Injured Steyn may miss South Africa tests next month

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa centre Francois Steyn is facing a spell on the sidelines after sustaining a bad leg injury on Super Rugby duty in New Zealand on Saturday.

"Further news on the extent of his injury and the rehabilitation process will be made in time," his club side the Sharks said on their website (www.sharksrugby.co.za) on Monday.

Steyn could miss three test matches next month, starting with the one against Italy in Durban on June 8.

A week later the Springboks tackle Scotland in Nelspruit and they will then meet one of those two teams or Samoa in a four-nation tournament decider in Pretoria on June 22.

According to media reports, Steyn underwent emergency surgery on Sunday to alleviate pressure on his leg after receiving a heavy blow as the Sharks lost 25-22 to the Highlanders in Dunedin.

Although x-rays showed no fracture, the centre was said to be in excruciating pain.

The reports added Steyn would need further surgery on Tuesday but that he may be well enough to fly home on Thursday.

The centre returned to South Africa midway through last year following a two and a half year stint in France with Racing Metro 92.

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1 dead, 44 injured in blast in Tanzania church

ZANZIBAR, Tanzania (AP) — A woman died and 44 people were seriously wounded when a bomb exploded in a Roman Catholic church in northern Tanzania, a Tanzanian police official said Sunday

The woman died in hospital as a result of the bombing in the Arusha church just before Mass, which was attended by the papal envoy to Tanzania, said Magesa Mulogo, the regional police commissioner of Arusha.

Mulogo said eyewitnesses report that the bomb was thrown from a motorcycle into the church. Mulogo said the driver of the motorcycle has been arrested.

The Vatican's ambassador to Tanzania, Archbishop Francisco Montecillo Padilla, was attending the official opening of the church when the explosion occurred. He escaped unhurt.

Mulogo said the motive of attack is not known but Tanzania has in the recent past experienced sectarian violence between Christians and Muslims.

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Injured South Africa wing Habana faces 10 weeks out

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South Africa wing Bryan Habana may miss the rest of the Super Rugby season after tearing knee ligaments in the Stormers's 36-34 win over New Zealand's Waikato Chiefs on Saturday.

Habana was carried off on a stretcher in the second half after being tackled by Sam Cane and falling awkwardly. Coach Alistair Coetzee told reporters the player faces at least 10 weeks on the sidelines.

That means he will only return if the Stormers reach the playoffs, a bitter blow to their chances.

With Habana set to join French Top-14 side Toulon at the end of the Super Rugby campaign, he could have played his final match in the competition he won with the Bulls in 2007 and 2009 before moving to Cape Town.

The win by the Stormers was their first in the tournament this season.

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Cricket-Bracewell still injured, NZ unchanged for second test

DUNEDIN, New Zealand, March 11 (Reuters) - New Zealand pace bowler Doug Bracewell has not recovered from a cut foot in time for the second test against England in Wellington, the team said on their website (www.blackcaps.com) on Monday.

New Zealand coach Mike Hesson named an unchanged 13-man squad for the match at the Basin Reserve starting on Thursday with left-arm pace bowler Neil Wagner, who took seven wickets in the drawn first match in Dunedin expected to fill the third seamer role again.

Ian Butler, called up as cover for the injured Bracewell will remain with the squad.

Bracewell, who cut his foot on glass after clearing up following a party at his house in Napier and missed the first test, is still in contention for the third test, Hesson said.

"I was very pleased with both the bowling and batting efforts in Dunedin and we plan to build on that in Wellington," the coach said in a statement.

New Zealand produced a credible performance in the first match, bowling England out for 167 in their first innings and scoring 460 for nine declared with debutant opener Hamish Rutherford making 171.

Alastair Cook's side then batted for almost five sessions to save the test, reaching 421 for six, a lead of 128 runs, before Brendon McCullum and Cook agreed there was no chance of a result with 15 overs remaining on the final day on Sunday.

The second test is from March 14-18 before the third and final match begins in Auckland on March 22.

New Zealand squad: Brendon McCullum (captain), Hamish Rutherford, Peter Fulton, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Dean Brownlie, BJ Watling, Tim Southee, Bruce Martin, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult, Tom Latham, Ian Butler.

(reporting by Greg Stutchbury, editing by Ed Osmond)

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Guinea police fire tear gas at march, many injured

CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — Officials say security forces fired tear gas at protests that turned violent after opposition marchers started throwing stones in Guinea's capital.

Government spokesman Albert Damantang Camara said Wednesday that at least 18 security personnel were injured. Opposition spokesman Mouctar Diallo said at least 9 Guineans were also injured.

Police official Capt. Lamine Sano said police tried to disperse those demonstrating because they feared further violence. He said opposition supporters were marching and throwing rocks in a Conakry neighborhood that is home to the ruling party.

A spokesman for Guinea's opposition said that it has withdrawn from the upcoming legislative election set for May 12 because the opposition is unhappy with preparations for the election.

President Alpha Conde was elected in 2010, but the vote for the legislature has been delayed.

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