Staff Reporter
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/ 19 November 2007

Israel approves release of Palestinian prisoners

The Israeli Cabinet on Monday approved the release of nearly 450 Palestinian prisoners as a goodwill gesture to president Mahmoud Abbas ahead of a United States-sponsored peace meet, a senior official said. "The government approved the proposal by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to release up to 500 Palestinian prisoners," the official said on condition of anonymity.

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/ 19 November 2007

Zimbabwe: We take British threats seriously

Zimbabwe said on Monday it had put its military on high alert against a possible British invasion after the former armed forces chief of its old colonial master revealed London had considered such a move. "We are aware of plans by Britain to invade our country and assassinate our leaders," Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga said.

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/ 19 November 2007

Fourie du Preez becomes latest Bok casualty

Springbok scrumhalf Fourie du Preez has become the latest player to withdraw from the national squad ahead of Saturday’s one-off Test against Wales in Cardiff. This was confirmed by a Springbok management member on Monday morning. Du Preez will miss the last Test of the year, and the last of Jake White’s tenure as coach, due to the shoulder injury that has troubled him for much of this year.

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/ 19 November 2007

Olmert vows to halt new settlements

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert vowed on Monday ahead of a United States-sponsored peace meeting that Israel would freeze construction of new settlements and dismantle unauthorised ones in the occupied West Bank. ”We have committed ourselves under the road map not to build new settlements in the West Bank,” a senior government official quoted Olmert as saying.

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/ 19 November 2007

Durban 2010 strike comes to an end

The two-week long strike by construction workers building Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium came to an end on Monday after workers accepted an offer made by the Group Five-WBHO consortium. National Union of Mineworkers regional coordinator Bonginkosi Mncwabe said workers would return to work on Tuesday morning.

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/ 19 November 2007

China pledges to help modernise Kenya army

Chinese Defence Minister General Cao Gangcuan on Monday pledged to help Kenya modernise its armed forces during talks with President Mwai Kibaki, an official statement said. Kibaki said the ”support would not only improve the forces’ ability to ensure security along the borders but also enhance Kenya’s role in peacekeeping activities in Africa and beyond”.