African leaders sign Great Lakes pact

Eleven African countries signed a UN-backed peace deal for the Great Lakes region on Saturday, pledging to end genocide, war, hunger and disease that killed 3 million people over more than a decade. Thirteen heads of state signed the peace framework—the first step towards stability in an area encompassing Rwanda, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)— at the close of a two-day summit in Dar es Salaam. ‘‘No one has got everything they wanted from this process, but everyone has got what they need—a real chance for peace, stability, democracy and development in a vast region,’’ UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said at the signing ceremony.

UN staff backs Annan, seeks tougher probes
UNITED NATIONS: The UN staff council voted on Friday to ask Secretary-General Kofi Annan to be more open in investigations into suspected management wrongdoing but dismissed a suggestion that it take a vote of no-confidence on Annan’s leadership. A resolution, adopted 16-3 in the 31-member council, expressed ‘‘great concern’’ over what it saw as a trend among senior UN managers to exonerate officials suspected of misconduct. It also asked Annan to make public the findings of an investigation into allegations of misconduct against the head of UN’s internal watchdog office.

Congo abuse scandal outrages Annan
UNITED NATIONS: Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed outrage on Friday over evidence of sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers in Congo, which he called a ‘‘shameful thing’’. About 30 cases of abuse, including the sexual abuse of minors, were reported in the town of Bunia. “ I am afraid there is clear evidence that acts of gross misconduct have taken place,’’ said Annan.

Philippines bombs rebel areas
MANILA: Air strikes by Philippine security forces, that compelled hundreds to evacuate Mindanao, island targe-ted kidnap gangs and not Muslim rebels ,officials said on Saturday. Security forces and rebels said the incident would not jeopardise talks to end a Muslim rebellion that has killed more than 120,000 people. —Reuters