VOA Africa News Summary

Here are today's top stories from VOA Africa. To listen or watch one of our programs or to read more visit our website at www.voaafrica.com.

Mogadishu Market Closes During Government Crackdown on Insurgents Tensions have escalated sharply since Sunday, when grenade attack on interim-government soldiers in the market prompted the soldiers to open fire on civilians Analyst Sees Dim Prospects for Fourth Attempt at Somali Reconciliation Conference Herman Hanekom says July 15th meeting must be all-inclusive Ohio Senator Meets With Somali-American Community Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio)urges representatives of the Somali community to help educate US officials about situation in Somalia Mauritanians Doubt Existence of CIA Prisons in Their Country Mauritania's justice minister formally denied the existence of any secret US prisons in the country Women Prepare To Break Male Dominance of Liberian Economy Women taking jobs in mining and other previously male-dominated sectors in Liberia Liberian Women Battle To Bridge Generation Gap Different levels of education at the heart of tension between older and younger women in Liberia Liberian Women Divided On Feelings Towards Men Some Liberian female leaders say men continue to discriminate against them, others are more positive about male attitudes Liberian Women Rise To The Fore Liberian women see their influence in society grow, but want more improvements in gender equality Our Strength Comes From Our Bitter Past Say Liberian Women Liberian activists reflect on their country's remarkable peace process and how it set the tone for the future Malawi's President Ready to Dialogue with Opposition Parties Malawi's President Bingu Wa Mutharika says he is committed to a dialogue aimed at reducing brewing political tensions.