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Monday 1 July 2013

Obama and Bush to meet in Tanzania on Tuesday



Barack Obama wraps up his week long African tour in Tanzania after visiting Senegal where he promised Africa the United States' supports on democracy and food security. South Africa was his next stop where he showered accolade on Nelson Mandela.

He also met with his family members. In South Africa, Obama pledges US support to boost power and energy in Africa. He met African students where he also spoke on commitments to education.

Trade and Investments are likely to feature prominently centrally in Tanzania. President Obama is to be joined by America's former President, George W. Bush who is to attend a conference on African women.

The two Presidents are to visit the American embassy where terrorists bombed in 1998. They are to pay homage and respect to the fallen heroes. Laura Bush and Michelle Obama will also be attending a summit on women empowerment and gender matters.

Obama's foreign policy are also in consonance with that of George Bush according to some experts. The two presidents are 'aggressive' in terms of war. Bush believed in dropping American boots on the ground while Obama is a specialist in drone wars.

Jailbreak in Nigeria; 175 Prisoners Freed


Gunmen have reportedly shot dead two civilians and then used explosives to free 175 inmates from a prison in Nigeria's southern town of Akure overnight, a prison official said on Sunday.

This is relatively uncommon in the Southwest of the country where the incident occurred though jailbreaks have been common in the country. The Islamic sect, Boko Haram has been behind most of the jailbreaks with some coming from the South and East like in Delta.

"The unknown gunmen numbering over 20 came at about midnight into the Olokuta prison through the main gate after using dynamite," Prison Comptroller Tunde Olayiwola told Reuters.

"The gunmen shot and killed two people while trying to get in ... Some of the escaped prisoners have been re-arrested," Olayiwola said, adding that some prison staff were injured in a gun battle and were receiving treatment.

Violence by Islamist groups is mostly confined to Nigeria's majority Muslim north but there have been attacks as far south as Kogi state, which borders Ondo. Kidnapping and robbery are the most common and prominent phenomena in the states bordering Ondo as west generally in the South.