Niger

Rivals to Central African Republic leader Francois Bozize pulled their representatives off the election body on Saturday, alleging fraud after early partial results from last weekend's poll put Bozize in the lead.

Nigeria's combined crude oil and condensate production is currently 2.4 million barrels per day (bpd) but output from Africa's largest crude exporter still remains within its OPEC quota, the state oil company says.

A Royal Dutch Shell executive said on Wednesday the company could not be held solely responsible for damage to the environment caused by oil extraction in the Niger Delta where it operates.

A presidential election in Niger aimed at returning the West African uranium exporter to civilian rule will go ahead as planned on January 31 after logistical problems were solved, the ruling junta said late on Monday.

An audio message released by Osama bin Laden on Friday warned that French hostages held by Islamic militants will be killed if President Nicolas Sarkozy does not withdraw French forces from Afghanistan.

Osama bin Laden warned France on Friday that the country should leave Afghanistan if it wanted to see its captive nationals alive, in a televised audio-recording.

Three people were killed in central Nigeria on Monday when soldiers opened fire to quell a fight between Christian and Muslim youths over voter registration for April elections, police and witnesses said.

Clashes between political gangs rather than attacks on oil facilities are the greatest threat to Nigeria's Niger Delta ahead of April elections and the long-term security of its oil output depends on much more than who wins.

Shell is putting up four Nigerian onshore oil blocks for auction as the oil major focuses on transferring some assets in Nigeria to local companies, Platts reported on Thursday, quoting sources close to the process.

Niger denied on Wednesday it was holding two suspected militants believed to have been involved in the kidnapping and killing of two French nationals at the weekend, contradicting a previous report.

The presidents of the United States and the United States’ oldest ally, France, met today in Washington, and offered condolences to each other for recent violent tragedies suffered by each nation.

France is verifying the authenticity of a broadcast message by an al-Qaeda off-shoot demanding troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in return for the safety of their nationals kidnapped in Niger. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) also suggested direct negotiations with al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden over hostages' issue. Five French nationals along with two Africans, all employees of French firms Areva and Vinci operating in the mining town of Arlit in Niger were kidnapped on September 16.

India's annual rate of inflation, based on monthly wholesale price index (WPI), marginally declined to 8.58 percent for the month of October 2010 as compared to 8.62 percent for the previous month and 1.48 percent during the corresponding month of the previous year, according to a government statement on Monday.

India's annual rate of inflation for food articles declined 0.29 percentage points to 12.30 percent for the week ended October 30, 2010, from 12.59 percent in the previous week, according to a government release on Thursday.