MANCHESTER CITY DRAWN WITH LIVERPOOL.

Brendan Rodgers' side looked on track for an away victory against the champions after goals from Daniel Sturridge and Steven Gerrard had put them in charge at the Etihad Stadium, but they were ultimately denied by an outstanding equaliser from Sergio Aguero.

"Today they arrived. To come here to the Etihad against one of the top clubs in Europe and the best team in our league from last year, they were outstanding."
Craig BellamyQuotes of the week

However, former striker Bellamy says the team are no longer reliant on the influential Gerrard and Luis Suarez and now have strength throughout the team, highlighting the improvement of Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing.
But it was man of the match Daniel Sturridge that impressed him the most.
"I thought Liverpool were outstanding in the way they passed from start to finish," Bellamy told Super Sunday.
"For me, I've seen Liverpool play really well this season and not get the result and today they arrived. To come here to the Etihad against one of the top clubs in Europe and the best team in our league from last year, they were outstanding.
"Players like Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing have really impressed me in the last month or so. Sturridge has fitted in straight away and has been an incredible signing and then you've got Suarez and Stevie G. To me, Liverpool look a real team now and are really pushing forward.
"I thought Henderson was outstanding today. His forward runs and his energy are great, but his quality on the ball has really stepped up in the last few games. Stewart on the other side is more direct and can cut in.
"They've got a connection with Sturridge as well - it's not just all Suarez - and he'll make a big difference for them as well. He was outstanding today.
"As a forward he led the line outstandingly well, but it wasn't just that. It was his cleverness and from the word go he was outstanding and his overall performance as a forward was exceptional. He went long, he was spinning, he was coming short and I don't think he gave the ball away once. He was at the heart of everything Liverpool did.
"Liverpool needed him, but I also believe he needed Liverpool. He needed to get to a stage in his career where he plays week in, week out and he's' playing in front of probably the best fans in the world.
"At Anfield he's going to be loved. If he puts in performances like that, he's going to be adored like Luis is and like Gerrard is. To be loved by Liverpool fans is something special."
Sturridge's goal provoked the ire of City manager Roberto Mancini after the game because he felt his side should have been given a free-kick for a foul by Daniel Agger on opening goalscorer Edin Dzeko - and then Liverpool should have put the ball out when the striker was down injured.
Liverpool scored from that passage of play, but while Bellamy agreed the referee should have blown for a free-kick, he didn't think it was up to the away team to put the ball out.

Sturridge: Two points dropped

He said: "It's a definite foul, but should Liverpool kick the ball out? It's a difficult one.
"Look, they played on and Manchester City had the opportunity if Javi Garcia could have sorted his feet out to clear it himself.
"You leave it to the referee and you hope that he'll blow, but if he doesn't you carry on. Liverpool weren't really in the wrong by not kicking it out.
"Dzeko didn't need treatment, he didn't go off for treatment and he stayed on the pitch. It's a difficult one and I can understand why Liverpool played on."

FELLAIN RESECURE AVERTON FROM ASTON VILA.

Aston Villa blew a chance to boost their fight to avoid relegation as Everton came from two goals down to draw 3-3 thanks to Marouane Fellaini's double at Goodison Park on Saturday.
Paul Lambert's Villa were on course for just their fifth Premier League win of the season when they led 3-1 with 68 minutes gone.
Christian Benteke had given Villa the early lead and although Victor Anichebe equalised, it was the visitors who regained control through Gabriel Agbonlahor and Benteke.

But Belgium international Fellaini underlined his reputation as one of the division's most dangerous midfielders with a brace including the equaliser three minutes into stoppage-time.

It was a huge blow to second bottom Villa, who since their last league win at Liverpool seven weeks ago have now picked up just three points, and they lie six points from safety.

Villa made the perfect start in the second minute Benteke went past John Heitinga to slide a shot across Tim Howard from Charles N'Zogbia's pass.
Anichebe was again preferred up front to Nikica Jelavic and he repaid manager David Moyes' faith with a 21st minute equaliser.
Having held up Kevin Mirallas' pass by using his superior upper body strength, he then turned Ciaran Clark to fire a left-footed shot past Brad Guzan for his fifth goal in eight league starts.

