Uganda’s rebel Lord’s Resistance Army on Monday ordered its forces to prepare for an imminent truce with the government under which they will move to neutral camps in southern Sudan. In recorded government-authorised messages broadcast over radio stations in war-ravaged northern Uganda, LRA commanders called on their fighters to come out of the bush.
Mat Rogers, Australia’s back-up playmaker, will undergo knee surgery this week and will miss the last 2006 Tri-Nations rugby international in South Africa. Scott Staniforth was drafted in on Monday as cover in Australia’s 25-man squad, which leaves on Friday for Johannesburg to fine tune for the September 9 match.
Former England captain David Beckham has signed a two-year contract extension with Real Madrid, the president of the Spanish giants has announced. Real president Ramon Calderon told Television Espanola late on Sunday that 31-year-old Beckham has now committed himself to the club until June 2009, the Marca sports daily reported.
Iran said on Monday a United States threat to form an independent coalition to impose sanctions if the United Nations Security Council failed to act over Tehran’s nuclear programme was an insult to the council’s work. Iran has so far shown no sign it will halt enrichment, a process which can make fuel for nuclear power plants or material for nuclear bombs.
United States Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Sunday warned North Korea may pose a threat as a weapons seller to terrorists and that the US would consider taking the nuclear warheads off intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) so they could be used against terrorists.
Iran has for the first time given the green light for the breeding and slaughter of crocodiles — as long as they are killed in line with Islamic rules, a newspaper reported on Monday. But it’s unlikely the fearsome beasts will be killed to make handbags, belts or shoes.
Two-time defending champion Chelsea beat Blackburn 2-0 on Sunday in the English Premier League, winning on Frank Lampard’s 50th-minute penalty and a late goal from substitute Didier Drogba. Unlike the Blues of the last two seasons, Chelsea looked unconvincing — particularly in the first half.
The build-up of Sudanese troops in the war-torn western Darfur region could lead to a human-rights catastrophe unless United Nations peacekeeping troops are sent to the region soon, Amnesty International warned on Monday. Witnesses in el-Fasher in North Darfur said that Sudanese military flights have been flying in troops and arms to the region.
Felipe Massa of Ferrari won the Turkish grand prix on Sunday from the pole position, his first Formula One victory in his 67th race. ”It’s like a dream come true,” he said, choking back tears after an emotional win. Renault’s Fernando Alonso held off Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher in a duel over the last dozen laps to take second and increase his lead slightly over the German in the standings.
No one seemed happy with the outcome as Kaizer Chiefs drew 2-2 with old nemesis SuperSport United in their opening Premier League game of the season at Loftus on Sunday afternoon. The respective coaches, Ernst Middendorp of Chiefs and Pitso Mosimane of SuperSport, were at each other’s throats like a couple of rottweilers after a tense, turbulent game.