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LUSAKA (Reuters) - Seven foreign firms, including Kuwait's Independent Petroleum Group (IPG) have submitted bids to supply 1.4 million tonnes of petroleum feedstock to Zambia over two years, the procurement authority said on Friday.

The preferred cargo mixes for Zambia's Indeni Refinery and TAZAMA Pipeline operations and the Zambian market is a blend of standard export grade crude, naphtha or condensate and straight run gas oil, the tender document said.

The southern African country is the continent's top producer of copper and uses a lot of diesel in the mining operations that are the backbone of its economy.

IPG, whose deal for the supply of oil to Zambia expired last month, is competing with Lukoil International Trading and Supply Company (LITASCO) of Russia, Glencore Energy UK Ltd, Vitol SA, Trafigura SA, Addax Energy SA and Kenya's Gulf Energy Ltd.

"They are now given 21 days starting on Monday in which they should submit their evaluation and recommendations for award of contract," Shadreck Shawa, the head of purchasing at the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) said.

"We should be able to select the preferred bidder within a month because even if there are issues that will arise, these should be negotiated within two weeks," Shawa said.

The issues to be agreed with the winner would include the timeframe for the supply of the first cargo through the port of Dar-es-Saalam in Tanzania, the ZPPA said.

The 1,440,000 tonnes buyer's option will be brought in cargo lots of 60,000 to 90,000 tonnes at evenly spread intervals, according to tender specifications.

Shawa said BNP Paribas has given bid security amounting to $2 million each for IPG, LITASCO, Glencore, Vitol and Addax. Trafigura has a $2 million cover by ING Bank of Holland and Gulf Energy the same amount by PTA Bank.

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DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) -- Tanzanian coffee prices spiraled upward as supply dwindled towards the end of the season amid heavy demand from exporters, traders said on Friday.
The state-run Tanzania Coffee Board (TCB) said 8,950 60-kg bags were offered for sale at Thursday's auction with 7,463 bags sold. At the last auction on January 7, 6,303 60-kg bags were up for sale with 5,156 bags sold.

"The overall average price at the Moshi exchange was up by $10.37 per 50 kgs for arabica coffee and robusta coffee was up by $9.51 compared to the last auction," TCB said in a report.

East African coffee is normally packed in 60-kg bags but the prices are quoted for quantities of 50 kg.

Benchmark grade AA sold at $250 to $161 per bag, compared with $225.80 to $188.40 at the last auction and fetched an average price of $234.42 per bag, up from $222.26 previously.

Grade A fetched $229 to $150 per bag compared with $226-$160 per bag at the previous sale, and got an average price of $216.22 compared with $213.04 at the last auction.

"$250 per bag is a fantastic price ... I think the prices will continue to go up in the coming weeks, said Eliot Bentzen, a coffee exporter.

"Prices usually go down towards the end of the crop season because the quality of the crop also declines, but we've seen prices going up now because supply is very tight," he said.

The coffee board said the current season was likely to end in March with the new crop arriving in September.

"The demand for coffee from exporters is so huge, the coffee season could end even before March because stocks are running out," Adolph Kumburu, director general of TCB, told Reuters.
Kumburu said due to the biennial nature of the crop, coffee trees produced less this season after a good harvest the previous season.

"We expect coffee prices to keep on rising because there is a lot of competition from exporters who are fighting to meet their shipment commitments," he said.

Tanzania mainly produces arabica coffee, which follows New York, and grows some robusta coffee, which follows London.

TCB forecasts the 2009/10 (June/April) crop will fall to 50,000 tonnes in the continent's fourth-largest coffee grower -- after Ethiopia, Uganda and Ivory Coast -- compared with 68,331 tonnes in the last season.

The auction was held on Thursday and TCB issued the results on Friday.

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JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Botswana's consumer inflation quickened to 5.8 percent year-on-year in December on higher transport and household equipment costs, the Central Statistics Office said on Friday.
The CSO said December inflation accelerated from 5.0 percent year-on-year in November as the transport index rose by 0.8 percent and furnishing and household equipment by 0.7 percent in the month. Food inflation was down 0.6 percent.

Inflation has been on a downward trend after peaking at 15.1 percent in August 2008. The Bank of Botswana has said it will stabilise inside its 3 to 6 percent target range in the medium term.

