A study by a Canadian research team says the number of people killed in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo may be just half that previously thought. The Human Security Report Project says a figure of almost 5.5 million since 1998 in a previous study was flawed. They say it doesn't take into account the people who would have died without the war.
The Afghan government and its international partners have agreed to increase the country's security forces by more than 100,000 by the end of next year. The decision comes ahead of a conference in London at the end of the month which will aim to boost international support for Afghanistan. Martin Vennard has more.
Such a large increase in the Afghan security forces will come as a challenge for the government and its international supporters. Up to now, the Afghan police and army have suffered from a lack of funding, equipment and reliable recruits. Under the plan, the number of troops and the army would increase by some 70,000 to more than 170,000. The number of Afghan police officers would rise by about 40,000 from the current level of more than 19,000. President Obama has said he wants to begin withdrawing American forces from July 2011 with Afghans playing a greater role in providing their own security.
Martin Vennard.
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Clashes in central Nigeria have left hundreds of people dead with Christian and Muslim rioters burning down buildings and attacking places of worship. The army has established control of Jos where the fighting erupted on Sunday. But there have now been attacks in the town of Pankshin. The security forces are enforcing a 24-hour curfew in Jos.