Chigumbura guides Zimbabwe to remarkable win over Aussies

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AFP Chigumbura guides Zimbabwe to remarkable win over Aussies

Harare (AFP) - Elton Chigumbura hit an unbeaten half-century as Zimbabwe recorded a famous three-wicket victory over No. 1-ranked Australia in a one-day triangular series match in Harare on Sunday for only their second win over their opponents in 31 years.

Chigumbura finished on 52 not out and shared an unbroken stand of 55 with Prosper Utseya as Zimbabwe chased down a target of 210 to win with two overs to spare.

Zimbabwe?s only previous win over the Australians was at Trent Bridge in the 1983 World Cup, in the first ever encounter between the two sides.

Sunday?s defeat was a humbling experience for Australia, who misread conditions and left out legspinning all rounder Steve Smith, and underestimated Zimbabwe by resting premier fast bowler Mitchell Johnson.

It proved to be even costlier as inspirational captain Michael Clarke re-injured his hamstring and will fly home on Monday.

"At the end of the day the selectors pick the team and I try and get the best out of the players," Clarke said.

"That's all you can do. I think we've seen through Smithy's career that he's a pretty good player of spin bowling and he can bowl some handy leg spinners, so I think he would have been handy out there."

Australia now need to beat South Africa on Tuesday to assure themselves of a place in Saturday?s final.

The hamstring injury had kept Clarke out of Australia?s first two games, and it flared up again to force him to retire hurt on 68 as Australia limped to a total of 209 for nine.

Although he returned to the crease for the final two deliveries of Australia?s innings and bowled an over of spin at the death, he confirmed that he will take no further part in the tournament.

Clarke?s knock had held the Australian innings together as they crumbled against Zimbabwe?s four spinners, who reduced the tourists to 57 for four and then 150 for seven.

Australia?s final total could have been even more measly had Brad Haddin not been dropped three times on his way to 49, an innings that helped the visitors put on 55 runs in the last five overs of their innings.

With Clarke injured and part-timer Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell unable to stifle the Zimbabwean batsmen, it fell to Nathan Lyon to put in a matchwinning performance on a pitch that produced prodigious turn throughout the day.

Although Lyon struck in his first two overs to snaffle out a promising opening partnership, and then picked up two more scalps as Zimbabwe slid from 100 for two to 106 for five, the lack of spin support ultimately proved costly.

Zimbabwe had another wobble when Malcolm Waller and Donald Tiripano fell in quick succession, and at 156 for seven it looked as though they had thrown their opportunity away.

But Chigumbura and Utseya steadied the ship to edge Zimbabwe closer to the target in front of a joyous crowd, before Utseya sealed the match with a six over midwicket.

"It was a proud moment for everyone - for Zimbabwe cricket and even for Zimbabwe because it?s been more than 30 years since we beat Australia," Chigumbura said.

"Hopefully we can learn from this and have more success to come."

Number of dead health workers climbs as Ebola epidemic continues to spread

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By Agence France-Presse

Sunday, August 31, 2014 13:37 EDT

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Nigeria on Sunday confirmed a fresh case of Ebola in a doctor whose husband died from the virus, adding to a growing list of healthcare workers in West Africa hit by the epidemic.

The woman’s husband was also a doctor and died in the city of Port Harcourt on August 22 after treating a patient who had contact with a Liberian man who brought the virus to Nigeria in late July.

She was in stable condition at an isolation unit in the financial capital, Lagos, said Sampson Parker, the health commissioner of Rivers State, of which Port Harcourt is the capital.

Nigeria’s medics have paid a heavy price in the outbreak: of the six people who have died from the disease in Africa’s most populous nation, two have been doctors and two others nurses.

Another doctor and a pharmacist were put into isolation at a unit outside Port Harcourt, Parker said.

“They have not been confirmed (as having Ebola) and we are awaiting the result of investigation,” he told a news conference.

The World Health Organization has voiced concern about the number of healthcare workers hit by the Ebola outbreak: more than 120 health workers have died and over 240 others infected so far.

The disease has killed a total of 1,552 people and infected 3,062 as of August 26, according to WHO figures.

In Guinea, where 430 people have died in all, nurses told AFP they lacked basic medical equipment to treat patients and had even bought items such as gloves and protective clothing themselves.

- Travel restrictions -

In Senegal, doctors were treating a young Guinean man who became the country’s first confirmed case of the disease. He was said to be in a “satisfactory” condition in hospital on Saturday.

The case lends credence to fears that the haemorrhagic fever, for which there is currently no vaccine, is spreading rapidly.

At current infection rates, it could take six to nine months and at least $490 million to bring under control, by which time over 20,000 people could be affected, the WHO has warned.

In Liberia, hardest hit by the outbreak with 694 deaths, the government has denied permission for any crew to disembark from ships docking at any of the country’s four ports.

Medical screening of passengers was also causing long delays at Monrovia’s international airport but a 21-day quarantine thrown around the city’s West Point neighbourhood was lifted on Saturday.

Air travel to West Africa has been badly hit by the disease. Eight of the 11 international airlines serving Monrovia have suspended flights, including British Airways and Air France.

The WHO and the West African regional bloc ECOWAS have both called for travel bans to be lifted, saying medical screening should identify at-risk passengers instead.

- Football qualifiers -

The Ebola crisis has cast doubt over a number of international football fixtures involving the worst-hit countries, with qualifying beginning next week for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

Sierra Leone, where 422 people have died so far, named a 20-man squad consisting entirely of foreign-based players for its matches against Ivory Coast and the DR Congo.

But Ivory Coast’s government has refused to allow the game to be played in Abidjan and not announced an alternative venue. The Ivorians risk forfeiting the match if they fail to show up.

Ebola-linked restrictions have led to sporadic violence in recent weeks. In Guinea, 55 people were injured in N’Zerekore after two days of protests this week over a government-imposed curfew.

The WHO has credited public health campaigns, especially in Guinea and Nigeria, for limiting the transmission of Ebola.

Guinea-Bissau, currently Ebola-free, on Saturday announced a national hygiene drive, with the cleaning and disinfection of public places on the last Saturday of every month.

Nigeria, however, has seen its hopes of containing the virus dashed with the outbreak in its oil-producing hub, 435 kilometres (270 miles) east of Lagos.

The city is home to a number of global oil and gas majors. Anglo-Dutch giant Shell and France’s Total said this week that the arrival of Ebola has not affected operations.

Chevron said it, too, was closely monitoring developments and implementing “precautionary measures” for its workforce.

Agence France-Presse

AFP journalists cover wars, conflicts, politics, science, health, the environment, technology, fashion, entertainment, the offbeat, sports and a whole lot more in text, photographs, video, graphics and online.

Libyan Islamist militiamen take possession of evacuated US embassy

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By Agence France-Presse

Sunday, August 31, 2014 13:53 EDT

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Islamist militiamen have moved in to the American embassy compound in the Libyan capital after it was evacuated last month, an AFP photographer said on Sunday.

Members of the Fajr Libya (Libya Dawn) group said they had gone in to secure the complex of several villas in southern Tripoli to prevent it from being looted.

“Diplomatic missions have been invited to return to Tripoli, and in the meantime we are here to secure the area,” one militiaman said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Washington evacuated its embassy staff on July 27, with Secretary of State John Kerry warning the mission had faced a “real risk” from fierce fighting between armed groups for control of Tripoli’s international airport.

Fajr Libya won the battle for the airport, seizing it on August 23 from nationalist fighters from Zintan, southwest of Tripoli, who had held it since the overthrow of long-time dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.

The AFP photographer said there was little sign of damage at the US diplomatic compound apart from some shrapnel scars on an exterior barbed wire-topped wall.

Agence France-Presse

AFP journalists cover wars, conflicts, politics, science, health, the environment, technology, fashion, entertainment, the offbeat, sports and a whole lot more in text, photographs, video, graphics and online.

President Zuma Orders Ambassadors to Market SA

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(AllAfrica Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) President Jacob Zuma has told South African ambassadors and high commissioners stationed abroad to continue telling the country's good story of success, while marketing the country's goods and services.



Given all the global and national economic complexities, he said, the country needs its ambassadors to work harder as Heads of Missions to ensure that South Africa becomes a preferred destination for any prospective tourist and also for business.

"We want more markets for South African goods abroad and we want more investments to flow towards South Africa. We want you to play your role in this regard," he said on Sunday at the 2014 Heads of Mission Conference.