Both sides looked weak defensively and Heitinga, who has not enjoyed the best of seasons, was again involved in Villa's second three minutes later.
A corner was only partially cleared and Ashley Westwood's right-wing cross saw Agbonlahor lose Heitinga and outjump Fellaini to head in at the far post.
Andreas Weimann exchanged passes with Matthew Lowton, allowing the right-back to curl in an inviting cross to which Benteke beat Heitinga to nod in at the near post in the 61st minute.
Yet Everton wouldn't surrender and Fellaini cut in from the left and again utilised Anichebe's strength to hold up the ball before taking the return pass to shoot past Guzan in the 69th minute.

David Moyes' side kept pressing for an equaliser and Fellaini got it with a header in the third of six added minutes.

SOUTH AFRICA LOST THE MATCH AGAINST MALI

South Africa are out the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations after buckling under pressure and losing 3-1 to Mali in a penalty shootout, after the match ended 1-1 after extra time.

Siphiwe Tshabalala was the only player to score from the spot for South Africa in a match which saw the host nation take the lead through Tokelo Rantie. But his goal was cancelled out by Seydou Keita early in the second half.

Mali kept their nerve in the shootout, scoring all three of their attempts.

South Africa started the match like a house on fire, putting Mali under pressure and getting the home crowd excited right from the onset.

After just six minutes it was clear that Bafana Bafana were going to press Mali and force them back. A resultant move saw Bernard Parker find space only for right-footed attempt from outside the box to lack power and direction.

It took nine minutes for Mali to get a sight on goal when Seydou Keita powered in a shot from distance, but it was always going over the crossbar.

In the 13th minute, with Mali under more early pressure, May Mahlangu burst into the danger area and left two defenders in his wake. He then passed to Reneilwe Letsholonyane, but once ‘Yeye’ hesitated, the advantage that the home side had was lost.

Seonds later, the ball went wide to Sibonios Gaxa and he got in an excellent cross, but even though Mahlangu got his ehad to the ball, he was just too late with his jump to get the header on target.

In the 22nd minute Mahlangu turned the Mali defenders around with a great through ball to Tokelo Rantie, but the goalkeeper Diakite just beat Rantie to the ball.

It took until the 32nd minute for the host nation’s pressure to find a clear crack in Mali’s defence. Mahlangu broke free and slipped the ball to his left to Thuso Phala, who whipped a pass across goal for Tokelo Rantie to stab home from close range.

But in the 41st minute, goal scorer Rantie had to be replaced by Lehlohonolo Majoro after he limped off with an injury.

Letsholonyane released an inviting through ball in the 57th minute and Majoro was through on goal, but a combination of strong defending and brave goalkeeping saw the chance go amiss.

But just a minute later dangerman Seydou Keita got free inside the box, onto the end of a Mahamadou Samassa cross and put his header past Khune to bring Mali level.

Then a mistake by Gaxa in the 61st minute allowed Samassa a shot at goal, but Khune saved well. Then it was Mahlangu who went close in the 80th minute after a good combination with Majoro that resulted in a first time effort on goal, which was saved.

NEWCASTEL BEAT CHELSEA AT HOME.

