Johannesburg, Aug 22 : Nigeria''s Islamic authority has told an 84-year-old man who has 86 wives to choose only four and repent within three days or else he will be sentenced to death, according to reports.

The BBC said that Mohammed Bello Abubakar, a former teacher and preacher, could face the death penalty under Sharia law, which was reintroduced to the Muslim-majority Niger State, North-West Nigeria, in 2000.

Nigerian media and the BBC interviewed Abubakar two weeks ago, when he claimed there was no punishment in the Qu''ran for having more than four wives.

However, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) last week blasted Abubakar, who is considered a heretic for his claims of being able to speak directly to Allah.

Johannesburg, Aug. 10 : Zimbabwe''s leading opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, has threatened to walk away from unity talks with President Robert Mugabe if he does not get his share in the controversially proposed power-sharing agreement.

With South African President Thabo Mbeki playing the role of chief mediator, the talks are still said to be at the crossroads. While the Mugabe camp is optimistic about the final outcome of the negotiations, there is a view that Mugabe will not cede majority control. To Tsvangirai''s Movement for Democrat Change (MDC).

Johannesburg, Aug. 7 : Zimbabwe''s President Robert Mugabe and the country’s main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai'', are reportedly meeting today to discuss the final aspects of a 50-page draft unity agreement that could end the existing politico-economic crisis.

Under the proposed pact, Mugabe''s Zanu-PF and Tsvangirai''s MDC party envisions the former becoming a ceremonial president and the latter as prime minister and head of government until new elections are held, reports The Telegraph.

Johannesburg - Thousands of South Africans demonstrated in cities throughout the country Wednesday as a nationwide strike over the rising cost of living got under way.

The Confederation of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has called on its around 2 million members to stay away from work and join demonstrations in cities around the country.

Commuters were left stranded in Pretoria, Cape Town, Johannesburg and other cities as the minibus taxis that transport the masses ground to a halt in response to the strike call.

Schools in some places were also closed.

Car manufacturing was expected to be particularly affected by the strike.

Johannesburg  - South African freedom fighter and former president Nelson Mandela called his party to unity and respect for democracy at celebrations held in his honour by the African National Congress party on Saturday.

"Let no individual, faction or group regard itself as greater than the organization and the people," Mandela told the gathering of tens of thousands - including current South African President Thabo Mbeki - in a stadium in the capital Pretoria.

Johannesburg/Gaborone  - The government of Botswana has threatened to boycott an upcoming summit of the 14-country Southern African Development Community if controversial Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe attends, South African radio reported Friday.

SAfm radio quoted the foreign ministry of Zimbabwe's diamond-rich neighbour as saying that taking part in a summit of SADC heads of state on August 14-15 in South Africa attended by Mugabe would be tantamount to recognizing him as president.