PRIME Minister Raila Odinga has been named among the politicians making "unsavoury, derogatory and insulting" remarks during the campaigns before referendum on the proposed constitution on August 4.

The United Nations today expressed its deep concern over a helicopter pilot who has been missing for two days in the south of Sudan's war-torn Darfur region.

On Monday, the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission, known as UNAMID, lost contact with one of its helicopters after it landed in Aborjo in South Darfur state.

At least 17 civilians were killed in clashes between Islamist insurgents and Somali government troops in Mogadishu. Somalia's embattled government welcomes the African Union's decision to send more troops to Mogadishu

Ambulance staff collected ten bodies of civilians and 46 wounded following clashes on Tuesday, the head of Mogadishu ambulance services Ali Musa said.

Zimbabwe has threatened to close 9,000 foreign owned firms after they ignored a deadline to submit plans on how they intend to release some of their shareholding to locals.

President Robert Mugabe's government wants the foreign owned companies with a value of over $500,000 to transfer 51 per cent of their shareholding to locals.

Abdirashid Mohamed Irro, the minister for commerce of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, stated yesterday that his government was aware that militias trained in Southern Somalia have been sent to cause instability in Puntland, a semi-autonomous state in Northeastern Somalia.

PRIME Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai has given up on moving into Zimbabwe House and has accepted a "lesser" house in Highlands, as President Robert Mugabe continues to hold onto both the property reserved for the head of government and State House, his official residence.

Zimbabwe House is ceremonially reserved for the prime minister, while State House is the president's residence.

African Union head Jean Ping has blasted the international community for neglecting the crisis in Somalia and only seeking to intervene when their interest is threatened by piracy and international terrorism.

Several thousand people in northern Somalia have been displaced in recent weeks by clashes between Somaliland troops and a new rebel group, according to local and UN sources.

Although this morning started with relative serenity, residents in Mogadishu's eastern districts witnessed some of the most intensive confrontations in the past months.

At least 15 people have been killed and 45 others injured in fresh clashes between Somali government forces in Somalia's restive capital, Mogadishu, Radio Garowe reports.

The clashes erupted in rebel-held northern districts of Abdiasis, Shibis, Karan, Daynile and Bondhere, where rebel fighters engaged in fierce gun battle with government forces backed by African Union peacekeepers.

After a month's engagement with the World Cup, South African President Jacob Zuma is reportedly set to resume his SADC mediation role in Zimbabwe to try and bridge the gap between Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai.

The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has launched new online services aimed at helping thousands of private candidates in the country register for the examination.

An online service program aimed at affording thousands of re-sitters (private candidates) the opportunity to register for WEAC Examinations in their counties of origin has been officially launched.

Close to 20 suspects have been arrested by the Police and other security agencies over Sunday's twin blasts in the city. So far, at least 76 people have died and many more sustained injuries.

The Minister of Finance, Tendai Biti, presented the Mid-Term Fiscal Policy Review to Parliament yesterday.

Although the nation expected a lot from the Minister especially with respect to the debilitating liquidity challenges, it was clear that he had limited fiscal space due to the non-performance of the vote of credit (donor funds) and the inability to sell Chiadzwa diamonds.

NO fewer than 500 Nigerians are currently serving jail terms for various offences in Switzerland. Also, 1,800 others are living and working legitimately in that country while 1,600 seek asylum annually.