DEBRIS: More than 100 passengers and crewmembers died when an Airbus 330 crashed at Tripoli International Airport

DEADLY PLANE CRASH

Libya

More than 100 people died when a plane crashed at Tripoli international airport on May 12. The Afriqiyah Airways flight was landing in the Libyan capital, having taken off from Johannesburg, South Africa. Ninety-three passengers and 11 crewmembers were onboard the Airbus 330, but a Dutch boy was the only survivor. Witnesses described the plane breaking up and exploding as it came in to land.

IMAM THREATENED

Mali

An imam in Mali has received threats over his decision to back a proposed family law that would no longer oblige wives to obey their husbands. The law was first introduced to parliament in August 2009 and has met stiff resistance from Mali's High Islamic Council.

The imam of Kati wrote a letter to the High Islamic Council in April 2010 arguing that the new family law does not infringe the country's social values or the values of Islam. His stance has angered some Islamic leaders and there have been calls for his dismissal.

President Amadou Toumani Toure has refused to sign off on the proposed law because of protests and the law is now in parliament for a second reading. Ninety percent of Mali's population is Muslim.

RAMGOOLAM ELECTED

Mauritius

Incumbent Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam won the Mauritius election in May 2010, with his Labor alliance winning 41 out of the 62 parliamentary seats being contested.

It had been reported that divisions had opened up between the country's majority Hindus and Christians, Muslims, Creoles and Mauritians of European descent. But Ramgoolam, a Hindu, claimed the result flew in the face of such divisions.

"The entire population has adhered to our philosophy of unity, equality and modernity," he said at a press conference. "I have been able to rally a majority of the population. It is a vote for national unity."

The BBC reported a voter turnout of 76 percent.