The Arab ministers heard a detailed report from the head of the monitoring mission in Syria, looking at maps,
diagrams
and photos of what the observers have seen. The ministers examined criticism that the mission has done little to end the violence against civilians in Syria. But so far the decision has been to continue. The Arab League secretary general insisted that the number of people killed had been reduced by the presence of observers, though the statement from the league afterwards called on the Syrian government to do more to protect civilians.
The President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, has addressed African leaders and tens of thousands of party supporters on the
centenary
of the African National Congress. At a rally in the ANC's birthplace, Bloemfontein, President Zuma
paid tribute to
the people and organisations who helped end
apartheid
. Frail health prevented the former President Nelson Mandela from attending.
The medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres has begun treating patients in the South Sudanese town of Pibor, the scene of recent tribal violence which left hundreds of people dead. Martin Plaut has more.
This is the beginning of what will be a long process to restore services in the region around Pibor after fighters of the Lou Nuer
rampaged
through the town. The head of MSF in South Sudan told the BBC that his staff at first had to clean and reequip its clinic and compound which had been