Largely due to easing inflation, the central bank cut its main lending rate by 100 basis points to 10 percent in December 2009, bringing cumulative rate reductions to 500 basis points since December 2008.

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TUNIS (Reuters) - The African Development Bank (AfDB) said on Friday it had lent Egypt $70 million to finance a farming scheme.
"(The loan) will, in particular, finance the Rural Revenue and Economic Situation Improvement Project," it said, adding that some 60,500 jobs will be created as a result.

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JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Former Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide, exiled in South Africa, said on Friday he was ready to return to help in the aftermath of an earthquake thought to have killed tens of thousands.
But he gave no indication of a specific plan to go back.

"As far as we are concerned, we are ready to leave today, tomorrow, at any time, to join the people of Haiti. To share their suffering to rebuild the country, moving from poverty with dignity," Aristide told reporters, tears streaming down his face.

Aristide said friends from around the world were willing to organise an aircraft to fly him and emergency supplies to Haiti.

After decades of dictatorship, Aristide, a former Roman Catholic priest, became the country's first elected president in 1990 but was ousted by the military a few months later.

He again took the presidency in 2000 but was forced into exile four years later amid growing violence.

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ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) - Seychelles on Friday said it had agreed with creditors to swap old debt worth $283 million, representing 89 percent of the debt it sought to restructure in an exchange offer.
The eligible instruments were 54.75 million euros in amortising notes and $230 million in 9.125 percent notes -- both due 2011 -- along with two older loans dating from 1999 and 2003.

"With the results of the exchange offer, 50 percent of the full amount of external commercial debt eligible under the exchange offer will be cancelled", Finance Minister Danny Faure said in a statement.

The arrangement, together with last year's deal with the Paris Club of creditors to cancel debt worth close to $70 million, would put the Indian Ocean archipelago's debt on a sustainable footing, Faure added.

Seychelles defaulted on a six-monthly interest payment on the 2011 Eurobond in October, 2008.

The bond default reflected an acute balance of payments crisis. The International Monetary Fund stepped in with an emergency $26 million package in November 2008.

Creditors had the option to select either new notes at discount or par. The exchange offer is scheduled to settle on Feb 11 2010.

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OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) - Guinea's military leaders agreed on Friday that wounded junta chief Moussa Dadis Camara would continue his convalescence, leaving his deputy in charge of running the world's top bauxite exporter.
Camara would support the country's planned transition back to civilian rule, the leaders said in a joint statement issued after talks in the Burkinabe capital, Ouagadougou.

General Sekouba Konate has been running Guinea since Camara left the country for medical treatment after he was wounded in a December 3 assassination attempt.

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PRETORIA (Reuters) - Poor policy coordination and the absence of a long-term government strategy are hampering South Africa's efforts to reduce poverty and improve public services, a senior minister said on Friday.
Trevor Manuel, planning minister and a respected former finance minister, made the comments as President Jacob Zuma, voted into power last year, is under pressure to deliver on his election promises to reduce unemployment drastically.

The jobless rate stands at about 25 percent after recession slashed nearly one million jobs last year.

Zuma's ruling ANC draws most of its support from millions of poor black South Africans still cramped into shantytowns nearly 16 years after the end of white minority rule.

"Lack of a coherent long-term plan has weakened our ability to provide clear and consistent policies," Manuel said in a policy document. "It has limited our capacity to mobilise all of society in pursuit of our developmental objectives."

"In addition, weaknesses in coordination of government have led to policy inconsistencies and, in several cases, poor service delivery outcomes," added Manuel, who heads a planning commission established last year.

The African National Congress celebrated its 98th anniversary last week amid growing infighting with its communist and labour union allies who want economic policies to shift to the left, abandoning a pro-business stance applauded by foreign investors.

The government has repeatedly said existing policies will remain in place, but that it is open to debate over contentious issues such as a strong rand currency and the central bank's inflation targeting policy, which unions say has led to high interest rates, worsening the plight of the poor.

On Friday, Manuel said the government's efforts to reduce poverty and roll back the inequalities of the apartheid era "have only begun to take effect".

Manuel launched a public campaign for nominations to serve on the National Planning Commission, which will be draft a long-term vision and strategic plan for the country. Zuma is expected to announce the commissioners by the end of March.

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reuters

Investment from China and other Asian countries was an important factor in several years of unprecedented growth in Africa before the global downturn hit.

