For generations Zulu homes have run tests to ensure their daughters fetch a higher "lobola", the traditional payment made by the groom's family to the bride's family.

Sthabile Buthelezi, 25, said she had been attending virginity testing sessions since 1994.

"Boys should be taught to be good mannered as well, not just girls."

news.bbc.co.uk

Three Swedes freed from Ethiopia

Three Swedish men have been released by Ethiopia after being detained for five months on suspicion of helping Islamist militants in Somalia.

news.bbc.co.uk

xenophobic south africa

The UNHCR spokesperson described the attacks as xenophobic, saying that Somalis "stand out and are much more of a target" because of their ethnicity and religious beliefs, but economics were also a factor because "local merchants accuse the Somalis of competing unfairly"

• somalinet

Ivorian militias start to disarm

Last month a UN-patrolled barrier zone between President Gbagbo's troops and the New Forces rebels was removed. The rebel chief Guillaume Soro was also named prime minister, something that would have been inconceivable just six months ago.

But many Ivorians doubt whether the old enemies, President Gbagbo and Mr Soro, are really the men to unite the country.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6673457.stm

Constant terror in Sderot

The Jewish Agency said Saturday night that it has received $2 million to fund a week-long summer camp in central Israel for all 8,000 of Sderot's children.

• www.haaretz.com/
• www.jpost.com
• www.jpost.com

Beslan policeman may be amnestied

A total of 333 hostages were killed, including 186 children, as a result of the terrorist attack on Beslan school # 1 on September 1-3, 2004

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=11516774&PageNum=0

Algeria elections: Voters' views

"I suspect that the recent attacks were state-sponsored"

Aicha, 63, retired council worker

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6666751.stm

Algeria ruling bloc wins polls

The poll was the third legislative election since an Islamist revolt erupted after the cancellation of a national election in January 1992, which a now-outlawed Muslim fundamentalist party was poised to win.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/EAD77C49-59FD-420E-B17E-39554B3DB923.htm

D.E.A., a “Drug Cartel”

"We were able to determine the presence of a new drug cartel in which the United States Drug Enforcement Agency was monopolizing the shipment of drugs."

Venezuelan Minister of the Interior Pedro Carreño

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=2291

Nigeria: call for strike

Unions say April's elections were fraudulent and unacceptable; call for re-run.

Annulments and military coups ruined all earlier attempts for such a transfer in the country of 140 million people. Africa's largest oil producer.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/05/17/nigeria.strike.ap/index.html

an example of transformation

“You are an example of transformation. We in Africa must learn from your success”

Madagascan President Marc Ravalomanana

http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=9296&size=A

A dying horse

"It is a terrorist attack to try and intimidate our force. But those are kicks of a dying horse."

Gen Nyakairima

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6665011.stm