Lagos- Nigeria (PANA) -- Using an unusually harsh language, one of Nigeria's leading private dailies Tuesday criticized President Olusegun Obasanjo over his frequent foreign travels. Full text...

Lagos- Nigeria (PANA) -- Nigerian newspapers Monday played up fellow-African nation Senegal's historic qualification for the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup, following a 2-1 extra-time win over Sweden in Japan. Full text...

Banjul- Gambia (PANA) -- The press in Gambia this week took particular interest in what has been widely perceived as a low profile kept by ex-president Dawda Kairaba Jawara since his return to the country on 1 June. Full text...

Yaounde- Cameroon (PANA) -- Cameroonian newspapers this week reflected on the disappointing elimination of the Indomitable Lions from the world football tournament Under the headline "A World Cup to be forgotten," le Messager, a privately-owned paper said: "Cameroon missed the World Cup even before it arrived in Japan," in a reference to the four days spent by the team in Paris squabbling over match bonus, as well as the 40-hour flight to Japan and the shuttles between match venues. Full text...

Lagos- Nigeria (PANA) -- As local fans' interest in the World Cup wanes following the elimination of the Super Eagles, Nigerian newspapers have scaled down the prominence given to stories from the competition. Full text...

Accra- Ghana (PANA) -- A Ghanaian newspaper has said handouts given to African countries as aid have done little to improve the living conditions of their people, and asked the developed world to open up their markets to Africa. Full text...

Ouagadougou- Burkina Faso (PANA) -- Burkinabe newspapers this week focused on the performance of African teams at the ongoing World Cup tournament in Japan and South Korea, and on the formation of the country's new government. Full text...

Saint Denis- Reunion (PANA) -- After the elimination of France from World Cup 2002, the people of Reunion have switched support to the national football team of Senegal, writes le Quotidien de La Reunion, the island's leading paper. Full text...

Abidjan- Cote d'Ivoire (PANA) -- Ivorian newspapers paid tribute to the Senegalese national football team on Wednesday, following their progress to the second round of the World Cup 2002, and severely criticised Cameroon for their early exit from the competition. Full text...

Lagos- Nigeria (PANA) -- The sombre mood across soccer-loving Nigeria, following Friday's ouster of the Super Eagles from the 2002 World Cup, is reflected in weekend's press reports, bringing home the reality of the country's worst result in three consecutive World Cup finals. Full text...

Dar es Salaam- Tanzania (PANA) -- Tanzanian papers this week echoed growing concerns that the world was at an environmental crossroads, with the fate of millions of people pegged on the choice between greed and necessity. Full text...

Lusaka- Zambia (PANA) -- The state-run Times of Zambia has called on the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and the United Nations to move in quickly to prevent Madagascar from slipping into civil war. Full text...

Cape Town- South Africa (PANA) -- The encouraging start by African countries at this year's World Cup have been well highlighted in the South African media this week with a growing number of journalists predicting that an African team could even reach the finals. Full text...

Abidjan- Cote d'Ivoire (PANA) -- The ongoing 2002 football World Cup in South Korea and Japan and the trial of alleged coup plotters in Cote d'Ivoire dominated comments in newspapers this week in Abidjan. Full text...

Mbabane- Swaziland (PANA) -- Ace royal photographer Leornard Mohale, who is former chief photographer of the Swazi Observer, has sued the newspaper for defamation, claiming over one million US dollars. Full text...

Lagos- Nigeria (PANA) -- Nigerian newspapers Monday reflected the nation-wide optimism that the Super Eagles can still advance to the second round despite the 1-0 loss to Argentina in their 2002 World Cup opener on Sunday. Full text...

Seoul- South Korea (PANA) -- The performance achieved by the Lions of Senegal who defeated France 1-0 on Friday in the World Cup 2002 opening match, hit the headlines in most South Korean newspapers papers on Saturday. Full text...

Tunis- Tunisia (PANA) -- The Tunisian press Saturday warmly congratulated Senegal's national team following its "historic victory over France" in the World Cup 2002 opening match on Friday in Seoul, South Korea. Full text...

Lagos- Nigeria (PANA) -- Putting the rivalry between the national teams of Nigeria and Senegal aside, at least for now, Nigerian papers Saturday joined the country's football fans in celebrating Senegal's huge upset of world champions France in their 2002 World Cup opener in Seoul on Friday. Full text...

Freetown- Sierra Leone (PANA) -- The media in Sierra Leone this week sized up the new government, the security situation in the country, and problems facing refugees in neighbouring Liberia. Full text...

Cotonou- Benin (PANA) -- Benin newspapers widely commented this week on the setback suffered by Cameroon's Issa Hayatou in his bid for the office of FIFA president. Full text...

Yaounde- Cameroon (PANA) -- Issa Hayatou's failed bid for the presidency of world football governing body FIFA was the main focus of Cameroonian papers this week. Full text...

Lagos- Nigeria (PANA) -- Nigerian newspapers Friday zeroed in on the 2002 World Cup, which kicked off in Seoul, South Korea, climaxing their saturation reports in the run-up to the world's most glamorous sporting competition. Full text...

Johannesburg- South Africa (PANA) -- The release of 33 dangerous criminals on presidential pardons earlier this month has ignited vociferous debate within the South African media, on possible amnesty for apartheid criminals. Full text...