It is very much seen as a critical driver for Africa’s future growth prospects as well.

China has repeatedly emphasised its commitment to Africa through the global troubles and is emerging even more solidly implanted on the continent now. Other Asian countries are also pushing hard, as a recent high-level Indian visit showed.

As one of the main links between Africa and Asia, Ethiopian Airlines offers an interesting indicator as to how the ties have held up and are expected to grow.

Early last year it was talking of cuts, but it is now at 14 flights a week to China and 12 to India. It is planning flights to more destinations in both countries.

Unlike many airlines elsewhere, it also managed to double its profits in its last business year.

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reuters

Whether Guinea’s absent junta leader Moussa Dadis Camara makes it back to his home country or not will be the latest test of Western powers’ dwindling influence in Africa.

Ex-colonial power France and the United States — desperate to avoid a failed state in a region which is already attracting the interest of narco-traffickers and other criminals — have both made it clear Camara should be kept well away.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner warned Camara’s homecoming after treatment in Morocco following an assassination bid could spark an all-out civil war.

After talks with French and U.S. diplomats, caretaker junta leader Sekouba Konate announced last week that he would work with a prime minister from the opposition in a transition government that would hold democratic elections.

It all seemed to be going according to the script until Camara flew into Burkina Faso on Tuesday night, walking (with some help) and talking.

It seems Camara thought he was heading back to Conakry and was livid when he was told the Moroccan airplane had pitched up in the Burkinabe capital Ouagadougou.

A delegation of Camara allies immediately flew out to fetch him, but headed into a row with Konate. Guinea-watchers have been told to look out for some kind of statement from Burkina’s President Blaise Compaore on what happens next.

At the very least, any return by Camara would deal a blow to the Franco-US strategy of hyping Konate and hoping that Guinea’s opposition could come up with a consensus prime minister.

But more broadly, it would be just the latest defiance of Western wishes on a continent where the economic clout of China seems to be having more and more weight.

U.S. and European sanctions on Niger’s President Mamadou Tandja have so far clearly failed to persuade the former colonel to step down from power as he was due to on Dec. 22.

Tandja continues to rule the desert state — illegally, according to the opposition — safe in the knowledge that France relies on Niger’s uranium for its nuclear power stations.

In retrospect, perhaps it wasn’t a good idea of the West to give such a quick clean bill of health to Mauritania’ General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who won back IMF aid and NATO military support just over a year after deposing the incumbent in an August 2008 coup.

Camara has been heard citing Aziz’s case as a reason why he too can expect one day to shed his pariah image — although that is less likely after a U.N. report held him to blame for the Sept. 28 massacre of over 150 street protesters.

Is the West running out of strategies to deal with Africa?

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BRAZZAVILLE (Reuters) - Congo Republic has granted the country's fourth mobile phone operating license to Equateur Telecom Congo (ETC), a subsidiary of Bahrain-based telecommunications provider Bintel.
ETC, which will be competing with Zain, MTN and Warid for subscribers in the Central African nation, said Congo was a key country for the company's African strategy and the market there was growing.

"This new business will help develop our economy," Thierry Lezin Moungalla, Congo's minister for post and telecommunications, said at a ceremony in Brazzaville to present the license on Friday.

On the African continent, ETC already operates in Gabon, Central African Republic and Somalia.

JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Former Haitian president Jean Bertrand Aristide, currently exiled in South Africa, wants to return to his home country following a devastating earthquake in Haiti that left tens of thousands dead and injured, the South African Press Association reported on Friday.

"We cannot wait to be with our sisters and brothers in Haiti, we share the anguish of all Haitians in the diaspora who are desperate to reach family and loved ones," Aristide said in Johannesburg on Friday.

"As far as we are concerned we ready to leave today, tomorrow, at any time to join the people of Haiti, to share in their suffering, help rebuild the country, moving from misery to poverty with dignity," he told media at a hotel at OR Tambo international airport.

Aristide did not take questions from reporters and it was not immediately known if he would return to his home country.

South Africa's chief director of public diplomacy, Sol Molubi, said Aristide would not take questions because "the situation is difficult and unbearable for the family." Asked if Aristide, his wife and their two daughters would be returning to Haiti, Molubi said "I don't know at this stage."

