CIA begins sizing up Islamic extremists in Syria for drone strikes

WASHINGTON — The CIA has stepped up secret contingency planning to protect the United States and its allies as the turmoil expands...

Al Qaeda chief's kin, other Salafis push for a puritanical Egypt

CAIRO — The brother of Al Qaeda leader Ayman Zawahiri is an unflinching man with a graying beard whose aim, as a Salafi, is to...

Odinga vows to fight Kenya election results

NAIROBI, Kenya — After a hard-fought presidential campaign, this strategic East African country is trying to avoid a recurrence of...

Conservative brand of Catholicism thrives in Africa

KAMPALA, Uganda — On Sunday mornings, worshipers arrive two hours early to wait in line for one of 200 seats in the Missionaries of...

Crimes-against-humanity defendant leads Kenya vote

NAIROBI, Kenya — A Kenyan politician facing international criminal charges held a slight edge in the country's presidential election...

Egypt's new order creates identity crisis for police

CAIRO — The young policeman with scuffed boots and sleepless eyes sat on a motorcycle in a neighborhood that no longer feared or...

'War Witch' brings together a jaded director, courageous actress

A decade ago, Canadian writer-director Kim Nguyen started working on the script that would become "War Witch," a film about a girl in sub-...

U.S. investigation of Benghazi attacks 'going painfully slowly'

WASHINGTON — Nearly six months after President Obama vowed to "bring to justice" the militants who killed the U.S. ambassador and...

Kenyans fear tribal violence as elections get underway

NAIROBI, Kenya — George Oduor saw a friend hacked to death with machetes as the disputed 2007 elections triggered tribal violence that...

French military says death of Al Qaeda leader in Mali 'probable'

PARIS — French military officials said Monday night that it was "probable" that Abou Zeid, one of the leaders of Al Qaeda in North...

Egypt's main opposition coalition will boycott elections

CAIRO — In another blow to Egypt's troubled democratic transition, the main opposition coalition announced Tuesday that it would...

U.S. sends troops to Niger for drone missions

WASHINGTON — About 100 U.S. troops have deployed to the West African country of Niger to help establish a drone base for...

South Africa replaces lead detective in Pistorius inquiry

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — It was a bad week for South Africa's police force, coming to a head Thursday with an attempt at damage...

Anti-HIV drug effort in South Africa yields dramatic results

An intensive campaign to combat HIV/AIDS with costly antiretroviral drugs in rural South Africa has increased life expectancy by more than...

Pistorius' chances for bail appear to improve

PRETORIA, South Africa — Prosecutors on Wednesday unveiled what seemed damning testimony against Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius,...

Oscar Pistorius tells court girlfriend was killed accidentally

PRETORIA, South Africa — Coldblooded, planned murder or a terrible, heartbreaking accident? The competing versions of the killing of...

A story of a Sahara Romeo and Juliet

TIMBUKTU, Mali — It didn't matter that Timbuktu had been occupied by Islamist militias notorious for meting out 100 lashes to young...

Oscar Pistorius' family denies athlete murdered girlfriend

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — The family of South African double amputee Oscar Pistorius denied Friday that the Olympic athlete had...

'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius' arrest stuns South Africa

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — He was a national treasure who inspired the world when he made Olympics history as the first double...

Timbuktu residents savor freedom, tales of resistance

TIMBUKTU, Mali — There were public protests and whispers of secret love affairs. Heroes of resistance everywhere: the female...

Malians tell of executions by soldiers

SIRIBALA, Mali — Like all the men in his family, Aboubacrine ag Mohamed, a farmer and Islamic teacher, donned a turban at the age of...

Tunisia unrest persists as funeral is held for slain politician

TUNIS, Tunisia — The slain Tunisian opposition leader's coffin was driven through rain-swept streets lined with soldiers and crammed...

Suicide bombing in northern Mali may signal shift by militants

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — A suicide bomber blew himself up at a military checkpoint outside the northern Mali city of Gao on...

Tunisia ruling party rejects prime minister's call for new Cabinet

TUNIS, Tunisia — Tunisia's Islamist-led government Thursday rejected a proposal by its prime minister to form a new Cabinet amid...

Tunisia assassination triggers protests

TUNIS, Tunisia — The assassination of a leading opposition figure in Tunisia on Wednesday triggered protests across the nation and...

In Mali, Timbuktu celebrates as France's Hollande visits

TIMBUKTU, Mali — When singer Khalima Cisse woke up Saturday, she put on her finest gold-embroidered white dress — one that she...

Under Egypt's political unrest seethes the rising anger of the poor

CAIRO — Hands caked in plaster, hammers scattered at his side, Yousry Abdelaziz toils away almost forgotten in a workshop at the...

African troops face a challenge after France leaves Mali

SEGOU, Mali — In swirls of red dust along a highway on the edge of the desert, the military convoys push north, French and Malian army...

At consulate in Libya, a model diplomat is lost

WASHINGTON — J. Christopher Stevens was in many ways the model American diplomat, committed, idealistic, willing to take risks and...

John Atta Mills dies at 68; president of Ghana

JOHANNESBURG — Ghanaian President John Atta Mills, who vowed that the nation's oil reserves would be used for the good of the people,...

South Africa teens often become moms

MAVELA, South Africa — Her grandmother was an alcoholic and her mother was a prostitute, strangled by a client. The child of another...

South Africa President Zuma to face leadership challenge

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- South Africa President Jacob Zuma, the controversial leader facing intense criticism for a $30-million...

Egypt's Morsi reverses most of decree that expanded his powers

CAIRO — In a political reversal to calm weeks of unrest, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi early Sunday rescinded much of last month&...