Nigeria in 'Frank' Talks With Mend
Nigeria's president has held talks with former rebel leaders in the oil-rich Niger Delta in a bid to end the conflict in the region, his spokesman said.Olusegun Adeniyi said on Sunday that Umaru Yar'Adua's meeting with the ex-chiefs of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, or Mend, was "frank and fruitful". The president "used the session to reiterate his commitment to the overall peace and development of the Niger Delta," Adeniyi said. He said Wole Soyinka, Nigeria's Nobel prize-winning author, also took part in the talks.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2009/11/2009111518144629789.html
Germany Arrests Top Rwanda Rebels
Police in Germany have arrested two Rwandan militia leaders on suspicion of crimes committed in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ignace Murwanashyaka, the leader of the FDLR rebel group, and his aide Straton Musoni were held on suspicion of crimes against humanity and war crimes. FDLR leaders fled to DR Congo after the Rwanda genocide in which some 800,000 people - mostly ethnic Tutsis - died.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8364507.stm
MTN to Lay Off Over 400 in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Africa's biggest mobile phone operator, MTN (MTNJ.J), plans to lay off at least 400 staff in South Africa to cut costs as the recession bites. The company, which operates networks across Africa and the Middle East, said on Monday it would cut both permanent and temporary workers because it was becoming more efficient and because of a fall in customer numbers. Temba Nyathi, MTN Group's human resources executive, said the cutbacks were expected to save 150-170 million rand ($20-$23 million) per year.
http://www.reuters.com/article/telcommunicationsServicesSector/idUSLG43385220091116