The new government, he said, has continued to put the economy as the apex priority in the next five years with the growth target set for five percent by 2019.

The efforts, he said, would be promoting a positive environment for economic growth and development in order to address poverty, unemployment and inequality.

He said missions should gear themselves to support the economic cluster and the country's business community in opening up opportunities for engagement.

"Our Heads of Mission should prepare themselves for vigorous marketing and trade promotion over the next five years," President Zuma said.

"We want to open more opportunities abroad for our goods and services and also want to attract more investment towards our country in the next five years." The President said he intends meeting with business soon to discuss this matter. "Nothing is impossible if we work together, putting our country first." The Department of Trade (dti) and Industry has started marketing South Africa and has set a target of creating 15 government to government trade platforms, to hold 19 Trade and Outward Investment Missions, facilitate the signing of 11 Enabling Agreements.

The dti also wants to address market access barriers in some countries in the continent and provide training on Standards and Quality Assurance in some countries, while it continues to explore trade and investment opportunities within BRICS countries.

As part of rebranding South Africa, government has also established an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Information and Publicity led by the Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe. They will work with other departments to promote strategic communication campaigns to keep South Africans informed and also to promote economic and commercial diplomacy.

The President has also ordered the ambassadors to promote the National Development Plan Vision for 2030 and continue to promote the African Agenda, saying it remains the anchor of South Africa's foreign policy.

"We should thus continue to work closely in support of the African Union, and its agencies to build a credible, prosperous and peaceful Africa." Copyright SAnews.gov.za. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).

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Militia says it 'secured' U.S. compound in Libya

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TRIPOLI, LIBYA — The Islamist-allied militia group in control of Libya’s capital has “secured” a U.S. Embassy residential compound there, more than a month after American personnel evacuated from the country over ongoing fighting, one of its commanders said Sunday.

The Islamist militia’s move likely will reinvigorate debate in the U.S. over its role in Libya, more than three years after supporting rebels who toppled dictator Moammar Gadhafi. It also comes near the two-year anniversary of the slaying of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans in Libya’s second-largest city of Benghazi.

On July 26, U.S. diplomats evacuated the compound and the capital to neighboring Tunisia under a U.S. military escort as fighting between rival militias intensified and thousands fled. The evacuation included dozens of U.S. Marines and at least seven military aircraft. The State Department said embassy operations would be suspended until the security situation improved.

An Associated Press journalist walked through the U.S. Embassy compound Sunday after the Dawn of Libya, an umbrella group for Islamist militias, invited onlookers inside. Some windows at the compound had been broken, but it appeared most of the equipment there remained untouched. The journalist saw treadmills, food, televisions and computers still inside.

A commander for the Dawn of Libya group, Moussa Abu-Zaqia, told the AP that his forces had entered and been in control of the compound since last week, a day after it has seized control of the capital and its international airport after weeks of fighting with a rival militia. Abu-Zaqia said the rival militia was in the compound before his troops took it over.

The Dawn of Libya militia is not associated with the extremist militia Ansar al-Shariah, which Washington blames for the deadly assault on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi on Sept. 11, 2012, that killed Stevens and the three other Americans.

A video posted online Sunday showed unarmed men playing in a pool at the compound and jumping into it from a second-story balcony. Voices heard in the video identified it as the U.S. Embassy compound.

In a message on Twitter, U.S. Ambassador to Libya Deborah Jones said the video appeared to have been shot in at the embassy’s residential annex, though she said she couldn’t “say definitively” since she wasn’t there.

“To my knowledge & per recent photos the US Embassy Tripoli chancery & compound is now being safeguarded and has not been ransacked,” she wrote on Twitter. She did not immediately respond to a request to elaborate. State Department officials in Washington also declined to immediately comment.

Typically, local forces provide security for diplomatic posts, but Libya’s government has largely relied on militias for law enforcement since Gadhafi’s ouster, as its military and police forces remain weak. In the past several weeks, the security vacuum in Tripoli deepened as militia violence worsened. It remains unclear who the U.S. left in control of guarding its facilities after its personnel evacuated.

Libya’s militias, many of which originate from rebel forces that fought Gadhafi, have become powerful players in post-war Libya. Successive governments have put militias on their payroll in return for maintaining order, but rivalries over control and resources have led to fierce fighting among them and posed a constant challenge to the central government and a hoped-for transition to democracy.

Following weeks of fighting that brought the capital to a standstill, the Dawn of Libya militia said last week it managed to seize control of Tripoli’s airport and drive a rival militia from the mountain town of Zintan out of the capital. It is now deployed around the capital and has sought to restore normalcy in the city. The group called on foreign diplomats to return now that the fighting has subsided.

2015: Jonathan To Declare For Presidency Soon , Says Ayim

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Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Saturday said President Goodluck Jonathan would soon declare his intention to seek a second tenure as president in the 2015 elections.

This came as about 40,000 people of the South-south region defied the ebola virus disease (EVD) scare in Port Harcourt to show their support for the present and also present 4,150,000 signatures urging Jonathan to seek a second term.

The leader of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), Kenneth Kobani, presented 4, 150,000 signatures to Ayim, who represented Jonathan, at the South-south rally of TAN at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt, urging the president to contest the 2015 presidential election.

Ayim said, “Yes, the South-south has broken the record of the other five regions that have so far asked President Jonathan to run for a second term of four years. Your region has collected 4,150,000- signatures. The signatures can be verified. You can see the names of those who signed; their telephone numbers and local government. This process is real”.

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Islamist militia group says it 'secured' US compound in Libya

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TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) -- The Islamist-allied militia group in control of Libya's capital has "secured" a U.S. Embassy residential compound there, more than a month after American personnel evacuated from the country over ongoing fighting, one of its commanders said Sunday.

The Islamist militia's move likely will reinvigorate debate in the U.S. over its role in Libya, more than three years after supporting rebels who toppled dictator Moammar Gadhafi. It also comes near the two-year anniversary of the slaying of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans in Libya's second-largest city of Benghazi.

An Associated Press journalist walked through the U.S. Embassy compound Sunday after the Dawn of Libya, an umbrella group for Islamist militias, invited onlookers inside. Some windows at the compound had been broken, but it appeared most of the equipment there remained untouched. The journalist saw treadmills, food, televisions and computers still inside.

A commander for the Dawn of Libya group, Moussa Abu-Zaqia, told the AP that his forces had entered and been in control of the compound since last week, a day after it has seized control of the capital and its international airport after weeks of fighting with a rival militia. Abu-Zaqia said the rival militia was in the compound before his troops took it over.

The Dawn of Libya militia is not associated with the extremist militia Ansar al-Shariah, which Washington blames for the deadly assault on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi on Sept. 11, 2012, that killed Stevens and the three other Americans.

A video posted online Sunday showed unarmed men playing in a pool at the compound and jumping into it from a second-story balcony. Voices heard in the video identified it as the U.S. Embassy compound.

In a message on Twitter, U.S. Ambassador to Libya Deborah Jones said the video appeared to have been shot in at the embassy's residential annex, though she said she couldn't "say definitively" since she wasn't there.

"To my knowledge & per recent photos the US Embassy Tripoli chancery & compound is now being safeguarded and has not been ransacked," she wrote on Twitter. She did not immediately respond to a request to elaborate. State Department officials in Washington also declined to immediately comment.

On July 26, U.S. diplomats evacuated the compound and the capital to neighboring Tunisia under a U.S. military escort as fighting between rival militias intensified and thousands fled. The State Department said embassy operations would be suspended until the security situation improved.

Typically, local forces provide security for diplomatic posts, but Libya's government has largely relied on militias for law enforcement since Gadhafi's ouster, as its military and police forces remain weak. In the past several weeks, the security vacuum in Tripoli deepened as militia violence worsened. It remains unclear who the U.S. left in control of guarding its facilities after its personnel evacuated.

Libya's militias, many of which originate from rebel forces that fought Gadhafi, have become powerful players in post-war Libya. Successive governments have put militias on their payroll in return for maintaining order, but rivalries over control and resources have led to fierce fighting among them and posed a constant challenge to the central government and a hoped-for transition to democracy.

Following weeks of fighting that brought the capital to a standstill, the Dawn of Libya militia said last week it managed to seize control of Tripoli's airport and drive a rival militia from the mountain town of Zintan out of the capital. It is now deployed around the capital and has sought to restore normalcy in the city. The group called on foreign diplomats to return now that the fighting has subsided.

