TOP STORY Eritrea denies persecution 05/04/2005 18:08 Eritrea has rejected growing complaints of religious persecution from international Christian groups. Ethiopia-Eritrea war looms Worst for reporters: Eritrea

Nigeria hit by bribery claims 05/04/2005 14:30 Nigeria's Senate leader, who holds the third most powerful position in the oil-rich West African nation, is resigning over bribery allegations. Nigeria hit by new scandal Nigeria gets tough on unions 17 die in road crash 05/04/2005 14:30 Seventeen people have died and several others were injured when a commuter bus collided with a trailer on a road in Nigeria. Cops nab 52 illegal migrants 05/04/2005 14:30 Spanish police have intercepted a boat carrying 52 North Africans trying to reach Spain illegally. NZ 'mercenary' found dead 05/04/2005 14:50 Ivory Coast's rebel New Forces have announced the death of a suspected New Zealand mercenary held in one of their stronghold towns. NZ man in I Coast drama Rebels holding NZ 'mercenary' I Coast arrests NZ 'mercenary' African pope 'not likely' 05/04/2005 11:11 A spokesperson from the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference has expressed little hope for the next pope coming from Africa. Madiba to attend pope's funeral Lavish funeral for Pope Pope 'obstacle' in Aids fight Gallery: World mourns the pope Mbeki clears diary for talks 05/04/2005 10:16 President Thabo Mbeki has cancelled all his engagements for Tuesday to see the Ivory Coast peace talks in Pretoria to their conclusion. I Coast: Now or never Ivory Coast talks 'optimistic' Pope 'obstacle' in Aids fight 05/04/2005 10:15 Aids activists in Africa hope that the new pope will have an attitude "much more progressive" regarding the utilisation of condoms. Madiba to attend pope's funeral Lavish funeral for Pope Pope 'cured my dying son' 'African pope a pipedream' Gallery: The world mourns Smuggler caught with 22 kids 04/04/2005 21:30 Nigerian officials have arrested a suspected human trafficker from Niger as he tried to smuggle 22 children into the country. Ghana busts trafficking ring The cost of human trafficking Bid to end human trafficking Ethiopia to get obelisk back 04/04/2005 21:30 The first piece of the ancient Axum obelisk, which was taken to Rome 70 years ago, is about to be returned to Ethiopia. Needed: Strong plane Obelisk gets the chop Meningitis kills 5 in Darfur 04/04/2005 21:30 Five people have died in the past 10 days in an outbreak of meningitis at a refugee camp in the strife-torn Sudanese province of Darfur. Meningitis hits Ivory Coast Meningitis fears in Namibia Marburg kills more than Ebola 04/04/2005 21:30 The deadly Marburg virus in Angola has overtaken its more famous cousin Ebola with a higher case-to-death ratio. Marburg virus toll hits 150 Fear stalks Angolan capital Marburg fears in Italy Farmers threaten to leave 04/04/2005 18:58 International flower farmers have threatened to leave Kenya, hours after another armed attack on a European manager. I Coast: Now or never 04/04/2005 16:22 President Thabo Mbeki is in a second day of talks with Ivory Coast leaders to try to end a civil war amid hope his mediation would finally end the crisis. Cholera strikes DRC camps 04/04/2005 16:22 A cholera outbreak has been given epidemic status at a camp for displaced persons in the northeastern Ituri region of the DRC. Cholera kills 15 in DRC camps Senegal swamped by cholera Sodomy spreading Aids in prison 04/04/2005 16:22 At least one prisoner dies weekly due to HIV/Aids related diseases at Lesotho's largest prison, with sodomy being the main contributing factor. Prison sex 'not a right' Prison sex 'okay' Cholera kills 15 in DRC camps 04/04/2005 13:58 A cholera epidemic in camps for the displaced in eastern Congo has killed 15 people and infected nearly 400. Lesotho kids have 'no rights' 04/04/2005 13:58 The hardships of children in Lesotho have been exposed in two reports, and Unicef has demanded laws for their protection. Papal praise goes too far 04/04/2005 12:52 A Kenyan newspaper has gone a bit far in praising the late Pope John Paul II for opposing a non-existent war. Pope's last word: Amen Pope makes up his own name Top cop in handcuffs 04/04/2005 12:52 Nigeria's former chief of police Tafa Balogun has arrived in court in handcuffs to face multi-million-dollar corruption charges. Nigeria hit by new scandal

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