Nairobi- Kenya (PANA) -- Tuesday's proposal by the Kenyan Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitution (PSC) to extend the life of the current parliament for six months has sparked outrage among the citizens and the press. Full text...

Lagos- Nigeria (PANA) -- Joseph Sepp Blatter's re-election Wednesday as president of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) was prominently reported in Nigerian newspapers Thursday though he beat an African to retain his post. Full text...

Tripoli- Libya (PANA) -- Libyan papers largely commented on the celebration of Africa Day on Saturday, marking the anniversary of the founding of the OAU 39 years ago. Full text...

Cotonou- Benin (PANA) -- The press in Benin this week focused on the functional autonomy of some of the country's key institutions, including the Supreme Court, the Higher Audiovisual and Communication Council (HAAC) and the Constitutional Court. Full text...

Bamako- Mali (PANA) -- Malian papers this week widely dwelt on the confirmation of the election of retired general Amadou Toumani Toure (ATT) as president, with 65. Full text...

Gaborone- Botswana (PANA) -- Paramount chiefs in Botswana are pressing the government in Gaborone to ban alcohol consumption in the country or water it down. Full text...

Monrovia- Liberia (PANA) -- The need to cease fire in the current gun battle between government troops and dissidents in Liberia, topped media reports in Monrovia during the week. Full text...

Lome- Togo (PANA) -- The fresh political situation in Togo following the appointment of seven magistrates to replace the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) this week preoccupied newspapers in Lome. Full text...

Ouagadougou- Burkina Faso (PANA) -- Papers in Ouagadougou this week directed their attention on the management of power in Burkina Faso after the 5 May parliamentary polls and Gen. Full text...

Lagos- Nigeria (PANA) -- For the second week running, politics dominated reports in Nigerian newspapers, though news of another plane crash in the country during the week also got a big play. Full text...

Accra- Ghana (PANA) -- Ghana's biggest selling newspaper, the Graphic, has again hailed the idea of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), but challenged African leaders to talk less and act more to give the blueprint meaning. Full text...

Cape Town- South Africa (PANA) -- A ruling by South Africa's Constitutional Court barring policemen from using their guns while arresting suspects, attracted wide comment from the local media and the public at large this week. Full text...

Cairo- Egypt (PANA) -- The main story featured Thursday by state-owned Egyptian papers highlighted President Hosni Mubarak's speech delivered Wednesday on the anniversary of the birth of Prophet Mohamed, calling on the Islamic nation to be more moderate and less extremist or fanatical. Full text...

Tripoli- Libya (PANA) -- The Libyan daily, 'Al-Jamahirya' is urging the US to use its huge might, resources and expertise for the benefit of other countries in the world rather than assuming the role of the world's policeman. Full text...

Lagos- Nigeria (PANA) -- Nigerian newspapers Sunday hailed the country's 1-0 victory over Jamaica on Saturday in London, declaring the national team ready for the 2002 World Cup soccer finals scheduled to start on 31 May. Full text...

Dakar- Senegal (PANA) -- The Senegalese local elections won last Sunday by the presidential coalition rallied around the Senegalese Democratic Party of President Abdoulaye Wade made the headlines in the press this week. Full text...

Abidjan- Cote d'Ivoire (PANA) -- The trial of the "assailants" who tried to overthrow President Laurent Gbagbo's regime on 7 to 8 January and the election of Amadou Toumani Toure (ATT) to the Malian presidency are the main talking points for Ivorian papers this week. Full text...

Ouagadougou- Burkina Faso (PANA) -- The parliamentary elections of 5 May were widely commented this week by the media in Burkina Faso, with Journal du Jeudi saying the polls were "the culmination of many struggles prompted by the Sapouy tragedy of 13 December 1998 (assassination of journalist Norbert Zongo). Full text...

Dar es Salaam- Tanzania (PANA) -- An unprecedented gesture by President Benjamin Mkapa to host leaders of the country's main opposition parties to official closed-door talks variously at State House has drawn a positive reaction from the Tanzanian media. Full text...

Johannesburg- South Africa (PANA) -- Allegations that Western Cape Premier Peter Marais sexually harassed a colleague took centre stage in the South African media this week. Full text...

Lagos- Nigeria (PANA) -- The crisis in Nigeria's federal lower legislative Chambers over allegations of fraud and financial mismanagement against its leadership, and the problem with a domestic airliner that aborted a flight due to an engine failure, dominated the country's newspapers this week. Full text...

Accra- Ghana (PANA) -- Ghana's biggest selling newspaper, the Graphic, has expressed shock at the shooting to death of a three- year-old boy by a six-year-old colleague and said steps should be taken to prevent a repeat of the tragic incident. Full text...

Yaounde- Cameroon (PANA) -- Newspapers in Cameroon this week wrote about the 23 June parliamentary and local government elections, the first round French presidential ballot and CAF president's bid to be elected as head of FIFA. Full text...

Abidjan- Cote d'Ivoire (PANA) -- Last Sunday's first round of the French presidential election and this weekend's presidential ballot in Mali were widely commented by Ivorian newspapers this week. Full text...

Monrovia- Liberia (PANA) -- The arrest and flogging in police custody of renowned human rights lawyer Tiawan Gongloe dominated the Liberian media during the week. Full text...

Johannesburg- South Africa (PANA) -- South African space tourist Mark Shuttleworth has been the main media focus this week. Full text...