South Sudan set to become world's newest nation
South Sudan becomes the world's newest nation Saturday after a half-century struggle, and the streets of the capital began to pulse with excitement as the clock ticked down toward history.

Hundreds protest against extremism in Tunis
Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Tunis Thursday to condemn extremism amid unease over last month's attack by Salafist Muslims on a cinema showing a film about secularism.

Egypt denies responsibility for E. coli contamination
Cairo denied responsibility on Wednesday for E. coli outbreaks that killed 49 people in France and Germany and were blamed by the European Union on fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt.

Two policemen shot, military patrol bombed in Nigeria
Two policemen were shot dead and a military patrol squad bombed Tuesday in Nigeria's troubled city of Maiduguri, frequently hit by deadly attacks blamed on Islamists, a senior army chief said.

Nigeria's main unions warn of pay strike
Nigeria's main labour unions Thursday gave the government a two-week ultimatum to pay workers a minimum wage agreed to a year ago, or face a nationwide strike, including in the key oil sector.

Nigeria's planned oil law needs further 'review'
Nigeria's long-delayed law to overhaul of its oil sector will require further review before it is passed, a former petroleum minister said Wednesday, a move that could further hit investment.

E. Guinea banking on AU summit to refurbish image
Oil-rich Equatorial Guinea is banking on the African Union summit which it will host this week to refurbish an image tarnished by allegations of serious human rights violations.

Sudan president arrives in China after 1 day delay
Sudan's president arrived in Beijing for talks with Chinese officials on Tuesday, a day after his plane was forced to turn back over Turkmenistan because of flight itinerary problems.

Britain says 'time running out' for defiant Kadhafi
Time is running out for Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi, British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Thursday after the strongman said he had his "back to the wall" but vowed to battle "to the beyond."