The man can be seen and heard talking to the camera. The video came as terrified eyewitnesses saw two men shot by police marksmen after the machete attack in Woolwich, south-east London.

The two men are thought to have waited around for 20 minutes until Metropolitan Police officers arrived and then tried to attack them – but were swiftly shot by armed policemen, including a woman.

They apparently shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’, which means ‘God is great’ in Arabic, and tried to film the attack, the BBC’s political editor Nick Robinson said.

Theresa May tonight called a meeting of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee in response to the machete and knife attack on the man who was wearing a Help for Heroes t-shirt.

The Home Secretary said she had been briefed on the killing by the head of MI5 and police later confirmed they were treating the incident as a possible terror attack.

The Cobra meeting heard that security has been tightened at Woolwich barracks and increased at all London barracks. It was also told there are strong indications that this was a terrorist incident.

Mrs May said said: ‘What happened today in Woolwich was a sickening and barbaric attack. This attack was an attack on everyone in the UK. It will be condemned by people from every community.

‘We have seen terrorism on the streets of Britain before, and have always stood firm against it. Despicable acts like these will not go unpunished.’

Meanwhile Prime Minister David Cameron cancelled a meeting with French President Francois Hollande to return to London. He said Britain has faced similar terror attacks before and added: ‘We will never buckle in the face of it.’

Before the dramatic video of the bloodied man was obtained by ITV News, eyewitnesses said the ‘crazed’ men in their 20s launched a ferocious attack and were ‘hacking, chopping and cutting him.’

In footage released by ITV News, a man with bloodied hands carrying a knife and a machete addresses people holding a camera, where he appears to attempt to justify the incident.

Speaking to those recording the scene he says: ‘I apologise that women had to witness this today, but in our land our women have to see the same.

‘You people will never be safe. Remove your government, they don’t care about you.’

In footage obtained by The Sun, he can also be heard saying: ‘You think David Cameron is going to get caught in the street when we start busting our guns you think politicians are going to die?

‘No it’s going to be the average guy, like you, and your children. So get rid of them. Tell them to bring our troops back so you can all live in peace.’

Following his outburst, the man walks back towards where the victim is lying in the middle of the road. He then speaks to another man as they stand near to the victim.

Women are later seen bravely tending to the man lying. The footage appears to have been taken before any of the emergency services have arrived at the scene.

Later footage has also emerged from shortly after police fired at two men. One of the men can be seen lying in the road, while the second is laid on the pavement.

The footage taken after the shootings was reported to have been taken by a man who had been on a bus on his way to a job interview.

One eyewitness claimed one of the soldier’s attackers was seen last week preaching in Woolwich.

Jamie France, 29, a local musician, said: ‘I spoke to my mum on the phone and showed her the video footage from the internet. She told me that she recognised one of the men with the knife.

‘She said she’d seen him last week preaching in Woolwich town centre. She said she remembers him because he’d been really angry and was saying all this political stuff.’

Mr Cameron said on Twitter that ‘the killing in Woolwich is truly shocking – I have asked the Home Secretary to chair a Cobra meeting.’

Help for Heroes, the charity whose t-shirt witnesses said the victim was wearing, said: ‘Help for Heroes is appalled to hear that a man, believed to be a serving soldier, has been brutally murdered in Woolwich today.

‘We are desperately saddened to hear of this sickening attack and offer our thoughts and prayers to his family, colleagues and friends.’

The charity’s website crashed as Britons queued up to pledge their support to it following the Woolwich killing, but it was up and running again a short while after.

Labour leader Ed Miliband, who is cutting short a visit to Germany to return to the UK, said: ‘This is a truly appalling murder which will shock the entire country. All of my thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim.

‘The British people will be horrified by what has happened in Woolwich. They will be united in believing that this terror on our streets cannot be allowed to stand.’

And Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: ‘This afternoon witnessed a shocking and horrifying murder on the streets of our capital. The whole nation’s thoughts will be with the family and friends of the victim this evening.

‘People across our country, whatever background they are from, will be united in condemning this attack and we will stand together, as we always do, in our response.’

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: ‘The Queen is of course concerned by the report of an attack in Woolwich earlier today. Her Majesty is being kept informed.’

The spokesman also confirmed the Queen will visit the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery at Woolwich barracks on May 31, which was planned before today’s attack.

This afternoon the area’s MP, Nick Raynsford, told BBC Radio 5 Live he believed the victim, a man aged in his 20s, was a serving soldier.

The man is believed to have been hacked to death after a car crash. The scene of the attack is just 200 yards from Woolwich Barracks.

Mr Raynsford said: ‘We think a serving soldier was the victim. We don’t know the circumstances surrounding the incident. We do know a number of weapons have been seized.

‘They include a gun, various knives, and a machete, apparently. The police clearly had to take action in order to try and arrest these individuals.’

He also told Channel 4 News: ‘It is my understanding this man was a serving soldier based at the barracks. He had been on duty in central London and was making his way back to the barracks.’

Read more: DailyMail

Sir Alex Ferguson (AFP)

Ferguson will be paid £2m-a-year by United to continue working for the club but is only expected to make 20 appearances a year according to the Daily Mail.

The deal was brokered by Fergie’s son Jason despite Manchester United having previously said they would no longer do business with him.

The respected Charles Sale reports in the Mail: “Jason’s disbanded Elite Sport ceased to act on United transfers following an internal inquiry into the 99 questions posed by United’s then major shareholders, John Magnier and JP McManus, which put Sir Alex’s transfer dealings under unprecedented scrutiny.

“But the wheel has turned to the extent that Fergie’s reported £2million-a-year United ambassador deal was negotiated by Jason. The contract is for 20 appearances per year that value Sir Alex’s time at a whopping £100,000 a day.”

