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NIGERIA

Vice president assumes leadership powers

Nigerian Vice President Goodluck Jonathan has assumed office as acting president, raising hopes of an end to the political uncertainty that has plagued the country since President Umaru Yar’Adua left for medical treatment more than two months ago.

IVORY COAST

Rioters torch government building in protest at voter registration delays

Rioters in western Ivory Coast have burned down a local government building during a protest against the government’s handling of voter registration in a much-delayed presidential election intended to end years of political crisis.

LEBANON

Doomed Ethiopian jet exploded after take-off, Lebanese minister says

An Ethiopian jet which crashed off Lebanon's coast last month exploded after take-off, a Lebanese minister has said in the first such official comment. None of the 83 passengers and seven crew on board the Boeing 737-800 have been found alive.

SUDAN

ICC drops war crimes charges against Darfur rebel chief

The International Criminal Court says it will not charge Bahar Idriss Abu Garda (pictured), the leader of Darfur's United Resistance Front, over the killing of 12 peacekeepers in 2007, citing insufficient evidence.

DIPLOMACY

Chadian president pays landmark visit to Sudan

President Idriss Deby of Chad said he had come "like a dove" as he arrived in Khartoum on Monday for a rare visit aimed at consolidating a thaw in ties between the two neighbouring countries.

EGYPT

Senior members of Muslim Brotherhood reportedly arrested in crackdown

Thirteen members of the opposition movement Muslim Brotherhood, including the group's deputy chief Mahmud Ezzat (pictured), were arrested Monday by Egyptian authorities, according to the opposition group.

LIBYA

Court drops case against Swiss businessman

A Libyan court has cleared Rachid Hamdani, one of two Swiss businessmen whose prosecution has strained ties between Libya and Switzerland, of charges of violating business rules, his lawyer said.

CHAD

Kidnapped French Red Cross worker is released

A French aid worker, Laurent Maurice, who was kidnapped in Chad last year has been released in good health after three months in captivity, a Red Cross official has confirmed.

SOUTH AFRICA

South African president apologises over illegitimate son

President Jacob Zuma on Saturday said he regretted the "pain" over a love-child, the latest sex scandal to haunt him. Zuma, who has three current wives, said the matter had put a lot of pressure on his family and the ruling African National Congress.

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MALI

Al Qaeda group sets new deadline for French hostage

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb has demanded the release of four militants by Feb. 20. for release of two hostages it holds, including Frenchman Pierre Camatte (pictured), the SITE monitoring group said.

SUDAN

ICC ordered to reconsider charging Bashir with genocide

Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have ordered the court's pre-trial chamber to reconsider its decision not to include the charge of genocide in the arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.

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AFRICA

Guinea absolves Dadis Camara of any blame for massacre

Junta chief Captain Moussa Dadis Camara was absolved of any blame by Guinea's junta for a massacre in Conakry. The president of the commission set up by the junta recommended legal action against Lieutenant Aboubacar Cherif "Toumba" Diakite.

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TOGO

Court rejects Yamgnane presidency bid on technicality

In an interview with FRANCE 24 Tuesday, Togolese presidential candidate Kofi Yamgnane denounced the decision of the country's constitutional court to reject his candidacy for the Feb. 28 presidential election.

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SOMALIA

Civilians bear brunt of rising violence, says UN report

The UN refugee agency has reported a sharp increase in violence in central Somalia last month, as clashes between government troops and separatist rebel militia left some 258 civilians dead.