Newcastle players celebrate against Chelsea,

Arsenal boosted their top four hopes with victory over Stoke, while Reading left it late again as they overcame Sunderland 2-1 at the Madejski Stadium thanks to two goals from Jimmy Kebe and Manchester United opened up a 10-point lead at the top of the table.
Shaun Maloney's last-gasp goal rescued Wigan a 2-2 draw with Southampton at the DW Stadium.
Moussa Sissoko's late goal earned Newcastle a thrilling 3-2 win over Chelsea to climb further clear of trouble at the wrong end of the table and pile the misery on Rafa Benitez.
Demba Ba endured a painful return to St James' Park when he took a boot in the face from former team-mate Fabricio Coloccini and, after lengthy treatment, was forced off before half-time.
Newcastle broke the deadlock four minutes before the break when Davide Santon sent over a superb cross from the left and Jonas Gutierrez ghosted into the box unmarked to flash his header into the bottom corner past Petr Cech.
Chelsea equalised ten minutes into the second half when Ashley Cole picked out Frank Lampard 25 yards from goal and the midfielder smashed a swerving shot past Tim Krul to hit double figures in the Premier League for a tenth consecutive season.
The visitors turned the game on its head just past the hour mark when Fernando Torres teed up Juan Mata inside the box and he curled a superb shot into the far corner past a stranded Krul.
Newcastle refused to lie down and they drew level on 68 minutes with Sissoko scoring his first goal for the club. Papiss Cisse sent Yoan Gouffran through on goal and he saw his effort palmed out by Cech, but Sissoko was on hand to fire home the rebound.
Just when it seemed like it would end all-square Sissoko popped up with his second goal of the game in the closing seconds to give Newcastle back-to-back wins.
Wayne Rooney's second-half goal earned Manchester United a second win over Fulham in a week following a 1-0 success at Craven Cottage.
The Premier League leaders struck the woodwork three times in a first half which was temporarily halted when the floodlights went out.
An end-to-end game was decided by Rooney's composed finish 11 minutes from time, with Fulham twice seeing attempts cleared off the line.
Arsenal closed the gap on Tottenham and Chelsea with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Stoke at the Emirates.
After being denied on several occasions by Asmir Begovic, Arsenal finally made the breakthrough 12 minutes from time with a controversial goal from Lukas Podolski.
Podolski's low-free-kick took a wicked deflection off Geoff Cameron to wrongfoot Begovic, but it looked like referee Chris Foy was preparing to disallow the goal before awarding the strike after consulting his assistant.
Everton came from two goals down to earn a 3-3 draw with Aston Villa at Goodison Park to deny Paul Lambert's side a much-needed win.
Villa made the perfect start with Christian Benteke firing the visitors in front after just two minutes to stun the home fans.
Benteke easily beat Johnny Heitinga as he powered past the Everton defender before firing low past Tim Howard.
Everton drew level on 21 minutes when Victor Anichebe held off Ciaran Clark and rolled the defender before hitting his shot low past Brad Guzan.
Parity proved short-lived as three minutes later Villa restored their lead when Gabriel Agbonlahor rose above Heitinga to arrow his header from Matt Lowton's cross into the bottom corner.
Villa made it 3-1 just past the hour mark when Benteke got ahead of Heitinga to head home Lowton's inviting cross from close range.
Everton pulled a goal back on 69 minutes when Marouane Fellaini played a one-two with Anichebe before firing low past Guzan.
The home side threw everything at Villa and in injury-time Fellaini rose highest to head home Leighton Baines' corner to break the visitors' resistance and earn Everton an unlikely point.
Reading continued their recent improvement with a 2-1 win over Sunderland.
Reading got off to a flying start by going in front after just seven minutes when Jobi McAnuff picked out Jimmy Kebe inside the box and he controlled superbly before smashing his shot high into the net past Simon Mignolet.
Sunderland drew level just before the half-hour mark when Pavel Pogrebnyak fouled John O'Shea inside the box to concede a penalty and Craig Gardner drilled his spot-kick past Adam Federici.
Reading grabbed the winner five minutes from time when Kebe got on the end of Ian Harte's cross at the far post to head in off the underside of the crossbar.
Andy Carroll's second goal for West Ham earned Sam Allardyce's side a much-needed win over Swansea at Upton Park.
Carroll netted the only goal of the game 13 minutes from time when he headed home past Gerhard Tremmel.
Mark Bunn saved Adel Taarabt's second-half penalty as Norwich earned a goalless draw with basement boys Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.
Bunn conceded the penalty when he brought down Jamie Mackie inside the box, but the Norwich keeper made amends for his mistake with a superb save to keep out Taarabt's spot-kick and deny QPR all three points.
Wigan picked up a precious point after a late 2-2 draw with fellow strugglers Southampton to deny Mauricio Pochettino his first win as manager.
Wigan made the breakthrough on 25 minutes when Gary Caldwell headed Jean Beausejour's corner powerfully past Artur Boruc.
Southampton deservedly drew level on 64 minutes when Rickie Lambert bravely headed home past Ali Al Habsi.
Southampton hit the front five minutes from time with Morgan Schneiderlin finishing off a flowing move from the visitors with a close-range finish from Jay Rodriguez's cross.
Wigan hit back to level matters in the final minute when Maloney got on the end of Paul Scharner's header to score from close range.

