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Kigali — Zambian President Rupiah Banda arrived in Rwanda yesterday afternoon for a two-day working visit.

Banda was received by Prime Minister Bernard Makuza at Kigali International Airport.

Banda who currently chairs the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) is expected to meet his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame and hold talks on regional issues.

His meeting with Kagame will be part of his final consultations on the security situation in the Great Lakes ahead of the African Union (AU) ordinary summit of Heads of State and Government scheduled for end January in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Banda is expected to present a report to the summit on the security situation in the Great Lakes Region.

Rwanda and Zambia have had bilateral relations since the early 1980s and signed a Joint Permanent Cooperation Agreement in 1982.

The two countries are also members of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

Zambia contributed troops to the UN peace-keeping mission in Rwanda and was the first African state to cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in investigating the 1994 genocide.

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Milovan Rajevac is hoping Michael Essien will be fit to start Ghana's African Nations Cup Group B decider against Burkina Faso on Tuesday.

Ghana's campaign prior to their arrival in Angola has been fraught with injuries resulting in some player withdrawals.

Essien, who came on as a halftime substitute in Friday's 3-1 defeat by Ivory Coast, only joined the squad on Wednesday after bad weather delayed his departure from London.

"Essien came in only two days ago and he was injured," Rajevac told a news conference, referring to the hamstring problem that had kept his captain out for more than a month.

"He was not ready to play 90 minutes, he was actually not really ready to play 45 minutes. It was a big risk.

"We have three rest days so we hope he will be ready to start against Burkina Faso."

Ghana are bottom of Group B with no points and need to beat Burkina Faso, second on one point to reach the last eight.

The group is a three-team affair after Togo left the competition in the wake of a deadly gun attack on their team bus last week. - Ghana FA

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Jos — At least 26 persons were killed yesterday as a violent riot erupted again in Jos, the Plateau State capital, forcing the state government to impose a curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the metropolis.

About 5,000 people were displaced by the crisis as at press time last night.

The riot came a little over a year since the last one - on Friday, November 28, 2008 - when scores of people were killed and property worth over hundreds of millions of naira were destroyed.

A presidential panel set up by the Federal Government, headed by Gen. Emmanuel Abisoye (rtd), has been sitting in Jos in the last one week, investigating the causes of the 2008 crisis.

Tension had been high in the city before the latest erruption.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that yesterday's crisis started over a parcel of land being re-developed by "the owner", in the Nasarawa Gwom area of the city. But a group resisted the development, which resulted in flared tempers.

The streets were deserted by 11 a.m. as people ran to close their business premises. By 1 p.m. the first casualty, Umar Alhaji Magaji, was brought to the Jos central mosque. He was said to have been hit by a stray police bullet.

Policemen were later seen shooting at sight along Mango Street in the heart of Jos. Other areas the crisis spread to included Rikkos and Yanshanu.

Smokes billowing from the flashpoint could be seen from afar, while those injured were being conveyed from the spot to the hospital.

Sounds of gunshot could be heard in the affected parts of the city, raising fears about the escalation of the crisis.

The exact number of casualties could not be ascertained as at the time of compiling this report as the Nasarawa area proved inaccessible.

The Secretary of the Council of Ulama in Plateau State, Barrister Lawan Ishaq, told LEADERSHIP that he saw six bodies, bringing the number of deaths to 21 in the area.

A witness said that two other persons were reported dead at the Congo area near Nasarawa and some others were lying at Dutse Uku.

Ishaq alleged that those who started the crisis had done so because they wanted to deceive the Abisoye Panel of Inquiry. He called on the government to quicken efforts to halt the crisis.

Casualties at the city's central mosque were still being brought in by 5:50 p.m. yesterday. The Jama'atu Nasril Islam said at the time that the number of casualties brought in had reached 22.

The state government and the police moved in quickly to check the further spread of the violence.

In a radio broadcast, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Gregory Yenlong, said that the government's attention had been drawn to a "security breach" in the Nasarawa Gwom area.

"Government is assuring the citizens that the situation is being brought under control, and citizens should go about their normal business; but anyone trying to foment trouble will be dealt with," he warned.

Yenlong asked residents to disregard any rumours arising from the skirmish.

The Plateau State Police Command said the situation had been brought under control.

The command's Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Yerima, advised residents to remain calm and report any suspicious movement to the nearest police station.

"Anyone who takes the law into his own hand will be dealt with accordingly," he said, adding that rumours of "another round of crisis in Jos" should be disregarded.

