Niger signs power deal with China

The government in Niger has signed an agreement for China to help improve the country's power supplies.

China will transfer several electrical power units to Niger under the agreement, officials said.

The deal comes as Niger's cities have been experiencing power outages, partly due to problems in supply from Nigeria.

Chinese companies have recently become more active in Niger, exploring for uranium and oil in the north and east of the country.

Government officials said the power units were being dismantled in China prior to their transfer, the BBC's Idy Baraou reports from Niger.

Each unit is expected to provide 15-20 megawatts (MW) of power.

"We hope that this new equipment could help increase the production of electric power by about 30% for the region of (the capital) Niamey, which means we will be able to provide between 50 and 60 megawatts," said Hamidu Mamudu, head of Niamey's existing power plant.

An official from Niger's state power company was also travelling to Asia to purchase new parts for Niger's ageing infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Niger's government says it is investing about $4m for short-term improvements to the country's power grid.

Demand for power in Niger has been increasing.

Niger, a major producer of uranium, is also one of the world's poorest nations.

Congo to give free malaria drugs

Anti-malaria medication will be available free to children and pregnant women in the Republic of Congo.

Malaria kills some 21,000 children under five each year, the UN says.

But Health Minister Emilienne Raoul warned that the medicines were for the sick, and must not end up for re-sale on the streets or in other countries.

Correspondents say theft and re-sale of medicines is a major problem in Congo. The medication will be free to children under the age of 15.

Treatment for tuberculosis, one of the infections linked to HIV, is already free of charge in the country.

TB, malaria and HIV/Aids are the three top killers in Congo.

She also announced that children would be entitled to free Aids tests.

SA prostitution plans condemned

Plans to legalise prostitution for the 2010 football World Cup in South Africa have been criticised by religious groups and opposition parties.

The local authority in Durban wants legalised adult entertainment venues during the tournament.

But African Nazareth Democratic Movement (ANDM) president Thokozani Hlatshwayo said the proposal was "against the word of God".

Opposition parties fear that, if introduced, it could become permanent.

The main opposition Democratic Alliance and the youth wing of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) have condemned the suggestion.

"Plans to legalise Durban's red-light districts before the 2010 World Cup should be condemned in the strongest possible manner," said Pat Lebenya-Ntanzi of the IFP youth brigade.

She said the South African government was sending out mixed messages to young people.

"On the one hand it preaches strong family values and moral regeneration, but on the other hand they want to legalise prostitution on Durban's streets. It doesn't make sense," she said.

An additional concern is Aids - some five million people in South Africa are HIV-positive - making it one of the world's worst-hit countries.

Thrives

Durban's municipality said Germany had many adult entertainment centres during the World Cup in 2006, which were very popular with visitors.

It said while prostitution was illegal in South Africa, it could not ignore the fact that the sex industry thrives during major events like the World Cup.

To address this, entertainment centres such as strip clubs and escort agencies would be located in special areas where they would be safe and easily accessible.

Municipality Deputy Mayor Logie Naidoo said a final decision had not yet been taken.

"The national government will give us a lead in this matter, whether it relates to the 2010 Soccer World Cup or any other time for that matter," he said.

Safe environments

City officials admit that there are already young girls and women working as prostitutes on the streets of Durban.

They say plans are already in place to help them operate in safe environments.

"We would support any legalisation of sex work"
Nicola Fick, Sweat

In January, MP George Lekgetho called for prostitution to be legalised during the tournament.

"It is one of the things that would make it a success," he said.

He told parliament that it would help cut incidences of rape.

The BBC's Mpho Lakaje in Johannesburg says his suggestion was met with derision by other MPs. But a group representing sex workers welcomed it.

"We would support any legalisation of sex work, particularly during the 2010 World Cup," Nicola Fick from the Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Task Force (Sweat) told the BBC.

The idea of legalising sex workers was first proposed last year by police commissioner Jackie Selebi, who has since been suspended over corruption charges.

Thousands flee Nigerian militants

Thousands of Nigerians have fled the Niger Delta oil town of Bonny after militants threatened to behead people who are not originally from the area.

The unknown group attacked soldiers in the town two weeks ago, killing nine people including a pregnant woman.

