Egypt: Mubarak Retrial Adjourned to Dec. 14

The Cairo Criminal Court adjourned to December 14 the retrial of former president Hosni Mubarak, his sons, Alaa and Gamal, and his interior minister Habib el-Adli over charges of killing protesters during the January 25th Revolution.

The adjournment was given to allow the defense teams time to review and copy the documents of the case.

The court also decided to summon former defense minister Mohamed Hussein Tantawi and his chief-of-staff Sami Anan to testify on December 15.

Cameroon 'repels attack' from Central African Republic

The Cameroonian military lost a soldier in the fighting

Cameroon's army has repelled a cross-border raid by gunmen from the Central African Republic (CAR), killing six of the attackers and capturing one of them, the defence ministry says.

A soldier and a villager were also killed in the clashes on Saturday, it said.

The border area has been tense since rebels in the CAR ousted President Francois Bozize in March.

Mr Bozize was briefly exiled in Cameroon before heading to France.

The BBC's Muhamman Babalala in Cameroon says about 400 gunmen are suspected to have launched the attack in an attempt to free CAR rebel leader Abdoulaye Miskine.

Mr Miskine, the leader of the Democratic Front of the Central African People (FPDC) group, was arrested in Cameroon in September on suspicion of planning to use it as a base to attack the CAR.

He broke away from the Seleka rebel coalition, which overthrew Mr Bozize.

"For the moment the situation is under our total control, and order, peace and security has been restored in the attacked village," the defence ministry said in a statement.

It did not name the village.

CAR gunmen often raid villages in Cameroon for food, correspondents say.

CAR has experienced numerous coups and rebellions since independence from France in 1960.

It is rich in minerals but its people are among the poorest in the world.

Libya spy chief Mustafa Nuh freed 'by Zintan militia'

Many militias have refused to disarm since the former regime's overthrow

Libya's deputy intelligence chief has been freed a day after being abducted at the airport in Tripoli, military sources have told the BBC.

Mustafa Nuh had reportedly been held by gunmen from the western town of Zintan.

Meanwhile, Tripoli is observing a three-day strike after militias from Misrata city opened fire on demonstrators, killing more than 40 people on Friday and Saturday.

The Misrata militia have been ordered to leave Tripoli within three days.

Two years after its revolution, Libya still lacks a stable government.

The rival militias from across the country which united to topple Col Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 have so far refused to disarm.

Several different groups entered the capital to force Col Gaddafi from power and some have remained there ever since.

The BBC's Rana Jawad in Tripoli says that in the absence of a central government to exercise power over the whole country, each city - and militia - is looking out for its own political and financial interests.

Some are believed to have links to al-Qaeda, others want to gain more power for their region, or town, while some realise they would lose their influence if they gave up their weapons.

Mr Nuh was bundled into a car after arriving at Tripoli international airport on Sunday, but military sources told the BBC he was released on Monday morning.

He was kidnapped with former rebel commander Alaa al-Hafs, who managed to escape.

Mr Hafs told the BBC Mr Nuh had been taken captive by men from Zintan.

"I know that he was beaten but also that he's OK," Mr Hafs added.

Mr Nuh was freed following the intervention of the Shura Council of Zintan, made up of local elders, he said.

Zintan has the most powerful brigades in Tripoli and some of them are loosely attached to the defence ministry, our correspondent says.

Militias from Zintan are still holding Col Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Islam, are and refusing to hand him over to the authorities in Tripoli.

At least 43 people were killed on Friday and Saturday when Misrata gunmen opened fire on protesters who were demanding they leave Tripoli.

In a joint statement on Sunday, Misrata's local council and the council of elders said all militia groups from the city - without exception - must pull out of Tripoli within 72 hours.

Shortly afterwards, Khalil al-Ruwaiti, who heads a unit under the Misrata Shield brigade, confirmed to the BBC that his fighters would leave the capital.

The brigade is not part of the militias which clashed with the protesters on Friday.

Emotions have been running high in Tripoli since the clashes, and Misrata's statement will be seen as a positive development, our correspondent says.