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Benguela — Coach Shaibu Amodu's tactical changes paid off last night on the shores of Benguela in Angola as a nervous Super Eagles of Nigeria held on to a first half goal to beat neighbours Benin Republic 1-0. The result has kept alive the Africa Cup of Nations title dreams of the Super Eagles even as the Pharaohs of Egypt became the first team to make the quarter-finals from the group after beating Mozambique 2-0 in the second game.

The victory of the defending champions now means that the Eagles need at least a draw in their final group match against Mozambique on Wednesday in Lubango to make the last eight teams as their better head-to-head record against Benin means they will get the nod should the Beninoise team beat the North Africans in the group's final match, which comes up on the same day.

Amodu made several changes to the Super Eagles side that lost 3-1 to Egypt in the opening match in Group C dropping Taiye Taiwo, Obinna Nwaneri and Yusuf Ayila.

Yakubu Aiyegbeni coolly scored from the spot kick in the 40th minute after Boco Romuald was adjudged to have handled the ball following a sustained pressure mounted by the Nigerian team.

Before the half hour, Referee Martins Carvalho of Angola ignored Nigeria's appeal for a penalty after Aiyegbeni tumbled under the challenge of Adenon Khaled while the lively Mouri Ogunbiyi tossed a pass into the Nigerian defence but was not connected.

The bar then came to Nigeria's rescue when Sessegnon Stephane struck with a log drive, just two minutes before the Super Eagles' broke the ice for the crucial lead.

The Eagles were solid at the back with Danny Shittu and Yobo occasionally combining efficiently to curb the rampaging Omotoyossi.

Nigeria lost Yobo to injury on the 54th minute and the skipper was replaced by Onyekachi Apam.

Yobo will require a scan to determine the extent of his injury ahead of the crucial engagement against Mozambique in Lubango on Wednesday.

Nigeria were again saved when Kobena Nouhoum's effort inside the box glanced off the woodwork.

Amodu made two further changes - bringing on Obinna Nsofor for Ayegbeni and Sani Kaita for Kalu Uche as the Eagles held on to their slim advantage to win the match.

Afterwards, Amodu told reporters that the victory will now boost the Eagles confidence ahead of the must win match against the Mambas.

He also said their experience counted against the Beninoise as they opted for a cautious play in the closing phase of the match.

"It was a tough game, like I've said before they (Benin) showed that there is no easy team any longer. This win will boost our morale. We showed we were the more experienced side and the hungrier of the sides. For Yobo's injury he will be sent for a scan, but we have enough reserves to properly replace him."

Egypt is striving to become the first side to win the competition three straight times and they took the lead rather luckily when Dario Khan put the ball into his own net in the 46th minute while Mohamed Nagui scored a stunning goal 10 minutes to the end of the game to put the score beyond the Mozambicans.

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Benguela — Coach Shaibu Amodu's tactical changes paid off last night on the shores of Benguela in Angola as a nervous Super Eagles of Nigeria held on to a first half goal to beat neighbours Benin Republic 1-0. The result has kept alive the Africa Cup of Nations title dreams of the Super Eagles even as the Pharaohs of Egypt became the first team to make the quarter-finals from the group after beating Mozambique 2-0 in the second game.

The victory of the defending champions now means that the Eagles need at least a draw in their final group match against Mozambique on Wednesday in Lubango to make the last eight teams as their better head-to-head record against Benin means they will get the nod should the Beninoise team beat the North Africans in the group's final match, which comes up on the same day.

Amodu made several changes to the Super Eagles side that lost 3-1 to Egypt in the opening match in Group C dropping Taiye Taiwo, Obinna Nwaneri and Yusuf Ayila.

Yakubu Aiyegbeni coolly scored from the spot kick in the 40th minute after Boco Romuald was adjudged to have handled the ball following a sustained pressure mounted by the Nigerian team.

Before the half hour, Referee Martins Carvalho of Angola ignored Nigeria's appeal for a penalty after Aiyegbeni tumbled under the challenge of Adenon Khaled while the lively Mouri Ogunbiyi tossed a pass into the Nigerian defence but was not connected.

The bar then came to Nigeria's rescue when Sessegnon Stephane struck with a log drive, just two minutes before the Super Eagles' broke the ice for the crucial lead.

The Eagles were solid at the back with Danny Shittu and Yobo occasionally combining efficiently to curb the rampaging Omotoyossi.

Nigeria lost Yobo to injury on the 54th minute and the skipper was replaced by Onyekachi Apam.

