ZIA Network

WASHINGTON (AFP) – The United States on Thursday highlighted flagrant human rights abuses in 2009 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nigeria and Sudan, three conflict-ridden African countries.

In Congo, more than 1,000 civilians were killed in conflict in eastern mineral-rich areas, including in counterinsurgency operations by government security forces, according to the State Department's

RABAT (AFP) – The Moroccan government warned Thursday it would take a tough line against proselytisers two days after 20 foreign Christian missionaries were expelled.

Communications Minister Khalid Naciri said the government would be "severe with all those who play with religious values".

The Christians were expelled after religious authorities accused them of proselytism, illegal in the North African majority Sunni-Muslim country.

CAIRO (AFP) – Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak's health is "satisfactory" after surgery in Germany to remove a gall bladder, the head of the medical team at Heidelberg University Hospital said on Thursday.

"President Hosni Mubarak's overall medical condition continues to improve in a satisfactory manner," Professor Markus Buechler said in a statement released by Egyptian authorities.

ADDIS ABABA (AFP) – The African Union wants Niger's military junta to free President Mamadou Tandja, overthrown in a February 18 coup, the body's peace and security chief Ramtane Lamamra said Thursday.

"It's a constant source of preoccupation for the AU... it's both a moral and a political obligation,"

KHARTOUM (AFP) – European Union election observers in Sudan said on Thursday they are confident of being able to detect any irregularities in next month's multiparty polls, the country's first since 1986.

The European Union's mission comprises 138 observers, 58 of whom are already in Sudan, with another 80 to arrive just before the legislative, regional and presidential elections slated to take place from April 11 to 13.