Anti-Terrorism: Jonathan, African Leaders To Meet In Kenya Monday

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President Goodluck Jonathan will travel to Nairobi, the Kenyan capital Monday to participate in a meeting of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council scheduled to hold in the East African country on Tuesday.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the Nairobi meeting is a follow-up to talks by President Jonathan and other African leaders at Pretoria, South Africa in May this year, on joint action against terrorism.

The meeting on Monday will receive and deliberate on the report of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on Terrorism and Violent Extremism in Africa.

“Deliberations at the Nairobi Summit and the adoption of the African Chairperson’s Report by President Jonathan, President Uhuru Kenyatta and other participating Heads of State are expected lead to more collaborative actions by Nigeria and other African countries to rid the continent of acts of terrorism and violent extremism”, It stated

According to Abati, President Jonathan, who will be accompanied to the Nairobi Summit by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed, the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.) and other advisers and aides, will return to Abuja at the conclusion of the meeting on Tuesday.

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Somalia: 12 killed as army repels attack on prison

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MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somalia's government forces regained control of a high security prison in the capital that was attacked Sunday by seven heavily armed suspected Islamic militants who attempted to free other extremists held there, officials said.

All the attackers, three government soldiers and two civilians were killed, said Information Minister Mustafa Duhulow.

Duhulow denounced the extremists as "against the security improvements we are currently experiencing here in Mogadishu and all they want is for the world to believe that Mogadishu is not safe. However, loudly we say to them that these foiled attacks strengthen our forces and prove their bravery to the people of Somalia."

Mogadishu's Godka Jilacow prison, the scene of the Sunday morning attack, is a key interrogation center for Somalia's intelligence agency and many suspected militants are believed to be held in underground cells there.

Somali police Capt. Mohamed Hussein said the attackers were "trying to free terrorists held in the prison."

The Somali rebel group al-Shabab, which is linked to al-Qaida, claimed responsibility for the attack that shattered a period of calm in Mogadishu, which is stabilizing after nearly 20 years of chaotic violence.

The attack started when a suicide car bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle at the gate of the prison, followed by gunmen who fought their way into the prison. Guards fought the attackers who threw grenades to penetrate the prison's defenses, police said.

Soldiers in pick-up trucks rushed to the prison and troops took positions around the facility, residents said.

Mohamed Hassan, a resident who lives near the prison in the neighborhood of the presidential palace, said he heard gunfire and explosions as soldiers and militants fought for control of the notorious jail.

Another resident, Mohamed Abdullahi, described a terrifying scene with bullets "flying around." Ambulance sirens echoed across the capital as those wounded in the attack were taken into the hospital wards for treatment.

The attack on the Mogadishu prison came as government soldiers, backed by African Union troops, launched an assault on militant bases in the southern parts of this Horn of Africa nation.

On Saturday the southern town of Bulomarer, which is about 110 kilometers (70 miles) south of Mogadishu, was seized from militants after hours of fighting.

Al-Shabab used Bulomarer to stage deadly attacks across Somalia, including in Mogadishu, say military officials. The military offensive dubbed "Indian Ocean" is planned to oust al-Shabab from one of its last major centers, said the officials. The loss of Bulomarer would leave al-Shabab's current key base of the coastal town of Barawe vulnerable to attacks.

Zimbabwe's 2nd Win Over Champions Australia in 31 Years

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Elton Chigumbura hit an unbeaten half-century as Zimbabwe recorded a famous three-wicket victory over No. 1-ranked Australia in a one-day triangular series match in Harare on Sunday for only their second win over their opponents in 31 years.

Chigumbura finished on 52 not out and shared an unbroken stand of 55 with Prosper Utseya as Zimbabwe chased down a target of 210 to win with two overs to spare.

Zimbabwe's only previous win over the Australians was at Trent Bridge in the 1983 World Cup, in the first ever encounter between the two sides.

Sunday's defeat was a humbling experience for Australia, who misread conditions and left out legspinning all rounder Steve Smith, and underestimated Zimbabwe by resting premier fast bowler Mitchell Johnson.

It proved to be even costlier as inspirational captain Michael Clarke re-injured his hamstring and will fly home on Monday.

"At the end of the day the selectors pick the team and I try and get the best out of the players," Clarke said.

"That's all you can do. I think we've seen through Smithy's career that he's a pretty good player of spin bowling and he can bowl some handy leg spinners, so I think he would have been handy out there."

Australia now need to beat South Africa on Tuesday to assure themselves of a place in Saturday's final.

The hamstring injury had kept Clarke out of Australia's first two games, and it flared up again to force him to retire hurt on 68 as Australia limped to a total of 209 for nine.

Although he returned to the crease for the final two deliveries of Australia's innings and bowled an over of spin at the death, he confirmed that he will take no further part in the tournament.

Clarke's knock had held the Australian innings together as they crumbled against Zimbabwe's four spinners, who reduced the tourists to 57 for four and then 150 for seven.

Australia's final total could have been even more measly had Brad Haddin not been dropped three times on his way to 49, an innings that helped the visitors put on 55 runs in the last five overs of their innings.

With Clarke injured and part-timer Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell unable to stifle the Zimbabwean batsmen, it fell to Nathan Lyon to put in a matchwinning performance on a pitch that produced prodigious turn throughout the day.

Although Lyon struck in his first two overs to snaffle out a promising opening partnership, and then picked up two more scalps as Zimbabwe slid from 100 for two to 106 for five, the lack of spin support ultimately proved costly.

Zimbabwe had another wobble when Malcolm Waller and Donald Tiripano fell in quick succession, and at 156 for seven it looked as though they had thrown their opportunity away.

But Chigumbura and Utseya steadied the ship to edge Zimbabwe closer to the target in front of a joyous crowd, before Utseya sealed the match with a six over midwicket.

"It was a proud moment for everyone - for Zimbabwe cricket and even for Zimbabwe because it's been more than 30 years since we beat Australia," Chigumbura said.

Emerging story. Watch this space for updates as more details come in

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Lesotho prime minister in S. Africa for safety

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By CARLEY PETESCH

Associated Press

JOHANNESBURG (AP) - Lesotho's prime minister fled to South Africa in fear for his safety and will now meet with leaders of the region there to seek peace, he said Sunday.

Prime Minister Thomas Thabane said there had been an attempt to take over Lesotho, a country of about 2 million people that is surrounded by South Africa. Lesotho's Defense Forces deny any attempt at a coup although they say the military exchanged gunfire and disarmed two police stations in Lesotho's capital, Maseru, on Saturday.

"I know there was an attempted coup," Thabane told The Associated Press.

"The mutiny that is happening there is unconstitutional ... I came here to make some consultations. And my deputy has continued to run the country, so the constitutional order in that sense is continuing. But there are certain issues that need attention," said Thabane.

The meeting bringing together Thabane, other politicians from Lesotho, South African president Jacob Zuma and regional leaders is expected later Sunday or on Monday.

A meeting between ministers from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia is taking place later Sunday in an undisclosed location in Pretoria. The representatives of the 15-nation Southern African Development Community will attempt to find a resolution to Lesotho's crisis, said Clayson Monyela, spokesman of South Africa's Department of International Relations. The regional group has taken action to resolve conflicts in Lesotho before.

Thabane said of Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing: "I cannot completely absolve him from blame." Thabane said the deputy has not reported on further security issues, and called that "abnormal."

Political tensions have been high between the two and within the coalition government in the tiny kingdom since June when Thabane suspended parliament to dodge a vote of no confidence. Thabane's All Basotho Convention party and Metsing's Lesotho Congress for Democracy formed a coalition with a third party after 2012 elections and since then conflict has simmered.

"We must remove whatever obstacles that might come before us. We have to mend our relationship and continue to develop our country," Thabane said in a telephone interview.

There was little evidence of the conflict Sunday in Maseru, where people went about their daily lives.

Lesotho's defense forces spokesman Ntlele Ntoi said the military had gathered intelligence that the police were going to arm factions participating in a demonstration planned for Monday by one of the coalition parties, the Lesotho Congress for Democracy. The military disarmed police in the capital, Maseru, to avoid bloodshed, Ntoi said.

An exchange of gunfire between the military, youths and police injured one soldier and four policemen, Ntoi said. Radio stations were also off for hours on Saturday.

"The arms have been removed and they are in military custody. The military has returned to the barracks," Ntoi said, denying reports of any coup attempt. "We are not in a position now or in the future to stage a coup. All we do is to carry out our mandate to secure our country and property."

