In South Africa, the first black leader of the armed forces has been sworn in -- he's a former guerrilla leader, Lieutenant General Siphiwe Nyanda.

He is replacing General Georg Meiring, who resigned last month following a discredited report alleging a coup plot against President Nelson Mandela.

Almost thirty-thousand former guerrillas have applied to join the South African army since the country's first democratic elections four years ago.

The BBC Southern Africa correspondent says the promotion of Lieutenant General Nyanda is seen as a major step towards integrating senior black officers in the ranks of the country's armed forces.