BEEAFRICAN.COM Ghana Make Africa Proud

Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade has apologised to the Christian minority for comparing a controversial statue to Jesus Christ.

Archbishop of Dakar Theodore Adrien Sarr said the comments had "humiliated" Catholics, leading to angry protests by hundreds of Christian youths in Dakar.

Mr Wade made the comments after imams condemned the statue as "idolatrous".

The $27m (£16.6m) North Korean-built "African Renaissance" statue has also been criticised as a waste of money.

Senegal has a long history of tolerance between majority Muslims and the influential Christian community, who make up some 6% of the population.

We were shaken and humiliated by the comparison which the head of state made between the monument to African renaissance and the representations found in our churches   Theodore Adrien Sarr Archbishop of Dakar

But the BBC's Tidiane Sy in Dakar says there have been recent warnings that this could be at risk.

Three respected groups have called on the government to be cautious about how it handles religious issues.

President Wade sent his influential son, Karim, who is also a cabinet minister, to deliver a personal apology to Archbishop Sarr after the stone-throwing Christian youths clashed with security forces outside Dakar cathedral on Wednesday.

The archbishop had said: "We were shaken and humiliated by the comparison which the head of state made between the monument to African renaissance and the representations found in our churches."

President Wade had sought to deflect the criticism of his statue on religious grounds by comparing it to the statues of Jesus Christ found in churches.

He hopes that the statue will attract more tourists to the country but many Senegalese feel the money could be better spent.

The statue, intended to symbolise the fight against racism, was Mr Wade's idea and he says he will personally take 35% of the revenue it generates, with the rest going to the state.

When completed early in 2010, it will be bigger than the Statue of Liberty in New York.

Source: BBC News Africa

Africa Cup of Nations hosts Angola lost 1-0 to Estonia in their latest warm-up game played in Portugal on Wednesday.

Kaimar Saag scored the only goal of the game 11 minutes from time.

The result ended an eight-game unbeaten run Angola had established since Portuguese coach Manuel Jose took over the side earlier this year.

Meanwhile earlier on Wednesday Angola's opponents in the opening game of the Nations Cup on 10 January Mali beat Iran 2-1 in a four-team tournament in Qatar.

Iran took the lead after just eight minutes through Karim Ansarifard.

The Eagles equalised in the 28th minute when Tenema N'Diaye guided home a cross from Moustapha Yattabare.

Bakaye Traore gave the Eagles the lead just three minutes later.

In the other game in the tournament on Wednesday World Cup finalists North Korea made it two wins out of two as they beat hosts Qatar 1-0.

The final games of the event are on Saturday as Mali play Qatar and North Korea face Iran.

Source: BBC Sport

Nigeria's new chief justice has been sworn in in the absence of President Umaru Yar'Adua, who is in hospital in Saudi Arabia with a heart condition.

A lawyer has told the BBC that the appointment of Aloysius Katsina-Alu is illegal, as only the president has the power to take his oath of office.

Instead, the ceremony was presided over by outgoing chief justice Idris Legbo Kutigi.

There have been several calls for Mr Yar'Adua to resign over his ill-health.

Senior lawyer Bamidele Aturu told the BBC that the constitution makes it clear that the chief justice can only be sworn in by the president.

"This means the legality of the appointment is in question and people can go to court and challenge it," he said.

Impasse

The Nigeria Bar Association has called for an independent medical assessment of whether Mr Yar'Adua is well enough to carry out his duties.

Last week, an opposition politician began legal proceedings to try to force President Yar'Adua to step down on health grounds.

Doctors say he is suffering from acute pericarditis - inflammation of the lining of the heart.

He also has a long-standing kidney complaint.

Mr Yar'Adua has not formally handed over power and correspondents say that, as a result, Nigeria is locked in a political impasse.

Source: BBC News Africa