The actions bore the hallmarks of a coup d'etat, said Monyela, spokesman for South Africa's international relations department, and he called for the military to allow the democratically elected government to return to business.

U.N. secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said in a statement released by his office that he is concerned about the reported military takeover in Lesotho and urged "a peaceful and lasting resolution of their differences."

The U.S. also called on all parties to remain committed to peaceful political dialogue, according to a State Department statement from spokeswoman Jen Psaki.

The demonstration planned for Monday has been called off, according to Lesotho's news agency.

The landlocked country's first coalition government was formed in 2012 after competitive elections that ousted the 14-year incumbent Pakalitha Mosisili, who peacefully stepped down from power.

Lesotho has seen a number of military coups since gaining independence from Britain in 1966.

The constitutional government was restored in 1993, after seven years of military rule. Violent protests and a military mutiny in 1998 came after a contentious election prompted intervention by South African military forces. Political stability returned after constitutional reforms, and parliamentary elections were peacefully held in 2002.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Zimbabwe made history with their victory over Australia

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Zimbabwe caused a major upset as they beat Australia for the first time in 31 years after claiming a three-wicket win in the ODI triangular series in Harare.

Australia will wonder what might have been after skipper Michael Clarke, making his return from a hamstring injury, had to cut his innings short on 68 but the Baggy Greens were well below par as they finished on 209 for nine - their lowest ODI score against Zimbabwe.

With spin causing problems for both sides Nathan Lyon took four for 44 to threaten Zimbabwe's chase, but captain E lton Chigumbura, 52 off 68 balls, and Prosper Utseya, 30 off 28 balls, steered them to victory with 12 balls remaining.

Their last ODI win over Australia might have been in 1983, but the hosts also banished a more recent hoodoo as they crossed the 200 barrier for only the second time in six matches.

Clarke, who pulled up at a practice session before the start of the series, was forced to enter the fray sooner than he would have liked as Aaron Finch (11) was bowled in just the fourth over.

The 27-year-old was caught in two minds as John Nyumbu's delivery spun in from outside off, but he was soon joined by fellow opener Phil Hughes, who was fooled by Utseya's spin and edged to Nyumbu at slip to walk for 10 off 30 balls.

Clarke then looked on as George Bailey (one), Glenn Maxwell (13) and Mitchell Marsh (15) followed them back to the clubhouse to put Australia in trouble on 97 for five, but undeterred the captain brought up his steady 50 off 81 balls in the 33rd over.

The 33-year-old started to forge a strong sixth-wicket partnership with Brad Haddin, but that was cut short on 50 when Clarke had to withdraw in visible discomfort having scored 68. He was able to briefly return at the end of Australia's innings - without facing - and also came out to field midway through Zimbabwe's reply, but his side face a nervous wait to discover if he is fit enough to face South Africa on Tuesday.

It got worse for Australia when James Faulkner went for a golden duck to Utseya with the first delivery after Clarke's departure and Mitchell Starc (three) followed five balls later to Sean Williams, but Haddin stepped up to anchor their innings.

He bravely opened up and found a willing partner in Ben Cutting as they raced to an eighth-wicket stand of 51. Cutting was run out on 26 with the first ball of the last over and Haddin fell three balls later, lofting Donald Tiripano to long-on, with Lyon - alongside Clarke - finishing eight not out at the end of Australia's below-par innings.

Progress was slow for the hosts initially as Sikandar Raza became Lyon's first victim of the day, with a thick edge to slip on 22, before Tino Mawoyo (15) doubled the off-spinner's tally to leave Zimbabwe on 44 for two after 13.3 overs.

Hamilton Masakadza and Brendan Taylor combined to add 56, before Zimbabwe's chase was dealt a blow when three wickets fell for just six runs at the halfway stage.

Masakadza (18) was first to fall as he was beaten for pace by Starc, before Lyon bowled Taylor (32) and made Williams (four) his fourth victim, with the hosts needing 104 off just over 24 overs.

Chigumbura's presence was a stabilising influence for Zimbabwe, who were 54 runs short with three wickets and just under 12 overs remaining after Malcolm Waller was caught and bowled by Maxwell for 11 and Tiripano (three) became Starc's second victim.

Chigumbura brought up his 50, with four boundaries, in the 46th over as he and Utseya had Australia on the ropes, moving to within just 11 runs of their target with 24 balls left.

Utseya sealed the win in style by smashing Starc over the ropes at deep mid-wicket to take them to 211 for seven with time to spare.

Lesotho prime minister in S. Africa for safety

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JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Lesotho's prime minister fled to South Africa in fear for his safety and will now meet with leaders of southern Africa's regional group to seek peace, he said Sunday.

Prime Minister Thomas Thabane said there had been an attempt to take over Lesotho, a country of about 2 million people. Lesotho's Defense Forces deny any attempt at a coup although they say the military exchanged gunfire and disarmed two police stations in Lesotho's capital, Maseru, on Saturday.

"I know there was an attempted coup," Thabane told The Associated Press.

"The mutiny that is happening there is unconstitutional ... I came here to make some consultations. And my deputy has continued to run the country, so the constitutional order in that sense is continuing. But there are certain issues that need attention," said Thabane.

The meeting bringing together Thabane, other politicians from Lesotho, South African president Jacob Zuma and regional leaders is expected in later Sunday or on Monday.

A meeting between ministers from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia is taking place later Sunday in an undisclosed location in Pretoria. The three representatives of the 15-nation Southern African Development Community will attempt to find a resolution to Lesotho's crisis, said Clayson Monyela, spokesman of South Africa's Department of International Relations. The regional group has taken action to resolve conflicts in Lesotho before.

Thabane said of Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing: "I cannot completely absolve him from blame." Thabane said the deputy has not reported on further security issues, and called that "abnormal."

Political tensions have been high between the two and within the coalition government in the tiny kingdom since June when Thabane suspended parliament to dodge a vote of no confidence. Thabane's All Basotho Convention party and Metsing's Lesotho Congress for Democracy formed a coalition with a third party after 2012 elections and since then conflict has simmered.

"We must remove whatever obstacles that might come before us. We have to mend our relationship and continue to develop our country," Thabane said in a telephone interview.

There was little evidence of the conflict Sunday in Maseru, where people went about their daily lives.

Lesotho's defense forces spokesman Ntlele Ntoi said the military had gathered intelligence that the police were going to arm factions participating in a demonstration planned for Monday by one of the coalition parties, the Lesotho Congress for Democracy. The military disarmed police in the capital, Maseru, to avoid bloodshed, Ntoi said.

An exchange of gunfire between the military, youths and police injured one soldier and four policemen, Ntoi said. Radio stations were also off for hours on Saturday.

"The arms have been removed and they are in military custody. The military has returned to the barracks," Ntoi said, denying reports of any coup attempt. "We are not in a position now or in the future to stage a coup. All we do is to carry out our mandate to secure our country and property."

The actions bore the hallmarks of a coup d'etat, said Monyela, spokesman for South Africa's international relations department, and he called for the military to allow the democratically elected government to return to business.

U.N. secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said in a statement released by his office that he is concerned about the reported military takeover in Lesotho and urged "a peaceful and lasting resolution of their differences."

The U.S. also called on all parties to remain committed to peaceful political dialogue, according to a State Department statement from spokeswoman Jen Psaki.

The demonstration planned for Monday has been called off, according to Lesotho's news agency.

The landlocked country's first coalition government was formed in 2012 after competitive elections that ousted the 14-year incumbent Pakalitha Mosisili, who peacefully stepped down from power. The coalition has since been fragile.

Lesotho has seen unrest in its past and has seen a number of military coups since gaining independence from Britain in 1966.

The constitutional government was restored in 1993, after seven years of military rule. Violent protests and a military mutiny in 1998 came after a contentious election prompted intervention by South African military forces. Political stability returned after constitutional reforms, and parliamentary elections were peacefully held in 2002.

Lesotho prime minister in S. Africa for safety

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By CARLEY PETESCH

Associated Press

JOHANNESBURG (AP) - Lesotho's prime minister fled to South Africa in fear for his safety and will now meet with leaders of southern Africa's regional group to seek peace, he said Sunday.

Prime Minister Thomas Thabane said there had been an attempt to take over Lesotho, a country of about 2 million people. Lesotho's Defense Forces deny any attempt at a coup although they say the military exchanged gunfire and disarmed two police stations in Lesotho's capital, Maseru, on Saturday.

"I know there was an attempted coup," Thabane told The Associated Press.