MANCHESTER UNITED LEADING THE LEAGUE.

Wayne Rooney: Grabbed the only goal of the game 11 minutes from time

Bryan Ruiz hit the post for the hosts, while Rooney, Patrice Evra and a wayward header from Brede Hangeland cannoned back off the frame of the goal at the opposite end of the field.
It looked as though that would be the major talking point in the game, but Rooney stepped up for United on 79 minutes - stroking the ball into the bottom corner after leading a counter-attack.
Released from the Old Trafford cabbage patch, United stated their intent by selecting two orthodox wide-men and attacking from the first whistle.
With Fulham, even minus former Red Devils striker Dimitar Berbatov, far more of a threat than they were when the sides met in the FA Cup seven days ago, it made for a rip-roaring opening in which both keepers excelled and the woodwork at either end was rattled.
Robin van Persie's corner started it, bouncing off Hangeland and towards his own goal, forcing Mark Schwarzer into the first of a series of excellent saves. Evra reacted quickest but could only scoop the ball against the bar before Sascha Riether cleared Wayne Rooney's shot off the line.
De Gea then got fingertips to a Ruiz shot that thudded against a post before play switched down to the other end where Hangeland, after denying Nani with a superb last-ditch tackle, turned Van Persie's corner on to the bar.
Only then did a breathless contest slow in intensity, although a brilliant move involving Nani and Tom Cleverley created another opportunity for Rooney, which he stroked against a post.
Nani was certainly making an impression on only his fourth match back after two months out with a hamstring injury, only for his momentum to be halted as the stadium was plunged into darkness.
The players did return to complete the opening period, although Van Persie's shot, gathered at the second attempt by Schwarzer, was the only incident of note.
The floodlight incident seemed to take the zip out of the entire contest, with neither side coming close to matching the thrills they had produced before the impromptu break in proceedings.
For a while it appeared Fulham might claim a major scalp.
Rafael cleared off the line from Ruiz after Jonny Evans had been forced to head away from underneath his own bar.
Rooney had other ideas, though, and when Fulham failed to get a touch to De Gea's long kick downfield, the England man picked his spot and, in front of national coach Roy Hodgson, calmly found the bottom corner.
Fulham piled forward in search of a dramatic leveller, but they were unable to break United's stubborn resistance - with Van Persie clearing a Philippe Senderos header off the line in stoppage-time.

 

 

AFCON SOUTH AFRICA VS MALI

AFCON 2013 GHANA VS CAPE VERDE TODAY

SUNDAY LIVERPOOL TRAVEL MANCHESTER CITY.

Vincent Kompany: Manchester City captain will miss clash with Liverpool

The Red Devils moved seven clear at the top of the Premier League courtesy of their 2-1 success against Southampton in midweek, 24 hours after the champions were held to a 0-0 draw at QPR.
Despite the gap which is opening with 14 games of the season remaining, City will highlight the fact that they famously over-turned an eight-point deficit in the closing stages of the last campaign.
Roberto Mancini elected not to make any additions to his squad during the January transfer window, but there was one high-profile departure as Mario Balotelli returned to Italy with AC Milan.Liverpool remain a work in progress under Brendan Rodgers, with their thrilling 2-2 draw against Arsenal in midweek encapsulating what they have achieved and what still needs to be done.
The Reds took a 2-0 lead at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night, helped in no small part by some awful defending from the Gunners, only to allow the hosts back into the contest and have to settle for a share of the spoils.
The dream of a return to the UEFA Champions League remains alive, with Rodgers' men seven adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham, but their days of challenging for the Premier League title are but a distant memory at present

THIS SATURDAY FULHAM VS MANCHESTER UNITED.

Dimitar Berbatov: Misses out against former club

 

Manchester United have the chance to extend their lead to 10 points when they visit Fulham on Saturday.

