MDC OPPOSITON LEADER RETURNS HOME

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has returned to Zimbabwe after an absence of more than two months. The leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is to have fresh talks with President Robert Mugabe on a stalled power-sharing deal.

The rivals will discuss a four-month-old unity government agreement, which has never been implemented. Mr Tsvangirai has been away amid a now-resolved dispute over the government’s failure to issue him a new passport.

He left Zimbabwe on 10 November for a summit in Johannesburg, where regional leaders tried and failed to push the rivals into a compromise on forming a unity government. The MDC leader has spent much of the last two months in Botswana but he flew home via South Africa on Saturday.

Mr Tsvangirai, who remains prime minister-designate, and Mr Mugabe are due to meet on Monday for talks mediated by South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, his predecessor Thabo Mbeki and Mozambican leader Armando Emilio Guebuza.

SOURCED FROM BBC

FRENCH HELICOPTER CRASHED IN GABON

A military helicopter with 10 French soldiers on board has crashed into the sea off the African state of Gabon, killing at least one. The French military say three soldiers survived but six are missing.

Officials say the helicopter had come down near the coastal city of Port Gentil during a joint exercise with Gabonese troops. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has ordered defence minister to fly to Gabon to oversee the rescue operation.

There is no word on the cause of the crash, which occurred shortly after take-off.

SOURCED FROM BBC