A young Eritrean widow and two family members were shot to death as they celebrated Thanksgiving in California, and two of her late husband’s brothers were arrested.

Eritrea’s order to expel US, Canadian and European members of the UN peacekeeping mission that monitors the tense border with neighbouring Ethiopia is likely to raise concerns about whether the peacekeepers can work effectively.

SUDANESE President Omar Hassan al-Bashir said yesterday that Western nations were exploiting the Darfur conflict to gain control of resources like oil and gold in the arid region.

A UNITED NATIONS report alleging Irish peacekeepers in Africa used prostitutes, including a 15-year-old girl, was compiled without interviewing any of the seven accused, it emerged yesterday.

An investigation was ordered tonight into allegations that Irish soldiers serving in Africa hired prostitutes including a 15-year-old girl.

The UN today appealed for €162m to assist Eritrea where more than a third of the nation’s 3.5 million people are facing food shortages.