Jason is said to be looking after all of Sir Alex’s dealings post-retirement which includes a second autobiography that Fergie has already been paid an advance of £2m for.

Ferguson capped his final season in charge of the English Premier League champions by clinching the League Managers’ Association Manager of the Year award for the fourth time earlier this week.

The 71-year-old Scot’s unparalleled success in the British game ended on Sunday with a remarkable 5-5 draw against West Bromwich Albion.

He won 38 major trophies in more than 26 years at Old Trafford, capped by the team’s 20th league title, a season after losing it to cross-town rivals Manchester City.

Eurosport

It limits the power of future Presidents.

It also requires women to hold at least 50 percent of government posts. Al Jazeera’s Haru Mutasa reports from the capital Harare.

Local MP Nick Raynsford said he had been told the man attacked in the street was a soldier serving at the Royal Artillery Barracks near the attack.

Mr Raynsford said the soldier had been returning to the barracks after a day out when he was attacked.

London Ambulance Service said one man, believed to be the victim of the machete attack, had died in the incident and two others were injured, one seriously.

Prime Minister David Cameron called a meeting of the Government’s Cobra crisis committee, describing the incident as “truly shocking”.

Cobra meetings are crisis response committees set up to coordinate the actions of different agencies, including the security services, police and local authorities.

The BBC reported sources had told them the men were shouting “Allahu Akbar” as they carried out the attack and had filmed carrying it out.

One witness, called James, told LBC radio: “We saw clearly two knives, meat cleavers, they were big kitchen knives like you would use in a butcher’s, they were hacking at this poor guy, we thought they were trying to remove organs from him”

“These two guys were crazed, they were not there, they were just animals. They then dragged him from the pavement and dumped his body in the middle of the road.

“They took 20 minutes to arrive, the police – the armed response.”

He added: “There was only a few people at first then traffic began to build up because people were getting out of their cars to shout at them they were taking no notice, they were standing there, I think they were proud of what they were doing.

“When they dumped the body in the road, these two black guys had the opportunity to hurt other people if they wanted to because there were brave women with the dead guy on the floor, they were shielding and covering him. The attackers with the knives were standing over these women.

“The guy with the gun, the tall guy with the beanie cap on, even a bus had pulled up – he was going over to the bus and asking people to take his photo.”

Luke Huseyin, 32, who lives in a block of flats on John Wilson Street, Woolwich, close to where the incident happened.

He said: “I was at home and heard a big bang. I looked out of the window and saw a car had crashed.

“It was a blue Vauxhall.

“Then two black guys got out of the car dragging a white guy across the road towards the wall.

“One of the guys had a knife that looked about a foot long and a machete and the other bloke had a gun.

“They started slashing him up with the knife and hitting him in the stomach with the machete.

“I don’t think it took long before he was dead.

“There were people passing by who were screaming and running away. I’ve never seen anything like it.

“I’m still really shaken up.

“When he was dead, they dragged him out into the road and left him there.

“It was strange, they didn’t run off, they just stood there as if they were waiting for the police.

“It must’ve taken about 20 minutes for the police to arrive, I think it must’ve been because they were waiting for armed police.

“The police officers got out of the car and the two black men ran towards them with the gun.

“The police shot them.

“They fell to the ground. Then a helicopter landed.

“Think it must’ve been an air ambulance.

“The paramedics got out and I think they were working on the two men to try and keep them alive.

“I don’t know if they died, they were taken away in the helicopter.

“A blanket was put over the white guy lying in the road.

“I just can’t believe what I saw.”

Eyewitness Michael Atley, 28, who works for a building maintenance firm nearby, said the two killers were in a blue BMW 3 series which mounted the pavement and knocked the victim over.

They then beheaded him with either a meat cleaver or a machete before both were shot by police officers who were on the scene within moments.

He told the Telegraph: “We heard the gunfire from the police shooting the two people. There were a few shots, then a pause, then some more shots, maybe eight shots in total.

“I spoke to an eyewitness who had seen the whole thing and he said they had run the guy over and then started decapitating him.

“When the police arrived the black guys were waving a pistol and a machete or a meat cleaver in the air and the police opened fire.

“When I got there the police were rushing to the bodies of the people they had shot.

“A helicopter landed in the middle of the road and took the victim away. There was a lot of blood. The paramedics wear blue gloves and they were covered in blood.”

He said children at a nearby school were locked in by their teachers.

Officers were called to John Wilson Street in Woolwich, south east London, at around 2.20pm and the immediate area was shut down.

On its Twitter account, the Metropolitan Police helicopter team called the incident “serious”.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “Officers have responded to an incident in John Wilson Street at 2.20pm today.

“We believe at this stage officers were called to reports of an assault.”

A police cordon was set up around 100 meters around where the incident happened.

A white police tent had been put up in John Wilson Street close to the junction with Artillery Place and Wellington Street.

Two ambulances, two police cars could be seen in the road.

A picture posted on Twitter appeared to show three people lying in a street with concerned people around them.

Images also appeared to show knives and blood stains at the junction of John Wilson Street and Wellington Street.

Local residents said there was a heavy police presence in the area and most of John Wilson Street had been cordoned off.

David Dixon, the head teacher of the nearby Mulgrave Primary School & Early Years Centre, said he went into the street to find out what was going on after hearing of the incident.

“There were lots of police,” he told the BBC. “I saw a body lying in the road. I went immediately back to shut the gate and to lock all the gates.

“The children were inside so they were as safe as possible.”

All the traffic had been stopped and “there were gunshots after that,” he added.

