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/ 21 December 2004
The South African rand remained strong against major currencies in late-afternoon trade on Tuesday after rallying to its best level since December 1998 earlier in the afternoon when dollar sales saw stop losses triggered at R5,68. Currency traders said the rand was likely to take its cue from the euro for the rest of the day.
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/ 21 December 2004
An explosion hit a United States military base in the Iraqi city of Mosul on Tuesday, causing multiple casualties. US media reported that 22 people died in the explosion, including US and Iraqi military personnel, and more than 50 were wounded. The White House reacted by saying it will not let violence "derail" democracy in Iraq.
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/ 21 December 2004
With Christmas just a few days away, and news of an extended ceasefire between the government and rebels, the inhabitants of northern Uganda might be expected to be getting into the swing of the festive season. Instead, there is concern that starving fighters from the Lord’s Resistance Army will emerge from the bush in a combative mood.
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/ 21 December 2004
Scores of white Zimbabwean farmers dispossessed of their farms under the government’s controversial land reforms have turned to countries in the region and beyond for sustenance, their union says. Dozens have invested in farming in neighbouring Zambia and Mozambique, while others are preparing to settle in Nigeria.
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/ 21 December 2004
Peace talks between the Sudanese government and Darfur’s main rebel movements have been suspended until January, according to a joint statement from the parties released on Tuesday. "The parties undertake to return to Abuja for the next round of the talks on a date … to be confirmed by the AU," it said.
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?cg=BreakingNews-Africa&ao=177030">Aid group pulls out of Darfur</a>
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/ 21 December 2004
Residents of the village of Lengue-Lengue in northern Congo are waiting for the day gorillas will return to the Lossi wildlife sanctuary after being wiped out by the deadly Ebola fever. Ebola, an incurable haemorrhagic fever, has in three years wiped out 80% of Central Africa’s lowland gorillas living in the 320-square-kilometre sanctuary.
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/ 21 December 2004
Indonesia’s efforts to stamp out counterfeiting have taken an unusual turn with police closing down two factories manufacturing fake Ecstasy pills after complaints from users of the party drug. Detectives swung into action on the resort island of Bali after hearing how people consuming the bogus tablets failed to experience the desired effect.
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/ 21 December 2004
The cash-rich oil company Surgutneftegaz is the mystery purchaser of the main assets of Russia’s Yukos empire, auctioned for ,35-billion to a shell company, press reports said on Tuesday. The head of Russia’s big business body criticised the opaque sale and warned it will damage the country’s investment image.
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/ 21 December 2004
Save the Children United Kingdom is pulling out of the Darfur region of Sudan because four of its workers have been killed there, the group said on Tuesday. The aid organisation said the decision was agonising but is necessary because risks to staff are too great. Disease and famine have killed 70 000 in Darfur since March.
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/ 21 December 2004
The Department of Health has rejected media speculation that it is backtracking on its intention to appeal in the Constitutional Court a ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeal voiding its medicine-pricing regulations. On Monday, the Department of Health gave notice it intends to take its fight further to maintain the regulations.
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?cg=BreakingNews-National&ao=177004">’The judgement was wrong'</a>