2 killed, 6 injured in clashes between Madagascar police and ousted president’s supporters

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — Madagascar police and supporters of the African country’s ousted president clashed in running street battles Friday, leaving two people dead and six injured, officials said.

Somali opposition leader says no talks with government unless AU peacekeepers leave Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia — A hardline opposition leader appeared in Somalia’s capital Friday for the first time in almost two years and said he was ruling out peace talks with the government unless African Union peacekeepers leave the country.

Philippine ship released by pirates stranded off Somalia without fuel; crew fears new attack

MANILA, Philippines — The Filipino crew of a tanker released by pirates fear another attack because their ship is stranded near Somalia’s eastern coast without fuel, the skipper said Friday.

Attack thwarted on president’s wife in Madagascar; 36 hurt in anti-government protests

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — Security forces in Madagascar announced Thursday they thwarted an attack against the wife of the country’s military-backed president — the same day that 36 people were injured in anti-government protests.

Somali opposition leader accused of al-Qaida links in Mogadishu for 1st time in 2 years

MOGADISHU, Somalia — A hard-line Somali opposition leader accused of having al-Qaida links arrived Thursday in Mogadishu for the first time in two years, officials said.

EU says international conference has already pledged over $250 million for Somalia

BRUSSELS — International donors pledged more than $250 million Thursday to help Somalia strengthen its security forces and try to stop the rampant pirate attacks that have plagued one of the world’s most important waterways.

Riots break out in Madagascar as armed forces dispel supporters of ousted president

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — Armed forces in Madagascar fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators loyal to the island nation’s ousted president on Thursday, as looters rampaged through the streets of the capital.

International donors’ conference seeks to boost Somalia’s security forces to help stem piracy

BRUSSELS — U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told international donors Thursday that more aid was vital to help Somalia’s new government fight rampant piracy on the high seas and provide more security on the ground to end two generations of anarchy that has turned the east African nation into a global threat.

Japan lower house OKs piracy law to allow greater role for navy on Somali mission

TOKYO — Japan’s lower house approved an anti-piracy bill Thursday that will allow the country’s navy ships on a mission off the Somali coast to escort foreign vessels.

UN chief says Security Council should reject immediate UN peacekeeping force for Somalia

UNITED NATIONS — Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recommended Wednesday that the Security Council reject an immediate U.N. peacekeeping force for Somalia, saying such a deployment could exacerbate the Horn of Africa country’s long and bitter conflict.

French commandos turn over 11 pirate prisoners for trial in Kenya

MOMBASA, Kenya — Masked French commandos marched a band of barefoot, glum-looking pirate suspects down the gangplank of a naval frigate Wednesday in Mombasa before turning the 11 Somali men over to Kenyan authorities.

Spain justice system shying from once-famed role as international prosecutor

MADRID — Spain grabbed world headlines a decade ago by indicting Chile’s former dictator Augusto Pinochet, and has since probed alleged atrocities as far away as Tibet and Rwanda.

Somalia wants international help to create a coast guard aimed at combating piracy

BRUSSELS — Somalia’s foreign minister urged the international community Wednesday to help its fledgling government set up a coast guard to fight the rampant piracy that has disrupted shipping in one of the world’s busiest waterways.

French warship carrying 11 suspected pirate prisoners docks in Kenya

MOMBASA, Kenya — A French naval frigate carrying 11 suspected pirates has docked in the Kenyan port of Mombasa.

Nations meet, hoping that reducing anarchy on land in Somalia will help cut down on piracy

NAIROBI, Kenya — Pirates are constantly attacking ships off the coast of lawless Somalia despite naval patrols by more than a dozen nations. On land, an extremist Islamic group is targeting African Union peacekeepers and humanitarian workers.

Somali pirate remains a mystery, but mother insists he was duped into piracy

MOGADISHU, Somalia — At home in central Somalia, Abdiwali Abdiqadir Muse studied English, frequented a dusty, outdoor cinema after school where he watched Bollywood films dubbed into his native Somali and, his mother says, “was wise beyond his years.”

A teenage pirate to appear in NY courtroom, a world away from impoverished Somalia

NEW YORK — Abdiwali Abdiqadir Muse grew up destitute in Somalia, the oldest of 12 kids and the product of a violent, lawless nation where his parents scraped together a few dollars a day selling milk and tending to a small herd of camels, cows and goats.

Global pirate attacks nearly doubled in first quarter due to sharp spike off Somalia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Sea attacks worldwide nearly doubled in the first three months of 2009, mainly due to increased pirate raids on vessels in the Gulf of Aden and the east coast of Somalia, an international maritime watchdog said Tuesday.

Hostage captain arrives to cheers in Vt. small town welcome, thanks Navy SEAL ’superheroes’

Pirate hostage captain gets small town welcome

UNDERHILL, Vt. — A small Vermont town welcomed home its hero, an unassuming shipping captain who many have lauded for helping his crew survive a high-seas, international hostage drama off the coast of Somalia.