A “systemic failure” by American intelligence allowed the alleged terrorist behind the Christmas Day airliner bomb plot to board the aircraft despite warnings about his extremist views, US President Barack Obama said last night.

A “systemic failure” by American intelligence allowed the alleged terrorist behind the Christmas Day airliner bomb plot to board the aircraft despite warnings about his extremist views, US President Barack Obama said tonight.

Pictures have been released in America of the burnt underwear worn by the man who allegedly tried to blow up a plane above Detroit on Christmas Day.

The man at the centre of the failed Detroit airliner bomb plot had been banned from entering Britain, it was disclosed today.

Al-Qaida warned of a terror attack just days before a former British student allegedly attempted to blow up a transatlantic airliner carrying 278 passengers, it was revealed tonight.

ARSENAL and Togo look to be set for a bitter club-versus-country row after a Togo official insisted last night that striker Emmanuel Adebayor will be forced to play in Saturday’s clash with Cameroon.

DIDIER DROGBA says he does not wish to be considered for future African player of the year awards after Frederic Kanoute won the 2007 title.

Chelsea’s Ivorian striker Didier Drogba has asked not to be considered for the African Player of the Year award in future years after claiming he was beaten to the 2007 trophy because he was unable to attend the ceremony.

SCHOOLCHILDREN cheered as the first total eclipse in years plunged Ghana into daytime darkness yesterday, a solar show sweeping northeast from Brazil to Mongolia.

Excited children peered skyward in Ghana today, joining others around the world for a long-anticipated solar show – the first total eclipse in years, which will sweep north-east from Brazil to Mongolia.

Tourists and scientists were gathering around the world for a solar show – the first total eclipse in years, which will sweep north-east from Brazil to Mongolia, blotting out the sun across swathes of the world’s poorest lands.

Masked gunmen torched a German cultural centre in Togo today, leaving the main library building gutted and a van in ashes in the latest violence gripping the country since disputed presidential elections.

Masked gunmen torched a German cultural centre in Togo today, leaving the main library building gutted and a van in ashes in the latest violence gripping the country since disputed presidential elections.

AT LEAST six people, three soldiers and three civilians, were killed in protests that broke out after Faure Gnassingbe, the son of Togo’s late dictator, was declared the winner of presidential elections, officials said yesterday.

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.

A celebration at the gates of Togo President Gnassingbe Eyadema’s palace in Lome turned into a stampede today, killing at least 13 people as excited crowds tried to surge onto palace grounds.