The Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has warned that if South Sudan votes for independence in January, separatism could spread, in his words, like a "contagious disease" to the whole of Africa. He said the partition of Sudan would change the map of that country, but other African countries would change, too.
Efforts are continuing in Hungary to build a wall around a reservoir, part of which gave way last week, releasing thousands of tons of toxic waste that killed at least seven people. The state secretary for environmental protection said that it was only a matter of days before the rest of the reservoir crumbled, releasing more sludge. Nick Thorpe has been to the scene.
The damaged reservoir looks from its edge like a big rectangular lake of red mud, sloping down to a gaping hole in the northwest corner, through which the original tidal wave of mud was released nearly a week ago. We walked briefly along the northern wall, which officials say is almost certain to collapse, sending the remaining sludge down through the valley. There are three long cracks in the top, each about 15 centimetres wide. Further down the valley, some 3,000 people have been told to prepare for evacuation from the town of Devecser if the reservoir breaks.
Votes have been counted in Kyrgyzstan in the first parliamentary elections since inter-ethnic fighting in June killed more than 400 people. Twenty-nine political parties were competing for 120 seats in what have become the most contested elections in the country's history. There were no reports of violence. The first results are expected on Monday.