At least 21 people, including five members of the Guinean security forces, were wounded Thursday when violence broke out during an opposition march in Conakry, the government said. "At least five members of the security forces were wounded, including one who was stabbed," a government statement said, adding that several vehicles were also set on fire. Mamadou Alpha Barry, spokesman for the paramilitary gendarmerie, said two gendarmes and two policemen were in critical condition.

The Central African Republic's recently toppled president Francois Bozize on Tuesday accused neighbouring Chad of helping the Seleka rebel coalition that ousted him. "On Saturday March 23 we had destroyed Seleka forces but overnight into Sunday 24, we knew that there had been support from an African country, which I inevitably believe was Chad," Bozize said in an interview with BBC Africa.

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Monday dubbed a weekend coup in the Central African Republic "unacceptable" and urged all sides to end hostilities and begin talks. "Violent or unconstitutional changes of government remain unacceptable," Ashton said after rebels marched on the capital, Bangui, ousting the regime of President Francois Bozize. "I urge all parties to cease hostilities immediately, to show restraint and to contribute to the re-establishment of civil order, especially to prevent looting," she said in a statement.

Hollywood actresses who bemoan the lack of good film roles for women in their forties might consider taking a leaf out of the book of French actress Gisele Casadesus. At the age of 98, her latest film "Sous le Figuier" ("Under the Fig Tree"), in which she plays a woman who injects peace and joie de vivre into the lives of three angst-ridden young adults, is released on Wednesday. The film follows compatriot Emmanuelle Riva's best Oscar actress nomination for her performance in Michael Haneke's "Amour". Riva turned 86 on the day she attended the ceremony in Los Angeles.