"We must remember it's a two way process... he didn't come to South Africa out of choice," Molubi said.

Aristide's wife sat beside him fighting back tears.

The family were exiled in South Africa following Aristide's ousting as president in February 2004.

JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- South African criminal elements and isolated rebel and political groups do not pose a threat to security during this year's Fifa Soccer World Cup, but the Islamic fundamentalist group al-Qaeda does, South African Institute of Race Relations said on Friday.

"The threat we have to be concerned with revolves around the possibility that an al-Qaeda-aligned movement may use the tournament as a platform upon which to launch a massive strike against a western target in South Africa," said Frans Cronje, the institute's deputy director.

Writing on the South African Institute of Race Relations website, Cronje said that South Africa's porous borders posed a particular problem as did the fact that it was easy to obtain fraudulent documents to live and work in SA under an assumed name.

"This would provide little challenge to an al-Qaeda cell to infiltrate any weaponry or personnel into the country ahead of the2010 World Cup.

"Indeed, if a terror attack were on the cards, al-Qaeda's track record in planning suggests that this may already have occurred," he said.

International concern for the safety of visitors during the World Cup -- which starts in June -- came in the wake of the attack last week on the Togolese soccer team during the African Nations Cup in Angola.

Also ringing alarm bells about international terrorism was the attempt last month to blow up an American plane by a Nigerian student linked to an al-Qaeda cell in Yemen.

While South Africa's department of state security would not comment, in 2004, former intelligence minister Ronnie Kasrils said al-Qaeda operatives could be hiding in South Africa "as they believed that the country was a safe haven".

However, Kasrils was also quoted as saying South Africa was not viewed as an enemy of al-Qaeda.

Annelie Botha, a specialist on terrorism issues at the Institute of Security Studies in South Africa, said South Africa was not unique as any major event attracting tourists and with intense media attention, such as the 2010 World Cup, raised the threat of a terrorist attack, no matter where in the world it was staged.

"We can only have a completely safe World Cup if the public is vigilant and reports anything or anyone that is suspicious," she said.

"I would say, though, that South Africa could well be a safe haven. I do not believe that there is an organised al-Qaeda presence in South Africa.

"However, due to the fact that South Africa is a liberal country, with real democratic liberties, it is hard to put people under surveillance without a court order," said Botha.

In recent years, South Africa was the subject of U.S. scrutiny over the possibility of increased al-Qaeda activity within the country.

In 2007, a South African dentist, Junaid Dockrat, and his cleric brother Farhad were suspected of being financers, recruiters and facilitators of al-Qaeda and the deposed Taliban in Afghanistan. The pair denied the claim.

JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- The staff of South Africa's national airline, South African Airways (SAA), were donating money, food and clothing to the people of Haiti who lost their family, friends and property in the earthquake which hit their country, said the airline on Friday.

SAA acting chief executive Chris Smythe said SAA employees were asked to make donations in the form of money, blankets or clothing, which would be airlifted along with donated medical supplies to the Caribbean country.

"The staff and leadership of SAA convey to the people of Haiti our thoughts and prayers during these tragic and heartbreaking times," Smythe said in a statement.

"The pictures and images that we have seen of the human tragedy left in the wake of the massive earthquake that struck the island Wednesday have moved us deeply."

Haiti was hit by 7.0-magnitude quake on Tuesday, which has been described as one of the worst in the last 200 years, claiming the lives of at least 100,000 people.

NAIROBI, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were killed while dozens injured on Friday when anti-riot police broke up demonstration called by Kenyan Muslims to protest the arrest of controversial Jamaican Muslim cleric Sheikh Abdullah Al-Faisal.

The peaceful protest turned violent as the marchers pelted police officers with stones who in turn fired in the air and lobbed tear gas canisters.

Several people including police officers were among those who were seriously injured in the protest while some of them were stabbed by the demonstrators.

Eyewitnesses told Xinhua late Friday that two of the demonstrators died at a clinic near the Mosque in downtown Nairobi while three others died on the way to hospital.

Shops adjacent to the mosque were looted and vehicles that were parked on the streets had their windscreens smashed by stone-throwing youths.

Angry members of the public joined in the melee and helped police to confront the advancing Muslim youths.

Farouk Machanje, co-convenor of the Muslim Human Rights Forum which organized the demonstration said the deceased were all killed by bullet wounds.

