West African countries are holding off on threats to use force to push Laurent Gbagbo out of office but military chiefs are mapping out a strategy.

Sierra Leone on Monday anxiously awaited preliminary results from watershed elections that international observers declared free and fair, despite allegations of vote-rigging from some parties. Preliminary results from Saturday's presidential and legislative ballots were expected later in the day.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe opens the annual congress of his ruling Zanu-PF party on Friday, buoyed by his recent big win in controversial senate elections and infighting that has left the opposition in tatters. About 5 000 delegates of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) will converge on the small town of Esigodini in the southern Matabeland province.

Zimbabwe's electoral commission was to present candidates with initial results from a March 29 poll on Thursday, in a move that could force President Robert Mugabe into a run-off against his arch rival. More than a month after polling day, the four candidates who stood for president on March 29 have been asked to attend a verification meeting at noon.

Ex-gold miners suffering from silicosis have launched a class action suit in SA, in what could prove the nail in the coffin of the mining sector.

The party of Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is concerned about the "hygiene" and integrity of crucial elections expected later this year.

As Zimbabwe approaches elections this year a human rights lawyer has vowed never to give up - even after her own arrest.

Gold Fields has begun evicting thousands of its striking workers from company dormitories as work stoppages spread to more gold and platinum mines.