Yobo will require a scan to determine the extent of his injury ahead of the crucial engagement against Mozambique in Lubango on Wednesday.

Nigeria were again saved when Kobena Nouhoum's effort inside the box glanced off the woodwork.

Amodu made two further changes - bringing on Obinna Nsofor for Ayegbeni and Sani Kaita for Kalu Uche as the Eagles held on to their slim advantage to win the match.

Afterwards, Amodu told reporters that the victory will now boost the Eagles confidence ahead of the must win match against the Mambas.

He also said their experience counted against the Beninoise as they opted for a cautious play in the closing phase of the match.

"It was a tough game, like I've said before they (Benin) showed that there is no easy team any longer. This win will boost our morale. We showed we were the more experienced side and the hungrier of the sides. For Yobo's injury he will be sent for a scan, but we have enough reserves to properly replace him."

Egypt is striving to become the first side to win the competition three straight times and they took the lead rather luckily when Dario Khan put the ball into his own net in the 46th minute while Mohamed Nagui scored a stunning goal 10 minutes to the end of the game to put the score beyond the Mozambicans.

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Somalia's president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said his country lacks the international support it needs to prevent powerful Al-Qaeda-backed insurgents from overthrowing his fragile government.

Sharif said his government only control pocketful of Mogadishu with the rest including southern Somalia under the hands of Al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam, the two main insurgent groups.

"Somalia is facing crisis brought about by foreign groups currently in the country, who are determined to frustrate any peace attempts," he added.

"We need international support, because the country is ruined and is becoming home to some elements of Al-Qaeda who resolved to clear plans."

Some 5,100-strong African Union peacekeeping troops are currently in the war-torn country to try to shore up the UN-backed government from the powerful insurgents and control strategic sites such as airport and presidential palace.

Somali presidents accuse the international community of planning to go back against their pledges, which was to support his Djibouti-formed government both financially and politically.

"The enemy prepared itself and wanted to bring down this government before it could accomplish its mission. Surely, that act has its own risks. We are expecting the world to help us fight these groups," he said.

Commenting about the piracy menace in the high seas, Sharif said his government is not in the position to tackle at the moment.

"Piracy, which is the other major problem, is caused by years of lawlessness in the country. So my government can not do anything about it,"

Sharif's remarks come as his Presidential Palace Villa Somalia comes under heavy mortar attack launched by Al-Shabaab fighters.

Heavy exchange of gunfire and mortar shells has claimed the lives of at least four people while five others were wounded.

The Horn of African country is marred by years of civil strife that erupted after the ouster of the regime of President Mohammed Siad Bare in 1991.

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Kampala — PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has warned the opposition against plans to cause chaos during the 2011 elections, saying those who will try to do so will face dire consequences.

Museveni issued the warning on Saturday during two separate rallies in Mukono district. He was responding to a report by the district chairperson, Lukooya Mukoome, that the opposition was mobilising the youth in the area to cause havoc during the elections.

Mukoome asked for increased security following complaints from residents that opposition politicians were mobilising some youth to destabilise the elections.

But the President told the gathering not to fear any opposition militias.

"To beat up voters? This is illegal in Uganda," the president said amid applause from thousands of people who gathered at St. Andrews Primary School in Kisoga, Ntenjeru sub-county.

"Those planning to beat voters must know that they will be investigated and punished. NRM restored the rule of law. It is no longer possible for any person or group to destabilise Uganda and go scot-free."

The President added: "There is no more playing silly games in Uganda. It is no longer possible to kill people. Today, all arms of government, including the army and the Police, are performing well."

He advised the youth to disassociate themselves from violent elements and urged the opposition to talk peace instead of devising strategies for causing chaos. The President also warned opposition politicians against telling lies and abusing others.

Museveni reiterated that he would probe the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) programme and arrest corrupt officials.

He said NAADS officials took advantage when he concentrated on fighting Kony to swindle funds meant for agricultural modernisation and warned that it will not happen again.

Out of the sh35b the central Government disbursed to Mukono district this financial year, sh3b went to NAADS, Museveni was informed by the district chairperson.

When the gathering murmured that NAADS funds were dished out only to the rich, Museveni said he had ordered for a list of all beneficiaries in Mukono.

"They have given me the list. I am going to send my spies. I will investigate each of them. If these are ghost farmers, I will arrest the NAADS bosses and send them to the school of thieves (Luzira prison)."

NAADS, he directed, should stop giving money to the rich and instead help out those who are broke and are members with savings and credit cooperative organisations (SACCOS).