"I have collected a total of seven spent cartridge. We are now preparing them for burial. It is very sad that the police provoked the demonstrators and you can see now they have killed our people," he added.

The chaos broke out after hundreds of Muslims attending Friday prayers at the Nairobi Mosque defied police orders and went ahead with the planned march.

By late Friday, the police were still shooting in the air to disperse pro-Faisal demonstration called by the Muslim Human Rights Forum which had started peacefully in the capital, Nairobi after the Friday prayers.

The Muslims argued that they notified the government of their intention to stage demonstration in major towns on Friday to press for the release of the Jamaican who was last Monday forced back into the country after Nigeria declined to allow him to use its territory en route to Gambia, where he had asked to be taken.

The police helicopter have deployed to monitor the unfolding events from the air on Friday evening as motorists were held up in an ensuing traffic snarl up after sections of city streets were shut.

Youths waving placards castigated the government's move to arrest Al-Faisal, whose history of radical statements and connections with convicted terrorists made him a threat to Kenya's security.

Some of the protesters were chanting "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) and others displayed what was thought to be the flag of Somali rebel group al Shabaab.

However, the demonstration soon turned ugly as a confrontation between the youths and police ensued. Police fired live rounds and teargas canisters to disperse the youth, who in turn pelted the officers with stones.

A huge pall of smoke engulfed some streets as the two groups engaged in a cat-and-mouse chase. A contingent of the General Service Unit was called in to offer reinforcement as the back and forth battle intensified.

The Jamaican preacher was deported from Nairobi on Thursday following orders by Immigration Minister. Al-Faisal, born Trevor William Forrest, was convicted in Britain on terrorism-related charges in 2003 and deported on release in 2007.

On arrival in Jamaica, the Islamic Council of Jamaica banned him from preaching in its mosques. The Kenyan authorities held Al-Faisal at the country's main airport for the better part of last week as they plotted his next destination.

Kenya had flown him to Lagos, Nigeria. From there, he was scheduled to fly to Gambia and then to Jamaica. But airlines in Nigeria refused to fly him to Gambia.

Kenyan authorities reportedly drove him to the border of Tanzania last Tuesday because he had entered Kenya from there, but Tanzania refused him entry.

On Thursday, Gambia offered to help get him to Jamaica, but now it is unclear how he can travel to Gambia. Muslim leaders and human rights activists said Sunday that they had spotted Faisal at a Nairobi prison.

LOME, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe has sent a message of condolences to his Haitian Counterpart Rene Preval after a deadly earthquake which is estimated to have killed more than 100,000 people, according to the website republicoftogo.com.

In his message, Faure expressed his sorrow and that of the Togolese people over what had befallen a friendly nation.

"Even though we do not have much to offer, we shall do all that we can in order to help Haiti and her people," the Togolese head of state wrote in the message delivered on Thursday.

The tremor, which had a magnitude of 7.3, the worst in the country for over 200 years, left behind uncountable bodies all over the streets, signifying an unimaginable death toll.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said the earthquake requires a major rescue operation which should bring help to some 3 million people being affected and that he will be visiting the scene of the catastrophe as soon as possible.

KHARTOUM, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), a former rebel movement in southern Sudan which signed a peace agreement with the government in 2005, has nominated Yassir Arman to run for presidency in the upcoming general elections, the Miraya Radio reported Friday.

In an interview with the radio, Arman termed his nomination by the SPLM as "the beginning of a changing era in Sudan."

He promised that if being elected as the country's president, he would "implement the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, find out a peaceful solution for the conflict in the western Sudanese region of Darfur and realize a real democratic change in the country."

Yassir Arman is a senior figure in the party, serving as the movement's deputy secretary general for northern Sudan and the head of the SPLM bloc in the National Assembly.

He will face the incumbent President Omar al-Bashir, who on Monday stepped down from his role as army commander-in-chief to vie for the votes that would legitimize his 20-year rule through the National Islamic Front, now called the National Congress Party.

The general elections, scheduled for April this year, would be the first multi-party elections held in this African country since more than 20 years.

NAIROBI, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan police fired teargas canisters on Friday to break up demonstrations called by Muslims to protest the arrest of controversial Jamaican Muslim cleric Sheikh Abdullah al-Faisal.

