The ability of terrorists and others to develop and use biological and toxin weapons is growing, according to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She underscored the nature of the bio-weapons threat is evolving.

“The advances in science and technology make it possible both to prevent and cure more diseases but also easier for both states and non-state actors to develop biological weapons," she said. "A crude but effective terrorist weapon can be made by using a small sample of any number of widely available pathogens, inexpensive equipment and college-level chemistry and biology.”

Two Swedish journalists have told an Ethiopian court they were upholding the highest traditions of their profession when they were arrested in the company of rebels in the restive Ogaden region.

Ethiopia has accused the pair of supporting a terrorist group in a case which is attracting international attention.

Journalists Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson told a three-judge panel Tuesday they had gone to the insurgency-wracked Ogaden region to investigate the activities of a Swedish oil firm.

The Kenyan military says dozens of Somali militants and at least 11 Somali government troops were killed in a battle a few days ago.

In a statement Tuesday, a Kenyan military spokesman said more than 40 al-Shabab fighters were killed and many others injured during intense fighting in the southern Somali town of Hayo.

Major Emmanuel Chirchir said Somali government casualties from the fighting totaled 11 dead, 54 injured. He said there were no Kenyan casualties in the clash.

At least 16 people have been killed by a car bomb targeting Shi'ite pilgrims in Iraq.

Monday's bombing near Hilla, south of Baghdad also wounded more than 30 people.

The attack comes at the height of the Ashura commemoration ceremonies marking the anniversary of the seventh century death of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.

The blast took place at a time of heightened concern about Baghdad's ability to handle security after U.S. forces withdraw at the end of the month.

Members of a six-nation bloc in Eastern Africa have asked the United Nations to toughen sanctions against Eritrea.

Leaders with the Intergovernmental Governmental Authority on Development, or IGAD, have told the Security Council that the world body must “act now” because the region's stability is at stake.

Government officials from Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya and Uganda addressed the U.N. Security Council in New York by video link Monday.

In a pre-trial hearing Wednesday in the case of U.S. v Maj. Nidal Hasan, defense attorneys asked the military judge, Col. Gregory Gross, to recuse himself.

At a previous hearing on Oct. 27, Gross had answered questions from the defense attorneys pertaining to the personal impact the shootings at Fort Hood on Nov. 5, 2009, had on him. Defense attorneys asked him more questions Wednesday before requesting Gross to recuse himself from the trial because of the appearance of bias.

The U.S. embassy in Nigeria says two Americans kidnapped off the country's coast last month have been freed.

The embassy confirmed the release Friday but gave no further details.

Two Americans and one Mexican national were seized by armed men November 17 while working on a vessel contracted by U.S.-based oil giant Chevron.

The embassy did not indicate if the Mexican man has been freed.

Foreign oil companies and their employees are often the target of attacks by militants and criminal gangs in Nigeria, Africa's top oil-producing country.

Somali pirates have released a Singapore-owned hijacked chemical tanker, but continue to hold four South Korean sailors as hostages.

The Singapore-based firm Glory Ship Management, which owns the ship, said Thursday that the pirates had promised to release all 25 crew members, but instead took the remaining four “ashore at the last moment.”

The company says the released crew members are in good health and that it is working to secure the release of the remaining hostages.

Pirates seized the tanker off the east African coast in April while it was travelling from Indonesia to Kenya.

Eritrea’s permanent representative to the United Nations has petitioned the U.N. Security Council to expedite an independent investigation into Kenyan allegations that Asmara is supporting the Somali militant group al-Shabab.

Ambassador Araya Desta sharply denies the latest accusations, saying, “Eritrea has never supported al-Shabab or any other group in Somalia.”

Asmara also asked the U.N. to reprimand Nairobi over the allegations.

He said Eritrea welcomes an independent inquiry into Kenya’s latest accusation.