A woman working in an office overlooking the incident said: “I can see three bodies lying in the road with red blankets over them.

“All the bodies are within about 30 to 40 metres of each other. It looks like the police have covered them over because they must be dead.

“I didn’t see the incident itself but I heard all the police and ambulance sirens, and then I saw an air ambulance landing nearby.

“I could see armed police all over the place. There was a lot of commotion, police running around in all different directions, as if they were looking for other people.

“I’ve been told that a man was attacked with a machete.”

London Air Ambulance confirmed a doctor and a paramedic were sent to the scene at 14.27pm and remained on site.

London Ambulance Service was also called to the scene.

A spokeswoman for London Ambulance Service said: “We were called a 2.20pm to reports of an incident at John Wilson Street.

“We sent two responders in cars, three ambulance crews, two duty officers and London Air Ambulance were called out.

“We still have staff at the scene.”

Bundles of marijuana confiscated by police. Photo: AfricaReview

The Immigration Department has deported a 24-year old US Peace Corps volunteer, Jacqueline Frances, who was handed a 12-month suspended sentence by the Chipata Magistrate’s Court for trafficking in marijuana, reported the Zambia Daily Mail.

“I can confirm the Jacqueline Walsh has just arrived in Lusaka (Tuesday) but I cannot give you further details, “it quoted an Immigration Department public relations official Namati Nshinka as saying.
The convict was expected to fly back to the US Tuesday, it reported.

The Daily Mail reported that on Monday Chipata resident magistrate Sanford Ngobola gave Walsh the suspended sentence when she pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking in a psychotropic substance – marijuana, weighing 313 grams.

Chipata is located over 500kilometres east of the capital Lusaka in Eastern Province.

“After the Chipata Magistrate’s Court gave her a 12 month suspended sentence, the immigration started working on the deportation warrant order to send her back to America, meaning she’ll be a prohibited immigrant in Zambia, “it quoted an unnamed source as saying.

Drug trafficking has become rampant in the southern African nation in recent months.

Africareview

The accused were alleged to have conspired together and lured the girl into their room and had canal knowledge of her without her consent on May 15, at Fagba area, Ilorin.

According to the Charge Sheet, the accused persons deceived the girl to come and collect the pure water money they bought from her.

The accused however pleaded not guilty to the charge against them.

The Police Prosecutor, Insp. Mojisola Olamokun told the court that the accused were arraigned on a one count charge of rape contrary to Section 282 of Penal Code Law.

She objected to the bail of the accused on ground that the alleged offence was not ordinarily bailable.

Magistrate Mrs. Mariam Qudus in her ruling ordered the remand of the accused in Mondala Prison Yard, Ilorin and adjourned to June 11 for further mention of the case.

A government official said on Wednesday that the presidential jet has been sold for $15 million, raising much need funds for the impoverished African nation.

Mutharika bought the jet in 2009 for $22 million, a purchase that was widely criticized as a waste by many, including Malawi’s main bilateral donor Britain.

The country reduced its aid to the African nation by 3 million pounds because of it.

Current leader of Malawi, President Joyce Banda, who took office in April 2012 after Mutharika died of a heart attack, was lauded when she made the decision to put the luxury jet up for sale.

Principal secretary to the president’s office, Chintu Phiri, told Reuters that the 14-passenger Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft was sold to Virgin Islands company Bohnox Enterprise Ltd, who outbid three other buyers.

“We have accepted their offer and we are waiting to hear from them,” Phiri said.

The plane reportedly cost Malawi about $300,000 a year in maintenance and insurance, Reuters reported.

It is one of the cost-cutting measures Banda has employed as she seeks to bring Malawi back from the brink of total economic ruin.

She took a 30 percent pay cut to her earnings as president and put 35 luxury Mercedez Benz cars used by her cabinet up for sale.

Credit: Forbes

This year, Forbes’ list of the most powerful women in the world features nine heads of state who run nations with a combined GDP of $11.8 trillion — including the No. 1 Power Woman, German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The 24 corporate CEOs control $893 billion in revenues and 16 of the women here founded their own companies, including two of the three new billionaires to the list, Tory Burch and Spanx’s Sara Blakely. Speaking of, this year’s class has 14 billionaires valued at more than $82 billion.

Forbes’ annual snapshot of the 100 women with the most impact are top politicians and CEOs, activist billionaires and celebrities who matter. In roughly equal measure you’ll find next gen entrepreneurs and media mavens, technologists and leaders in philanthropy — all ranked by dollars, media momentum and impact.

Below is the full list:

1. Angela Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel

2. Dilma Rousseff, 65

Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff

3. Melinda Gates, 48

Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

4. Michelle Obama, Age: 49

5. Hillary Clinton, Age: 65

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

6. Sheryl Sandberg, Age: 43

Sheryl Sandberg, who is the COO of Facebook and the author of “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead”

7. Christine Lagarde, age: 57

Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)

8. Janet Napolitano, Age:55

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano

9. Sonia Gandhi, Age:66

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi

10. Indra Nooyi, Age:57

Indra Nooyi, chief executive officer of PepsiCo

11. Park Geun-Hye, Age:61

South Korea’s new President Park Geun-Hye

12. Virginia Rometty, Age:55

Virginia “Ginni” Rometty, chief executive officer of International Business Machines Corp