The police shot in the air to disperse the demonstration called by the Muslim Human Rights Forum which had started peacefully in the Kenyan capital Nairobi after the Friday prayers.

The Muslims argued that they notified the government of their intention to stage demonstration in major towns on Friday to press for the release of the Jamaican, who was last Monday forced back into the country after Nigeria declined to allow him to use its territory en route to Gambia, where he had asked to be taken.

They managed to thwart attempts by the stone-throwing demonstrators who were waving the flag of Somali militia groups to march into the Nairobi streets.

Youths waved placards castigating the government's move to arrest the cleric, whose history of radical statements and connections with convicted terrorists made him a threat to Kenya's security.

However, the peaceful demonstration soon turned ugly after a confrontation between the youths and police ensued. The police officers were forced to storm the Mosque to flush out the youths, who had sought refuge inside.

Police fired teargas canisters to disperse the youth, who in turn pelted the officers with stones. A huge pall of smoke engulfed Nairobi streets, especially near the mosque, as the two groups engaged in a cat-and-mouse chase.

Several youths were injured in the melee and were rushed to hospital by ambulance. A contingent of security officers was called in to offer reinforcement as the hide and seek battle intensified.

The Jamaican preacher was deported from Nairobi on Thursday following orders by Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang. Al-Faisal, born Trevor William Forrest, was convicted in Britain on terrorism-related charges in 2003 and deported on release in 2007.

On arrival in Jamaica, the Islamic Council of Jamaica banned him from preaching in its mosques. The Kenyan authorities held Al-Faisal at the country's main airport for the better part of last week as they plotted his next destination.

Kenya had flown him to Lagos, Nigeria. From there, he was scheduled to fly to Gambia and then to Jamaica. But airlines in Nigeria refused to fly him to Gambia.

Kenyan authorities reportedly drove him to the border of Tanzania last Tuesday because he had entered Kenya from there, but Tanzania refused him entry.

On Thursday, Gambia offered to help get him to Jamaica, but now it is unclear how he can travel to Gambia. Muslim leaders and human rights activists said Sunday that they had spotted Faisal at a Nairobi prison.

ACCRA, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Ghana has extended its sympathy and solidarity to the people of Haiti following a devastating earthquake rocked the country days ago.

"I have learnt with shock and deep sorrow the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti in the early hours of Tuesday, 12th January 2010, causing massive loss of human lives and destruction of property," President Atta Mills said.

In a statement from the Ministry of Information copied to Xinhua News Agency on Thursday, President Mills empathized with the grieving nation and assured them of Ghana's commitment to contribute in her own modest way to mitigate their suffering.

"The People of Ghana and my government are deeply shocked by the event and wish to express our solidarity with our brothers and sisters in this hour of despair. We are marshalling our resources and will in due course make our modest contribution to your national effort at bringing relief and succor to the people of Haiti who have suffered great loss."

The statement said "While the scale of destruction is still being assessed, it is already clear to us in Ghana that a tragedy of huge proportions has hit your beloved country. I therefore hasten to express, on behalf of the People and the government of Ghana and in my own name, heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the people of Haiti and your government for the incalculable losses your country has suffered in this natural disaster."

A strong quake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale struck Haiti on Tuesday, killing and injuring large numbers of people. Most of the houses in capital Port-au-Prince were damaged.

LAGOS, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian government on Thursday expressed condolences to Haiti's President René Préval and the people of Haiti over the devastating earthquake that struck the country's capital, Port-au-Prince.

"Our hearts grieve at the magnitude of the devastation, the extensive destruction and the thousands of lives that were lost in the disaster," Nigeria's Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan said instatement reaching here on Friday.

A major earthquake of magnitude-7, which was never recorded in the region, rocked Haiti on Tuesday, crushing thousands of buildings, including the presidential palace and the UN peacekeeping headquarters, and trapping untold numbers of people in the rubble of the capital city of Port-au-Prince.

Jonathan said the news of the quake which struck at night in Haiti on Tuesday was received with shock.

According to him, the earthquake and its consequent destruction and loss of lives occurred at a time Haiti was facing crucial challenges of nation building.

He expressed Nigeria's sympathy with Haiti, noting that Nigerians shared in the grief of their Haitian brothers and sisters.

"As the international community mobilizes in aid of Haiti it can count on Nigeria's support and understanding in all ways," the statement quoted Jonathan as saying.