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Four oil hostages freed in Cameroon

Four hostages who work for a service company in the oil industry have been freed off southern Cameroon’s Bakassi peninsula, sources said on Tuesday.

Israel ‘to declare Dead Sea shore state land’

Israel has decided to register as state property West Bank land that has emerged as a result of Dead Sea shrinkage, Peace Now said on Tuesday.

Child survivor found after Yemeni plane crash

Rescuers on Tuesday found a child survivor of a Yemeni airliner that crashed off the coast of Comoros, a hospital official said.

Somali forces gain ground in Mogadishu

Heavy fighting broke out in the Somali capital on Wednesday as government forces intensified their offensive to drive out insurgents, officials said.

Pakistani troops close in on key Taliban town

Pakistani troops on Monday pressed their offensive against the Taliban in the northwest Swat district, closing in on a key town.

Israeli book-burning row clouds Egypt’s bid for UN job

Faruq Hosni’s bid to become the Arab world’s first head of Unesco is being damaged by a row over comments he made on burning Israeli books.

Sri Lanka death toll unacceptably high, says UN

The UN said on Friday that the number of deaths in Sri Lanka’s civil war in recent months was ”unacceptably high”, but declined to give figures.

Race a factor in Australian attacks, says Indian envoy

India’s top diplomat in Australia on Friday rejected claims that racism was not a factor in a wave of savage attacks on students from the subcontinent

Burma eases media curbs on Suu Kyi trial

Burma’s military regime said on Wednesday it would allow some foreign and local media to cover the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Malawians vote in test for political stability

Malawians voted in presidential and parliamentary elections on Tuesday that could rekindle political instability in the southern African country.

Tamil Tigers leader shot dead, says military

The leader of Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers, Velupillai Prabhakaran, was shot dead on Monday while trying to flee advancing troops, defence officials said.

Record number of women contest Malawi elections

A record 220 women are running in Malawi’s presidential and parliamentary polls on Tuesday, representing about 20% of candidates for the 193 seats.

Germany readies for fiery May Day protests

Germany is bracing for its biggest May Day protests in years amid fears of a rise in social unrest caused by the worst recession since World War II.

Pakistan spinner fined for media comments

Pakistani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has been fined an undisclosed sum of his match fee and warned after his comments about Shane Watson.

Somali hardline group detains three journalists

Somalia’s al-Shebab group stormed an independent radio station in Baidoa, ordered broadcasting to stop and detained three journalists, witnesses said.

Woman killed in Madagascar protest

A woman was killed on Friday when Madagascan security forces broke up a demonstration in support of ousted president Marc Ravalomanana.

Thailand revokes Thaksin passport over protests

Thailand revoked the passport of Thaksin Shinawatra on Wednesday, escalating a campaign against the fugitive former premier and his allies for alleged

Iran uses Hezbollah to enter Egypt, claims official

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit accused Iran of using the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah to gain a foothold in Egypt on Tuesday.

Madagascar’s ousted president ‘resigned at gunpoint’

Madagascar’s ousted president Marc Ravalomanana told regional leaders he signed his resignation last month at gunpoint.

Thousands protest against new Madagascar leader

Several thousand Madagascans on Tuesday demonstrated against Andry Rajoelina’s army-backed removal of Marc Ravalomanana as president of the island.