13. Oprah Winfrey

14. Ursula Burns Chairman and CEO, Xeros 54 United States Technology

15. Meg Whitman CEO, Hewlett-Packard 56 United States Technology

16. Georgina Rinehart Executive Chairman, Hancock Prospecting 59 Australia Metals & Mining

17. Beyoncé Knowles

Actress, Entrepreneur, Musician 31 United States Celebrity

18. Maria das Graças Silva Foster CEO, Petrobras 59 Brazil Business

19. Jill Abramson Executive Editor, New York Times Co. 59 United States Media

20. Irene Rosenfeld CEO, Mondelez International 60 United States Business

21. Helen Clark Administrator, U.N. Development Programme 63 New Zealand Philanthropy/NGO

22. Nancy Pelosi Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, United States 73 United States Politics

23. Safra Catz CFO, Oracle 51 United States Technology

24. Anne Sweeney Co-Chair, Disney Media Networks, and President, Disney/ABC Television Group, Walt Disney 55 United States Media

25. Kathleen Sebelius Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services, United States 65 United States Politics

26. Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner President, Argentina 60 Argentina Politics

27. Sheri McCoy CEO, Avon Products 54 United States Business

28. Julia Gillard Prime Minister, Australia 51 Australia Politics

29. Aung San Suu Kyi Chair and Parliamentarian, National League for Democracy, Burma

37. Angelina Jolie, Age: 37

40. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, Age:87

41. Anna Wintour Editor-in-Chief, Vogue, Conde Nast Publications, Inc. 63 United States Media

42. Ellen Kullman Chairman and CEO, EI du Pont de Nemours 57 United States Business

43. Drew Gilpin Faust President, Harvard University 65 United States Philanthropy/NGO

44. Rosalind Brewer President and CEO, Sam’s Club, Wal-Mart Stores 50 United States Business

45. Lady Gaga Musician, Philanthropist 27 United States Celebrity

46. Cher Wang Co-founder and Chair, HTC 54 Taiwan Technology

47. Joyce Banda President, Malawi 63 Malawi Politics

48. Wu Yajun & family Chairman, Longfor Properties 49 China Real Estate

49. Ertharin Cousin Executive Director, World Food Programme, United Nations 56 United States Philanthropy/NGO

50. Zhang Xin & family Cofounder, CEO, Soho China 47 China Business

51. Ellen DeGeneres Comedian, Personality, Philanthropist 55 United States Celebrity

52. Shakira Mebarak Musician, Personality, Philanthropist 36 Colombia Celebrity

53. Angela Ahrendts CEO, Burberry Group 52 United States Business

54. Liyuan Peng First Lady, China 50 China Politics

55. Sri Mulyani Indrawati Managing Director, World Bank 50 Indonesia Philanthropy/NGO

56. Arianna Huffington Editor-In-Chief, Huffington Post Media Group, AOL 62 United State Media

57. Padmasree Warrior Chief Technology and Strategy Officer, Cisco Systems 52 United States Technology.

58. Miuccia Prada Owner, Fashion Designer, Prada 64 Italy Business.

59. Margaret Hamburg Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration, United States 57 United States Politics.

60. Abigail Johnson President, Financial Services, Fidelity Investment 51 United States Business.

61. Bonnie Hammer Chairman, Cable Entertainment Group, NBCUniversal, Comcast 62 United States Media.

62. Gail Kelly CEO, Westpac Banking Group 57 Australia Business.

63. Amy Hood Chief Financial Officer, Microsoft 41 United States Technology.

64. Ho Ching CEO, Temasek 60 Singapore Business.

65. Chanda Kochhar Managing Director and CEO, Icici Bank 51 India Business.

66. Rosalia Mera Investor, Philanthropist 69 Spain Fashion and Retail.

67. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi Minister of Foreign Trade, United Arab Emirates 54 United Arab Emirates Politics

68. Helene Gayle President, CEO, CARE 58 United States Philanthropy/NGO

69. Tory Burch CEO, Tory Burch 46 United States Fashion and Retail

70. Margarita Louis-Dreyfus Chairman of Louis Dreyfus, Louis Dreyfus SAS 50 Switzerland Investments

71. Patricia Woertz Chairman, CEO and President, Archer Daniels Midland 60 United States Business

72. Mary Jo White Chairman, Securities and Exchange Commission, United States 65 United States Politics

73. Diane Sawyer Anchor of World News, ABC, Walt Disney 67 United States Media

74. Diane Von Furstenberg Owner, Fashion Designer, Diane von Furstenberg Studio, L.P. 66 United States Fashion and Retail

75. Phebe Novakovi CEO, General Dynamics 55United States Business

76. Sue Naegle President, HBO Entertainment, Time Warner Cable 43 United States Media

77. Sun Yafang Chair, Huawei Technologies 57 China Technology

78. Fabiola Gianotti Research Physicist, CERC 52 Italy Europe

79. Mary Meeker General Partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers 52 United States Technology

80. Solina Chau Director, Li Ka Shing Foundation 51 Hong Kong Philanthropy/NGO

81. Denise Morrison President and CEO, Campbell Soup 59 United States Food and Beverage

82. Carol Meyrowitz CEO, TJX Cos 59 United States Business

83. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Minister of Finance, Nigeria 58 Nigeria Politics.

84. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey President, CEO, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 58 United States Philanthropy/NGO

85. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Founder, Chair, Biocon Ltd. 60 India Technology

86. Mary Callahan Erdoes CEO, J.P. Morgan Asset Management, JPMorgan Chase 45 United States Business

87. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf President, Liberia 74 Liberia Politics

88. Weili Dai Co-founder, Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 51 United States Technology

89. Mindy Grossman CEO, HSN 55 United States Media

90. Sara Blakely Founder, Spanx 42 United States Fashion and Retail

91. Chua Sock Koong Group CEO, SingTel 54 Singapore Technology

92. Lubna S. Olayan CEO, Olayan Financing Company 57 Saudi Arabia Business

93. J.K. Rowling Author 47 United Kingdom Celebrity

94. Guler Sabanci Chairman and Managing Director, Sabanci Holding 58 Turkey Business

95. Gisele Bundchen Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Supermodel 32 Brazil Celebrity

96. Beth Brooke Global Vice Chair – Public Policy, Ernst & Young 53 United States Business

97. Greta Van Susteren Anchor, FOX News, News Corp 58 United States Media

98. Jennifer Li CFO, Baidu 45 China Media

99. Judith Rodin President, Rockefeller Foundation 68 United States Philanthropy/NGO

100. Lan Yang Co-owner, Sun Media Group 45 China Media

Read more on Forbes website

Reuters/Reuters – Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe signs Zimbabwe’s new constitution into law in the capital Harare

Approved overwhelmingly in a referendum in March, the constitution clips the powers of the president and imposes a two-term limit. However, it does not apply retroactively so the 89-year-old Mugabe could technically extend his three decades in office by another 10 years.

A beaming Mugabe, flanked by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, his main political rival, and Deputy President Joice Mujuru signed multiple copies of the charter at State House in the capital to cheers and applause from aides.

The constitution was formed as part of a power-sharing deal between Mugabe and Tsvangirai after disputed and violent elections in 2008.

The five-year coalition government formed under the same agreement expires on June 29, and parliamentary and presidential elections should follow within 90 days of that date.

However, many obstacles remain, not least finding the estimated $130 million needed to pay for the election and reaching agreement on outside monitors.

Harare has turned down offers of United Nations or donor assistance and Mugabe accused some in the 15-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC), which has been mediating in the crisis, of trying to impose their will on Harare.

“We rejected this,” he told reporters after the signing ceremony, adding that any vote would be fair and peaceful.

“We will ensure that there won’t be any violence, that there won’t be any rigging.”

In brief remarks, Tsvangirai said the charter had set the southern African country “on a new path” after nearly a decade of economic decline and political violence that started in 2000 with the seizure of white-owned commercial farms by Mugabe supporters.

However, neither he nor Mugabe made any mention of a possible election date and they did not take questions from reporters.

State media said on Wednesday Mugabe was pressing for a vote before July although his rivals want it delayed to allow for the opening up of broadcast media, registration of new voters and reform of the military to ensure it stays out of politics.

The Presidency today, through the the Special Assistant on New Media, Reno Omokri, said: “Its surprising that anybody, let alone an elder statesman, will call on Mr President to resign when the State of Emergency is yielding fruit.”

“Rather than calling on Mr. President to resign it is expected of Elder Statesmen to cooperate with the government over the State of Emergency.”

“If you have something against the Emergency, be bold enough to speak your mind as an elder statesman instead of asking Mr President to resign.”

“What type of elder statesman condemns the President when terrorists attack and condemns him when he takes appropriate action? Choose a side!”

“Your senators and Reps disagreed with you and voted against your directives. You can not control your people and you want Mr President to resign?”

Speaking to newsmen at his residence in Daura town, Katsina state yesterday, General Buhari said, “Jonathan should vacate and give way to competent hand to govern the country.”

General Buhari said the issue of security is a fundamental duty of any responsible government and added that Jonathan, since he assumed power, has failed in that regard.

“When the Niger Delta militants started their activities in the South-South, they were invited by the late President Umaru Yar’adua.

“An aircraft was sent to them and their leaders met with the late President in Aso Rock and discussed issues. They were given money and a training scheme was introduced for their members. But when the Boko Haram emerged in the north members of the sect were killed,” General Buhari lamented.

“And when the police failed to address the insurgency, soldiers were invited and they captured the Boko Haram leader, Muhammad Yusuf alive and handed him over to police. But Yusuf was eventually killed, his in-law too was killed and their houses were demolished”, he said.

Buhari explained that the country is in its present situation due to the murder of the Boko Haram leader by security agents which angered his followers and suggested that a new approach to tackling the insurgency without affecting the lives and properties of innocent people should be adopted.

“In Bama and Baga towns, military personnel were reported to have been engaged in extortion and sometimes defiling of women. And because a soldier was killed in Baga the whole town was sacked by military. This is not the best way military should have acted when they were sent to restore law and order in a town. How can a responsible government allow its people to be killed in this way,” he asked.

He warned that the police, SSS, army, navy and Air force should know how to conduct themselves and act professionally.

“The soldiers are not expected to go and sack a town because one of them is killed. They are expected to capture the culprits for prosecution. After all the soldiers are not meant to tackle internal crisis but when it is necessary they should act professionally.

“Whoever is sent to protect people should also protect their integrity. When the former England’s Prime Minister, Margret Thatcher decided to hold its political meeting in Brighton the security advised her to cancel the meeting because of the IRN rebellions, but she insisted and held the meeting. The hotel she was accommodated was bombed and some of her political associates were killed but soldiers did not condone the area and kill everybody there, rather they conducted themselves professionally,” Buhari said.

While condemning the imposition of state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, Buhari said it was not the best way to address the problem.

“Government cannot kill all the Boko Haram members. Government should rather arrest and prosecute the Boko Haram members. They should only be killed when they said clearly they wage war against their country like what happened during the civil war. And even during civil war we that fought in the war were given a copy of code of conduct book which guided us against killing innocent people”, he said.

Reacting to the call, Special Assistant on New Media to President Jonathan, Reno Omokri, said: “Its surprising that anybody, let alone an elder statesman, will call on Mr President to resign when the State of Emergency is yielding fruit.”

“Rather than calling on Mr. President to resign it is expected of Elder Statesmen to cooperate with the govt over the State of Emergency.”