United travel to Craven Cottage for the evening kick-off in the knowledge that they can heap further pressure on rivals Manchester City ahead of their clash with Liverpool the following day.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side will surely go into this contest in confident mood given that they made easy work of beating Fulham 4-1 last weekend in an FA Cup fourth-round tie at Old Trafford.
Wayne Rooney netted in that game and added a further two goals against Southampton in midweek to show there is more to the Red Devils' forward line than Robin van Persie.
But for Fulham boss Martin Jol, it's a former United forward causing concern as Dimitar Berbatov misses out with hamstring problem.
That's a big blow for the home side as the 32-year-old has scored eight goals this season - six of them in the first half of games - and the stage looked set for the mercurial Bulgarian to give his old employers a scare at the weekend.
Of course, United have had a few of those this season. They have fallen behind an astonishing 12 times this season, including against Fulham in their first home league game of the campaign.
But even more remarkably, Ferguson's side have gone on to win nine of those games - starting with that 3-2 triumph over Jol's men back in August..

BALLOTELI SAID I LOVE MANCHESTER CITY BUT......

 

Mario Balotelli has reiterated his love for Manchester City after his move back to Milan but underlined his indifference to the rest of English culture.

The Italy striker was paraded by his new club on Friday after completing his £17m switch back to Serie A after three years away.
"I have to say thanks to all the City fans because they've been very nice to me and they always supported me in the good and in the bad moments," he said.
"And I have to thank my team-mates and the manager. Everything else, I'm happy that I left England.
"Good things - only when I get to Carrington to train. So my team-mates and manager. And the bad things? Everything else.
"The press, first. The weather. The food. The way you drive. That's it.
"To be honest the Premier League is an amazing league and I think it is the best. The crowd and the pitch ... it's an amazing league.
"I don't know in the future if I could come back. For the moment I'm here.
"To be a player for Milan has always been my dream so I'm very happy.

Mancini: Sad to see Mario go

"Now I'm at Milan it's very important above all because I am close to my family and friends. Manchester is not so far, but it's not close like Milan."
Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani presented Balotelli with his number 45 shirt before thanking the Premier League champions for their co-operation in allowing the deal to go ahead.
He said: "As a club we are happy to bring back our Italian player after long negotiations and have to thank Manchester City in helping this transfer to go through. It was the most complicated in my career.
"We are happy that Balotelli has joined the team he supported as a boy and it has been a dream of mine for a long to bring the player to the club.
"I always said it was 99.9 per cent that it would not happen. I was just being realistic, but now it has happened."

YANGA KUPAMBANA NA MTIBWA SUGAR.

 

David Beckham sign PSG.

David Beckham believes he can have a lasting impact at Paris Saint-Germain, despite signing only a short-term deal.

The former England captain, who has been a free agent since leaving LA Galaxy in December, ended months of speculation about his future when he was unveiled at a packed Parc des Princes on Thursday.
Beckham, 37, has agreed a five-month contract with former boss Carlo Ancelotti's Qatari-backed side but is already looking beyond the summer.
"I don't see it as a short-term project," he said.
"I have only signed until the end of the season, but I consider myself to be a part of the club's future. I can help the club grow and help the French league grow.
"There have been no discussions about me having a long-term role at the club, but I think a long-term partnership is what we've looked for."Beckham, who sprung a surprise by announcing his wages would go to a children's charity, joins a side top of Ligue 1 and through to the knockout stage of the Champions League but insists he can still bring footballing as well as commercial clout.
"I have a lot of experience in the game," he added. "I've won over 13 or 14 championships in my career, played for some of the biggest clubs and with some of the best players in the world.
"I'm still fit, I can run around and play like I could when I was 21."

Jeffrey Schlupp training with Manchester United.

Leicester boss Nigel Pearson has confirmed that young City striker Jeff Schlupp has been training with Manchester United.

Schlupp, 20, spent last week with the Premier League leaders and is set to remain with Sir Alex Ferguson's side for a few more days.
The move is the latest in a burgeoning relationship between the npower Championship club and United, which has seen Ritchie De Laet and Danny Drinkwater sign for City after leaving Old Trafford and Michael Keane and Jesse Lingard arrive on loan from the 12-time Premier League champions.
"He is training with them at the moment," Pearson told the Leicester Mercury.
"I have allowed him to go there for a week. It is a great opportunity for him. We have a good relationship with United and I am not going to stand in his way to go there for a week's training.
"If anything comes of it, we will wait and see. They have had a good look at him."
Schlupp, who came through the youth ranks at Leicester, has made five starts this season but the majority of them have been at left-back as cover for Paul Konchesky.
The Germany-born Ghana international is highly-rated as a striker by the midlands club and made an impact at Brentford during a loan spell in 2011, scoring six times in 10 appeara
 

Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama refuse deal with Manchester united

Victor Wanyama is leaving the door open for a summer exit from Celtic, but insists he will not be moving on deadline day.