He suggested increasing the number of beneficiaries of the cattle project from one to three households in each village. He commended NRM MPs from Mukono for supporting the Land Amendment Bill.

"With this law, the Government now has the power to save tenants from illegal evictions," he said under loud applause from the crowd.

He warned the Police and judges to stop issuing orders for unlawful evictions. "I am also one of the big landlords in this country but I cannot harass the poor tenants," he said.

Prior to the rallies, the president visited the family of Margaret Sserunkuuma, 49, one of the six model farmers supported by NAADS in Nsanja parish.

The woman said she earns more than sh20m per year from a three-acre plantain of bananas, six acres of vanilla, an acre of upland rice, and from a piggery and poultry project.

"Through farming, I have built a permanent house, educated all my children to university level, and set up a small factory to process my vanilla produce during seasons of excess supply and low prices," she told the President.

Museveni called her one of the disciples of his prosperity-for-all message and gave her sh2m to start a nursery bed for supplying banana suckers to other residents in the parish.

He also visited Moses Ssebika's poultry farm of 8,000 chicken in Kilowooza village, Seeta parish.

Thousands of supporters clad in yellow T-shirts, carrying dry banana leaves and chanting NRM songs in support of the fourth term kept intercepting the President's convoy on the way.

In Kyetume trading centre on Mukono-Katosi road, the president launched Nakisunga SACCO which has over 500 members and gave them sh2.5m to buy a motorcycle.

He announced that the 73km Mukono-Katosi and Kisoga-Nyenga roads will be tarmacked before this year ends to enable farmers transport their yields faster to the markets.

He cautioned the villagers against excessive consumption of alcohol and abuse of drugs, saying it was a waste of money and contributed to the high HIV/AIDS infection rate.

The President was accompanied by the state ministers for economic monitoring and for general duties, Vincent Nyanzi and Janat Mukwaya, and MPs from Mukono.

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Nairobi — For mercurial Congolese crooner Koffi Olomide, the last week is one he would like to forget in a hurry; it was the week he was presumed dead.

On Saturday, an emotional Olomide came out to clear the air. He held a 15 minute televised press conference in Kinshasa. A Kenyan living in Kinshasa, Mr Robert Osano, said, Olomide fought back tears, but occasionally sobbed as he blamed his detractors for the rumours.

"Olomide made it clear that at no time he had he been involved in a road accident as rumours had put it," Mr Osano said.

The interview transmitted via Canal Congo TV and hosted by Aisha Okoko from 9.30pm (Central African Time) "was the great step in quelling the rumours", Mr Osano added.

Olomide also broke down as he talked of his ailing father who was abroad, and wondered why his detractors would start the rumours when his father needed moral support. His elder brother Johnny Ko lives in Paris too.

Olomide's mother is a jewellery dealer at the Zando market in Kinshasa. She has all along stood by Olomide in his musical battles.

Next Sunday

Olomide assured his fans that he would launch his latest album on February 27, and also stage a major concert next Sunday at the Chez Bibi in Kinshasa.

In East Africa, rumours of his death have been doing the rounds on social networking sites and FM radio stations since Friday.

The 54-year-old musician, one of the most prolific composers, has all along been in good health, churning out numerous new titles, most of which have been posted on YouTube.

Close associates in DR Congo said tales of Olomide's death made them ponder what could have sparked the rumour.

Before the interview, musician and producer Lofombo Gode, speaking to the Nation from Kinshasa, was among the first to confirm that Olomide was as fit as fiddle with his Quartier Latin band.

"As far as I'm concerned, nothing unusual happened to Koffi," he said.

In Nairobi, promoter Jules Nsana also confirmed having spoken to Olomide and said he would convene a press conference to clarify the matter.

Several of Olomide's contemporaries, both in Kinshasa and Paris, also confirmed that he was well, among them Nyboma Mwandido and veteran former Afrisa International guitarist Dino Vangu. Nyboma earlier spoke to Olomide's elder brother Johnny Ko who also dispelled the rumours.

The rumours were similar to those last year when some radio and TV stations falsely claimed the death of veteran musician Tabu Ley. Tabu Ley is recuperating in Paris from a mild stroke in July 2008.

Controversy has never ceased to dog Olomide, whose real name is Antoine Agpeba. He has often fallen foul of the DRC government over some lyrics, but this only enhanced his popularity.

Olomide, who won four Kora awards, appears to rival the recording prowess of the legendary Franco (Luambo Luanzo Makiadi), the man who straddled the Congolese music scene like a colossus for three decades before he died in Belgium in 1989.

