Thailand is to start peace talks with Muslim insurgent groups operating in the south, a senior security official said on Wednesday.

France’s defence minister has said that French troops are involved in “very violent fighting” in the mountains of northern Mali and that it is too early to talk about a quick pullout from the West African country, despite the growing cost of the intervention.

Getting attention only on election season, Muslim leaders complain that promises of improving the living conditions of the community are never translated into action.

Ninety-seven Rohingya Muslims fleeing violence in Myanmar have died of hunger after being stranded at sea for 25 days, reports say.

Talking to tens of thousands citizens of Iranshahr, Baluchistan, Shaikh Abdol-Hameed Isma’eelzahi described the Iranian Sunnis ‘tolerant’ and ‘unity-seekers’, emphasizing on religious freedom and legal rights of them.

French President Francois Hollande has said his country’s forces are engaged in the “final phase” of the fight against militants in northern Mali.

Syria’s opposition National Coalition decided on Friday to form a government to run areas of the country “liberated” by rebels and will meet in early March to name a prime minister, a spokesman said.

Thirteen Chadian soldiers and 65 Islamist insurgents have been killed in heavy fighting in a remote part of northern Mali, Chad’s military says.It says Friday’s clashes occurred in the Ifoghas mountains, where many militants are believed to be hiding.

Pakistani police have detained Malik Ishaq, founder and former head of militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), at his home in Punjab province.

Amid growing public unrest, Bangladesh has blocked some internet sites and blogs for ‘hurting religious feelings’ in the majority Muslim nation, as rival protests resumed between Jamaat-e-Islami supporters and young protesters supporting bloggers.