africa: Conflict, unrest afflict several nations on African continent

In one of several conflicts reaching a boiling point across Africa, gunfire and explosions rattled the Liberian capital this week. In civil-war ravaged Congo, meanwhile, French peacekeepers arrived, and the United States welcomed the failure of a coup in Mauritania. And in Zimbabwe, an opposition leader was ordered held in custody on charges of inciting protests aimed at toppling President Robert Mugabe.