"The mutiny that is happening there is unconstitutional ... I came here to make some consultations. And my deputy has continued to run the country, so the constitutional order in that sense is continuing. But there are certain issues that need attention," said Thabane.

The meeting bringing together Thabane, other politicians from Lesotho, South African president Jacob Zuma and regional leaders is expected in later Sunday or on Monday.

A meeting between ministers from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia is taking place later Sunday in an undisclosed location in Pretoria. The three representatives of the 15-nation Southern African Development Community will attempt to find a resolution to Lesotho's crisis, said Clayson Monyela, spokesman of South Africa's Department of International Relations. The regional group has taken action to resolve conflicts in Lesotho before.

Thabane said of Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing: "I cannot completely absolve him from blame." Thabane said the deputy has not reported on further security issues, and called that "abnormal."

Political tensions have been high between the two and within the coalition government in the tiny kingdom since June when Thabane suspended parliament to dodge a vote of no confidence. Thabane's All Basotho Convention party and Metsing's Lesotho Congress for Democracy formed a coalition with a third party after 2012 elections and since then conflict has simmered.

"We must remove whatever obstacles that might come before us. We have to mend our relationship and continue to develop our country," Thabane said in a telephone interview.

There was little evidence of the conflict Sunday in Maseru, where people went about their daily lives.

Lesotho's defense forces spokesman Ntlele Ntoi said the military had gathered intelligence that the police were going to arm factions participating in a demonstration planned for Monday by one of the coalition parties, the Lesotho Congress for Democracy. The military disarmed police in the capital, Maseru, to avoid bloodshed, Ntoi said.

An exchange of gunfire between the military, youths and police injured one soldier and four policemen, Ntoi said. Radio stations were also off for hours on Saturday.

"The arms have been removed and they are in military custody. The military has returned to the barracks," Ntoi said, denying reports of any coup attempt. "We are not in a position now or in the future to stage a coup. All we do is to carry out our mandate to secure our country and property."

The actions bore the hallmarks of a coup d'etat, said Monyela, spokesman for South Africa's international relations department, and he called for the military to allow the democratically elected government to return to business.

U.N. secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said in a statement released by his office that he is concerned about the reported military takeover in Lesotho and urged "a peaceful and lasting resolution of their differences."

The U.S. also called on all parties to remain committed to peaceful political dialogue, according to a State Department statement from spokeswoman Jen Psaki.

The demonstration planned for Monday has been called off, according to Lesotho's news agency.

The landlocked country's first coalition government was formed in 2012 after competitive elections that ousted the 14-year incumbent Pakalitha Mosisili, who peacefully stepped down from power. The coalition has since been fragile.

Lesotho has seen unrest in its past and has seen a number of military coups since gaining independence from Britain in 1966.

The constitutional government was restored in 1993, after seven years of military rule. Violent protests and a military mutiny in 1998 came after a contentious election prompted intervention by South African military forces. Political stability returned after constitutional reforms, and parliamentary elections were peacefully held in 2002.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Somalia: 12 killed as army repels attack on prison

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MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somalia's government forces regained control of a high security prison in the capital that was attacked Sunday by seven heavily armed suspected Islamic militants who attempted to free other extremists held there, officials said.

All the attackers, three government soldiers and two civilians were killed, said Information Minister Mustafa Duhulow.

Duhulow denounced the extremists as "against the security improvements we are currently experiencing here in Mogadishu and all they want is for the world to believe that Mogadishu is not safe. However, loudly we say to them that these foiled attacks strengthen our forces and prove their bravery to the people of Somalia."

Mogadishu's Godka Jilacow prison, the scene of the Sunday morning attack, is a key interrogation center for Somalia's intelligence agency and many suspected militants are believed to be held in underground cells there.

Somali police Capt. Mohamed Hussein said the attackers were "trying to free terrorists held in the prison."

The Somali rebel group al-Shabab, which is linked to al-Qaida, claimed responsibility for the attack that shattered a period of calm in Mogadishu, which is stabilizing after nearly 20 years of chaotic violence.

The attack started when a suicide car bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle at the gate of the prison, followed by gunmen who fought their way into the prison. Guards fought the attackers who threw grenades to penetrate the prison's defenses, police said.

Soldiers in pick-up trucks rushed to the prison and troops took positions around the facility, residents said.

Mohamed Hassan, a resident who lives near the prison in the neighborhood of the presidential palace, said he heard gunfire and explosions as soldiers and militants fought for control of the notorious jail.

Another resident, Mohamed Abdullahi, described a terrifying scene with bullets "flying around." Ambulance sirens echoed across the capital as those wounded in the attack were taken into the hospital wards for treatment.

The attack on the Mogadishu prison came as government soldiers, backed by African Union troops, launched an assault on militant bases in the southern parts of this Horn of Africa nation.

On Saturday the southern town of Bulomarer, which is about 110 kilometers (70 miles) south of Mogadishu, was seized from militants after hours of fighting.

Al-Shabab used Bulomarer to stage deadly attacks across Somalia, including in Mogadishu, say military officials. The military offensive dubbed "Indian Ocean" is planned to oust al-Shabab from one of its last major centers, said the officials. The loss of Bulomarer would leave al-Shabab's current key base of the coastal town of Barawe vulnerable to attacks.

Zimbabwe made history with their victory over Australia

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Zimbabwe caused a major upset as they beat Australia for the first time in 31 years after claiming a three-wicket win in the ODI triangular series in Harare.

Australia will wonder what might have been after skipper Michael Clarke, making his return from a hamstring injury, had to cut his innings short on 68 but the Baggy Greens were well below par as they finished on 209 for nine - their lowest ODI score against Zimbabwe.

With spin causing problems for both sides Nathan Lyon took four for 44 to threaten Zimbabwe's chase, but captain E lton Chigumbura, 52 off 68 balls, and Prosper Utseya, 30 off 28 balls, steered them to victory with 12 balls remaining.

Their last ODI win over Australia might have been in 1983, but the hosts also banished a more recent hoodoo as they crossed the 200 barrier for only the second time in six matches.

Clarke, who pulled up at a practice session before the start of the series, was forced to enter the fray sooner than he would have liked as Aaron Finch (11) was bowled in just the fourth over.

The 27-year-old was caught in two minds as John Nyumbu's delivery spun in from outside off, but he was soon joined by fellow opener Phil Hughes, who was fooled by Utseya's spin and edged to Nyumbu at slip to walk for 10 off 30 balls.

Clarke then looked on as George Bailey (one), Glenn Maxwell (13) and Mitchell Marsh (15) followed them back to the clubhouse to put Australia in trouble on 97 for five, but undeterred the captain brought up his steady 50 off 81 balls in the 33rd over.

The 33-year-old started to forge a strong sixth-wicket partnership with Brad Haddin, but that was cut short on 50 when Clarke had to withdraw in visible discomfort having scored 68. He was able to briefly return at the end of Australia's innings - without facing - and also came out to field midway through Zimbabwe's reply, but his side face a nervous wait to discover if he is fit enough to face South Africa on Tuesday.

It got worse for Australia when James Faulkner went for a golden duck to Utseya with the first delivery after Clarke's departure and Mitchell Starc (three) followed five balls later to Sean Williams, but Haddin stepped up to anchor their innings.

He bravely opened up and found a willing partner in Ben Cutting as they raced to an eighth-wicket stand of 51. Cutting was run out on 26 with the first ball of the last over and Haddin fell three balls later, lofting Donald Tiripano to long-on, with Lyon - alongside Clarke - finishing eight not out at the end of Australia's below-par innings.

Progress was slow for the hosts initially as Sikandar Raza became Lyon's first victim of the day, with a thick edge to slip on 22, before Tino Mawoyo (15) doubled the off-spinner's tally to leave Zimbabwe on 44 for two after 13.3 overs.

Hamilton Masakadza and Brendan Taylor combined to add 56, before Zimbabwe's chase was dealt a blow when three wickets fell for just six runs at the halfway stage.

Masakadza (18) was first to fall as he was beaten for pace by Starc, before Lyon bowled Taylor (32) and made Williams (four) his fourth victim, with the hosts needing 104 off just over 24 overs.

Chigumbura's presence was a stabilising influence for Zimbabwe, who were 54 runs short with three wickets and just under 12 overs remaining after Malcolm Waller was caught and bowled by Maxwell for 11 and Tiripano (three) became Starc's second victim.

Chigumbura brought up his 50, with four boundaries, in the 46th over as he and Utseya had Australia on the ropes, moving to within just 11 runs of their target with 24 balls left.

