World News from the BBC
The top trade union leader in South Africa has categorically rejected rape allegations against him and accused the female colleague who’s made them of extortion. Zwelinzima Vavi called the allegations part of efforts to destroy him. Here is Gabriel Gatehouse.
Documents posted on the Cosatu website show what purport to be transcript of text messages between Mr. Vavi and his female accuser dating back to January this year. In one the woman writes: that was not consensual. Mr. Vavi responds: you are so wrong. The documents also include an apparent demand for payment of 2million rand, around 200, 000 dollars. Zwelinzima Vavi has denied the accusation of rape which he says is part of plot to unseat him as general secretary of Cosatu, South Africa’s most powerful trade union federation.
A car bomb has exploded near a Turkish embassy building in the Somali capital Mogadishu. At least three people were killed among them a Turkish police officer guarding the building and at least one of the attackers. The Islamist group al-Shabab said it carried out the attack. It has in the past targeted Turkish institutions which it says are spreading secularism. Turkey has been an active supporter of the Somali government.
Polls have closed in the Gulf emirate of Kuwait where people have been voting in the second parliamentary election in less than a year. The turnout which should’ve been low throughout the day picked up in the last few hours as people broke their Ramadan fast and the extreme temperature dropped slightly. First results are expected shortly.