According to the story by Guardian, On March 23rd 2013, Cyril asked to speak with Blessing after she ended their relationship and thinking he wanted to talk reconciliation, she agreed to see him. He visited her house and as she went out to talk to him, he bathed her with acid.

Blessing is now blind in both eyes and battling to stay alive at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City where she is a patient.

According to Blessing: “He was my boyfriend and we had arguments in February. He beat me to the extent that I was not able to go to school for three days. I told him I was no longer interested in the relationship. He later tried to forcibly take my telephone, but I refused to give it to him. I told him he was not the one who bought it for me.”

“On March 23, he called and asked me to meet him in front of our house. I refused initially, but he insisted, so I came out. He asked: “Do you mean you don’t want me again?” I said: “No! I was no more interested in the relationship. And immediately, he poured the acid on my face.

Since that day, I have been on admission at the UBTH and the doctors say I might not see again except I am flown to India where my eyes could be restored.”

“I never knew he would have the heart to pour acid on me. I made a mistake. I have learnt the biggest lesson of my life. My prayer now is that God should touch kind-hearted Nigerians to come to my aide so that I would be able to get treatment abroad, since my parents cannot afford it.”

Doctors in the hospital believe she may never see again except she is flown to a specialist hospital in India, where her sight could be restored.

Cyril Okosun is in police custody in Benin.

Ogun state is regarded as a leading municipal in the country. This is in recognition of its pioneering role in education, medicine, law, divinity among others. On the other hand, it is famous for its strategic location as an integral transport route that connects with the rest of the country. It borders Lagos state to the south, Oyo and Osun states to the north, Ondo State to the east and the Republic of Benin to the west.

Photo credit: cometonigeria.com

Created in February 1976 from the former Western State, Ogun is an embodiment of outstanding traditional cultures which over time has been refined without distortions to make them more alluring. From Remo to Egba, Yewa to Ijebu, captivating marvels that would make a cynical visitor startle thrives.

The state is blessed with Olumo Rock in Abeokuta; it is rated as the most popular travel spot. Legendary tales recalls that it protected the people of Egba against attacks during the frequent wars that characterized the ancient city for centuries. More historic monuments and landmarks include: Birikisu Sugbo Shrine at Oke-Eri; Yemoji Natural Pool at Ijebu-Ode; Oyan Dam in Abeokuta North; Iwopin Boat Regatta and Ebute-Oni in Ogun Waterside. Similarly, Madam Tinubu Shrine in Abeokuta; Oronna Shrine, Ilaro; Area J4 Forest Reserve; Tongeji Island, Ipokia; Old Manse at Ogbe, Abeokuta and Ijamido River Shrine both in Ota.

Festivals in Ogun, all of which enthralls and attract huge participation likewise audiences are: Ojude Oba, Egungun, Osun, Igunuko, Ogun, Olumo, Gelede, Oro, Orisa Oko, Obinrin Ojowu, Agemo, and Obalufon.

However, as good as all these sound, it is depressing that most of places highlighted are not as delightful as expected. They groan under trifling attention for reasons best known to the relevant authority.

Take for instance the Golf Course Resort situated at the back of the state secretariat in Oke Imosan, Abeokuta. It remains neglected since its ownership left he hands of ex-proprietor, late Chief Wole Olumide. The renowned architect, one-time chair of the Nigerian Golf Federation and the brain behind the architectural design of the magnificent National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja, lost the property to the present administration which seized it as a public trust due to allegations that it was built with questionable funds in connivance with former executive head, Gbenga Daniel.

While not challenging government’s authority, I consider it logical that we do away with politics and ensure the Course is put back into use. It is unclear if there is a subsisting order restraining the incumbent from taking care of the facility. Nevertheless, a situation where such a high revenue generator is left to deteriorate is totally unacceptable. I for one cannot fathom the sense in allowing a multi-million splendor waste because of apparent political differences. Tons of money would have been realized if that place was open; it is now 14 months since it was confiscated!

Hopefully by divine intervention, Governor Amosun’s attendants will forward this to him for to peruse. His promise to sustain the state as a leading tourism destination in the country may turn out to be a ruse except proven otherwise. To ascertain the condition of the sites I mentioned earlier, he should personally take a tour and see what is on ground. I can take a bet that he would be embarrassed when he enters some of the places.

His province is blessed with numerous tourist sites, most of which are yet to be developed to modern-day predilection. Undoubtedly, the leisure industry can generate mints of Naira annually and a supplementary approach towards this will do the magic. More local and foreign players in the private sector ought to be invited to fully exploit the sector’s potentials. This would further sell Ogun’s aptitude to the world, raise more funds for capital projects, create employment opportunities, alleviate poverty and empower people at the grassroots.

Besides, the desolate waterfronts around the Gateway State could be upgraded to attractive beaches and arenas of recreation. Areas where such are located include Makun Omi and Akere in Ogun Waterside and Ipokia local government areas. Provision of boats, holiday and sundry facilities et cetera, will transform such places to aboriginal assets.

Government’s financial plan for next year should comprise an improved budgetary allocation for the development of tourism as it is a key area worth keen interest rather than neglect. I hail from Ado-Odo/Ota, arguably the local government that produces the highest Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), yet no outstanding tourist spot. The ones there aren’t just eye-catching; I visit there at least thrice a year so I am talking about what I know.

Part of the projects the administration hypes in my LGA is the facelift of the Institute of Technology in Igbesa, but it appears hasn’t considered working on the road-stretch in front of the school. Till date the road beside the State High Court is so deplorable that you wonder if what we have is really democratic governance. Years ago, speculations were rife that the street was neglected because residents voted for Amosun against a sitting Daniel in the 2007 poll. Now that power has changed hands no difference; no caterpillar, no coal tar.

