On Saturday, Syria buried 22 members of the armed forces, including six elite pilots ambushed on a highway near Homs, following a recent upsurge of armed attacks on security forces.

BBC: Syria unrest: Arab League adopts sanctions in Cairo

The Libyan delegation at the UN had sent a letter to the Council backing measures to hold to account those responsible for armed attacks on Libyan civilians, including action through the International Criminal Court - which had been one of the main points of contention in the resolution.

BBC: Libya: UN Security Council votes sanctions on Gaddafi

Two men were killed in the attacks by dozens of heavily-armed militants on checkpoints in north-west Pakistan.

BBC: Pakistani troops in tribal regions, file pic

Armed police patrols have been taking place in Clayton and Droylsden since the attacks on Friday.

BBC: Clayton gun and grenade murder: Man arrested

According to GEOS, a French firm, the insurgents who make pirate-like attacks on shipping in Nigeria's Delta region are very well armed and informed about targets, through contacts in the oil and shipping worlds.

ECONOMIST: Piracy and private enterprise

On Sunday, officials from the bureau, which monitors pirate attacks, said that heavily armed pirates had kidnapped four people after attacking an Italian supply vessel off the coast of Nigeria.

CNN: Ship crew held for 1,000 days rescued off coast of Yemen