Ceuta and Melilla, fragments of Europe on north Africa's Mediterranean coast, came under Spanish control around 500 years ago.

Madrid says the urban enclaves are integral parts of Spain. They are surrounded by Morocco, which views the Spanish presence as anachronistic and claims sovereignty.

But improving relations were jeopardised in November 2007 by Spanish King Juan Carlos' II first visit to the territories in more than 30 years, which King Mohammed VI strongly condemned.

Spain also controls a scattering of islets along the north African coast, including uninhabited Perejil, which was at the centre of a spat in 2002 when Moroccan soldiers occupied it before being removed by the Spanish army.

More recently, differences over Ceuta and Melilla have not prevented a warming of relations between Morocco and Spain, particularly economic ones. Morocco's premier has advocated “neighbourly” talks on the issue.

With its rebuilt 15th century cathedral, shipyards and a fish-processing plant, Ceuta is viewed by Spain as the more strategically-valuable enclave. The town is a 90-minute ferry ride from mainland Spain.

Melilla, conquered in 1497, is a modern town with a distinctive old quarter.

The enclaves are surrounded by fences, intended to deter illegal immigrants. But Ceuta and Melilla are nonetheless used by many Africans as stepping-stones to Iberia. Many migrants are caught and some drown while attempting to make the sea crossing. People trafficking is common.

After a series of increasingly-desperate attempts by would-be immigrants to surmount the barriers in 2005, Spain and Morocco agreed to deploy extra troops to try to secure the borders.

Ceuta and Melilla are linked to Spain by ferry services to Malaga, Algeciras and Almeria. Borders and defence are controlled by Madrid. Tourism is an important money-earner with duty-free goods being a big draw for visitors.

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JOHANNESBURG/EAST OF SIRTE, Libya (Reuters) – The African Union (AU) said it was recognizing Libya's de fact ruling council, removing another diplomatic support for the ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The AU, which frequently has been criticized for its ponderous reaction to events on its doorstep, said in a statement it was ready to support Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) in its efforts to build an inclusive government.

South Africa, the continent's pre-eminent economic power which has a major say in AU policy, also said on Tuesday it would recognize the NTC, ending a long-standing relationship with Gaddafi.

At the United Nations in New York, Libya's new flag flew for the first time since Gaddafi's overthrow. U.S. President Barack Obama called for the last of the deposed leader's loyalists to stop fighting, and said the U.S. ambassador would return to Tripoli.

“Those still holding out must understand — the old regime is over, and it is time to lay down your arms and join the new Libya,” Obama said nearly a month after Gaddafi was driven from power with the help of a NATO-led bombing campaign.

He further pledged: “So long as the Libyan people are being threatened, the NATO-led mission to protect them will continue.”

International leaders at a high-level U.N. conference congratulated Libyans — and themselves — for Gaddafi's removal by NATO-backed rebels in a seven-month-old conflict.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, welcoming Libya's new leaders into the international community, said the Security Council had acted to protect the Libyan people from violence.

“Today, we must once again respond with such speed and decisive action — this time to consolidate peace and democracy,” Ban added.

Libya has reverted to the flag that was used from 1951 until 1977 when Gaddafi, who ruled for nearly 42 years, introduced a green flag for his Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, or people's republic.

STRUGGLE FOR HOLDOUT TOWNS

Libya's new rulers are still trying to dislodge well-armed Gaddafi loyalists from several towns and have yet to start a countdown toward writing a new constitution and holding elections.

Mustafa Abdul Jalil, president of the NTC, promised a spirit of tolerance and reconciliation and appealed for international assistance to help his country emerge from conflict and build democracy.

Interim Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril said he expected Libya to name a new government within the next ten days, raising hopes of political progress in the fractured nation.

Earlier discussions to set up a long-promised, more inclusive interim government fell apart earlier this week. The NTC, still based in the eastern city of Benghazi, has faced questions about whether it can unify a country divided on tribal and local lines.

Gaddafi, who is on the run, taunted the Western alliance in a speech broadcast by a Syrian-based television station on Tuesday, saying: “The bombs of NATO planes will not last.”

LACK OF AMMUNITION

Libyan troops are unable to defeat forces loyal to Gaddafi in Sirte, his birthplace, because the country's new rulers are failing to supply them with enough ammunition, fighters near the front line said.

In the latest reverse in weeks of chaotic fighting over the coastal city, five anti-Gaddafi fighters were killed on Tuesday after they came under artillery fire.

The interim government has not stamped out the last pockets of resistance, prompting criticism over its lack of cohesion and raising fresh questions about whether it can run the oil-exporting country effectively.

Fighters making their way back from the front line said they were meeting heavy resistance from loyalists at a place called Khamseen, 50 km (31 miles) east of Sirte, and were unable to respond because they lacked the firepower.

“The military base is not supporting us with enough ammunition,” said Alnoufy Al-Ferjany, the commander of a military brigade called Martyrs of Alhawry.

In Tripoli, the EU Head of Mission said that Libya, a conduit to Europe for African migrants and a source of weapons for arms smugglers because of its war, will not be able to control all its borders for a long time due to the task's complexity.

“The needs are very complex and the list is very long,” Jim Moran told Reuters in an interview.

“They've never really had the capability to properly control their borders. They probably won't be able to have it for quite a long time to come, given the enormous challenges ahead.”

CONSPIRACY IN TRIPOLI

Libyan interim government forces stormed a house in Tripoli on Tuesday and arrested four brothers suspected of planning bomb attacks in the capital on behalf of Gaddafi, residents and witnesses said.

