Malaysia Targets Closer Ties With Africa

Controversial Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe will be among African leaders descending on Malaysia this weekend for an economic forum designed to foster closer trade links with the continent.

The 87-year-old Mugabe, who is banned from travelling to the European Union over his regime's human rights record is among leaders and representatives from 20 countries expected in Kuala Lumpur.

Sudan's Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, had initially agreed to attend the gathering but pulled out amid opposition to his presence from rights group Amnesty International.

Doubts Mount Over Australia-Malaysia Refugee Swap

Australia's proposed refugee swap with Malaysia looked in serious doubt Thursday, with lawmakers formally condemning it as a delegation rushed to Geneva to shore up UN support.

In a sign of growing discomfort with the plan to send 800 boatpeople to Malaysia in exchange for 4,000 of its registered refugees, MPs voted 70-68 for a motion demanding the policy be abandoned, including three key crossbenchers.

It is the first time lawmakers have formally condemned Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who leads a fragile coalition with a mere one-seat majority, and casts doubt over the swap, which has drawn widespread criticism.