Speculation regarding Wanyama's future has built steadily throughout the winter window, with Manchester United among those said to be closely monitoring his situation.
The highly-rated 21-year-old is paying little attention to the rumours, though, with it his intention to see out the season at Parkhead - allowing him to form part of Celtic's squad for the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League.
"I can confirm to you that I will be at Celtic," Wanyama told the Daily Record.
"We are playing well and our Champions League dream is on right now, so I am looking forward to the big game against Juventus.
"A lot has been said about my intended move but I have not given it much thought and even my manager feels I should play until the end of the season for Celtic.
"Then, from that point, the doors can be open for a move."

Manchester City sign Ghanaian youngster Godsway Donyoh

Premier League champions Manchester City have announced the signing of Ghanaian youngster Godsway Donyoh.

The 18-year-old was signed by City after having received his breakthrough at a Ghanian charity organisation called the Right to Dream Academy.
After penning a contract at Eastlands, he has immediately been loaned out to Swedish outfit Djurgardens for the rest of the year.
Djurgardens manager Magnus Pehrsson said: "The combination that Donyoh is a talented player who fits into our style of play, and that Manchester City believes in him, makes him an interesting addition to our squad."

NATO Says Missiles Operational on Turkey-Syria Border .

NATO says the first of six missile defense batteries sent to Turkey to intercept possible rockets fired from Syria is operational.

The alliance says the Patriot missile battery went "under command and control" in the southern city of Adana Saturday. The first battery was a Dutch unit.

The Netherlands and the United States are each providing two batteries of the U.S.-made Patriots. NATO expects to make the rest of the units fully operational in the next few days.

The Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad has described the NATO Patriot deployment as a provocation.

On Friday, twin car bomb explosions in the Syrian-controlled part of the Golan Heights killed eight people. Government forces launched new raids in rebel-held districts of Damascus.

There was no claim of responsibility for the Golan Heights blasts, but car bombs and suicide attacks targeting Syrian troops are tactics commonly used by Islamic militants, who alongside the rebels are trying to topple Assad.

According to estimates, at least 60,000 people have been killed since the conflict began in March 2011. Hundreds of thousands more have sought refuge in neighboring countries.

EGYPT VIOLENCE.

In this January 26, 2013 photo, demonstrators throw stones at security forces who respond with tear gas in front of international hotels along the Nile in downtown Cairo, Egypt.

x

 

In this January 26, 2013 photo, demonstrators throw stones at security forces who respond with tear gas in front of international hotels along the Nile in downtown Cairo,

              

CAIRO, EGYPT — Egyptian authorities appear caught between trying to contain escalating anti-government violence and refraining from the heavy-handed tactics that led to the toppling of the old system. Authorities said Sunday that 31 people have died in clashes in Port Said, after a court delivered death sentences in a football riot case.

The coastal city of Port Said was reeling Sunday from a burst of violence as rival football gangs, known as Ultras, and anti-government protesters turned the streets into a battleground. Many residents remained indoors, as the military increased security, including at key installations such as the port and the Suez Canal and roads leading into town.

In Zagazig, near the Delta hometown of President Mohamed Morsi, clashes between pro- and anti-government forces broke out Sunday. In Suez, angry youths kept up protests which have already claimed several lives. And in Cairo, riot police and protesters continued to trade tear gas and fire bombs on the streets leading into Tahir Square, two days after the nation marked the anniversary of the 2011 revolution.
Anger has largely turned toward President Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood supporters, who protesters say have failed to bring political, economic or social justice since coming to power last year.
In response to the violence, Information Minister Salah Abdel Maqsoud said the National Defense Council is calling for dialogue.
He said the group, which includes Morsi, wants "independent, nationalistic personalities" to lead a discussion on the country's political divisions.
The Port Said violence erupted after a court handed death sentences to 21 people involved in a football riot that left 72 fans dead last year. Many blamed the government for not addressing what they said was security's role in failing to prevent the stadium disaster. Ultras have long been suspicious of the police, and have been a strong force during the uprising against the old government, and in protests against the interim military rulers and the current leadership.

