By Matt Spetalnick and Deborah Charles
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Barack Obama visited the White House on Monday for his first post-election meeting with President George W. Bush, a strikingly symbolic moment in the transition of power.
The president and first lady Laura Bush greeted the newly elected president and his wife, Michelle, with smiles and [...]

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OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian and Afghan officials denied on Monday that any jailed Taliban leaders were released in exchange for a Canadian journalist freed after being held hostage for a month in Afghanistan.
A Pakistan newspaper reported two Taliban leaders being held in Afghanistan on terrorism charges were let go in return for the safe release [...]

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Miriam Makeba’s final concert took place in Italy.
Former South African President Nelson Mandela has paid tribute to singing legend Miriam Makeba, who has died aged 76 after a concert in Italy.
She was the “mother of our struggle” and “South Africa’s first lady of song”, Mr Mandela said.
Makeba became a symbol of the fight against apartheid [...]

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Southern African leaders have said they want to provide immediate support to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s army in its fight against rebel forces.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) said it would deploy military experts now, and may send a peacekeeping force later.
The army has failed to contain recent advances by rebels loyal to renegade [...]

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