Koffi excels at choreography, with well-tailored outfits for his singers and dancers. He popularised skimpy, figure-hugging outfits for female dancers. His biggest hits include Andrada, Monde Arabe, Loi, Effrakata and Ultimatum.

His versatile band has served as the training ground for many. It has about 20 members, including immensely talented female dancers and singers.

Olomide is reputed to be among DRC's wealthiest and most educated, with a degree in economics from France.

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Lubango — Gabon and Tunisia have played out the first goalless draw at the African Nations Cup finals – a result that greatly enhanced Gabon's chances of surprise progress to the next phase but puts Tunisia's campaign in peril.

Gabon move to four points, adding one on Sunday to the three collected after their shock 1-0 win over Cameroon in the opening Group D game in midweek.

Tunisia, who had arguably the best chance to win Sunday's encounter at impressive Tundavala National Stadium, have now drawn their first two games at the tournament in Angola and next play Cameroon in this southern city.

It leaves their continued participation in a perilous position, meaning that striker Armine Chermiti will be ruing squandering a gilt-edged chance to win the game midway through the first half.

The speed of the Saudi-based striker saw him intercept a sloppy back pass from the Gabonese defence to goalkeeper Didier Ovono, then go round the goalkeeper but lose his footing with only the task of sliding the ball into an empty net left to execute.

On the balance of opportunities, Gabon more than held their own against Tunisia, a side who narrowly missed out on World Cup qualification but have since gone through a major transformation with a new coach and an overhauled squad.

Gabon's Eric Mouloungui steered two headers wide of goal when it seemed easier to score and also forced a fine save out of Aymen Mathlouthi with a rasping long-range shot.

Gabon's speedy striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was also a handful for the Tunisia defence. He too will reflect before he goes to bed on a chance in 77th minute - he beat the offside trap to get to get the end of a searching cross-field pass from Daniel Cousin, but was unable to control the ball when a delicate touch was needed to set himself up for a a real scoring chance.

Gabon could yet go on and finish top of the standings, fancying their chances against Zambia on Thursday in Lubango in their last group match.

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Lubango — Cameroon gave yet another display of the trademark grit and determination which has taken them to the top of the African game in coming from behind to beat Zambia 3-2 at the African Nations Cup on Sunday.

The victory handed the Indomitable Lions their first points of the tournament and puts them now back on track to reach a seventh successive quarter-final at the continental championships.

They had trailed in the Group D game in Lubango for exactly one hour and were staring elimination from the competition starkly in the face.

But their pressure play caused the necessary panic in the Zambian defence, and after being one-goal down Cameroon were suddenly 2-1 ahead, striking twice in the space of four minutes just after the midway mark of the second half.

There was further evidence of their will to win when they gave away a late penalty to allow Zambia back to 2-2 but still claimed the win when substitute Mohamadou Idrissou scored with a towering header just four minutes from the end.

The five-goal thriller was the perfect antidote to the tedium of the goalless draw between Gabon and Tunisia that had preceded, with the drama starting as early as the eighth minute.

A mistake by Geremi Fotso Njitap saw him dispossessed by Zambia's Felix Katongo, who made a surging run down the wing before delivering a square ball that Cameroon's veteran defender Rigobert Song mistakenly headed towards his own goal in a botched bid to clear. It produced a fine save from goalkeeper Idriss Carlos Kameni but Jacob Mulenga snapped up the rebound for an easy tap-in.

Zambia led until the 68th minute when goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene, who up until then had made some fine saves, inexplicably allowed Geremi's cross to slip under his body and trickle over the line for the equaliser.

Just when Zambia looked on their way to an upset win – and a measure of revenge for the 5-1 pasting they received from Cameroon at the last Nations Cup in Ghana – it suddenly turned sour.

Another cross four minutes later, this time from Somen Tchoyi, was cleared by defender Stoppira Nsuzu against the body of Samuel Eto'o, and with his predatory instincts the three time African Footballer of the Year was quickest to snap up the loose ball and fired it home.

It marked his 17th goal at the Nations Cup finals, further extending his all-time record.

Song, who was extending his record of successive appearances at the Nations Cup to 35 games, was then caught for pace by Mulenga in the 80th minute, exposing Kameni to lunging clumsily into a tackle that saw the Saudi Arabian referee award a penalty kick.

Chris Katongo converted to make it 2-2.

But Cameroon were not finished and within five minutes Geremi's cross found the head of Idrissou who powered it wide of Mweene into the net for the winner.

