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South Sudan's army has retaken an eastern town captured by rebels two weeks ago, a military spokesman said on Monday, in a conflict that has uprooted thousands of people and hampered government plans to explore for oil. Army spokesman Philip Aguer said four soldiers and a dozen rebels were killed during a brief battle on Sunday to recapture Boma town in Jonglei state, where the government wants to search for oil with the help of France's Total.   "The SPLA (army) restored order and control of Boma yesterday. I was there myself," Aguer told Reuters. But Peter Konyi Kubrin, a spokesman for rebels also known as the South Sudan Democratic Army, denied they had lost the town. Since winning independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan has been struggling to impose its authority across vast swathes of territory awash with weapons after decades of civil war with Khartoum ended in a peace deal in 2005. Rebel leader David Yau Yau, a former theology student, raised a rebe

Brian McDermott will launch his rebuilding programme at Elland Road by adding vastly-experienced Georgia centre-back Zurab Khizanishvili to a youthful Leeds defence. Sportsmail Online understands McDermott sees the former Blackburn defender’s know-how as a useful foil to the potential of Tom Lees and Sam Byram and that an agreement is in place to sign him this summer. Leeds’ recently-appointed boss knows all about the 31-year old after twice taking him to Reading on loan from Blackburn and seeing him help them reach the 2010-11 Championship play-off final, where they lost to Swansea. Hardman: Zurab Khizanishvili during his Blackburn days After five years at Ewood Park, the 86-times capped 6ft 1in central defender joined Turkish side Kayserispor. He is now ready to return to England on what is expected to be a free transfer and will be the first of several summer signings for McDermott. Handed a three-year contract at Elland Road, following a harsh dismissal by Reading, McDermot

The Egyptian army sent reinforcements into the Sinai Peninsula on Monday after President Mohamed Mursi said there would be no talks with militant Islamists who abducted seven members of the security forces last week. Radical Islamists have expanded into a security vacuum in Sinai that the state has struggled to fill since an uprising swept autocrat Hosni Mubarak from power in 2011. The groups have launched attacks on Israel and targets in North Sinai.   The kidnapping has highlighted lawlessness in the peninsula bordering Israel, enraged Egyptian security forces and piled domestic pressure on Mursi to act. Egyptian security forces have blocked border crossings into the Gaza Strip to pressure the government into helping free their colleagues. Witnesses saw armored personnel carriers moving east on Monday over the Suez Canal towards North Sinai where militants staged the abduction and where gunmen assaulted a police base on Monday. They later arrived in the North Sinai town of El-Ar

Now keep Bale Spurs have to keep Gareth Bale. He’s scored 21 goals this season and nine from outside the box, the highest total of long range goals in Europe’s top leagues. He deserves Champions League football but I hope he is patient and that Tottenham push the boat out for him now. Scroll down for video Key man: Spurs need to pay whatever it costs to keep Gareth Bale Improvements: Arsene Wenger should be given the funds to improve this Arsenal squad     More from Jamie Redknapp...   Jamie Redknapp: Cardozo deserves a bigger club, Cech is still at the top of his game, and why can't we see Torres perform like that every week? 15/05/13   Jamie Redknapp: Wise heads Lampard and Rio show their class... but young guns Sturridge and McManaman shine brightly too 12/05/13

Supporters of an influential Pakistani political party took to the streets of Karachi on Monday to protest against cricket-hero-turned-politician Imran Khan, who has accused it of killing one of his senior staff a week after a general election. Furious members of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) have denied responsibility for the killing of Zara Shahid Hussain on Saturday outside her home in the upscale Defence area of Karachi, capping a bloody election in which about 150 people were killed nationwide.   MQM leaders condemned the killing by unidentified gunman and demanded a retraction from Khan. The May 11 elections gave the MQM 18 of 19 national assembly seats in Karachi, which has long been the party's power base. Khan's party won a re-vote in part of one constituency of Karachi on Sunday, giving it one seat and also angering the MQM. About 3,000 MQM joined the protest to denounce Khan, whose Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) party was to hold a rally later in the eveni

Police raided a leading Ugandan newspaper and disabled its printing press and website on Monday after it published a letter about a purported plot to stifle allegations President Yoweri Museveni is grooming his son for power, a senior editor said. Speculation is growing that Museveni, in office since 1986, is lining up his son Kainerugaba Muhoozi to take power, a move that would likely test loyalties in Uganda's ruling elite.   Last week the Daily Monitor - Uganda's most-read independent paper - published a private letter by General David Sejusa calling for an investigation into allegations of a plot "to assassinate people who disagree with this so-called family project of holding onto power in perpetuity". Uganda's media regulator warned it would "penalize" excessive coverage about the Sejusa letter and a court ordered the Daily Monitor to hand over the document, a decision the newspaper has appealed. "The police showed up saying they have a

Hot shot Robin van Persie has backed new manager David Moyes to bring more success at Manchester United. And the Dutch striker has revealed he wants to emulate Ryan Giggs and play on into his 40s. Watch out: Robin van Persie and his wife Bouchra dash back to their car in Manchester city centre after shopping tip on Monday On a mission: Van Persie wants more success after winning first title with United Moyes was shown round United's state-of-the-art training facility by Sir Alex Ferguson and David Gill on Monday in his first, unofficial, act as the champions' new boss. Van Persie will be key to Moyes' plans, after winning the Premier League's Golden Boot with 26 goals. And he is confident it will be a smooth transition of power in the dug-out - and he is adamant United will continue to challenge for silverware under Moyes. He told the Daily Mirror: 'This is a great bunch of players. Everybody wants to work for each other and share the success. O