BAMAKO: Mali's transition president Diancounda Traore was briefly hospitalised Monday after protesters angry at his appointment in a deal struck with the junta burst into his office and beat him. Just hours after mediators left the country pleased at having convinced coup leaders to accept a Traore-led 12-month transition back to democratic rule, thousands took to the streets in protest and overran government offices. Protesters evaded security and pushed their way into Traore's offices in Koulouba, the ...

CAIRO: A ban on presidential campaigning entered into force on Monday with two days to go for Egypt's first election since a popular uprising ousted longtime president Hosni Mubarak. According to the electoral rules laid down by the Supreme Presidential Election Commission, candidates may no longer appear on television, give media interviews or conduct any public activity that may influence those voting in the May 23-24 election. Candidates have been criss-crossing the country in past weeks in ...

WODOBERE: In the northeastern nook of Senegal, one of the most stable and developed nations in the drought-hit Sahel region, cattle carcasses lie in the sun, the fields have withered and food depleted. As scanty rains wreaked havoc across the belt, hitting drought-weary Chad, Niger, Mali and other countries, this west African hub is struggling to provide food to its people and entire villages are going hungry. "The shepherds and people have told us they feel as ...