Top of the Morning: Nigeria Rejects Boko Haram Prisoner Swap

Top stories from DAWNS Digest

Nigeria Rejects Boko Haram Prisoners for Schoolgirls Deal…Boko Haram released a video purporting to show the abducted school girls. In the video, the group’s leader says he wants a prisoner swap. “Nigeria has deployed two army divisions to hunt for the girls while several nations including the United States, Britain, Israel and France have offered help or sent experts. In a 1.25 minute clip of the video on YouTube, scores of girls in black and grey veils sit on the ground and chant, before Shekau, wearing military fatigues and holding an AK-47, addresses the camera. He appears confident and at one point laughs.” Deeper Dive…Reuters http://reut.rs/1sFuWTF

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At least 12 people including Somali government soldiers and civilians were killed by an explosion near a cafe in the south central town of Baidoa on Monday, police said. (Reutershttp://bit.ly/1sEwld9)

World Economic Forum on Africa pooled $68 billion during the three-day event in Nigeria, for investment in health care, agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and other sectors of the African economy. (This Day http://bit.ly/RHoGxt)

South Sudan will postpone a presidential election set for 2015 as the country’s warring factions will need time to reconcile, President Salva Kiir said, with a vote possibly taking place as late as 2018. (Reuters http://bit.ly/RHhTnq)

The number affected by floods in Afghanistan has risen by a further 30,000 people to more than 120,000 people in 16 provinces. (OCHA http://bit.ly/1sEwYTW)

Suspected Muslim separatists in southern Thailand launched a wave of more than 30 attacks on Monday including shootings, bombings and arson, police said, killing one person and injuring more than 10. (Reuters http://bit.ly/1sEyKEE)