Africa, Military | featured news

Egypt's transition to democracy after 30 years of authoritarian rule faces a major test on Saturday when Egyptians vote in a referendum on amendments to the constitution. Opponents are pushing heavily for a "no" vote, saying the changes don't go far enough and that the ruling military is rushing the process.

The US defence department says it is repositioning some of its forces around Libya as Western nations consider options for possible intervention against Muammar Gaddafi's regime.

Four Americans taken hostage by Somali pirates off East Africa were shot and killed by their captors Monday, the U.S. military said, marking the first time U.S. citizens have been killed in a wave of pirate attacks plaguing the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean for years.

Thousands of Nigerians gathered in Abuja on Saturday to hear President Goodluck Jonathan proclaim his candidacy in January elections, likely to be the most fiercely contested since the end of military rule.

Leaders of Niger's military coup promise a "return to constitutional order", three days after overthrowing the president.

A Nigerian military official said about 700 people had died in the city of Maiduguri during recent fighting.