Deadly clashes broke out between the Central African Republic (CAR) army and rebels who crossed into the country from neighbouring Chad, the CAR Defence Ministry said on Tuesday. ”Heavily armed” Chadian rebels attacked forces of the CAR and the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa near Gordil in the north-east of the country, the ministry said.
Egypt’s Parliament has approved a controversial law on judicial reform that falls short of opposition demands but temporarily quiets a fierce campaign against the regime by the country’s judges. ”The law has curbed the powers of the Ministry of Justice, but as a jurist, I am pleased with that,” Justice Minister Mahmoud Abu Leil told Parliament on Monday.
<a href="http://www.mg.co.za/specialreport.aspx?area=soccer_world_cup_2006"><img src="http://www.mg.co.za/ContentImages/272488/icon_focuson_wc3.gif" align=left border=0></a>Who is going to be the man in the middle when the eyes of the globe are on the World Cup final on July 9? A handful of the leading candidates appear to have ruled themselves out with blunders, blowing the field open. The referees’ committee is due to meet on Wednesday to decide who will officiate during the quarterfinals.
France is set to unveil a reorganisation of European aerospace giant EADS in the next few days amid sustained efforts by the government to clear the air of controversy over production problems, communication breakdowns and share dealings.
Ethiopia on Tuesday claimed it had killed more than 110 rebels sent by arch-foe Horn of Africa neighbour Eritrea to destabilise the country since the beginning of the month. The defence ministry said Ethiopian security forces had killed 111, wounded 18 and captured 107 ”anti-peace forces” operating on Asmara’s behalf in northern Ethiopia since early June.
Zimbabwe’s beleaguered currency at the weekend tumbled by more than 50% against the United States dollar on the parallel market for foreign currency that is the only sure source of hard cash for both individual and corporate buyers in the country. Zimbabwe is grappling an acute foreign-currency shortage.
If Israel invades Gaza it would be the beginning of the end to finding a political solution in that country, South Africa’s Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad said on Tuesday. He said South Africa had sent messages to both Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, urging them to put pressure on groups who kidnapped an Israeli soldier over the weekend.
All Black coach Graham Henry is wary of a resurgent Australia ahead of their opening Test in the Tri-Nations series and rates his side as underdogs after unconvincing wins over Ireland and Argentina. ”I think we’re a bit behind Australia at the moment,” Henry said on Tuesday after naming a 30-man Tri-Nations squad.
Roger Federer’s bid for a fourth successive Wimbledon title got off to a whirlwind start on Monday only to be stalled by the fickle London weather. Only 35 minutes of play were possible on centre court while none of the 64 scheduled first-round matches were completed.
The trial of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein on charges including genocide for a brutal campaign against Kurds in the 1980s, which left 100Â 000 people dead, was set down on Tuesday for August 21. The court had announced in April that Saddam and six co-defendants, including Ali Hassan al-Majid, also known as Chemical Ali, would face genocide charges.