Cameroon could yet finish top of the group if they beat Tunisia in Lubango on Tuesday while Zambia might yet still make the quarter-finals if they can beat Gabon at the same time when they play in Benguela.

It is yet another group to be decided on a potentially dramatic final day.

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LONDON (Reuters) - London-based oil explorer Tullow Oil has exercised a right to buy Ugandan oil fields which its partner in the fields, Heritage Oil, previously agreed to sell to Italy's Eni for $1.5 billion.

A spokesman for Tullow said the company had served notice on Heritage on Sunday, potentially wrecking Eni's plan to build a new presence in Uganda.

Heritage and Tullow have found up to 2 billion barrels of oil in blocks around Lake Albert.

Heritage owns 50 percent of Block 1 and 50 percent in Block 3A. Tullow owns half-interests in Block 1 and 3A and also owns 100 percent of Block 2.

The three blocks cover the Uganda side of Lake Albert.

Tullow last year started a process to sell up to 50 percent of its own Ugandan assets, with a buyer expected to be selected early this year.

The spokesman said the Heritage assets will be included in the package being offered to potential partners. This should generate stronger buying interest in the sale process, analysts said previously of the plan.

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MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Rival Somali pirate gangs fired shots at each other on Sunday in a dispute over how to split any ransom for a hijacked Greek-flagged oil tanker with two million barrels of crude oil aboard.

Pirates from the semi-autonomous northern region of Puntland, who seized the Maran Centaurus in November, say they do not want to a share the spoils with pirate gangs in the pirate haven of Haradheere, where the vessel is moored.

But the tanker and its 28 hostages are now under the control of gunmen from Haradheere. The pirates from Puntland, aboard speedboats nearby, are threatening to set fire to the tanker if they miss out on any payment.

"We have risked our lives in hijacking the ship. These Haradheere men cannot deprive us of our rights," a pirate called Aden told Reuters. "If need be, we shall start a fire as soon as the ransom is about to arrive."

The United Nation's shipping agency warned in December that if the tanker had an accident due to bad weather off the coast of Somalia it would create an "environmental catastrophe".

The ship's Greek management company says there are nine Greeks, two Ukrainians, one Romanian and 16 Filipinos on board.

Many residents fled the centre of the normally peaceful Haradheere on Sunday morning fearing violence could engulf the coastal town north of the capital -- or allow hardline Islamist insurgents to take advantage of the situation and move in.

"Our town was calm and booming but now we fear violence," local elder Abduallahi Ali told Reuters by telephone. "The pirates are well-armed and if they exchange fire it will affect the whole area."

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KHARTOUM (Reuters) - The presidential candidate for Sudan's former southern rebels said on Sunday he would bring peace to Darfur, end Khartoum's pariah status, and win office with the backing of millions of marginalised Sudanese.

The Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) on Friday named Yasir Arman as its challenger against Sudan's incumbent President Omar Hassan al-Bashir in April elections.

Arman, a northern Muslim with political clout in Khartoum but little international profile, told Reuters his priorities once elected would include democratic reforms and a public acknowledgement that Darfuris had legitimate grievances.

The SPLM said its leader Salva Kiir would stand for the separate position of president of oil-producing southern Sudan, where the population has been promised a referendum on whether to split off as an independent state in January 2011.

Arman dismissed analysts' suggestions that Kiir's move meant the SPLM was more interested in building up its position in the south, before a widely expected "yes" vote for independence, than in ruling a unified Sudan.

"The fact that I am proposed is a big signal that the SPLM is an organisation where your ethnicity or religion does not make a difference...It is a national organisation," he told Reuters in an interview.

An estimated two million people were killed during more than two decades of civil war between Sudan's Muslim north and the south, where most follow Christianity and traditional beliefs.

A 2005 peace deal promised the election and referendum, and created an interim coalition government between the SPLM and Bashir's northern National Congress Party (NCP).

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ALGIERS (Reuters) - Sonatrach and a consortium led by Total will invest between $1.5 and $2 billion in Algeria's Ahnet gas permit between now and 2014, Algerian energy official Djilali Takhrist said on Sunday.
At a ceremony to sign the contract to develop the permit, Total's Chief Executive, Christophe De Margerie, said that the Ahnet concession "contains a lot of reserves."

BANGUI (Reuters) - Central African Republic's main opposition parties and a former rebel group say they have pulled out of preparations for elections due this year, accusing President Francois Bozize of planning to rig the polls.

