It lay hidden for 2 000 years in Afghanistan, eluded the Taliban and escaped dozens of adventurers and bounty hunters. Now the Bactrian hoard, one of the world’s greatest archaeological collections, has been found. President Hamid Karzai discovered the 20 000 gold coins and artefacts, worth tens of millions of pounds, in a sealed vault under the main palace in the capital, Kabul, after ordering it to be opened earlier this year.

The world’s most wanted terrorist, Osama bin Laden, has mounted an unparalleled propaganda offensive calling for renewed attacks on the West and on American and British troops in Iraq. The Saudi-born leader of al-Qaida has simultaneously released two audio tapes, a series of videotaped threats and several filmed statements by his group’s suicide bombers who died in an attack on Riyadh in May.

Randgold is expected to table a counter-bid this week for Ashanti, the Ghanaian gold mining company, valuing it at up to -billion. There were unconfirmed reports in South Africa, where Randgold’s holding company is based, that chief executive Mark Bristow may seek a merger partner from among Canadian mining groups such as Placer Dome or Barrick Resources.

Tonga outscored Wales by three tries to two in Canberra on Sunday but were unlucky to be edged out 27-20 by an unconvincing Welsh side in their Pool D clash. Tonga’s sole consolation was picking up a bonus point for losing by seven points while Wales owed a lot to former captain Martyn Williams who came on to score eight points in the second-half.

A toll-free suicide crisis line aimed at teenagers was opened late last week by the South African Anxiety and Depression Group (Sadag) to coincide with matric exams — and calls have already doubled since the start of the exams on Monday.
South Africa’s suicide rate is 17,2 per 100 000, higher than the global average of 16 per 100 000.

Euros, pounds or dollars: ”no contribution would be too small” in the fight for South Africans abroad to have the vote in the 2004 election, according to the ”saxpatvote” website. If they are good enough to pay taxes to South Africa, they should be allowed to cast their ballots overseas, says London-based Die Interafrikaanse Trust.

President Thabo Mbeki said there was no need to extend the terms of the Hefer Commission of Inquiry, the Sunday Times reported in its early editions. Mbeki turned down a request for the Hefer commission to investigate allegations that Deputy President Jacob Zuma was involved in corruption connected to the arms deal.

Three American soldiers and at least seven Iraqis were killed in a gun battle outside the office of a Shia cleric in the holy Iraqi city of Kerbala, officials said on Friday. A US military police patrol opened fire on guards protecting the office of Syed Mahmoud al-Hassani, one of several clerics in Kerbala. In the firefight, three military policemen from the 101st Airborne Division were killed, the heaviest loss for the US forces for more than a month.

The US pursuit of forcible regime change is not a viable or safe policy in the dangerous world that exists after September 11, said the French foreign minister, Dominique de Villepin. In a wide-ranging critique of US policy in the Middle East and beyond, De Villepin said that any military action against Iran over its alleged nuclear weapons would be ”absolutely ridiculous”.