ABIDJAN, 7 Feb 2006 (IRIN) - Eleven people were shot or hacked to death when unidentified assailants attacked a village in the volatile cocoa-growing western region of war-torn Cote dIvoire, hospital and police officials said on Tuesday.Full report

MBABANE, 7 Feb 2006 (IRIN) - Petrol bombings of government targets in Swaziland continue unabated despite the arrest of 16 members of banned political organisations in connection with the attacks. Full report

NDJAMENA, 6 Feb 2006 (IRIN) - The rhetoric may be flying, with outbursts over "a fool's agreement" and "neo-colonialist and imperialist behaviour, but most observers believe the oil row between the Chadian government and the World Bank will end in a face-saving compromise.Full report

ABUJA, 6 Feb 2006 (IRIN) - Mounting violence in Sudans Darfur region is undermining talks taking place in the Nigerian capital to end the three-year conflict, according to the African Union (AU).Full report

NEW YORK , 6 Feb 2006 (IRIN) - The United Nations Security Council on Monday agreed to send a company of peacekeeping troops from the UN mission in Liberia to war-torn neighbour Cote dIvoire after a spate of anti-UN violence.Full report

JOHANNESBURG, 6 Feb 2006 (IRIN) - As the Comoros prepare for upcoming elections that will test their new power-sharing arrangement, South Africa is gearing up to do its part in ensuring the April elections are free and fair. Full report

JOHANNESBURG, 6 Feb 2006 (IRIN) - A South African newspaper is set to challenge a court interdict barring the publication of controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, initially printed in Denmark, that have caused angry protests in countries around the world.Full report

LUSAKA, 6 Feb 2006 (IRIN) - Zambia's debt write-off has not yet translated into benefits for ordinary workers, according to the head of the country's labour movement.Full report

KINSHASA, 6 Feb 2006 (IRIN) - The Supreme Court of the Democratic Republic of Congo has confirmed the results of a constitutional referendum held on 18 December 2005, in which 84.3 percent of the votes cast were in favour of the draft constitution, the court's president, Lwamba Bindu, said.Full report

KIGALI, 6 Feb 2006 (IRIN) - Local government elections began on Monday in Rwanda for 21,500 officials to head cells countrywide, the nation's lowest administrative units.Full report

TANZANIA: Year in Brief 2005 - A chronology of key events

KENYA: Year in Review 2005 - Searching for a constitution

LIBERIA: A chronology of 25 years of conflict and turmoil

SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE: Waiting for the oil boom

CHAD: Government and World Bank struggle to save face in oil row

MALAWI: Abuse of women and girls a national shame

GHANA: Why is the north blighted by chieftaincy disputes?

SOMALIA: Interview with parliamentary speaker