Douala- Cameroon (PANA) - – After a delay of one week at the northern Garoua Airport, some 470 Cameroonian pilgrims finally departed to Saudi Arabia Sunday, but eyewitnesses said Monday, some 1,000 pilgrims were left behind. Full text...

Douala- Cameroon (PANA) -- Some 1,400 Cameroonian pilgrims bound for Mecca have been stranded for four days at the Garou International Airport in northern Cameroon, eyewitnesses said Friday. Full text...

Sao Tomé- Sao Tomé and Principe (PANA) -- Pope Benedict XVI Friday appointed Manuel Antonio Mendes dos Santos, a Portuguese, as new Bishop of Sao Tomé and Principe, to replace his compatriot Abilio de Sousa Ribas, who has retired. Full text...

Rabat- Morocco (PANA) -- German tourist, Sadek Noshi Yassa, 64, has been sentenced to six months in jail and a fine of 50 Euro, by a Moroccan Magistrate's court, for attempting to "undermine the faith of a Muslim," judicial sources said here Wednesday. Full text...

Dakar- Senegal (PANA) -- After about 50 years of political independence, Ghana has recorded some progress, but must now address "widespread moral decadence," the country's Catholic Bishops, have recommended. Full text...

Niamey- Niger (PANA) -- Niger religious leaders Friday attended a forum devoted to the Charter on Human and People's rights and a Protocol on women's rights, organised by the women affairs and child development Ministry. Full text...

Cairo- Egypt (PANA) -- Pope Chenouda III, leader of Egyptian orthodox Copt Church underwent a successful vertebra surgery Tuesday at a Cleveland hospital in the United States, the Church said in Cairo. Full text...

Abidjan- Cote d'Ivoire (PANA) -- The Ivorian Muslim community prayed Wednesday night for the return of peace in their country divided by a four-year political crisis. Full text...

Tripoli- Libya (PANA) -- An international female Koran recitation contest, sponsored by the "Waatassimou" charity secretary general, Dr Aïcha Moammar Kadhafi, has ended its second annual edition in Tripoli, the Libyan capital. Full text...

Nairobi- Kenya (PANA) -- A Kenyan court Monday sentenced a couple to 18 months in prison each for having sexual relations inside a Mosque at Gilgil, about 100-km northwest of Nairobi. Full text...

Douala- Cameroon (PANA) - – A court in Ngaoundéré, northern Cameroon, has sentenced an Imam, Modibo Mamadou Babba, to 15 years in jail for raping at least 20 girls in a Koranic school, legal sources said here Friday. Full text...

Dakar- Senegal (PANA) -- Pope Benedict XVI has excommunicated controversial Zambian Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo, after he ordained four married men as bishops in Washington DC Sunday, a Vatican statement said Tuesday. Full text...

Blantyre- Malawi (PANA) -- The Ulama Council of Malawi Tuesday announced the appointment of Sheik Abbas Cassim, as the nation's first Grand Mufti, the supreme Muslim leader. Full text...

Tunis- Tunisia (PANA) -- The Tunisian Higher Islamic Council, a government-run body, has expressed "deep indignation" at Pope Benedict XVI's recent statement linking Islam with violence. Full text...

Dar es Salaam- Tanzania (PANA) -- Tanzania edged closer to a major inter- religious row after Muslim leaders in the country called for the establishment of Islamic courts to arbitrate in their disputes. Full text...

Dakar- Senegal (PANA) -- Roman Catholic Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Bishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga of Kasana-Luweero as the new Archbishop of Kampala, the Vatican announced Monday. Full text...

Yaounde- Cameroon (PANA) -- More than 2,000 Christians of different denominations from Cameroon and other Central African countries at the weekend, attended a three-hour service here led by the World Seventh-day Adventist head, Pastor Jan Paulsen as part of activities marking the 80th anniversary of the Church in the sub-region. Full text...

Kinshasa- DR Congo (PANA) -- Suspected dissidents of DR Congo's anti-Christian "Muene" sect, have killed a Catholic priest and plundered the Kizu Parish, near Tshela, in the country's northern Bas-Congo province, the UN Okapi radio has reported here. Full text...

Paris- France (PANA) – A memorial Church service i-s planned Monday in Paris for victims of DR Congo civil war, the organisers said here Wednesday. Full text...

Dakar- Senegal (PANA) -- The Vatican has deplored the statement credited to controversial Zambian Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo, suggesting that Catholic priests be allowed to marry. Full text...

Yaounde- Cameroon (PANA) -- Catholic pontiff Benedict XVI has named George Nkuo, as the new Bishop of Kumbo, in Cameroon's north-western province, an official statement said here at the weekend. Full text...

Accra- Ghana (PANA) -- The Saudi Arabian government on Wednesday presented a cheque for 45,000 US dollars towards the construction of a national mosque complex in Accra, the Ghanaian capital. Full text...

Abidjan- Cote d'Ivoire (PANA) -- Papal nuncio Mario Roberto Cassari, the Holy See's envoy in Cote d'Ivoire, has announced the appointment of Mgr Jean Pierre Kutwa as the new archbishop of Abidjan. Full text...

Nairobi- Kenya (PANA) -- Roman Catholic Archbishop Zacheus Okoth of Kisumu, Kenya, has called on the relevant authorities to consider the introduction of peace and justice programmes in the country's primary and secondary school curricular. Full text...

Dakar- Senegal (PANA) -- Some 102 television networks in 65 countries are to hook on by satellite for Pope Benedict XVI's Easter message and blessing on Sunday, the Pontifical Council for Social Communications said in a release at the Vatican. Full text...

