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