Peace groups and religious bodies have offered a cautious welcome for a voluntary United Nations agreement on small arms that they hope will be a step towards curbing the dangerous trade in illicit weapons.

A Catholic advocacy and development agency has called on the British government to fulfil its responsibilities to the people of East Timor, following a quarter-century of violence during which the UK supplied arms to Indonesia.

On a visit to the German Federal Defence Ministry in Berlin, members of a delegation from the World Council of Churches have posed tough questions about German arms sales and about the efficacy of war as a tool of policy.

News that Britain may have become the world's largest arms exporter last year has been met by a warning from campaigners that the majority are still being sent to oppressive regimes.

The High Court will today hear the judicial review of the Serious Fraud Office's decision to end its investigation into alleged corruption by BAE Systems in recent Saudi arms deals. Campaigners want to bring the arms giant to account.

A report published today (Tuesday) has revealed that 26 top UK universities have received contracts for at least £725 million over six years in sponsorship by arms companies and public military bodies with over 1,900 projects funded in this way

Following the controversial state visit of King Abdullah, peace campaigners are going to the Royal Courts of Justice at the end of the week to challenge an official decision to end an investigation into Saudi arms links.

Gordon Brown is facing mounting criticism over next week's state visit to the UK by King Abdullah. Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) has repeated its call for the reopening of the Serious Fraud Office investigation.

In a significant demonstration of growing opposition to Britain's involvment in the arms trade, Liverpool City Council has voted unanimously in favour of pulling its pension fund out of arms investments.

A US Christian leader has asked a World Council of Churches peacemaking team visiting the United States for assistance to rid his country of the "scourge" of gun violence during the team's September 2007 visit.