Timbuktu- Mali (PANA) -- Libyan leader Moammar Kadhafi Monday toured Mali's ancient city of Timbuktu, some 900-km north of Bamako, visiting the Djingarey Ber Mosque, one of the most important historical monuments of the city. Full text...

Segou- Mali (PANA) -- Libyan leader Moammar Kadhafi, who is also the chairman of the World Islamic Popular Command (CIPM), has laid a foundation stone for a grand Mosque in Segou on the eve of Prophet Muhammad's birthday commemoration. Full text...

Tripoli- Libya (PANA) -- The General Congress of the World Islamic Popular Command (CIPM) has in Tripoli began holding its extraordinary session under the theme: "Pride in Prophet Mohammad's Personality. Full text...

Nouakchott- Mauritania (PANA) -- An Islamic scientific conference opened in Nouakchott Tuesday under the chairmanship of Mauritanian leader Ely Ould Mohamed Vall. Full text...

Dakar- Senegal (PANA) -- Religious events, especially Church services are being held Sunday across Christendom to mark the anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II, who died 2 April 2005, at the age of 84 after a breathtaking 26-year pontificate that touched millions of lives. Full text...

Syrte- Libya (PANA) -- Libyan leader Moammar Kadhafi has said the Danish journalist who spearheaded the publication of cartoons attacking Prophet Mohammad had expressed his own absurdity and hatred, and not those of Danes who have dissociated themselves from the publication. Full text...

Dakar- Senegal (PANA) -- Pope Benedict XVI has urged Christians to see Lent as a time of renewal instead of a heavy obligation. Full text...

Blantyre- Malawi (PANA) -- Controversy surrounding the consecration of a theologically liberal English vicar as Anglican bishop of a diocese in Malawi is refusing to die, with the bishop-elect's supporters insisting he must be consecrated into the office despite his rejection by the church's Confirmation Court. Full text...

Dakar- Senegal (PANA) -- Pope Benedict XVI has expressed his sorrow over the religious violence in northern Nigeria that has killed at least 30 people, including a Roman Catholic priest. Full text...

Yaounde- Cameroon (PANA) -- Malta's Grand Master of Sovereign, Military and Hospitaller Order, Fra' Andrew Bertie, arrived in Yaounde on Monday to begin an official four-day visit to Cameroon. Full text...

Nairobi- Kenya (PANA) -- Danish Ambassador to Kenya Bo Jensen Monday apologized to Muslims across the globe over the publication the now controversial caricatures of Prophet Mohammed by Danish newspapers and re-printed in other European countries. Full text...

Dakar- Senegal (PANA) -- Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade has strongly condemned Prophet Muhammad's cartoons first published in a conservative Danish newspaper, and subsequently in other papers in France and Norway, describing them as "blasphemous. Full text...

Cape Town- South Africa (PANA) -- South Africa's Council of Muslim Theologians says it is "deeply offended" by caricatures of the Prophet Muhammed published in some European newspapers. Full text...

Nairobi- Kenya (PANA) -- Kenyan Muslims will 10 February stage a peaceful protest here against the 'unwarranted attack' on prophet Mohammad by the media in certain European countries, Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) chairman Abdulghafur El-Busaidy announced Friday. Full text...

Nouakchott- Mauritania (PANA) -- About 1,000 Mauritanian women on Sunday afternoon participated in a demonstration here to protest against pictures published by Scandinavian papers caricaturing Prophet Mohamed. Full text...

Dakar- Senegal (PANA) -- A Roman Catholic bishop, 20 priests, two men religious, two women religious and a layman met violent deaths in 2005, according to latest reports from the Vatican. Full text...

Rabat- Morocco (PANA) -- Moroccan King Mohammed VI is expected to attend the 8-9 December summit of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Saudi Arabia, reliable sources said here. Full text...

Zomba- Malawi (PANA) -- Malawi's Anglican Church, with the support of its Central African counterparts, has rejected the confirmation of a pro-gay British vicar as bishop of the country's Lake Malawi diocese. Full text...

Bujumbura- Burundi (PANA) -- Monsignor Bernard Bududira, bishop of Bururi Diocese in southern Burundi, died Saturday in Italy where he had gone for medical treatment, official sources said here Sunday. Full text...

Maputo- Mozambique (PANA) -- President Armando Guebuza Sunday urged the Old Apostolic Church of Mozambique, to step up support for people affected by drought and HIV/AIDS in the country. Full text...

Bissau- Guinea Bissau (PANA) -- The chairman of the National Islamic Council (CNI) of Guinea Bissau, Aladji Abdou Baio, has demanded the expulsion of the Ahmadia sect from the West African country, official sources revealed here. Full text...

Blantyre- Malawi (PANA) -- Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika has reprieved 803 prisoners, including 30 minors, to mark the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitri. Full text...

Rabat- Morocco (PANA) -- Moroccan King Mohamed VI has pardoned 1,111 prisoners on the occasion of Ed al-Fitr, marking the end of Muslim Ramadan, which is to be celebrated in the country Friday, the Justice Ministry said. Full text...

Cape Town- South Africa (PANA) -- Louis Sibiya, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Africa, says there is no simple "yes" or "no" answer to whether a self-confessed gay person can be married and/or ordained in the Church, or whether a polygamist can be ordained into the ministry. Full text...

Nairobi- Kenya (PANA) -- The Free Pentecostal Fellowship church in Kenya (FPFK) is working out ways to send missionaries and social workers to the war torn countries of Sudan and Somalia as a way of bestowing peace in the areas, said a senior cleric of the FPFK Sunday. Full text...