That so many people died during clashes in response to the death sentences imposed Saturday, which were themselves a response to deadly riots, has left many in Egypt both stunned and weary.

THE CRISIS IN MALI, THE PROOP MOVE TO TIMBUKTU

Mali conflict: French and Malian troops move on Timbuktu

French-led forces in Mali are advancing on the key northern city of Timbuktu, as they press on with their offensive against Islamist rebels.

On Saturday Malian and French forces seized Gao, another key northern city.

The advance comes as African Union leaders are meeting to discuss sending more troops to Mali.

Islamists seized the north of the country last year, but have been losing ground since French forces launched an operation earlier this month.

Late on Saturday French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said Malian and French troops would arrive "near Timbuktu soon".

Overnight they secured Gao - northern Mali's most populous city- after special forces captured the airport and a strategic bridge to the south.

Most militants appear to have fled into desert hide-outs and the hunt for them may prove more difficult once all major towns are secure, says the BBC's Thomas Fessy in the capital, Bamako.

Troops from Niger and Chad are to assist Malian forces in further securing the town.

Also overnight, French forces bombed Islamist position in Kidal, Malian officials say.

An army source told AFP news agency that the home of the head of Ansar Dine, the main militant group in northern Mali, had been destroyed in a raid.
US refuelling
African Union leaders are holding a summit in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, as members move to deploy troops to help the French-led operation there.

Outgoing AU chairman Boni Yayi on Sunday hailed France for its military intervention, saying it was something "we should have done a long time ago to defend a member country".

In a statement on Saturday, the AU said it wanted to make "an African Standby Force" operational in Mali soon.

African states have pledged nearly 5,700 troops to support French and Malian forces in their campaign. Only a small part of the African force has so far deployed.

On the sidelines of the Addis Ababa summit, the EU pledged 50m euros (£42.6m) to bolster the multinational force, saying a further 250m euros of development money would also be made available.

Meanwhile, the US said it would provide mid-air refuelling for French warplanes. The Pentagon said it had also discussed plans for the US to transport troops to Mali from countries including Chad and Togo.

The scars of battle are evident in Konna, the first town recaptured from the Islamists by the French

Some 3,700 French troops are engaged in Operation Serval, 2,500 of them on Malian soil.

France intervened in its former colony after Islamist launched a push to the south earlier this month. Paris said the whole of Africa, and even Europe, was under threat if the Islamist offensive succeeded.

As French and Malian troops moved into Gao, Malian officials spoke of scenes of joy, but also some looting.

Malian Foreign Minister Tieman Coulibaly said ahead of the summit in Addis Ababa: "This terrorist group intends to spread its criminal purpose over the whole of Mali, and eventually target other countries."

The AU has recommended civilian observers monitor the human rights situation in the areas which have come back under the control of the Malian government.

Human rights groups have accused the Malian army of committing serious abuses.

Islamist groups and secular Tuareg rebels took advantage of chaos following a military coup to seize northern Mali in April 2012. But the Islamists soon took control of the region's major towns, sidelining the Tuaregs.

MALI UNREST.

Wizara ya Ulinzi ya Ufaransa inasema kuwa jeshi linaloongozwa na Wafaransa limeuteka uwanja wa ndege wa mji wa Gao, ngome ya wapiganaji ya Kiislamu kaskazini mwa Mali.Daraja muhimu piya wameiteka. Mapigano yanaendelea.
Gao ni mmoja kati ya miji mikuu mitatu ya kaskazini mwa Mali iliyotekwa na wapiganaji mwaka jana.
Siku ya Ijumaa wanajeshi wa Mali na Ufaransa waliukomboa mji wa Hombor kilomita 160 kutoka Gao.
Umoja wa Afrika umesema unataka kuzidisha idadi ya wanajeshi wa kuweka amani nchini Mali, na imeomba nchi zanachama kujitolea kwa wanajeshi zaidi katika wiki zijazo.
Piya umeuomba Umoja wa Mataifa usaidie kuwasafirisha wanajeshi hao hadi Mali.