Some of the heaviest fighting of the 2011 conflict took place in Misrata and some residents and militiamen want this to be recognised.

Nigeria: 21 Killed As Soldiers Battle Boko Haram in Borno

Twenty Boko Haram terrorists and a soldier died during a gun battle between the two parties in Gwoza, Borno State, on Friday night, the military has said.

This was made known in a statement by the spokesperson for the 7 Division of the Nigeria Army, Maiduguri, Muhammad Dole.

According to Mr. Dole, soldiers launched an offensive along the Gwoza-Bita Damboa Road, where they flushed out the Boko Haram insurgents.

He stated that Bita Town was a Boko Haram stronghold from where the terrorists launched attacks on isolated villages and motorists along the road to Gwoza and Damboa.

"During the encounter, 20 Boko Haram terrorists were killed, scores of vehicles and 50 motorcycles were destroyed.

"A solider was killed, and three other soldiers were wounded in the operation," he said.

He added that the 7 division troops, supported by the Nigerian Air Force, were pursuing the fleeing insurgents in the areas of Bita and Sambisa Forest.

Cameroon/Tunisia: Victory Sends Cameroon to the Finals

Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images-Stanbic

Burkina Faso fan.

Cameroon survived a wobble against Tunisia to make it to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ thanks to a 4-1 win in Yaounde, making it six visits to the global finals in the last seven for the West Africans.

First-half strikes from Pierre Webo and Benjamin Moudandjo had put the hosts in control at the break as passage to next years finals looked a safe bet. However Ahmed Akaichi's strike after the break had Volker Fink's side worried until a Jean Makoun brace settled nerves ahead of the emphatic celebrations of the home crowd.

Cameroon began on top and it did not take long to make it count. Webo, who missed a gilt-edged chance in Rades, wasted no time at all in trying to remedy his error, pouncing on a some hesitant defending before finished smartly, firing across goal and in off the far right post.

Tunisia struggled to find their feet after such an early set-back, with Cameroon confidently dictating play. Fakhreddine Ben Youssef looked to be gaining a foothold for Tunisia, working space for himself in the off the right flank, but they were knocked back again moments later.

The visitors were left wanting at the back again as Moudandjo profited to push Cameroon further ahead. The Nancy man picked up the ball midway in the Tunisia half, and when he turned he looked like he had one thing on his mind. Bursting in between two defenders, and coasting past another, he kept his head down and slotted the ball into the near corner to secure a fine goal.

The crowd in Yaounde were bouncing, with Brazil seemingly in sight and the sun beating down, with the closest Tunisia coming when a dangerous free-kick by Wissem Ben Yahia was headed over.

Ruud Krol saw no need for caution after the break as captain Yassine Chikhaoui and Amine Chermiti making way, and they paid off almost instantly. The second period was only six-minutes-old when a ball over the top found substitute Akaichi in behind the defence and from just outside the area he thumped a half-volley beyond Itandje.

The rhythm of play shifted instantly, with Tunisia just one away from reaching Brazil on away goals and Cameroon looking nervous. Volker Fink knew the Indomitable Lions could not sit on their lead, with the arrival of Eric Choupo Moting a signal of their attacking intent.

Goalscorer Akaichi almost scored an unfortunate own goal, deflecting Stephane M'Bia's header narrowly over, but the Carthage Eagles were undone from a corner soon after. Jean Makoun was left with far too much space at the near-post to reach Benoit Assou-Ekotto's cross, to leave the visitors with it all to do again.

Moudandjo could have wrapped the game up with 20 minutes to go but, with Tunisia appealing for offside, Samuel Eto'o fed Moudandjo inside the area only for his first shot to be saved by Moez Ben Cherifia, while his second was fired over with the goal at his mercy.

Makoun did however make sure of the win, tapping in after Choupo Moting hit the base of the post.

Somali pirates jailed in US over American deaths

Shani Nurani Shiekh Abrar (front, left), Abukar Osman Beyle (back, centre) and Ahmed Muse Salad (front, right) were all convicted of murder and piracy this week

A US court has sentenced two Somali pirates to life in prison without parole for their role in the killing of four Americans aboard a yacht off the Horn of Africa in February 2011.

