United States-led coalition troops and Afghan security forces destroyed an ”extremist safe haven” and killed more than 40 militants on Monday in southern Afghanistan, the coalition said. An Afghan soldier was also killed and three coalition troops wounded in the operation in troubled Uruzgan province, it said in a statement.
Heavy fighting resumed on Monday in Mogadishu as Islamic militia attacked to dislodge gunmen loyal to warlord Abdi Hassan Awale Qeydiid, who repositioned his fighters after fleeing deadly weekend clashes, witnesses said. Rival sides pounded each other with heavy rounds of artillery, mortars and rockets in the south of the Somali capital.
The last phase of the turbulent trial of Saddam Hussein on charges of crimes against humanity resumed on Monday with a boycott by the deposed Iraqi leader and key members of the defence team. The Iraqi high tribunal said it would continue to hear the defence’s closing arguments with or without Saddam or his lawyers.
Exiled Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal said on Monday an Israeli soldier captured by Palestinian militants would not be freed without a prisoner swap but pledged that his life would be protected. ”They talk about one soldier, we have 10Â 000 detainees … this is why we are seeking a prisoner exchange,” he said. ”The solution is simple: an exchange.”
The Zimbabwean student accused of trying to hijack a domestic Johannesburg-bound aircraft last month has alleged he was not informed of his rights, the Bellville Magistrate’s court heard on Monday. However, the investigating officer, Superintendent Lungisile Manyana, denied this under cross-examination.
South Africa’s biggest retail banking group, Absa, will pay GijimaAst R960-million over five years for technology services, Absa said on Monday. Absa is a subsidiary of Britain’s Barclays. GijimaAst is 37% held by blacks and is a leading information and communication technology services firm.
Official opposition Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon was being a "party pooper" by selling South Africa short through his negative comments about the country’s ability to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup, says opposition Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille.
Pride in Zambia’s surging currency is giving way to concern as farmers, manufacturers, tourism officials and aid groups start to feel the sharp edge of the strong kwacha. The Zambian currency gained 30% against the dollar in just a few weeks last November, the result of high international copper prices and rising foreign investment.
European aircraft maker Airbus announced a sharp fall in its orders on Monday, a setback for the company in its battle with Chicago-based Boeing and a sign that the United States group is in the ascendancy. Airbus said it had booked 117 firm orders for passenger jets in the first half of 2006, fewer than half the number in the same period of 2005 and far behind Boeing.
Chechen rebel leader Shamil Basayev, the most-wanted man in Russia, who claimed responsibility for the Beslan school hostage massacre and was blamed for many other attacks, has been killed, Russian news agencies said on Monday, quoting the FSB security service. Basayev was killed in an overnight operation by Russian special forces.