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/ 15 February 2006

Somalia drought could soon turn deadly

The worst drought to hit Somalia in a decade could soon begin claiming lives in the Horn of Africa nation, the international Red Cross warned on Wednesday. ”People aren’t dying of hunger today in Somalia, but that could change fast,” said Pascal Hundt, who heads the International Committee of the Red Cross mission there.

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/ 15 February 2006

Nigeria bans backyard poultry in Abuja

Nigeria banned domestic poultry in its political capital, Abuja, on Wednesday as it redoubled efforts to contain Africa’s first outbreak of a deadly strain of bird flu. Information Minister Frank Nweke said authorities were ”going around to pick up the birds and poultry that are being kept in residential homes”.

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/ 15 February 2006

‘We were marching for bread and roses’

Police brandishing whips and some carrying guns broke up demonstrations by women and students in Bulawayo city and arrested 159 of the protesters who were marching across the city calling on President Robert Mugabe to resign. Meanwhile, the police on Sunday night heavily assaulted informal traders near Harare’s Market Square bus termini.

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/ 15 February 2006

Defence Budget well received

The 2006/7 defence Budget has been well received, with one observer calling it realistic and another calling it positive. Asked for comment, African Armed Forces editor Peter McIntosh said the Budget was realistic. ”It is coming into line with international norms regarding personnel, equipment and operational costs,” he said.