Utseya sealed the win in style by smashing Starc over the ropes at deep mid-wicket to take them to 211 for seven with time to spare.

President Sata wants Zambians in diaspora to support PF's agenda to tranform Zambia-Chikonde

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FILE: President Sata with First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba and Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Muyeba Chikonde leaves Hyatt Hotel in South Africa

PRESIDENT Michael Sata has urged Zambians living in the diaspora to support the Patriotic Front Government’s agenda of transforming Zambia into a middle income country by the year 2030.

President Sata has noted that the country is poised to achieving significant social and economic development and that Zambians in the diaspora needed to be an important part of the process.

This was announced by High Commissioner to South Africa, His Excellency Muyeba Chikonde, when he conveyed a special message from the President to Zambians living in South Africa at a cultural dance and family fun day in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Mr. Chikonde conveyed the President’s greetings to the crowd pointing out that the President had asked that everyone remain patriotic and continue supporting government’s efforts to move the development agenda forward.

He noted that all those who have been to Zambia in recent times could attest to the fact that Zambia was poised for greatness and that this was the reason everyone needed to be proud of the country which would be celebrating its Golden Jubilee.

The High Commissioner said the Golden Jubilee theme was carefully crafted so that it could stand as an embodiment of how much Government acknowledged God’s Favour in the country’s aspirations and achievements over the last 50 years.

“You will note that this theme has been carefully crafted by Government and I urge all of you to reflect on it. As a country and government we have not taken this success for granted, but have dedicated and attributed the peace, political stability and prosperity to God’s favour. This is what must unite us in this universe and as Zambians in particular,” Mr. Chikonde said.

The High Commissioner pointed out that the High Commission has already started working with the Zambia Association in South Africa (ZASA) to ensure that this year’s 50th Independence Celebrations were a memorable event.

He was pleased that most Zambians in South Africa and, Lesotho and Madagascar, to which Zambia has extra-accreditation through its Mission in South Africa, have continued to be a law abiding and united citizenry.

He said the event, organised in partnership with ZASA, was testimony to the collaboration that the High Commission was striving to build and strengthen with all those represented by the executive committee of the association.

Mr. Chikonde hoped that ZASA would co-exist with other nationals, particularly South Africans, with whom they should stage future events.

Hundreds of Zambians living in Johannesburg turned up for the event. The High Commissioner later took time to go round the tables to individually greet the families.

A number of those who attended commended the High Commission for reaching out to Zambians in South Africa noting that this made them realize that their Government still cared for them even when they were not in Zambia.

And ZASA vice-president, Mr. Ferdinand Simaanya noted that there was a lot of negativity about ZASA in the past pointing out that there was now need for all Zambians living in South Africa to join hands and make the association a success.

Mr. Simaanya said ZASA will next month introduce the Zambia Welfare Fund, a member-contributory scheme, meant to help members in times of funerals and other calamities while in South Africa.

“Death is real, we cannot avoid it, but we should be ready to help lighten the burden for the people that remain behind. Let us bring to an end the practice of asking for donations every time there is death. Let us mourn each other in a more organised and dignified manner,” Mr. Simaanya said.

Mr. Simaanya also noted that the new South African immigration laws have become a challenge to most Zambians and that his association will soon engage the High Commission before advising the membership accordingly.

The event was graced by the Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia (PPAZ) Dancing Group based in Kasama. The group had made a stop-over in South Africa on their way from Europe to Zambia.

The group was discovered last year after being invited to perform at the UNWTO General Assembly in Livingstone. It was later selected from among other African countries to go and perform at the European Union traditional festival which was hosted by France and Spain this month.

Leader of the group, Michael Chimponda said the group was the only one from Africa with others coming from Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Russia, China, Spain and France. Mr. Chimponda said the audiences were impressed with the performances and the organisers have asked them to perform at the 2016 event.

He said all the 18 members of the group were in school and that proceeds from the performances were meant to take care of school fees and buying a bus to help ease their movements.

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Islamic Militias Behind Benghazi Attack Seize US Embassy in Tripoli

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The strategy is in the mail. The strategy is coming next Thursday. The dog ate the strategy.

An Islamist-allied militia group says it has ‘secured’ a U.S. Embassy compound in Libya’s capital, more than a month after American personnel evacuated from the country over ongoing fighting.

An Associated Press journalist walked through the compound Sunday after the Dawn of Libya, an umbrella group for Islamist militias, invited onlookers inside.

Windows at the compound had been broken, but it appeared most of the equipment there remained untouched.

A commander for the Dawn of Libya group said his forces had entered and been in control of the compound since last week. A video posted online showed men playing in a pool at the compound.

At least this time the diplomats and US personnel were evacuated first. But we’ve got nothing to worry about.

U.S. Ambassador to Libya Deborah Jones said the video appeared to have been shot in at the embassy’s residential annex.

She also said it appeared the compound was being “safeguarded” and was not “ransacked.”

Sure “secured”. Just like the guys posing for selfies with the corpse of Ambassador Stevens were “helping” get him to a hospital run by Ansar Al-Sharia, the group behind the attack.

Speaking of Ansar Al-Sharia, it’s part of the Libya Dawn coalition. So is Feb 17, the group that Hillary’s people thought it was a good idea to hire to protect the Benghazi compound.

Then they forgot to pay them.

Libya Dawn is overall dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood which has had trouble winning elections in Libya, but has no trouble shooting opponents.

That coalition is currently in control of Benghazi and Tripoli and has appointed its own government which no one recognizes.

Mission accomplished?

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Militia says it 'secured' US compound in Libya

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TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) - The Islamist-allied militia group in control of Libya's capital has "secured" a U.S. Embassy residential compound there, more than a month after American personnel evacuated from the country over ongoing fighting, one of its commanders said Sunday.

The Islamist militia's move likely will reinvigorate debate in the U.S. over its role in Libya, more than three years after supporting rebels who toppled dictator Moammar Gadhafi. It also comes near the two-year anniversary of the slaying of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans in Libya's second-largest city of Benghazi.

An Associated Press journalist walked through the U.S. Embassy compound Sunday after the Dawn of Libya, an umbrella group for Islamist militias, invited onlookers inside. Some windows at the compound had been broken, but it appeared most of the equipment there remained untouched. The journalist saw treadmills, food, televisions and computers still inside.

A commander for the Dawn of Libya group, Moussa Abu-Zaqia, told the AP that his forces had entered and been in control of the compound since last week, a day after it has seized control of the capital and its international airport after weeks of fighting with a rival militia. Abu-Zaqia said the rival militia was in the compound before his troops took it over.

The Dawn of Libya militia is not associated with the extremist militia Ansar al-Shariah, which Washington blames for the deadly assault on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi on Sept. 11, 2012, that killed Stevens and the three other Americans.

A video posted online Sunday showed unarmed men playing in a pool at the compound and jumping into it from a second-story balcony. Voices heard in the video identified it as the U.S. Embassy compound.

In a message on Twitter, U.S. Ambassador to Libya Deborah Jones said the video appeared to have been shot in at the embassy's residential annex, though she said she couldn't "say definitively" since she wasn't there.

"To my knowledge & per recent photos the US Embassy Tripoli chancery & compound is now being safeguarded and has not been ransacked," she wrote on Twitter. She did not immediately respond to a request to elaborate. State Department officials in Washington also declined to immediately comment.

On July 26, U.S. diplomats evacuated the compound and the capital to neighboring Tunisia under a U.S. military escort as fighting between rival militias intensified and thousands fled. The State Department said embassy operations would be suspended until the security situation improved.

Typically, local forces provide security for diplomatic posts, but Libya's government has largely relied on militias for law enforcement since Gadhafi's ouster, as its military and police forces remain weak. In the past several weeks, the security vacuum in Tripoli deepened as militia violence worsened. It remains unclear who the U.S. left in control of guarding its facilities after its personnel evacuated.

Libya's militias, many of which originate from rebel forces that fought Gadhafi, have become powerful players in post-war Libya. Successive governments have put militias on their payroll in return for maintaining order, but rivalries over control and resources have led to fierce fighting among them and posed a constant challenge to the central government and a hoped-for transition to democracy.

Following weeks of fighting that brought the capital to a standstill, the Dawn of Libya militia said last week it managed to seize control of Tripoli's airport and drive a rival militia from the mountain town of Zintan out of the capital. It is now deployed around the capital and has sought to restore normalcy in the city. The group called on foreign diplomats to return now that the fighting has subsided.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Click to read AP story about the Islamist militia group and US...

