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CAIRO – A referendum on Egypt’s amended constitution is likely to take place in January, the interim PM has said. Hazem Beblawi said the referendum would take place in the “second half of January” – later than expected. It is a key first step in the political transition after Islamist President Mohammed Morsi was ousted…

LONDON – Nigeria’s Goodluck Jonathan has been taken ill and given medical treatment while overseas, but his condition is not said to be serious. The president was in London for a business meeting, but could not attend. “The Presidency wishes to assure all Nigerians that President Jonathan’s condition is nothing serious,” his aide Reuben Abati…

JOHANNESBURG – South African newspapers have published images of President Jacob Zuma’s residence, defying a government warning that this would break security laws. Mr Zuma’s Nkandla residence is at the centre of a row after it emerged that the government had used $20m (£12m) of taxpayers’ money to refurbish it. Cabinet ministers on Thursday said…

DURBAN – At least two people have died and up to 40 people are feared trapped after a roof collapsed at a construction site in eastern South Africa, emergency services say. The collapse occurred in the township of Tongaat, near Durban. Thirty people have been transported to the hospital with injuries ranging from moderate to…

TRIPOLI – Libya and its fledgling security forces, overwhelmed by militia violence and unrest since the overthrow of dictator Moammar Gadhafi two years ago, are going to get some help from the U.S. military, a top American commander said. Adm. William McRaven, head of the U.S. Special Operations Command, said Saturday the United States will…

CONAKRY – Guinea’s Supreme Court has upheld September’s election results which saw President Alpha Conde’s RPG party win the most seats. Opposition parties have tried to annul the vote, alleging fraud. International observers said the election in the West African nation was marred by irregularities. The ruling means the RPG (Rally of the Guinean People)…

JOHANNESBURG – Former South African president Nelson Mandela is still unable to speak but uses facial expressions to communicate, his ex-wife has told a local newspaper. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela said the 95-year-old remained “quite ill” but she dismissed speculation that he was on a life support machine. In September Mr Mandela returned home after nearly three…

BANJUL – Gambia has announced that it has cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan. President Yahya Jammeh’s office said the move was for reasons of “national strategic interest”. The West African state was one of a few African countries to recognise Taiwan, which China regards as part of its territory. Correspondents say it is unclear if…

CAIRO – Egypt’s ousted President Mohammed Morsi has warned that the country cannot be stable until he is returned to power. In a statement read out by lawyers who met him in prison, he said he had been kidnapped and held against his will since the military deposed him in July. He also denounced as…

CAIRO – One of Egypt’s top football clubs has excluded its striker from a competition for publicly showing support for ousted President Mohammed Morsi. Al Ahly said Ahmed Abdul Zaher would not go to next month’s Fifa Club World Cup in Morocco after he gave a four-fingered salute on Sunday. The striker was celebrating his…