World Briefing: Africa
January 14, 2004
POLIO SPREAD FROM NIGERIA, W.H.O. CONFIRMS
Laboratory tests have confirmed that Nigeria was the source of the polio
virus that led to two new cases of the crippling disease in Benin and Cameroon in West Africa, the World Health Organization said. On Thursday, the W.H.O. is holding an emergency meeting of health ministers from countries where polio cases are occurring to assure the agency's efforts to eradicate the disease by 2005. A grave concern is opposition to polio vaccination by some Muslim leaders in the north of Nigeria who have forced suspension of the immunization program there. Nigeria has exported polio cases to at least six West African countries in recent months. Lawrence K. Altman (NYT) TOGO: AFRICA'S LONGEST-SERVING LEADER CELEBRATES President Gnassingbe Eyadema, the longest-serving head of state in Africa, celebrated 37 years in power, presiding over a lavish parade. Lomé, the capital of the narrow west coast country, just east of Ghana, was awash in pomp and pageantry. Crowds cheered as the 68-year-old leader, his eyes shielded as always behind dark glasses, passed by in a military vehicle before settling into a chair flanked by two whirling fans as a 21-gun salute sounded. In 1963, as a 26-year-old sergeant, Mr. Eyadema staged post-colonial Africa's first military coup, eventually seizing the presidency for himself in 1967. Since 1992 the European Union has suspended all aid to Togo, except for social projects, for reasons of a "deficient democracy." (Agence France-Presse) http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/14/international/africa/14BRIE3.html?ex=1075802525&ei=1&en=8e671d08de429639 --------------------------------- Get Home Delivery of The New York Times Newspaper. Imagine reading The New York Times any time & anywhere you like! Leisurely catch up on events & expand your horizons. Enjoy now for 50% off Home Delivery! Click here: http://www.nytimes.com/ads/nytcirc/index.html HOW TO ADVERTISE --------------------------------- For information on advertising in e-mail newsletters or other creative advertising opportunities with The New York Times on the Web, please contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] or visit our online media kit at http://www.nytimes.com/adinfo For general information about NYTimes.com, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Copyright 2003 The New York Times CompanyScope out the new MSN Plus Internet Software — optimizes dial-up to the max! -------------------------------------------- This service is hosted on the Infocom network http://www.infocom.co.ug
