The body representing nations in western Africa has suspended Mali and has put a peacekeeping force on standby in the most direct threat yet to the junta that seized control in a military coup last week.

The head of Ivory Coast’s army said the regional bloc representing nations in West Africa is considering military intervention in Mali.

IVORY COAST’S internationally recognised president called yesterday for a bloodless raid by west African special forces to snatch defiant strongman Laurent Gbagbo and “take him elsewhere” amid fears of civil war.

AFRICAN mediators have offered Ivory Coast’s embattled leader Laurent Gbagbo incentives to stand down after disputed polls, using the threat of military action as the only alternative.

The man who refuses to leave Ivory Coast's presidency faced new threats to his grasp on power after regional leaders threatened to remove him by force if necessary.

FORMER Liberian president Charles Taylor called charges of war crimes against him “lies” as he took the stand for the first time at his landmark trial in The Hague.

Charles Taylor will begin his defence today against charges that he led rebels in Sierra Leone who murdered, raped and mutilated villagers in a brutal terror campaign during the country’s civil war.

UN forces fired tear gas and used batons to beat back rock-throwing supporters of a soccer-star candidate who claims his Harvard-educated female rival stole Liberia’s presidential runoff.

At least six people were killed in violent protests that broke out after the son of Togo’s late dictator was declared the winner of presidential elections, officials said today.

At least three soldiers were killed in violent protests that broke out after the son of Togo’s late dictator was declared the winner of presidential elections, officials said today.

WEST African leaders have lifted sanctions against Togo after its military-installed president stepped down. However, the African Union warned the government must now ensure its presidential elections be fair and transparent.

South African President Thabo Mbeki is making an emergency visit to Ivory Coast in a bid to restore calm in the country.

European Union foreign ministers were expected to back Washington’s get-tough approach on Darfur at a meeting today, dangling the threat of UN sanctions over Sudan’s government if it does not move to end the fighting in the region.

The United Nations Security Council has voted to authorise a multi-national force to help end fighting in war-torn Liberia and maintain security after President Charles Taylor steps down.

An advance inspection team of a long-promised multi-national peacekeeping force flew into Liberia’s besieged capital as explosions and gunfire rocked Monrovia, despite a new rebel ceasefire pledge.

AT least 12 civilians were killed yesterday as the heaviest shelling in a week of fighting rocked the centre of Liberia’s besieged capital Monrovia.

A US military team took a closer look at Liberia’s battered capital ahead of a decision on whether to send troops in a peacekeeping force.

US President George W Bush yesterday pledged to work with the United Nations and African states to maintain a fragile ceasefire in Liberia, but said no decision had been made yet on sending US peacekeepers.

Top West African mediators were today travelling into the heart of Ivory Coast’s rebel-held territory to deliver a ceasefire offer from the government.