July 2001 Africa News Headlines

Tuesday, July 24, 2001 - Web posted at 12:26:27 GMT

World News Summary

LAGOS - The leader of a southeast Nigeria group campaigning for the revival of the failed 1960s breakaway state of Biafra, has been arrested by thepolice in Lagos, state radio announced.

*GENOA - Group of Eight leaders, besieged by anti-capitalist demonstratorsthroughout a three-day summit, pledged "decisive action" to help the world'spoorest countries, especially in Africa.

*BANJUL - Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh ordered the lifting of a ban onpolitical parties and politicians from the regime he toppled in a 1994 coup.

The end of the ban will allow them to challenge Jammeh in a presidential election scheduled for October.

*JOHANNESBURG - More than 62 police officers were murdered in South Africa in the first five months of this year, in a society that has become indifferent to news of their killing, Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi said.

*KAMPALA - Uganda security officials paraded 28 suspected rebels before journalists, saying they were part of a group responsible for a series of bomb attacks mainly in the capital Kampala.

*JERUSALEM - Israel reviewed a formula to let the US Central Intelligence Agency oversee a truce with the Palestinians after Group of Eight leaders urged Israel to allow in monitors to prevent more bloodshed.

*BEIJING - Sixteen Chinese miners were killed and 76 presumed dead after a powerful blast ripped through an illegally operated coal pit in the southeastern province of Jiangsu, rescue officials said.

*NEW DELHI - India's parliament began a new session and the coalition government is expected to face criticism over the collapse of last week's summit with Pakistan and the suspension of a state investment fund.

*BELFAST - Britain and Ireland might put forward crucial proposals for reviving the stalled Northern Irish peace process on Tuesday, a senior Sinn Fein party official said.

*HANOI - Southeast Asian foreign ministers began their annual meetings withpledges to promote stability but political turmoil in Indonesia cast a shadow over the gathering and raised the risk of fresh regional upheaval.

*TOKYO - Chikage Ogi, leader of the smallest party in Japan's tripartite coalition government, said the ruling bloc was set for victory in Sunday's election that could decide the fate of ambitious reforms.- Nampa-Reuters

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