Africa

The Liberian Cabinet is working twenty-four around the clock to make sure that development, as it is unfolding at a full-scale level, remains its foremost focus far beyond 2011.

A court in the capital, Antanarivo, has sentenced former president Marc Ravalomanana and two officers to life imprisonment with hard labour for the part they played in the deaths of about 30 protesters before he was forced from office in 2009.

The case against a 23-year-old man accused of killing Nelson Mandela's great-granddaughter in a car crash was postponed by the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on Friday.

The case against Sizwe Mankazana was postponed until November 5 for further investigation and an outstanding forensic report. He faces charges of drunk driving and culpable homicide.

A plane which crashed whilst trying to land in western Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday has left at least 19 passengers dead.

An official of Kinshasa's small city-centre Ndolo airport, from which the flight took off, confirmed the crash, but did not provide any additional information.

Benin's President Yayi Boni is inching towards a legal battle he could not win over an allegation which links him to a financial scandal that is rocking the tiny West African country.

For several weeks now, many of the country's lawmakers have been championing the cause of an estimated 70,000 victims of some financial conmen alleged to be excellent bedfellows of the president.

Russia has slammed a Thai appeals court's decision to allow the extradition of alleged arms dealer Viktor Bout to the US.

Bout, a Russian citizen, will face terrorism charges. Moscow dubbed the decision "illegitimate".

US President Barack Obama has commended Tanzania following the successful holding of the referendum that will pave way for the formation of a government of national unity in Zanzibar.

However, a State House statement yesterday quoted President Obama as cautioning that much work remains to be done as the October 31 General Election approaches.

Nine people of Pakistani origin arrested for allegedly plotting the July 11 bombings in Kampala that killed at least 76 people, were yesterday freed from custody on police bond.

Mr Boney Katatumba, Islamabad's consul here, confirmed the release of the suspects, most of them employees of Tech Access, a Pakistani-based IT company.

Preliminary election results from the Diaspora released, late Monday, showed that the incumbent, President Paul Kagame, earned a landslide victory of 96.7 percent.

Announcing the results, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) Chairman, Chrysologue Karangwa, said that, out of the 17,824 registered voters in the Diaspora, 14,242 (78%) were valid while 151 (0.8) votes were void.

There are growing fears that increasing numbers of women candidates and voters may not participate in the 2011 general elections because of an upsurge in election-related violence.

TRADE union leader Apollo Nyangasi was yesterday charged and remanded to Luzira Prison over the murder of his wife, Christine Dambio Nyangasi.

The 45-year-old Nyangasi is the national chairman of the Uganda Health and Allied Workers Union.

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 death toll in the simultaneous bomb blasts that rocked Kampala last night has climbed to 64 according to Police reports.

Simultaneous explosions ripped through crowds watching the World Cup final at Kyadondo rugby club and the Ethiopian restaurant in Kabalagala.

Police fear Al Shabab, an Al Qaeda-linked Somali militant group was behind the attacks.

After much anticipation, the 2010 FIFA World Cup Closing Ceremony opened at 18:40 at Johannesburg's Soccer City Stadium with all the colour and splendour it promised.

Former South African President Nelson Mandela graced the event, even going onto the pitch with wife, Graca Machel, much to the delight of the many soccer lovers gathered at Soccer City stadium.