The complaints range from failing to implement a peace deal and to introduce an impartial election body. Some anti-Bozize rebels now in the peace process threatened to take up arms again and the opposition has called on the United Nations mission in the country to find an agreed solution to the crisis.

CAR is one of Africa's poorest and most isolated countries and has suffered from decades of internal and regional instability. The Brussels-based International Crisis Group said this week that the nation's fragile peace was at risk.

"Faced by the delicate situation of all these problems which are hanging over the election process, we resign from the process," Henri Pouzere, coordinator of an opposition grouping known as the UFVN, told Reuters on Saturday.

"For some time now, we have seen methodical and wide-ranging efforts by President Francois Bozize to hijack the election for himself and his clan," Pouzere added.

The groups accuse Bozize of failing to implement decisions taken during talks in December 2008 between CAR's various opposition and rebel groups. The talks led to concrete steps to disarm rebels and hold elections.

The election commission has also been criticised for being crammed full of Bozize appointees.

"A range of fraud is being committed by the Independent Election Commission to benefit those in power .... It is unacceptable," said Nicolas Tiangaye, another opposition leader.

The electoral commission and the government declined to comment.
Bozize came to power in a 2003 coup and won elections in 2005. Although the country has had a troubled history since independence from France, its crises are often overlooked by higher-profile conflicts in neighbouring Chad, Sudan and Congo.

Crisis Group said this week Bozize's unwillingness to implement the country's agreements was stalling reconciliation.

"If the government ... fails to re-engage with the opposition on upcoming elections and negotiate with remaining rebels, its fragile peace process will be at serious risk," the group said in a report issued on January 12.

A spokesman for the APRD, a rebel group that operates in CAR's north but is meant to be disarming, issued its own warning.

"Bozize is playing with fire. We will take up arms again if things are not corrected," said spokesman Djim Wei. "For now, we are pulling out of the process to get some clarity."

CONAKRY (Reuters) - Guineans have broadly welcomed a decision by their military rulers to keep wounded junta chief Captain Moussa Dadis Camara convalescing abroad, leaving his deputy and an opposition leader to restore civilian rule.

The announcement on Friday, and the civilian opposition's agreement after days of wrangling on two candidates for the prime minister's job, have eased concerns at home and abroad over further violence in the world's top bauxite exporter.

"This is a very important development which is making things look up for the country," said Mamadou Bah Baddiko, head of the UFD opposition group.

"The priorities now need to be getting a grip of the state, winning the confidence of the population and ... putting the electoral process back on track," he added.

Camara's second-in-command Sekouba Konate became interim leader when Camara was shot on December 3 in a botched assassination attempt by his former aide-de-camp.

Credited with restoring some order to the military, he must now decide whether Jean Marie Dore or Rabiatou Serah Diallo, is given the job of overseeing a transition to elections within six months, ending the military rule that began with a coup in 2008.

Under the agreement signed on Friday, junta members, as well as civilians involved in the transitional administration, are barred from taking part in the elections.

ERRATIC RULE
Having enjoyed a tide of support immediately after his coup, Camara's increasingly erratic rule and apparent desire to stand in elections fuelled opposition. He is accused of crimes against humanity for a security operation against his opponents that left over 150 people dead in September.
"This agreement gives us hope," said Naby Diallo, a trader in Guinea's capital, Conakry. "We were utterly disgusted and exhausted by the manoeuvres of these soldiers who didn't want to leave power.

"I'm hoping to be able to get my business back up and running very soon if this transition succeeds."

Some international mining firms have cut back on the number of expatriate workers in Guinea while a government document seen by Reuters last month showed that the instability had slashed the output of aluminium ore bauxite by one fifth in 2009.

The two candidates for the prime minister's job were due to travel on Saturday to Burkina Faso, whose President Blaise Compaore has acted as mediator in the Guinea crisis.

Camara left Morocco this week, hoping to return to Guinea after more than a month in hospital. However, he was taken only as far as Burkina Faso as pressure mounted on mediators to prevent a return home that many feared could spark violence.

Before the assassination attempt, analysts say Camara had been seeking to shore up his position by training a militia force dominated by people from his eastern homelands.

Although seemingly a minority, some Guineans, especially those from this region, are still keen to see Camara return.

"This deal amounts to treason. Dadis (Camara) is the victim, he has been swept aside," complained Pepe Kolie.

