Nigerian Rebels Seek Help From Clooney

'We believe there are many casualties,' says a UN official

(AP) - A car laden with explosives rammed through two gates and blew up at the United Nations' offices in Nigeria's capital today, killing at least seven people and shattering part of the concrete structure. The brazen attack, carried out as the UN offices teemed with staff, comes as Africa's most populous nation faces the growing threat of both homegrown and international terrorism. Militants from the country's oil-rich Niger Delta, as well as a radical Muslim sect from northeast Nigeria, have carried out attacks in the country's capital, though never on a foreign target. No one immediately claimed responsibility for today's attack. More»

Some fear escalating violence ahead of elections

(NEWSER) - State police are swarming into central Nigeria following a series of Christmas church bombings that killed 38, the Christian Science Monitor reports. Following Saturday's explosions, angry youths barricaded roads and attacked people passing by yesterday, and houses and a truck also were set ablaze. UN chief Ban Ki-moon blasted the bombings in Jos, which are thought to be the work of Islamist militants, and backed government attempts to arrest those behind them. Locals say police, who claim things are under control, haven’t kept them safe. More»

(NEWSER) - George Clooney figures prominently in New York Times op-ed columnist Nicholas D. Kristof's latest report from Africa, which Kristof describes as "yet another hand-wringing column about Darfur." He offers to swap dirt on the Hollywood heartthrob for readers' interest—then offers a chilling tale of a "petty and mean-spirited" move by the UN, which yanked the Americans' security escort. More»

Sees 'hope' after first mission to Africa

(NEWSER) - Actor George Clooney was officially designated a United Nations peace envoy yesterday—but he had already wrapped up his first mission. "If I'm going to go somewhere that cameras are going to follow me, they might as well follow me to places that people should be looking at," said Clooney, just back from a trip to Africa. Clooney spent two weeks in Darfur and other war-torn areas, where he pleaded for member nations to contribute funds to help UN peacekeepers do their job. More»

Nigerian officials launch talks with abductors of 3-year-old girl

(NEWSER) - Kidnappers in Nigeria have threatened to kill a 3-year-old girl unless her father takes her place, and negotiations for her release have begun. Margaret Hill's mother interrupted an interview today to join officials in bargaining for her safe return, Reuters reports, after recounting a chilling conversation in which an abductor said he "doesn't care about killing and burying the baby." More»