African Briefs

Rebels seize east Congo village
KINSHASA – A civil society leader says rebels have seized the strategic village of Jomba in east Congo thus cutting access to a border crossing into Uganda and Rwanda. Congo’s army denied it.

A statement from the Civil Society Coordination for North Kivu province, signed by vice president Omar Kavota, said residents have reported that M23 rebels attacked before dawn yesterday and fought army troops for four hours to dislodge them from the centre that also has a large Catholic mission and school. It is the only major village on the road from Bunagana border post to the eastern town of Rutshuru.But army spokesman Colonel Celestin Ngeleka said the two sides had fought Wednesday about 10 kilometres outside Jomba and the soldiers had forced the rebels to retreat to their initial position.’Respect’ painter off the hookJOHANNESBURG – Charges are being withdrawn against a man accused of trying to spray paint the word ‘respect’ on the wall of the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg, the Hillbrow Magistrate’s Court heard yesterday.’We are waiting for withdrawal statements,’ Magistrate Jai Persutam said.These papers were expected to be ready at George Moyo’s next court appearance on July 19. His N$1 000 bail was extended.Moyo was arrested in May after allegedly spray painting the letters ‘res’ on an outside wall of the gallery. He was apparently trying to write the word ‘respect’.Outside court yesterday, Moyo said he welcomed the prospect of the charges being dropped. ‘If asked to do it [spray paint the Goodman Gallery’s wall] again, I would do it’ Moyo said.Tanzania checking Iran tankersDAR ES SALAAM – Tanzania said yesterday it was investigating whether it had reflagged any oil tankers from Iran and that it would strip the vessels of the Tanzanian flag if that proved to be the case.Howard Berman, the ranking member of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs, has accused Tanzania of reflagging at least six and possibly as many at 10 tankers owned by the National Iranian Tanker Company, saying Tanzania could face US sanctions for the practice.’If it is confirmed that the ships flying Tanzania’s flag are indeed from Iran, we will take steps to deliberately obliterate the registration,’ Foreign Affairs Minister Bernard Membe told reporters.