The latest in West Africa

Senegalese soldier killed in attack on separatist rebels

2010-03-21T14:15:32Z

<div><p>A Senegalese soldier was killed and five wounded in an attack Sunday on separatist rebels in the southern Casamance province, a military officer said.</p><p>"When advancing our forces came under enemy fire and we lost a man. Five others were wounded, including two seriously," said the officer, who asked not to be named, in a telephone interview from the region.</p><p>Last week two government soldiers were k...

Islamic cleric warns against meddling in Nigeria's affairs

2010-03-21T14:15:30Z

<div><p>Nigeria's top Islamic cleric warned foreigners against meddling in the nation affairs on Sunday, days after Libya's leader suggested the country be broken up into Muslim and Christian areas.</p><p>"External commentators on the Nigerian situation should ... be told in no uncertain terms that Nigeria, despite its difficulties, has come a long way and that it should not be taken f...

Nigeria arrests 164 over massacre

2010-03-21T13:15:25Z

<div><p>Nigerian police have arrested 164 people over a recent massacre near the central city of Jos and plan to charge most with offences ranging from terrorism to arson, authorities said Sunday.</p><p>"In its resolve to deal decisively with perpetrators of violence in the nation, the Nigeria police has concluded investigation into the mass killings in Dogo Nahawa, Rasat and Jeji villages...which occurred on 7th March 2010," ...

Gudjohnsen fuels Tottenham's European dream

2010-03-20T11:16:17Z

<div><p>An inspired cameo by Eidur Gudjohnsen helped Tottenham to a 2-1 win over 10-man Stoke that edges Harry Redknapp's side another step closer to Champions League football next season.</p><p>On a day when White House to extend protected status of some Liberians in the United States</div><div><p>President Barack Obama is allowing thousands of Liberians living in the United States to remain in the country for an additional year and a half...

Sierra Leone minister denies mine collapse

2010-03-19T16:45:16Z

<div><p>FREETOWN (Reuters) - Sierra Leone's minister of mineral resources denied on Friday that at least 200 people were killed in the collapse of a gold mine, causing confusion after his own ministry had reported the disaster.</p><p>The ministry said more than 200 miners died when a trench collapsed at an unofficial gold mine in the southern Bo distri...

Minister: Sierra Leone rattled by disaster hoax

2010-03-19T16:15:06Z

<div id="subtitle">False report of mine disaster in Sierra Leone prompts government rescue effort, minister says</div><div><p>A top official in Sierra Leone's government said he raced to a town in the country Friday after news reports said at least 200 people had been killed in a mining accident there, only to find out it was a hoax.</p><p>Minister of Mineral Resources Alpha Kanu said that when he, dozens...

Jihad as American as apple pie, says US-born cleric

2010-03-19T14:15:35Z

<div><p>Violent jihad, or Islamic holy war, is "becoming as American as apple pie," US-born fugitive cleric Anwar Al-Awlaqi said in an unauthenticated message released Friday.</p><p>"Western jihad is here to stay," warned Awlaqi as he commented on a blonde American who dubbed herself "JihadJane" and has pleaded not guilty to trying to recruit Islamist militants to murder a Swedish cartoonist.</p><p>...

Nigeria's ruling party to hold key talks after cabinet sacking

2010-03-19T12:16:42Z

<div><p>Nigeria's ruling party will hold key talks after Acting President Goodluck Jonathan in a shock move sacked a government he inherited from the country's ailing head of state, officials said Friday.</p><p>The People Democratic Party's highest decision-making organ, the national executive council, was expected to meet next week after the last quarterly talk...

Senegal president says no mistakes in 10-year rule

2010-03-19T12:16:24Z

<div><p>Senegal President Abdoulaye Wade marked 10 years in office Friday saying he could not recollect a single failure during his time at the job amid criticism he ignores social ills in the country.</p><p>Wade, whose election on March 19, 2000, ended 40 years of socialist rule, became Senegal's third president after leading the opposition against successive leaders...

Nigerian armed group claims attack on oil pipeline

2010-03-19T10:16:15Z

<div><p>Nigerian rebels claimed Friday to have blown up an oil plant in the restive Niger Delta region and threatened further raids, adding to the mounting crises facing Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.</p><p>A previously unknown militant group, the Reuters) - Senegal's octogenarian president Abdoulaye Wade said on Friday he was confident voters would grant him a third term in a 2012 election and his age was no obstacle to enjoying five more years in power.</p><p>Brushing aside opposition criticism that he has failed during 10 years ...

Nigerian armed group claims attack on oil facility

2010-03-19T08:16:26Z

<div><p>A Nigerian armed rebel group on Friday claimed to have blown up an oil facility in the restive oil-producing Niger Delta region and threatened to step up attacks in coming days.</p><p>"At about 12:08 am (2308 GMT), March 19, 2010, units of the Joint Revolutionary Council of Niger Delta attac...

Senegal rebels kill soldier, wound five in battle

2010-03-19T08:16:23Z

<div><p>Separatist rebels killed a Senegalese soldier and wounded five others during a battle in the southern Casamance province, a military source said Friday.</p><p>"There is one dead, a non-commissioned officer, and five injured from the army" in the attack on Thursday on the positions of the Casamance Movement of Democratic Forces (MFDC) in the south of the country which has been gripped by an armed rebellion since 1982.&l...

Nigeria's ruling party to meet for crucial talks

2010-03-19T07:15:47Z

<div><p>Nigeria's ruling party is planning crucial talks after Acting President Goodluck Jonathan sacked a government he inherited from the country's ailing head of state, sources said.</p><p>The People Democratic Party's highest decision making body was expected to meet next week to discuss the cabinet dissolution as well as start planning for general elections...

Gaddafi comment sparks diplomatic row with Nigeria

2010-03-19T02:18:34Z

<div><p>ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria has recalled its ambassador to Libya and questioned whether the north African country is sponsoring violence after Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said Nigeria should split along religious lines.<...

'JihadJane' pleads not guilty in domestic terror case

2010-03-18T14:16:54Z

<div><p>A blonde American who dubbed herself "JihadJane" pleaded not guilty Thursday to recruiting Islamist militants in the latest home-grown terrorism case.</p><p>Pennsylvania resident Colleen LaRose, 46, smiled and appeared relaxed as she denied charges of conspiracy to support terrorists, recruiting militants, and agreeing to murder a Swedish cartoonist ...

Nigeria recalls envoy after Kadhafi 'partition' comment

2010-03-18T14:16:48Z

<div><p>Nigeria on Thursday recalled its ambassador to Tripoli after Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi's "irresponsible" suggestion that the country be partitioned between Muslims and Christians.</p><p>Abuja said it had recalled the ambassador...

Daunting in-tray awaits new Nigerian cabinet

2010-03-18T11:16:29Z

<div><p>Nigeria's Acting President Goodluck Jonathan put the finishing touches Thursday to a new cabinet tasked with tackling a mounting set of crises, including a new bout of sectarian slaughter.</p><p>A day after he dissolved the entire cabinet in a startling show of strength, Jonathan planned to unveil an invigorated ministerial team which have to address a d...

Senegalese army pounds Casamance rebels

2010-03-18T11:16:14Z

<div><p>Senegal's army on Thursday attacked rebel positions in the southern Casamance province with shells and bombs in a sustained assault, an army officer said.</p><p>"Shells and bombs were dropped this morning from 6:00 am in the Kassana and Mamatorro sectors," two villages about 10 kilometres (six miles) from the provincial capital Ziguinchor, the officer told AFP.</p&...