Abukar Osman Beyle and Shani Nurani Shiekh Abrar were convicted of murder, kidnapping, hostage-taking and piracy.

Prosecutors say 19 Somalis, 14 of whom have now been sentenced, boarded the yacht to take the Americans for ransom.

The hostages died after negotiations with the US Navy broke down.

The victims were the yacht's owners, Jean Adam, 66, and her husband Scott Adam, 70 - a former producer who worked on classic TV show The Love Boat - and their two friends Phyllis Patricia Macay, 59, and Robert Riggle, 67.

They had been sailing round the world distributing Bibles when their yacht was boarded by pirates off the Horn of Africa on 18 February, 2011.

Prosecutors said the pirates intended to take their hostages to Somalia, so that they could be ransomed for millions of dollars.

'Zero tolerance'

But the US Navy dispatched vessels to the aid of the yacht's crew after they sent out a distress signal.

There followed four days of negotiations between the US Navy and the pirates.

The court in Norfolk, Virginia, heard that the talks broke down as the yacht was approaching the Somali coastline.

The pirates fired a rocket-propelled grenade towards one of the US vessels, the destroyer USS Sterett, after which gunshots were fired on board the yacht, said prosecutors.

Four of the Somali men died during the US Navy's attempt to rescue the hostages. By the time US Navy Seals boarded the yacht, all four Americans had been fatally wounded.

Dana Boente, acting US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said Abukar Osman Beyle and Shani Nurani Shiekh Abrar were each given 21 life sentences.

The sentences related to one charge of piracy, plus charges of murder for each American killed, as well as kidnapping resulting in death, hostage-taking resulting in death, violence against maritime navigation resulting in death, and the use of a firearm causing death.

Prosecutors had asked for the men to be given the death penalty.

"These defendants, in violation of US and international law, commandeered an American-flagged sailing vessel, refused to release the hostages to the Navy, and brutally murdered the four Americans on board," said Acting US Attorney Dana Boente in a statement.

"The multiple, consecutive life sentences imposed today send a clear message that piracy, hostage-taking, and murder on the high seas will not be tolerated."

A third man, Ahmed Muse Salad, received the same life sentences on Tuesday.

Eleven other Somali men had already been sentenced to life in prison for their parts in the attack.

One further suspected pirate was released by the US authorities because he was adjudged to be a juvenile.

Deaths at Libya anti-militia protest in Tripoli

The protesters were demanding that the militia from Misrata leave Tripoli

At least 13 people have been killed and 130 injured in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, state media say, after militiamen opened fire on protesters.

The demonstrators had marched to the headquarters of the Misrata militia to demand that it leave Tripoli.

Hours after the incident, armed men returned to storm the compound, where militiamen are still holed up.

The Libyan government has been struggling to contain numerous militias who control many parts of the country.

There have been increasing demands from civilians that the militias - which emerged during the 2011 revolution - disband or join the army, in line with an end-of-year deadline set by the interim government in Tripoli.

Government roadblocks

Saddat al-Badri, the leader of Tripoli's local council, who was at the initial protest, said demonstrators had gone there peacefully, but the militiamen "fired their weapons as soon as we arrived, there was a 106mm used, and even an RPG".

"The protesters were not armed and they were all there chanting 'Libya'," he said, adding that the city risked descending into armed warfare.

The BBC's Rana Jawad, in Tripoli, says military jets could be seen and heard flying low over the Airport Road area, and heavy gunfire was ringing out.

Witnesses said that armed men had stormed the militia HQ hours after the protesters were shot at, with some buildings set on fire.

Army vehicles have reportedly arrived to seal off roads and try to separate the combatants.

The militia was involved in clashes in the capital last week which left two people dead.

Last month, Prime Minister Ali Zeidan was briefly seized by a militia group in Tripoli.

Two years after the overthrow of Col Muammar Gaddafi, Libya still has no constitution and divisions between secular and Islamist forces have paralysed parliament.