Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki, whose disputed re-election triggered violence that damaged his country's reputation for stability, has appointed a commission of inquiry to investigate the December 27 vote. A statement sent from Kibaki's office on Thursday said the panel would "inquire into all aspects of the General Election ... with particular emphasis on the Presidential Election".

Just days after handing over millions of US dollars worth of agricultural equipment, buses and generators at his weekend rallies, Robert Mugabe has announced large salary increases for civil servants, including teachers. According to the state-controlled Herald newspaper, Mugabe announced the increases while addressing a rally at a school in Inyathi, Matabeleland North on Tuesday.

The MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai wants most regional and foreign observers coming for the elections to be deployed to all rural areas, usually the flash points of political violence in the country. In the past observers have visited rural areas associated with the opposition parties, but have rarely set foot in the Zanu-PF strongholds of the three Mashonaland provinces.

Violence against officials and members of the opposition has intensified, despite the arrival of a regional observer team in Harare on Wednesday. At least 5 supporters of the Tsvangirai MDC were hospitalised on Wednesday after they were attacked by a gang of youths known to be ZANU-PF members in Mbare high-density suburb of Harare. One of the victims, Simba Maringwa, is reported to be in intensive care battling for his life.

The Security Council has called on all Rwandan armed groups operating in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to surrender immediately to Congolese authorities and the United Nations peacekeeping mission known as MONUC.