Chronicles from other inner parts and minor towns tell that not much has been done to upgrade their respective areas. But when you try to pass such intelligence across, overzealous officials as often as not, argue that your opinion is an absolute nonsense as though they are more astute. Any structure where you have such “I too sabi” individuals accomplish less, still they go on to list expected executions as gigantic successes, so the boss feels he has a superb team in position. For his own good, the governor must be wary of such appointees; the untiring praise singers.

To support my view, a former deputy governor of the state and serving senator of the platform of Action Congress of Nigeria, Adegbenga Kaka in an interview advised the present system to go back to the rural areas. His words: “Having spent so much to develop the urban centre, they should use the remaining two years to go back to the rural areas where the wealth resides, where agriculture and industrial development can be guaranteed. By so doing, they will give the people a sense of belonging and at the same time the source of revenue for the state can be enhanced. A situation where you concentrate development in the urban capital will only give rise to urban slum. By doing this, we are inadvertently increasing urban slums and making the rural areas to be desolate.” We can say the statement is political; we can say it is the voice of a man who wants to call the shots at Oke-Mosan, nonetheless, he is totally correct.

In the 2011 guber polls, the inhabitants of Imo and Nasarawa states resolutely voted out Ikedi Ohakim and Aliyu Doma mainly because of their inattention to rural areas. If you disagree with me go and ask the people, they are alive and well. One of the lessons we got during the last general elections is: no elected public office holder should be so comfortable to think that he (or she) is excessively loved to be dislodged.

In his speech during presentation of the 2013 Budget to the State House of Assembly, the governor said that “More than ever before, we should continue to join hands as we seek to bequeath an enduring legacy to Ogun State and generations yet unborn”. By writing this, I am joining my hands to his to ensure he leaves that legacy he desires. He should henceforth ensure that equal attention is given to all segments.

As a listening leader, I believe Senator Ibikunle Amosun would see to the issues raised with all purposefulness and keeping in mind our native anthem:

“Ise ya Ise ya, omo Ogun ise ya, eledumare ise ma ya o e ise ya,”
“Omo rere kii sa se, Omo Ogun kii so le,”
“E bere gberu o, olorun n be fun wa e tera mo se o,”
“Ise ya…Omo Ogun Ise ya.

wodunsi@yahoo.com
@WaleOdunsi

A helicopter flies overhead as soldiers in military vehicles proceed towards al-Jura district in El-Arish city from Sheikh Zuwaid, around 350 km (217 miles) northeast of Cairo May 21, 2013. Credit: Reuters/Stringer

Security sources said the men were freed following talks mediated by Bedouin tribal leaders. They were handed over to the army in an area south of Rafah, a town straddling the border with the Palestinian Gaza Strip.

The kidnappers had demanded the release of members of an Islamist group convicted last September of carrying out a series of attacks in North Sinai in 2011 that killed seven people.

The abduction pointed to the threat still posed by radical Islamists who expanded into a security vacuum in Sinai that the state has struggled to fill since an uprising swept autocrat Hosni Mubarak from power in 2011. The groups have launched attacks on Israel and targets in North Sinai.

“I salute the commanders and soldiers of the armed forces, the police, the general and military intelligence,” President Mohamed Mursi wrote on Twitter after the men’s release.

A security official in Sinai and a Bedouin sheikh involved in the mediation said the kidnappers’ demand had not been met. The militants had decided to release the men because they feared a confrontation with the armed forces, they said.

The crisis had piled domestic pressure on the Islamist president to act and enraged Egyptian security forces who have closed border crossings to Gaza and Israel in protest. Earlier this week, Mursi said there would be no negotiations with militants he described as criminals.

A statement posted on the army spokesman’s Facebook page on Wednesday said the seven captives had been freed “as a result of the efforts of the military intelligence in cooperation with the tribal leaders and the honorable people of Sinai” and were on their way to Cairo. It gave no further details.

The army sent reinforcements to Sinai this week as part of its efforts to secure the release of the men – six policemen and one soldier – who were kidnapped last Thursday as they traveled between the North Sinai towns of El-Arish and Rafah.

The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt – closed for five days by border Egyptian security officers angered at the kidnapping – was reopened early on Wednesday. Two of the captives had worked at the crossing.

Egyptian security forces launched a security operation to re-establish control in Sinai last August after an attack that killed 16 Egyptian border guards.

The tale of a woman cheating on her husband, only to find him come home and catch the pair in the act while the lover makes a getaway.

According to police authorities, the suspects –, Jamiu Adeleke, Ajibade Rafiu, Fatai Akiwowo, Kazeem Sanni and Agboola Kolawole – had at different times sold human parts in Owode, Ogun State.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, Ngozi Braide, said Adeleke was arrested by the police and through his confession, were able to apprehend the others.

She said, “On May 15, 2013, Adeleke was arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad while he was trying to sell human hands for N21,000. Upon interrogation, he confessed that he bought the parts from Sanni at the cost of N6,000.

“Police arrested Sanni and he in turn confessed that the eight hands which he sold belonged to his siblings- his two brothers and sisters. He confessed that he went to their graves and cut off their heads. He confessed that he sold the heads for N8,000 each while he sold the hands for N4,000 each.

“Investigations led to the home of an herbalist, Rafiu, who is also the receiver. He uses the human parts for rituals. In his house, police recovered fresh hands which he claimed was meant for jobs for his customers. We also saw a bottle which he said was crushed human skull mixed in fluid. He said it was for power and he uses it to make medicine for people.”

Braide said investigations showed that prior to his arrest, the herbalist had hired some of the suspects to help him get a living human being at the cost of N40,000.

