Ethiopian prosecutors on Tuesday appealed for a death sentence for former Marxist ruler Mengistu Haile Mariam, saying the life sentence he was given for genocide was not equal to his crimes. An Ethiopian court in January sentenced Mengistu to life in prison for killings thousands of people during his bloody 17-year rule.
The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has posted a record profit of R4,345-billion for the financial year that ended on March 31. Operating income was up to R2,645-billion from R378-million last year, the group said in a statement on Tuesday. Capital gains of R1,796-billion contributed to the group’s profit.
Sri Lanka took charge of the second cricket Test after Bangladesh crashed to their lowest total of 62 on the opening day’s play on Tuesday. Fast bowler Lasith Malinga and off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan grabbed four wickets each as Bangladesh, sent in to bat by Sri Lanka, were dismissed in the first over after lunch off 25.2 overs.
North Korea has agreed to wide-ranging United Nations measures to verify a shutdown of its atom-bomb programme, nuclear inspectors said on Tuesday, but doubts arose about when disarmament would begin. Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the UN International Atomic Energy Agency, said he would recommend its governing board ratify a new inspector mission.
The African National Congress (ANC) is to contest the legality of the decision to reinstate Truman Prince as municipal manager of the Central Karoo district municipality. Western Cape ANC secretary Mcebisi Skwatsha described the move as ”improper and wrong”.
Allan Donald has had his role as England’s bowling adviser extended until the end of the inaugural World Twenty20 in his native South Africa in September, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Tuesday. Donald had been due to finish his initial five-week tenure with England at the end of the current one-day international series against the West Indies.
British Airways said on Tuesday that Angola had suspended its flight licence to operate in the African nation in a move seen as retaliatory after European Union steps to ban Angolan airline TAAG on safety grounds. ”The Angolan CAA [Civil Aviation Authority] took away the operating permit that we had …,” a BA spokesperson said.
Pakistani security forces fought fierce gun battles with students at a pro-Taliban mosque in Islamabad on Tuesday after a lengthy stand-off exploded into violence, leaving nine dead and 140 hurt. Clerics at the radical Lal Masjid, or Red Mosque, threatened suicide attacks to avenge the "blood of martyrs" after the day-long clashes.
Child Welfare South Africa on Tuesday welcomed the implementation of some sections of the Children’s Act from last Sunday, but also expressed concern about giving young children access to contraceptives. This section stipulates that no person may refuse to sell or distribute free condoms to a child over the age of 12 years.
Tentative moves by Nigeria’s new government to subdue attacks on the oil industry have drawn mixed reactions from rebel factions in the Niger Delta and sporadic violence is hampering the fledgling peace process. A one-month truce declared by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta expires on Tuesday.