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.

Somali Government Says Reconciliation Conference Will Begin Sunday Only small fraction of 1,300 invited delegates are likely to attend Mortars Fired at Somalia's Presidential Palace Witnesses say shells hit several nearby buildings, but missed residence Nigerian Boy Kidnapped in Niger Delta Police say child, 3, son of traditional ruler, kidnapped at gunpoint Thursday, as he was being driven to school in Port Harcourt US Professors and Students Laid Groundwork for Charles Taylor Trial Case Western Reserve University team wrote legal opinion for indictment African Union Launches First Diplomatic Mission to U.S. Ambassador says new diplomatic mission would help promote greater understanding between the peoples of the United States and Africa Zimbabwe Crisis Prompts New Indications of Stepped Up Southern African Intervention Pretoria's Foreign Minister Urges SADC's Involvement To Bail Out Harare Rwanda's Senate Votes to Abolish Death Penalty Rwanda's senate has unanimously voted to abolish the death penalty. Nigeria's Former VP's Election Court Challenge to be Heard Next Week In Nigeria, a tribunal set up to adjudicate concerns raised by losing opposition candidates in April's general elections says it would hear the case filed by attorneys for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar next week. High Expectations as Rwanda and Burundi join East African Community High Expectations as Rwanda and Burundi join East African Community