Braide added that Adeleke, who is an Islamic scholar, however, died while trying to escape from police custody.

The suspects, who did not deny the allegations, said they never killed anyone but only exhumed corpses from graveyards.

Kolawole said he went into the business because he needed money to pay his children’s school fees.

He said, “I am a farmer and I live in a graveyard in Owo, Ogun State. In December last year, I went to see my friend and begged him to lend me money to pay my children’s fees. He then said if I could help him to get human skulls, he would pay me N8,000 for each.

“He came to my house at night and after he had exhumed two of the corpses in the graveyards, he gave me N16,000.

“In May, 2013, I needed money to purchase examination form for my child and I went to meet him again. He said he would give me N16, 000 for two more skulls, so he exhumed two more corpses.”

A 25-year-old suspect, Sanni, who claimed to be a commercial motorcycle rider, said he had only exhumed two corpses, adding that he ran out of the business when his clients started demanding for a human being.

He said, “Akinowo told me to get two skulls for him and I did. He gave me N6,000 and N8,000. He later told me to get a live human being for him but when I could not find one, they started disturbing me with telephone calls. I only sold two skulls.”

The herbalist, Rafiu, said he never exhumed any corpse rather, it was the other suspects that were always pestering him to buy body parts.

Rafiu, who claimed to be 28 years, said he did not use the corpses for money rituals but used it in preparing a potion which people drank for protection.

“I never sent anyone to supply me human parts. They always bring the parts to my place and beg me to buy,” he said.

Asked what was in the bottle recovered from him, he said, “The bottle I am holding contains a burnt and crushed human skull and schnapps. Anybody who drinks it will be immune to all forms of attack. I have been doing this for about seven years now but I have never drunk the potion. I am even scared to use it.

“I have a wife and child and it is this job I use in sustaining myself.”

Another suspect, Akinowo, said poverty pushed him into the illegal business. Akinowo, who spoke amid tears, said he was paid N8,000 for each body part.

Akinowo said in his statement that he cut the heads of his late brothers and two sisters buried in private graves in his compound and sold them for N8,000 each.

Punch

Snoop performed a selection of old and new tracks and was joined on stage by the Africa All Stars at the end of his performance for a rendition of “Young, Wild and Free”.

The Africa All Stars all shone brightly too, with Kenya’s Camp Mulla, DRC’s Fally Ipupa, South Africa’s Zahara, Zakes Bantwini, Big Nuz and Professor, and Nigeria’s D’Banj, 2Face and Flavour all wowing.

Photo credit:

“What we are doing now is to organize our evidence that would make it possible for us to make a very strong case against the government and its agencies, or up to individuals who may be complicit, in terms of the human rights violations that have been taking place in the last few years,” said Abdullahi.

He said the group has put together a team of lawyers that has been gathering evidence indicating that national army soldiers were involved in the recent killing of civilians at Baga.

“There is sufficient evidence, from our point of view, in terms of human rights violations that have been going on with a lot of impunity in the last three years or so around the activities of the government and its agencies and around the country,” said Abdullahi. “I think it’s because nobody seems to really take the matter seriously to draw attention, not only to other parts of the world, to the Nigerian authorities themselves.”

But supporters of the government say the administration is mandated to protect unarmed civilians and resolve the country’s internal security crisis. They accused the NEF of failing to engage the government in its attempt to prevent violence, often carried out by members of the Islamist group, Boko Haram.

Abdullahi denies speculation that the Elders’ Forum is in any way linked to Boko Haram.

“We didn’t create the insurgents. It may have been created by somebody, but it is up to the government to prove a case that the insurgency has been created deliberately to cause havoc in the country,” said Abdullahi. “It happens that perhaps if there is any indication … that this matter has been politicized, it must have been politicized by the government or its agencies.”

Boko Haram, which is based in Nigeria’s north, has been accused of carrying out violent attacks in an attempt to force the country to adopt strict Islamic law.

Human Rights Watch says Boko Haram-related violence has killed an estimated 3,000 people since 2009, a toll that includes killings by security forces.

Abdullahi says the government has been unable to resolve the security threats members of Boko Haram pose to the country.

“If this sect had been treated like many other sects that we’ve had in this country for many years, perhaps we would not be where we are now,” continued said Abdullahi, “there [have been] thousands of people detained in terribly inhumane conditions all over the country. Among the thousands of people that have been in detention for many years now, only one as far as I know is in court now.”

Abdullahi says the Elders group has decided to hold the government accountable for the extrajudicial killings he says are sometimes carried out by military officials.

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TEMPERATURE music video is unarguably one of their best videos of the moment. Feel the steam from the magnificent energetic dance steps in rhythmical flow to the nicely synchronized beats. Watch out for this video on top chart. Enjoy!

The Leeds Utd striker was said to have abused other drinkers at beach bar Five in Almadies in his Senegal homeland.

Local newspapers claim two men followed him to the toilets and laid into him for ten minutes before bar staff summoned his minders in the early hours of Sunday.

A source had said: “He was with his wife but was completely drunk and was shouting abuse at everyone.

“A man called Thierry and a friend beat him up in the toilets for at least ten minutes. They gave him a going-over.”

Harouna Deme, boss of Le Populaire newspaper, which broke the story, said: “He has a reputation for getting involved in fights.

“I can remember at least four other instances of him fighting.”

Bar owner Latir Diop told The Sun there was a ruck that “did not last three seconds” and the former Rangers, Bolton, Liverpool and Blackburn star was not hurt.

Diouf has been accused of spitting at players.

In December 2005 he said he was “too famous” for a rehab order after 12-month drink-driving ban.

The Sun