Mogadishu (AFP) - Somalia's new army chief escaped a car bombing Sunday that killed at least 10 people in a bloody response by Shabaab militants to the president's declaration of war on the group. A suicide bomber drove a car packed with explosives into Mohamed Jama Irfid's convoy near the defence ministry in Mogadishu, just days after he was na ...

Mogadishu (AFP) - Somalia's new army chief escaped a car bombing Sunday that killed at least five people in a bloody response by Shabaab militants to the president's declaration of war on the group. A suicide bomber drove a car packed with explosives into Mohamed Jama Irfid's convoy near the defence ministry in Mogadishu, just days after he was ...

Milan (AFP) - Fiorentina striker Khouma Babacar struck late to earn a share of the spoils in a disappointing 2-2 draw at Sampdoria that saw the visitors hit the woodwork twice on Sunday. Sampdoria rewarded coach Marco Giampaolo with a new contract in midweek after his side had ended Inter Milan's bid for Champions League football next season wit ...

Cairo (AFP) - At least 11 people were killed in an Alexandria church bombing on Sunday, hours after a blast killed 25 worshippers in another church in Egypt, the health ministry said. Thirty-five people were wounded in the Alexandria blast at Saint Mark's church where Coptic Pope Tawadros II had been attending a Palm Sunday Mass. A Coptic Chu ...

New Delhi (AFP) - The navies of India and China carried out a joint operation Sunday to rescue a merchant ship hijacked by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden, the Indian defence ministry said. After receiving a distress call on Saturday night, the Indian warships established contact with the captain of the merchant vessel who had locked himself ...

Paris (AFP) - Kenya's Paul Lonyangata won the 41st Paris marathon on Sunday with his wife Purity Rionoripo taking the women's race. Lonyangata recorded his biggest career win in a time of two hours six minutes and 10 seconds. His compatriot, pre-race favourite Stephen Chebogut, came in second at 2hr 6min 56sec, with Solomon Yego completing th ...

Addis Ababa (AFP) - At a hotel in Addis Ababa well-known for hosting jazz greats, thousands of fans lined up on a Saturday night to headbang along with what is still a rarity in Ethiopia's diverse music scene -- a rock band. Jano, named after a popular item of traditional clothing, has made a name for itself in Africa's second most populous coun ...

Bamako (AFP) - A Tuareg-led group in Mali said five of its fighters were killed Saturday in an attack blamed on jihadists, a week after a national peace summit called for talks with militants in the country's north. Our base in Gargando was attacked early Saturday by Islamist terrorists, Oumar Ag Keling, a member of the Tuareg-led Congress for ...