Weapons were confiscated in the operation in the al-Mansour neighborhood by NTC forces, residents said.

Fighters armed with anti-aircraft artillery and assault rifles later opened fire on the house, destroying parts of the building and leaving the structure riddled with bullet holes, witnesses said.

Neighbors also joined in the assault and set fire to the house. Other homes nearby were damaged

The raids targeted four sons of Colonel Amer Moussa Zintani, an aide to Gaddafi, fighters said. They named the four as Abdel Bari, Ahmed, Moustafa and Youssef. Zintani's whereabouts are not known, they said.

There were chaotic scenes outside the house as people who accused the men of killing their family members urged vigilante justice but were held back by NTC fighters.

(Reporting by Ed Cropley in Johannesburg, William Maclean in Tripoli, John Irish, Matt Spetalnick and Laura MacInnis at the United Nations, Suhaib Salem in Tripoli and Sherine El Madany East of Sirte; Writing by Michael Roddy)

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Nigeria has the highest number of mobile phone owners in Africa

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Nigeria's authorities have been forced to reassure the public that a mobile phone number cannot kill, after rumours were spread by text messages.

Viral text messages had warned that several people had died when they answered calls with the ID 09141.

The regulatory body, the Nigerian Communications Commission, said this was “unimaginable” and “unscrupulous persons” were spreading fear.

A BBC reporter was unable to get through to the number.

‘Gullible people’

The text messages gave conflicting accounts of the number of people killed when they answered the call – some put the death toll at seven while others put it at 10.

“Technically, it is not possible for such a thing to happen. It is therefore unimaginable that somebody will die while receiving a call,” commission spokesman Reuben Muoka said.

“It is only very gullible people that will believe such a rumour.”

Other messages that have caused panic in the past include claims that acid rain from seasonal dust storms can burn people alive, the AP news agency reports.

Poor education and superstitious beliefs lead some Nigerians to take the messages seriously, correspondents say.

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GENEVA (Reuters) – Niger needs help training and equipping its security forces to deal with potential terrorism in the aftermath of the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's government in neighboring Libya, Niger's president, Mahamadou Issoufou, said on Monday.

Addressing a World Trade Organization conference in Geneva, Issoufou said Niger wanted a speedy end to the conflict in Libya because of its impact on trade, immigration and security.

Three convoys carrying important members of Gaddafi's entourage have fled to Niger this month, including Saadi, one of Gaddafi's sons, Gaddafi's security chief and at least two top generals, all of whom are now in the capital.

Niger has voiced concern that weapons plundered from the Libyan conflict could fall into the hands of al Qaeda's North African wing and other rebel groups who are already established in the region.

Niger has called for international help with intelligence-gathering and aerial surveillance to secure its six million square kms (2.3 million square miles) of northern desert, where Nigerien forces have clashed twice this month with suspected al Qaeda members.

“There have been concerns for security because weapons have been circulating in the country and we're concerned these will fall into the wrong hands,” Issoufou told the conference.

Niger's security forces need help to deal with “terrorist activity that might develop in the sub-region,” he said, adding that terrorism could develop from poverty.

Asked about Gaddafi's whereabouts, he said: “I don't know, but he's not in Niger, that's for sure.”

Niger exports uranium and gold, plans to begin crude oil production by the end of this year, and intends to use the income from its natural resources to develop the country's socio-economic fabric, he said.

At present there is no trade between Libya and Niger, and Libyan investment in a telecoms project and a road project has stopped, he said. More than 200,000 migrants have returned to Niger because of the Libyan conflict.

“Niger finds itself a bit alone in the face of this problem. Our country needs to be able to make itself safe. This is not just for Niger, it's also a contribution to security around the world,” the president said.

(Reporting by Tom Miles; Editing by Tim Pearce)

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GENEVA (Reuters) – Niger needs help training and equipping its security forces to deal with potential terrorism in the aftermath of the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's government in neighboring Libya, Niger's president, Mahamadou Issoufou, said on Monday.

Addressing a World Trade Organization conference in Geneva, Issoufou said Niger wanted a speedy end to the conflict in Libya because of its impact on trade, immigration and security.

Three convoys carrying important members of Gaddafi's entourage have fled to Niger this month, including Saadi, one of Gaddafi's sons, Gaddafi's security chief and at least two top generals, all of whom are now in the capital.

Niger has voiced concern that weapons plundered from the Libyan conflict could fall into the hands of al Qaeda's North African wing and other rebel groups who are already established in the region.

Niger has called for international help with intelligence-gathering and aerial surveillance to secure its six million square kms (2.3 million square miles) of northern desert, where Nigerien forces have clashed twice this month with suspected al Qaeda members.

“There have been concerns for security because weapons have been circulating in the country and we're concerned these will fall into the wrong hands,” Issoufou told the conference.

Niger's security forces need help to deal with “terrorist activity that might develop in the sub-region,” he said, adding that terrorism could develop from poverty.

Asked about Gaddafi's whereabouts, he said: “I don't know, but he's not in Niger, that's for sure.”

Niger exports uranium and gold, plans to begin crude oil production by the end of this year, and intends to use the income from its natural resources to develop the country's socio-economic fabric, he said.

At present there is no trade between Libya and Niger, and Libyan investment in a telecoms project and a road project has stopped, he said. More than 200,000 migrants have returned to Niger because of the Libyan conflict.

“Niger finds itself a bit alone in the face of this problem. Our country needs to be able to make itself safe. This is not just for Niger, it's also a contribution to security around the world,” the president said.

(Reporting by Tom Miles; Editing by Tim Pearce)

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