According to a newspaper article widely circulated by residents, the militants said they would return on July 16.

Bonny Island is home to a major oil and gas export terminal but production has not been affected.

Bonny youth leader Kingsley Adonis Pepple said people took the threat seriously and there was panic on the streets.

"They were handing out copies of this article to people in the street. There was panic. People packed up their entire family into a boat and fled."

Several boats had capsized and people drowned, he claimed.

Mr Adonis Pepple said he had contacted all the known militant groups in the area and had been assured the article was wrong.

He tried to tell people but they weren't taking any chances, he said.

Communal clashes

The article said unnamed sources reported the militants' demand.

"Another source said that the hoodlums, after the face-off with the navy, entered town, shooting and giving ultimatum that all residents of the town who were from other places should leave the town before July 16 or risk being beheaded," the national Nigerian Tribune paper said.

The article was sent to many people in Bonny by family members begging them to get out before the deadline, Mr Adonis Pepple said.

Bonny is a city of over 100,000 people, many of whom work in the oil industry.

The new multi-million dollar Liquefied Natural Gas export terminal is nearby.

Shell announced on Tuesday that a pipeline leading to Bonny Island, attacked by militants two months ago, had been repaired and production resumed.

Militant attacks on oil infrastructure are partly responsible for Nigeria's oil exports being cut by around a quarter in recent years.

Militants have also kidnapped oil workers for ransom.

Some groups are demanding a larger share of the oil wealth, but others are criminal gangs who make a living from extortion and oil theft, Delta activists say.

Nigeria has seen several "communal crises" in recent years, in which one ethnic group attacks another seen as being "non-indigenous" to the area.

Hundreds of people were killed in Plateau state in 2004 in clashes between Christian militias and Hausa Muslims.

President Umaru Yar'Adua is meeting British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in London to discuss security issues in the oil-producing Niger Delta.

Mr Brown recently offered to help Nigeria bring an end to the violence and increase oil production.

Many in the region are afraid Mr Brown means to send military aid to the Delta.

Thousands flee Nigerian militants

Thousands of Nigerians have fled the Niger Delta oil town of Bonny after militants threatened to behead people who are not originally from the area.

The unknown group attacked soldiers in the town two weeks ago, killing nine people including a pregnant woman.

According to a newspaper article widely circulated by residents, the militants said they would return on July 16.

Bonny Island is home to a major oil and gas export terminal but production has not been affected.

Bonny youth leader Kingsley Adonis Pepple said people took the threat seriously and there was panic on the streets.

"They were handing out copies of this article to people in the street. There was panic. People packed up their entire family into a boat and fled."

Several boats had capsized and people drowned, he claimed.

Mr Adonis Pepple said he had contacted all the known militant groups in the area and had been assured the article was wrong.

He tried to tell people but they weren't taking any chances, he said.

Communal clashes

The article said unnamed sources reported the militants' demand.

"Another source said that the hoodlums, after the face-off with the navy, entered town, shooting and giving ultimatum that all residents of the town who were from other places should leave the town before July 16 or risk being beheaded," the national Nigerian Tribune paper said.

The article was sent to many people in Bonny by family members begging them to get out before the deadline, Mr Adonis Pepple said.

Bonny is a city of over 100,000 people, many of whom work in the oil industry.

The new multi-million dollar Liquefied Natural Gas export terminal is nearby.

Shell announced on Tuesday that a pipeline leading to Bonny Island, attacked by militants two months ago, had been repaired and production resumed.

Militant attacks on oil infrastructure are partly responsible for Nigeria's oil exports being cut by around a quarter in recent years.

Militants have also kidnapped oil workers for ransom.

Some groups are demanding a larger share of the oil wealth, but others are criminal gangs who make a living from extortion and oil theft, Delta activists say.

Nigeria has seen several "communal crises" in recent years, in which one ethnic group attacks another seen as being "non-indigenous" to the area.

Hundreds of people were killed in Plateau state in 2004 in clashes between Christian militias and Hausa Muslims.

President Umaru Yar'Adua is meeting British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in London to discuss security issues in the oil-producing Niger Delta.

Mr Brown recently offered to help Nigeria bring an end to the violence and increase oil production.

Many in the region are afraid Mr Brown means to send military aid to the Delta.