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LILONGWE – Malawi’s President Joyce Banda called for an immediate manual audit of this week’s election results, alleging serious irregularities as the electoral commission reported its vote tallying system had collapsed. “It has come to my attention that there (are) some serious irregularities in the counting and announcement of results in some parts of the…

LILONGWE – A Malawian minister has killed himself, police say, as results are still awaited from Tuesday’s general elections. Outgoing deputy Local Government Minister Godfrey Kamanya shot himself in his home, according to police. His spokesman denied reports that his suicide was linked to him apparently losing his parliamentary seat. Official results have not yet…

CAIRO – A court in Egypt has sentenced former President Hosni Mubarak to three years in prison after finding him guilty of embezzling public funds. His two sons, Alaa and Gamal, were also convicted and given four-year terms. The three were also fined $3m (£1.8m) and ordered to repay the $17.6m (£10.4m) they were accused…

TRIPOLI – The Libyan government has insisted that it remains in control of the country despite a series of heavy attacks and clashes over the weekend. The parliament building in the capital Tripoli was overrun by a militia group, and two people were killed. Later a militia spokesman demanded that the assembly hand over power…

PRETORIA – The judge in the trial of South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has ordered that he should undergo a mental evaluation. She ruled that psychiatric evidence before the court could not replace “a proper inquiry” into his mental health. Correspondents say the trial, which began in March, will almost certainly now face a lengthy…

LONDON – Prime Minister David Cameron has promised Britain “will do what we can” to help find more than 200 kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls. He made the comments as he held a sign bearing the “#Bring Back Our Girls” slogan on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show. Mr Cameron is the latest high-profile supporter of the social…

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC) has taken an early lead in the general election, partial results show. With nearly 50% of votes counted, the ANC had 62% of the vote followed by the Democratic Alliance at 24%. The ANC is widely expected to return to power although analysts say anything less…

JOHANNESBURG – South Africans are voting in general elections as the country marks 20 years since the end of white-minority rule. The African National Congress (ANC) is tipped to win, returning President Jacob Zuma for a second five-year term. These are the first elections since the death in December of Nelson Mandela, the country’s first…

PRETORIA – South African athlete Oscar Pistorius “was broken” after shooting his girlfriend, his neighbour has said, as the murder trial resumed after a two-week break. Johan Stander was the first person the athlete called after shooting Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year. The South African Olympic sprinter denies intentionally killing her. He says…

NAIROBI – Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has signed into law a controversial marriage bill legalising polygamy. It brings civil law, where a man was only allowed one wife, into line with customary law, where some cultures allow multiple partners. Controversy surrounded an amendment to the bill, supported by many male MPs, allowing men to take…