Barca coach hits back at Mourinho claims

MADRID (AFP) – Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola on Saturday responded angrily to comments made by Real Madrid counterpart Jose Mourinho a day earlier accusing him of complaining about referees.

Guardiola normally avoids giving an opinion on any matters of controversy, but the 41-year-old was unable to bite his tongue in his press conference on the eve of Barca’s trip to Racing Santander in La Liga on Sunday.

Pep Guardiola

“Mourinho and I resemble one another in that we both want to win, but I do not get the impression that we are similar. If that is the case then I must have done something wrong,” an irritated Guardiola said.

“I have never desired to put myself on a par with him. Certain images are worth more than a thousand words.

“My objective is not to sully the reputation of my team. There are thousands of press conferences. We both want to win but we are different.”

Barcelona’s relationship with the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and the country’s head of referees has become somewhat strained in the last week following defender Gerard Pique’s controversial sending-off in last Saturday’s 3-1 win against Sporting Gijon.

It was in relation to the fall-out from that red card that Mourinho alluded to Guardiola and the Catalan club on Friday.

“The interesting thing is that there are people who are more intelligent than me who manage to sell a certain image of themselves when they are in fact just like me,” said the Portuguese, whose side are ten points clear of Barcelona at the top of the table.

“I thought that they didn’t talk about referees but that is what they are doing.”

Barcelona have fiercely defended Pique after the Spanish international defender accused the referee of making a “premeditated” decision to send him off against Sporting.

“Lets hope that between now and the end of the season we have no more reasons to feel like we do now,” said Barcelona spokesman Toni Freixa.

“It is a difficult job (refereeing) and we understand that this year we are not having any luck (with decisions).”

Mourinho and Guardiola are both targets of English Premier League club Chelsea, who are on the lookout for a new manager following the sacking last week of one-time Mourinho protege Andre Villas-Boas.

Quitting Politics is Defeatist, Group Tells Kalu

Former Governor of Abia State and former Chairman, Board of Trustees, Progressive People Alliance, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu,  has been advised to suspend his decision to quit politics because it is defeatist and not in the best interest of the country.

A group, Politically Conscious Nigerians, said if Kalu decides to stand by his decision to quit his party and politics, it is Nigeria that would be the biggest loser as a major constructive critic would have been lost in the process.

According to a statement by president, Taiwo Osofisan, and Secretary General, Peter Okodua, the group said there was the need for Kalu to reconsider his position no matter how betrayed he feels by the political class because “when good men quit doing what makes the society better, they will only leave the scene for those who will make things worse for the entire human race.”

Congo holds funeral for 223 victims

 The Republic of Congo on Sunday held a funeral for 223 victims of the March4 explosions in the Central African country's capital Brazzaville.

Thousands of people gathered at 11 am local time in the city to pay homage to the victims, whowill be buried in a downtown cemetery later in the day.

The massive funeral was attended by Congolese President Denis Sassou N'Guesso,government officials and diplomats accredited to the country. Participants presented wreathsfor the victims.

On the occasion, the Congolese minister of state for social security, Florent Tsiba, expressedcondolences over the deaths of six Chinese workers.

On behalf of the Congolese government, Tsiba also expressed gratitude to the Chineseworkers for their contribution to the development of the African country.

The six Chinese workers of the Beijing Construction Engineering Group were among their 140colleagues on the construction site, when the blasts went off causing the casualties including atleast 1, 500 people injured.

An electrical short circuit caused the detonation at an arms depot in the military barracks in thecity's Mpila district. The barracks will be resettled miles away from the city within months as partof the safety measures for the future, according to official sources.

Duan Jinzhu, political counsellor of the Chinese Embassy, said there are no Chinese victims tobe buried in the Republic of Congo, adding that the embassy will consult with the bereavedfamilies before making appropriate arrangements.

Arise Fashion Week Ends Sunday in Grand Finale, Fashion Awards

The Arise Magazine Fashion Week will today draw to a close with a grand finale showcasing world class designers and models to round off the five-day fashion extravaganza at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Outstanding designers and models that emerge tops during the five-day show will also be honoured at an awards ceremony this evening.

Mass grave in southern Mexico is 1300 years old

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A mass grave discovered in southern Mexico with the remains of 167 people is approximately 1,300 years old, the Chiapas state prosecutor's office said in a statement, after authorities had originally thought the grave was only 50 years old.

Forensic experts and anthropologists said the skulls showed signs of artificial deformation practiced more than 1,000 years ago by natives in the area, the statement dated Saturday said. Ancient pottery was also found at the site, it said.

The Maya people, who lived in Southern Mexico and Guatemala, would use planks to flatten and elongate the skulls of infants.

The grave was discovered in a cave on a remote ranch near the town of Frontera Comalapa, about 11 miles (18 km) from the Guatemalan border. Authorities said on Saturday that the grave appeared to be at least 50 years old.

The top Chiapas official from Mexico's national anthropology institute said the site shared characteristics with other cemeteries that date from the years 700 to 1200, the statement said.

Death toll rises to 11 after attack in Nigeria

JOS, Nigeria - At least 11 people have been confirmed dead after a suicide bomb blast rocked achurch in central north Plateau State, sources said on Sunday.

State police spokesperson Samuel Dabia and the Medical Director, Plateau Specialist Hospital Matawwal Bitrus, confirmed this to Xinhua on phone from Jos, the state capital, adding that 22other people were injured.

The deaths included the two suicide bombers and two motorcyclists who were mobbed at thescene.

The Red Cross said it had taken 22 people injured in the blast to various hospitals in Josmetropolis.

Suicide bombers on Sunday attacked St. Finbar's Catholic Church in Jos by ramming a vehicleinto the fence of the Church.