 

NGASSA KUSAINI YANGA 2013/2014

 

Ni kama mchezo wa kuigiza vile, lakini ukweli ni kwamba Mrisho Ngassa ameghairi kwenda El Merreikh ya Sudani na sasa amesaini Yanga ya Dar es Salaam kwa ajili ya Ligi Kuu Tanzania Bara msimu ujao.
Habari za uhakika ambazo zimepatikana kutoka vyanzo mbalimbali vya kuaminika jana usiku, vyanzo hivyo vikiwa pamoja na Ngassa ni kwamba mshambuliaji huyo amefuta mpango wake wa kwenda Khartoum, Sudan kujiunga na El Merreikh na kuweka wazi nia yake ya kuchezea Yanga.
“Kuna mazungumzo na Ngassa yanaendelea hapa, ameamua mwenyewe kwa hiari yake aachane na mipango ya kwenda Sudan badala yake anataka acheze Yanga, huo ndio ukweli ulivyo.
“Lakini mkataba wake na Yanga utaeleza wazi kwamba atajiunga na timu yetu mara tu baada ya kumaliza mkataba wake wa kucheza kwa mkopo katika klabu ya Simba. Kwa maana hiyo atavaa rasmi jezi za Yanga msimu ujao.
“Tumebishana kidogo, lakini hatimaye tumekubaliana tumchukue kwani kama akienda El Merreikh itakuwa ngumu kumrudisha Yanga, wakati mwenyewe anataka acheze Yanga,” kilisema chanzo hicho usiku jana wakati wakiwa na Ngassa.
Kwa mujibu wa chanzo hicho ambacho hakitaki jina lake litajwe ni kuwa Ngassa yupo huru kuzungumza na timu yoyote kwani mkataba wake na Azam umebaki miezi sita, ingawa pia Simba inadai iliingia naye mkataba mwingine wa mwaka mmoja pale mkataba wa sasa wa mkopo utakapomalizika.
Ngassa kwa upande wake alipoulizwa kwanza alionekana kushtuka kisha akasema hawezi kufanya uamuzi wa kwenda Yanga wala kuzungumza nao lolote kwa sasa.
Kwa upande wake Mwenyekiti wa Kamati ya Usajili ya Yanga, Abdallah Bin Kleb alipotafutwa jana simu yake ilikuwa ikiita bila majibu.
Wiki iliyopita Azam ilitangaza kumuuza Ngassa kwa timu ya El Merreikhn kwa dola za Marekani 75,000, ambapo juzi klabu hiyo ilisema mchezaji huyo atakuwa akilipwa dola za Marekani 4,000 (Sh. Milioni sita za Tanzania) kwa mwezi.
Lakini mauzo ya Ngassa kwenda El Merreikh yanaonekana kuzigonganisha Azam na Simba, huku Simba ikilalamika kutotendewa haki kwa madai Azam ilipaswa kuwataarifu kabla ya kumuuza Sudan.
Tayari Mwenyekiti wa Simba, Ismail Aden Rage ameliandikia barua Shirikisho la Soka Tanzania (TFF) kupinga mauzo ya mchezaji huyo na kuliomba shirikisho hilo lisitoe Hati ya Uhamisho wa Kimataifa (ITC).
Kutokana na mshahara huo kwa kipindi cha miaka miwili Ngassa atavuna Sh. Milioni 144 na ukichanganya dola za Marekani 50,000 (Sh.milioni 80) atakazopata kwa kusaini mkataba huo Ngassa atakuwa ametengeneza Sh, milioni 230 kwa miezi 24.
Kama Azam ingefanikiwa kumuuza Ngassa El Merreikh, Yanga pia ingepata sehemu ya mgawo kwa mauzo hayo kwani wakati inaiuzia Azam mwaka 2010 iliweka kipengele katika mkataba kwamba ikitokea Azam ikamuuza itabidi Yanga ipewe asilimia tano ya mauzo hayo.