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TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — An Islamist-allied militia group “secured” a U.S. Embassy residential compound in Libya’s capital, more than a month after American personnel evacuated from the country over ongoing fighting, one of its commanders said Sunday.

An Associated Press journalist walked through the compound Sunday after the Dawn of Libya, an umbrella group for Islamist militias, invited onlookers inside. Some windows at the compound had been broken, but it appeared most of the equipment there remained untouched. The journalist saw treadmills, food, televisions and computers still inside.

A commander for the Dawn of Libya group, Moussa Abu-Zaqia, told the AP that his forces had entered and been in control of the compound since last week, a day after it has seized control of the capital and its strategic airport after weeks of fighting with a rival militia. Abu-Zaqia said the rival militia was in the compound before his troops took it over.

A video posted online showed men playing in a pool at the compound. In a message on Twitter, U.S. Ambassador to Libya Deborah Jones said the video appeared to have been shot in at the embassy’s residential annex.

She also said it appeared the compound was being “safeguarded” and was not “ransacked.”

The fighting prompted diplomats and thousands of Tripoli residents to flee. Dozens were killed in the fighting.

On July 26, U.S. diplomats evacuated to neighboring Tunisia under a U.S. military escort. The State Department said embassy operations would be suspended until the security situation improved.

The Dawn of Libya militia is deployed around the capital and has called on foreign diplomats to return now that the fighting has subsided.

15 Chibok Girls Awarded Scholarships To Study At American University Of Nigeria Academy

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Some of the Chibok schoolgirls, who escaped fro‎m their Boko Haram abductors have been awarded scholarships to attend the American University Nigeria Academy, AUN, Yola, Adamawa State.

The girls, 15 of them, were amongst over 250 school girls lured from their hostels at the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, into captivity on the night of April 14, by Boko Haram gunmen disguised as Nigerian soldiers on a rescue mission.

At least 50 of the girls managed to escape while the rest have remained in captivity more than four months after with their fate uncertain.

The girls were preparing to write their WAEC when they were khttp://www.informationng.com/wp-admin/post-new.php#idnapped.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is the founder of AUN, said he and some unnamed individuals have awarded 15 of the escaped girls scholarships.

“‎1‎5 of the #ChibokGirls who escaped have been admitted into AUN Academy on a scholarship”, Mr. Atiku tweeted.

“My sincere thanks to the good spirited individuals and friends who raised funds for this worthy cause. #BringBackOurGirls‎”, he added.

The former vice president also tweeted pictures of the girls receiving instructions from a white woman in what looks like a classroom setting.

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Somalia: 12 killed as army repels attack on prison

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By ABDI GULED

Associated Press

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) - Somalia's government forces regained control of a high security prison in the capital that was attacked Sunday by seven heavily armed suspected Islamic militants who attempted to free other extremists held there, officials said.

All the attackers, three government soldiers and two civilians were killed, said Information Minister Mustafa Duhulow.

Duhulow denounced the extremists as "against the security improvements we are currently experiencing here in Mogadishu and all they want is for the world to believe that Mogadishu is not safe. However, loudly we say to them that these foiled attacks strengthen our forces and prove their bravery to the people of Somalia."

Mogadishu's Godka Jilacow prison, the scene of the Sunday morning attack, is a key interrogation center for Somalia's intelligence agency and many suspected militants are believed to be held in underground cells there.

Somali police Capt. Mohamed Hussein said the attackers were "trying to free terrorists held in the prison."

The Somali rebel group al-Shabab, which is linked to al-Qaida, claimed responsibility for the attack that shattered a period of calm in Mogadishu, which is stabilizing after nearly 20 years of chaotic violence.

The attack started when a suicide car bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle at the gate of the prison, followed by gunmen who fought their way into the prison. Guards fought the attackers who threw grenades to penetrate the prison's defenses, police said.

Soldiers in pick-up trucks rushed to the prison and troops took positions around the facility, residents said.

Mohamed Hassan, a resident who lives near the prison in the neighborhood of the presidential palace, said he heard gunfire and explosions as soldiers and militants fought for control of the notorious jail.

Another resident, Mohamed Abdullahi, described a terrifying scene with bullets "flying around." Ambulance sirens echoed across the capital as those wounded in the attack were taken into the hospital wards for treatment.

The attack on the Mogadishu prison came as government soldiers, backed by African Union troops, launched an assault on militant bases in the southern parts of this Horn of Africa nation.

On Saturday the southern town of Bulomarer, which is about 110 kilometers (70 miles) south of Mogadishu, was seized from militants after hours of fighting.

Al-Shabab used Bulomarer to stage deadly attacks across Somalia, including in Mogadishu, say military officials. The military offensive dubbed "Indian Ocean" is planned to oust al-Shabab from one of its last major centers, said the officials. The loss of Bulomarer would leave al-Shabab's current key base of the coastal town of Barawe vulnerable to attacks.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Zimbabwe made history with their victory over Australia

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Zimbabwe caused a major upset as they beat Australia for the first time in 31 years after claiming a three-wicket win in the ODI triangular series in Harare.

Australia will wonder what might have been after skipper Michael Clarke, making his return from a hamstring injury, had to cut his innings short on 68 but the Baggy Greens were well below par as they finished on 209 for nine - their lowest ODI score against Zimbabwe.

With spin causing problems for both sides Nathan Lyon took four for 44 to threaten Zimbabwe's chase, but captain E lton Chigumbura, 52 off 68 balls, and Prosper Utseya, 30 off 28 balls, steered them to victory with 12 balls remaining.

Their last ODI win over Australia might have been in 1983, but the hosts also banished a more recent hoodoo as they crossed the 200 barrier for only the second time in six matches.

Clarke, who pulled up at a practice session before the start of the series, was forced to enter the fray sooner than he would have liked as Aaron Finch (11) was bowled in just the fourth over.

The 27-year-old was caught in two minds as John Nyumbu's delivery spun in from outside off, but he was soon joined by fellow opener Phil Hughes, who was fooled by Utseya's spin and edged to Nyumbu at slip to walk for 10 off 30 balls.

Clarke then looked on as George Bailey (one), Glenn Maxwell (13) and Mitchell Marsh (15) followed them back to the clubhouse to put Australia in trouble on 97 for five, but undeterred the captain brought up his steady 50 off 81 balls in the 33rd over.

The 33-year-old started to forge a strong sixth-wicket partnership with Brad Haddin, but that was cut short on 50 when Clarke had to withdraw in visible discomfort having scored 68. He was able to briefly return at the end of Australia's innings - without facing - and also came out to field midway through Zimbabwe's reply, but his side face a nervous wait to discover if he is fit enough to face South Africa on Tuesday.

It got worse for Australia when James Faulkner went for a golden duck to Utseya with the first delivery after Clarke's departure and Mitchell Starc (three) followed five balls later to Sean Williams, but Haddin stepped up to anchor their innings.

He bravely opened up and found a willing partner in Ben Cutting as they raced to an eighth-wicket stand of 51. Cutting was run out on 26 with the first ball of the last over and Haddin fell three balls later, lofting Donald Tiripano to long-on, with Lyon - alongside Clarke - finishing eight not out at the end of Australia's below-par innings.

Progress was slow for the hosts initially as Sikandar Raza became Lyon's first victim of the day, with a thick edge to slip on 22, before Tino Mawoyo (15) doubled the off-spinner's tally to leave Zimbabwe on 44 for two after 13.3 overs.

Hamilton Masakadza and Brendan Taylor combined to add 56, before Zimbabwe's chase was dealt a blow when three wickets fell for just six runs at the halfway stage.

Masakadza (18) was first to fall as he was beaten for pace by Starc, before Lyon bowled Taylor (32) and made Williams (four) his fourth victim, with the hosts needing 104 off just over 24 overs.

Chigumbura's presence was a stabilising influence for Zimbabwe, who were 54 runs short with three wickets and just under 12 overs remaining after Malcolm Waller was caught and bowled by Maxwell for 11 and Tiripano (three) became Starc's second victim.

Chigumbura brought up his 50, with four boundaries, in the 46th over as he and Utseya had Australia on the ropes, moving to within just 11 runs of their target with 24 balls left.

Utseya sealed the win in style by smashing Starc over the ropes at deep mid-wicket to take them to 211 for seven with time to spare.

Militia says it 'secured' US compound in Libya

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TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) - The Islamist-allied militia group in control of Libya's capital has "secured" a U.S. Embassy residential compound there, more than a month after American personnel evacuated from the country over ongoing fighting, one of its commanders said Sunday.

