Briefly: African Union considers international force in Mali

JOHANNESBURG — A spokesman for AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. said Wednesday that the company is set to fire about 12,000 South African workers on strike at three of its gold-mining operations outside Johannesburg.

Alan Fine said the workers failed to meet a deadline to return to work.

He said even as the company prepares to formally dismiss the workers, it is still holding talks with workers’ representatives to save their jobs.

Other companies have threatened striking miners with dismissal.

Anglo American Platinum Ltd. (Amplats), the world’s top producer of platinum, fired 12,000 workers earlier this month, and gold mining company Gold Fields Ltd. fired 8,500 striking miners Tuesday.

Amplats’ decision proved controversial, with South Africa’s trade federation now vowing to stage massive street protests in support of the fired miners.

BENIN

Prosecutor says 3 plotted to poison president

COTONOU — The Benin president’s doctor and his niece were a part of a failed plot to poison the leader of the West African nation by changing his medicine with something toxic, the state prosecutor said.

Prosecutor Justin Gbenameto said Tuesday that Dr. Ibrahim Mama Cisse, former Trade Minister Moudjaidou Soumanou and Zouberatou Kora, one of the president’s nieces, have been charged with conspiracy and attempted murder.

The three were arrested Sunday and have been in a civil prison in Cotonou since.

Mr. Gbenameto said the niece and doctor were each promised $1.9 million if they carried out the poisoning, and that a fourth person, businessman Patrice Talon, also was involved in the plot.

The plot to poison Benin President Boni Yayi, however, was foiled because the president’s niece had informed her sister, who then told the president, the state prosecutor said.

The prosecutor said the plot was largely planned during the president’s recent visit to Brussels.

SUDAN

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