News

Africa - November 23, 2009

November 23, 2009 Edition 2

Al-Shabaab claims victory in battle for Somali town

Somalia's al-Shabaab Islamists say they have seized control of a southern town from rival Hizbul Islam insurgents in clashes in which at least 12 fighters have died.

Pirates capture Greek-owned bulk carrier

Pirates have hijacked the Red Sea Spirit, a Greek-owned bulk carrier flying the Panama flag, in the Gulf of Aden near Yemen, a Kenyan maritime official says. News of the hijacking on Thursday emerged at the weekend.

Dos Santos calls for crackdown on graft

Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos has urged his MPLA party to implement a policy of zero tolerance for government corruption. Dos Santos, in power for more than 30 years, said MPLA members had been timid in supervising government spending, allowing fraud and the squandering of public money.

Negotiators 'have roadmap for talks on Darfur'

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Mahmoud, of Qatar, which is hosting talks between the government of Sudan and rebels from Western Darfur, says a road map has been produced for a process leading to a negotiated settlement.

Eight die of cholera in Kenyan prison

Eight prisoners have died of cholera and 25 others have been admitted to hospital in an outbreak at the Kamiti prison outside Nairobi, Kenya. The prisoners drank contaminated water.