New York - A UN resolution to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe for holding a violent June 27 presidential poll boycotted by the opposition candidate was vetoed in the Security Council on Friday by Russias and Chinese.

 

Harare - The High Court in Harare on Wednesday gave the go-ahead for opposition Movement for Democratic Change second-in-command Tendai Biti to travel abroad for talks on the country's political impasse by ordering his passport be returned.

Bosasso - Somali pirates have freed a German ship hijacked more than a month ago off the Horn of Africa after its owners paid a $750 000 ransom, local officials and one of the pirates said on Wednesday.

THE National Housing and Construction Company (NHCC) and the dfcu Bank have launched a new mortgage product, which offers 100% financing. The offer isavailable at any of the NHCC estates. The mortgage will be payable over a period of between three and 20 years, top officials announced on Thursday.

Bujumbura - Burundi's government accused the country's last rebel group of plotting fresh violence on Wednesday after they said they were halting demobilisation.

Baidoa - Heavily-armed Islamist rebels have attacked the presidential palace in the Somali government's headquarters, killing four soldiers, Reuters has reported.