CABINDA, Angola (Reuters) - Angolan police arrested a priest in Cabinda on Saturday, a lawyer and human rights activist said, adding that authorities were using an attack on the Togo soccer team last week as an excuse to round up critics.
Raul Tati, a government critic and a vocal human rights activist in Cabinda, was arrested in his house at around 1800 GMT, said Martinho Nombo, a lawyer in Cabinda who said he fears he is next in line to be arrested.

Police also arrested university professor Tati Belchior and former police officer Pedro Fuca this week.

An Angolan police spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

"Before his arrest, the priest told me there was a list of five people in Cabinda, including him and myself, who would be arrested soon," Nombo told Reuters by telephone from Cabinda.

Human Rights Watch researcher Lisa Rimli said, in an email seen by Reuters, that her organisation had received "concrete indications that the detention of members of the civil society were being carried out".

Human Rights Watch says it has documented a disturbing pattern of human rights violations by the Angolan armed forces and state intelligence officials in Cabinda.

Tensions were running high on the streets of Cabinda where police have stepped up security during the games for the African Nations Cup -- the continent's top soccer tournament. Last week's Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC) attack killed two people in Togo's bus en route for the Cup.

Alexis Betaia, 27, who works at a downtown Cabinda market, said the government had asked people to denounce those they thought could be involved with the separatists who attacked the Togolese team.

"There were some announcements on the radio asking us to let the government know if we were aware of any suspicious acitvity from a political point of view," Betaia said.
Officially, only two FLEC insurgents have been arrested in connection to the January 8 attack, according to Cabindan prosecutor Antonio Nito.

"The only two arrests related to FLEC were made immediately after the attack," Nito told Reuters.

The FLEC has fought a 30-year war against Angola's government for independence. One grievance is that Cabindans see little of the money from oil that comes from their land.

Earlier on Saturday, around 1,000 Cabindans answered a government call to march against terrorism. Angola's government has called the attack on the Togo bus an act of terrorism.

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Darfur rebels said Sudan's army had attacked their troops in a populated area of the western state of North Darfur on Saturday, escalating fighting ahead of peace talks due to open this month.
Tensions were already high in oil-producing Sudan which is gearing up for presidential, parliamentary and state governor elections in April.

Saturday's attack follows an assault by the rebel Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) on the government garrison town Golo in Jabel Marra last Wednesday after days of government bombardment of rebel positions in Sudan's remote west.

"The government attacked our areas in the market area of Furug," SLA commander Ibrahim el-Helwu told Reuters. "This is a heavily populated area," he added.

The army spokesman's office was not immediately available to comment and the U.N.-African Union peacekeepers (UNAMID) said they were checking the reports.

"All the areas under the control of SLA (Abdel Wahed)...are a no-go area for us," UNAMID spokesman Noureddine Mezni said.

The rebels accuse the mission of working too closely with Khartoum and refuse to allow them to enter their areas.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for President Omar Hassan al-Bashir in 2009 for war crimes during a brutal counter-insurgency campaign in Sudan's west after rebels took up arms in 2003 demanding more autonomy.

Darfur's fighting sparked a humanitarian crisis which the United Nations estimates has claimed 300,000 lives and driven more than 2 million from their homes.

Fighting has largely subsided since the early battles, but sporadic clashes have since pushed rebels out of the main towns and into the vast swathes of arid countryside.

CAIRO (Reuters) - Real estate firm Egyptian Resorts has sold a plot of land on the Red Sea for $13.3 million, marking its first sale in over a year and signalling renewed interest in Egyptian property, an executive said on Sunday.
The firm, which makes most of its money selling land to developers, has seen renewed appetite for Egyptian real estate since the end of Dubai's property boom, investor relations manager Abu Bakr Makhlouf told Reuters.

"We're seeing more interest from developers to resume their expansion plans," he said. "The real estate market in Egypt was not as affected as the rest of the region, so Egypt is becoming more attractive."

Egyptian Resorts sold 44,354 square metres of its Sahl Hasheesh land bank to a Saudi Arabian investor planning to build a high-end hotel, Makhlouf said. The sale was the company's first since the third quarter of 2008.

The sale was also important because the price of the land, $300 per square metre, was more than double the firm's average selling price in 2008, Makhlouf added.

The company's shares rose 5.3 percent by 1029 GMT, outperforming the main index, which gained 0.8 percent.

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's Mobinil made a 750 million Egyptian pound instalment to the telecom regulator as part of a payment for its 3G licence, the firm said on Sunday.
Mobinil, Egypt's largest mobile operator by subscribers, is selling bonds worth 1.5 billion pounds in an offer that closes on January 24, and has said it would use some of the proceeds to pay for the 3G licence.