Country to host 1,000 Congolese refugees

Cameroon has prepared a site to receive 1,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo in December, a source close to the government told IRIN on Tuesday. The source, who asked not to be identified, confirmed news reports on Monday quoting the minister for territorial administration, Samson Ename Ename, as saying the refugees will be camped in Langui, a locale in Northern Province. The refugees will be allowed to stay a few months. They are coming under the shadow of a shaky three-month ceasefire between the government and rebel forces. AFP quoted observers as saying that this is the first time Cameroon has agreed to host refugees in an official way. Tens of thousands of others from Chad, Rwanda and Sudan already live in the country. GUINEA-BISSAU: Observers give election clean bill of health International observers expressed satisfaction on Monday at the conduct of Guinea-Bissau's presidential and legislative elections. The polls were held in "an atmosphere of civism, calm, serenity, transparency and fairness" despite the late opening of many polling stations, due to logistical problems, that delayed the distribution of voting material, the observers said in a communique. [For full report see IRIN separate titled `GUINEA-BISSAU: Observers give election clean bill of health']