Obama seeks to reassure Japan on security.

Barack Obama has assured China that it could count on help from the US to deal with an increasingly assertive China.

Opening a four-country swing through the Asia-Pacific region, Obama is aiming to promote the U.S. as a committed economic, military and political partner, but the West’s dispute with Russia over Ukraine threatens to cast a shadow over the president’s sales mission.

 

“Our treaty commitment to Japan is absolute,” he said on Thursday at a joint news conference with Mr Abe, Japan’s prime minister.

Amnesty International: Ukraine security operation must respect international standards on use of force.

Amnesty International has urged that the operation to restore security in Eastern Ukraine must adhere to international standards on the use of force and firearms.

The Ukrainian authorities say five people were killed in a security operation in eastern Ukraine.

“International standards on the use of force and firearms are clear – law enforcement officials should resort to the use of firearms only in defence against an imminent threat of death or serious injury. They should apply other non-violent means before resorting to the use of force, and the use of firearms must always be the last resort. When the use of force and firearms is unavoidable they must exercise restraint and take steps to minimize damage and injury and preserve life,” said Heather McGill, Ukraine Researcher at Amnesty International.