The Islamist militia's move likely will reinvigorate debate in the U.S. over its role in Libya, more than three years after supporting rebels who toppled dictator Moammar Gadhafi. It also comes near the two-year anniversary of the slaying of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans in Libya's second-largest city of Benghazi.

An Associated Press journalist walked through the U.S. Embassy compound Sunday after the Dawn of Libya, an umbrella group for Islamist militias, invited onlookers inside. Some windows at the compound had been broken, but it appeared most of the equipment there remained untouched. The journalist saw treadmills, food, televisions and computers still inside.

A commander for the Dawn of Libya group, Moussa Abu-Zaqia, told the AP that his forces had entered and been in control of the compound since last week, a day after it has seized control of the capital and its international airport after weeks of fighting with a rival militia. Abu-Zaqia said the rival militia was in the compound before his troops took it over.

The Dawn of Libya militia is not associated with the extremist militia Ansar al-Shariah, which Washington blames for the deadly assault on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi on Sept. 11, 2012, that killed Stevens and the three other Americans.

On July 26, U.S. diplomats evacuated the compound and the capital to neighboring Tunisia under a U.S. military escort as fighting between rival militias intensified. The State Department said embassy operations would be suspended until the security situation improved. The fighting prompted diplomats and thousands of Tripoli residents to flee. Dozens were killed.

A video posted online surfaced Sunday showing men playing in a pool at the compound and jumping into it from the roof. Voice heard in the video identified it as the U.S. Embassy compound.

In a message on Twitter, U.S. Ambassador to Libya Deborah Jones said the video appeared to have been shot in at the embassy's residential annex, though she said she couldn't "say definitively" since she wasn't there.

"To my knowledge & per recent photos the US Embassy Tripoli chancery & compound is now being safeguarded and has not been ransacked," she wrote on Twitter. She did not immediately respond to a request to elaborate. State Department officials in Washington also declined to immediately comment.

Tripoli is witnessing one of its worst spasms of violence since Gadhafi's ouster in 2011. The militias, many of which originate from rebel forces that fought Gadhafi, became powerful players in post-war Libya, filling a void left by weak police and a shattered army. Successive governments have put militias on their payroll in return for maintaining order, but rivalries over control and resources have led to fierce fighting among them and posed a constant challenge to the central government and a hoped-for transition to democracy.

Following weeks of fighting that brought the capital to a standstill, the Dawn of Libya militia said last week it managed to seize control of Tripoli's airport and drive a rival militia from the mountain town of Zintan out of the capital. It is now deployed around the capital and has sought to restore normalcy in the city. The group called on foreign diplomats to return now that the fighting has subsided.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Somalia: 12 killed as army repels attack on prison

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By ABDI GULED

Associated Press

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) - Somalia's government forces regained control of a high security prison in the capital that was attacked Sunday by seven heavily armed suspected Islamic militants who attempted to free other extremists held there, officials said.

All the attackers, three government soldiers and two civilians were killed, said Information Minister Mustafa Duhulow.

Duhulow denounced the extremists as "against the security improvements we are currently experiencing here in Mogadishu and all they want is for the world to believe that Mogadishu is not safe. However, loudly we say to them that these foiled attacks strengthen our forces and prove their bravery to the people of Somalia."

Mogadishu's Godka Jilacow prison, the scene of the Sunday morning attack, is a key interrogation center for Somalia's intelligence agency and many suspected militants are believed to be held in underground cells there.

Somali police Capt. Mohamed Hussein said the attackers were "trying to free terrorists held in the prison."

The Somali rebel group al-Shabab, which is linked to al-Qaida, claimed responsibility for the attack that shattered a period of calm in Mogadishu, which is stabilizing after nearly 20 years of chaotic violence.

The attack started when a suicide car bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle at the gate of the prison, followed by gunmen who fought their way into the prison. Guards fought the attackers who threw grenades to penetrate the prison's defenses, police said.

Soldiers in pick-up trucks rushed to the prison and troops took positions around the facility, residents said.

Mohamed Hassan, a resident who lives near the prison in the neighborhood of the presidential palace, said he heard gunfire and explosions as soldiers and militants fought for control of the notorious jail.

Another resident, Mohamed Abdullahi, described a terrifying scene with bullets "flying around." Ambulance sirens echoed across the capital as those wounded in the attack were taken into the hospital wards for treatment.

The attack on the Mogadishu prison came as government soldiers, backed by African Union troops, launched an assault on militant bases in the southern parts of this Horn of Africa nation.

On Saturday the southern town of Bulomarer, which is about 110 kilometers (70 miles) south of Mogadishu, was seized from militants after hours of fighting.

Al-Shabab used Bulomarer to stage deadly attacks across Somalia, including in Mogadishu, say military officials. The military offensive dubbed "Indian Ocean" is planned to oust al-Shabab from one of its last major centers, said the officials. The loss of Bulomarer would leave al-Shabab's current key base of the coastal town of Barawe vulnerable to attacks.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Zimbabwe made history with their victory over Australia

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Zimbabwe caused a major upset as they beat Australia for the first time in 31 years after claiming a three-wicket win in the ODI triangular series in Harare.

Australia will wonder what might have been after skipper Michael Clarke, making his return from a hamstring injury, had to cut his innings short on 68 but the Baggy Greens were well below par as they finished on 209 for nine - their lowest ODI score against Zimbabwe.

With spin causing problems for both sides Nathan Lyon took four for 44 to threaten Zimbabwe's chase, but captain E lton Chigumbura, 52 off 68 balls, and Prosper Utseya, 30 off 28 balls, steered them to victory with 12 balls remaining.

Their last ODI win over Australia might have been in 1983, but the hosts also banished a more recent hoodoo as they crossed the 200 barrier for only the second time in six matches.

Clarke, who pulled up at a practice session before the start of the series, was forced to enter the fray sooner than he would have liked as Aaron Finch (11) was bowled in just the fourth over.

The 27-year-old was caught in two minds as John Nyumbu's delivery spun in from outside off, but he was soon joined by fellow opener Phil Hughes, who was fooled by Utseya's spin and edged to Nyumbu at slip to walk for 10 off 30 balls.

Clarke then looked on as George Bailey (one), Glenn Maxwell (13) and Mitchell Marsh (15) followed them back to the clubhouse to put Australia in trouble on 97 for five, but undeterred the captain brought up his steady 50 off 81 balls in the 33rd over.

The 33-year-old started to forge a strong sixth-wicket partnership with Brad Haddin, but that was cut short on 50 when Clarke had to withdraw in visible discomfort having scored 68. He was able to briefly return at the end of Australia's innings - without facing - and also came out to field midway through Zimbabwe's reply, but his side face a nervous wait to discover if he is fit enough to face South Africa on Tuesday.

It got worse for Australia when James Faulkner went for a golden duck to Utseya with the first delivery after Clarke's departure and Mitchell Starc (three) followed five balls later to Sean Williams, but Haddin stepped up to anchor their innings.

He bravely opened up and found a willing partner in Ben Cutting as they raced to an eighth-wicket stand of 51. Cutting was run out on 26 with the first ball of the last over and Haddin fell three balls later, lofting Donald Tiripano to long-on, with Lyon - alongside Clarke - finishing eight not out at the end of Australia's below-par innings.

Progress was slow for the hosts initially as Sikandar Raza became Lyon's first victim of the day, with a thick edge to slip on 22, before Tino Mawoyo (15) doubled the off-spinner's tally to leave Zimbabwe on 44 for two after 13.3 overs.

Hamilton Masakadza and Brendan Taylor combined to add 56, before Zimbabwe's chase was dealt a blow when three wickets fell for just six runs at the halfway stage.

Masakadza (18) was first to fall as he was beaten for pace by Starc, before Lyon bowled Taylor (32) and made Williams (four) his fourth victim, with the hosts needing 104 off just over 24 overs.

Chigumbura's presence was a stabilising influence for Zimbabwe, who were 54 runs short with three wickets and just under 12 overs remaining after Malcolm Waller was caught and bowled by Maxwell for 11 and Tiripano (three) became Starc's second victim.

Chigumbura brought up his 50, with four boundaries, in the 46th over as he and Utseya had Australia on the ropes, moving to within just 11 runs of their target with 24 balls left.

Utseya sealed the win in style by smashing Starc over the ropes at deep mid-wicket to take them to 211 for seven with time to spare.