African Morning News

AfricaNews-Africa's growth and development trajectory remains positive with sub-Saharan Africa set to grow at more than 5% despite the global economic crisis, an investment expert said."Africans have not defined their economies and growth prospects to the world but have allowed international bankers, political analysts and credit ratings agencies to take the initiative and write up, or sometimes even belittle, the African growth story," Brand South Africa chief executive, Miller Matola, said at the ongoing World Economic Forum (WEF) Africa.

AfricaNews-Polls have opened in Algeria for parliamentary elections which the authorities have billed as more free and transparent than ever before. Some 21.6 million Algerians out of a population of 37 million are registered to vote. Algerian authorities have allowed in 500 foreign observers.But, after initially welcoming in the observers - from the European Union, African Union and other groups - the Algerian government has blocked their access to national election lists.

By RFI;Outgoing French president Nicolas Sarkozy faces possible legal probes into allegations of corruption and illicit campaign financing when he steps down next week and loses his presidential immunity.Sarkozy could face questioning as soon as mid-June because he will lose his immunity a month after his successor, Socialist Francois Hollande, is sworn in on May 15.Sarkozy denies any wrongdoing but might have to face court proceedings. His predecessor Jacques Chirac was convicted last year and given a suspended sentence, demonstrating that French courts are willing to try former leaders.

By RFI:Newly-elected French President François Hollande received a blow to his hopes of pulling the country out of the economic crisis after figures released by the European Commission show France, and Spain, will miss budget deficit targets for next year.The French public deficit is expected to hit 4.2 per cent in 2013, higher than Hollande's three per cent target, while the economy will grow by 1.3 per cent next year, also below the Socialist leader's projection of 1.7 per cent.

BBC-The Spanish government is to force its banks to take on an extra 30bn euros ($39bn; £24bn) of capital to cushion themselves against loans going bad.The banks will have to raise the money or borrow from the government at an annual interest rate of about 10%.The government said it was determined to take the necessary measures to restore credibility and trust to the financial system.Earlier in the week, the Spanish government took a 45% stake in Bankia.Bankia had a 4.47bn-euro loan by the Spanish bailout fund converted into shares.

BBC-Syria has foiled a attempted suicide car bomb attack in the northern city of Aleppo, state TV says, a day after massive blasts in the capital Damascus.It says the security forces killed the would-be bomber, who had 1,200kg (2,640lb) of explosives in the car.On Thursday, 55 people died in the two Damascus blasts near a military intelligence building.Syrian officials say "foreign-backed terrorists" carried out the twin suicide car-bomb attacks.On Friday, Syria's state TV said the attempted attack had been thwarted in Aleppo's al-Shaar area.

Any military operation without the approval of sub-regional institutions such as ECOWAS and regional and African Union are inherently suspectes.C is why we question the advisability of organizing the operation called "Sahara Express" to off the coast of Senegal under the initiative of Americans. Remember that "Sahara Express" was officially described as a preparatory phase prior to sailing naval units. In this respect the 24 and 25 April were spent in training and education in port, it concerns a series of training on the rules of engagement, law of the sea, operational procedures, the visiting team and familiarization with the management software of the year.

AfricaNews-They say that truth is the first casualty of war. Reports covering the heartbreaking civil unrest in northern Mali portray the rebelling Tuareg nomads as a mix of well-armed, Libyan-trained mercenaries and Al Qaeda aligned terrorists. I read these articles, and I know that they are true . . . in part. My own memories of the Tuaregs, however, do not mesh with the media's portrayals.It was 1996.

Aljazeera-Security Council begins discussion on draft resolution calling for possible sanctions against Sudan and South Sudan.The UN Security Council has started talks on a draft resolution that would call for sanctions against Sudan and South Sudan if they do not meet African Union demands to end their border war.Thursday's resolution, backing previously stated AU demands, was circulated by the US. It calls for all troops to be withdrawn from the disputed border region, negotiations beginning within two weeks, and humanitarian access to aid those affected by the conflict.