddin said Safiur died on the spot as the Indian border guards fired shots on him near Daikhawa camp of Bangladesh border guards. He said: "The body was taken away by the BSF personnel. BDR have sent

Taking part in an open discussion, Odhikar general secretary Atikur Rahman Khan said BSF is killing one Bangladeshi in every four days. Human rights group Odhikar and Human Rights Watch at a press conference at BRAC Centre on December 13, 2010 revealed a report on killing, abuse and torture by the Border Security Force (BSF) of India along the border. About 1,000 Bangladeshis were killed by Indian Border Security Forces (BSF) over the last decade, according to a report released by rights groups in the capital city Dhaka in Bangladesh on December 13, 2010. Apart from the killings, the report says, the Indian border guards usually threaten, abuse and beat Bangladeshi people living in frontiers villages, but they hardly get any cooperation from Bangladesh police. "It's a gross violation of human rights." The report was prepared based on statements of victims, witnesses, journalists, human rights workers, law enforcement officials and members of BSF and BDR. The re

A joint communique signed between India and China, the Asian Giants in economy, population and power,    on December 16, 2010 said that they had agreed to expand co-operation in infrastructure, environment, information technology, telecommunications, and investment and finance. It said that both Wen Jiabao and Manmohan Singh wanted "to draw on each other's strengths and pursue mutual benefit and win-win results". Mr Wen hold talks with Indian PM Manmohan Singh on Thursday, December 16, 2010. The two men discussed a number of sensitive issues, including a long-running border dispute. Both sides said they need more time to sort out the border question. The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi says that the Chinese premier's visit amounted to a strong endorsement of the economic relationship between the two Asian giants, even though contentious issues remain. Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao arrives in Delhi on 15 December 2010. Mr Wen's delegation in India

The Asian giants India and China have agreed a new $100 billion bilateral trade target by 2015, up from $60 billion in 2010. The two sides agreed to take measures to promote greater Indian exports to China, to reduce India's trade deficit between the two countries. Companies have already signed business deals worth $16 billion on the opening day of Chinese PM Wen Jiabao's three-day official visit to India. The latest of a number of world leaders to visit India, Mr Wen is accompanied by some 400 Chinese business leaders. China is India's largest trading partner.

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) shot a Bangladeshi national dead on Balapara frontier in Dimla upazila of Nilphamari District of the country in the early hours on Friday (December 17, 2010), just one day after the country-wide colorful celebration of its Victory day, sources confirmed. The victim was identified as Abdur Rashid, 35, son of Abu Chan Mia of Thakurganj village in the upazila. He was a cow trader, family sources of the deceased said. Mentioned that, Mr. Rashid is the 3rd victim of Indian BSF after the killing of Chapainawabganj and Jessore in the last seven days. According to Balapara Banladesh Rifles (BDR) sources, members of the BSF opened fire on the Bangladeshi nationals as they were waiting for cows near border pillar No 8. However, other traders managed to escape from India border but Rashid got killed on the spot. Killing of Bangladeshi nationals is rampant at the India-Bangladesh borders which is like routine work of Indian BSF. Human Rights Watch (HRW), an

The founder of whistle-blowing website Wikileaks, Julian Assange, has been granted conditional bail by a judge. The 39-year-old was granted bail in London earlier this week but remained in jail after prosecutors objected. The Australian is fighting extradition to Sweden over sex charges involving two women. He denies the allegations. Mr Justice Ouseley granted conditional bail at the Royal Courts of Justice and supporters put up £240,000 in sureties. His release is expected on Thursday. However, the BBC understands he may not be freed until Friday because those who provided the finances must complete paperwork at a police station. Mr Assange's solicitor, Mark Stephens, said afterwards the bail appeal was part of a "continuing vendetta by the Swedes". He said: "We have won costs today but they should be paid by Sweden not the hard-pressed Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)." There has been dispute over who was motivated to appeal against Mr Assange's rel