BBC NEWS | In Pictures | Africa in pictures: 3-9 January

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17:53 GMT, Friday, 9 January 2009

Africa in pictures: 3-9 January

A Ministrel Carnival troupe parades through the streets of Cape Town

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On Saturday, South Africa kicks off the new year with Cape Town's Minstrel Carnival, which started several hundred years ago when slaves in the Cape colony were given their only day off.

A pro-Palestinian group protests against the Israeli action in Gaza Strip on Thursday in Cape Town

A pro-Palestinian group protests against the Israeli action in Gaza Strip on Thursday in Cape Town

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Later in the week, some Capetonians take to the streets again to protest against Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip.

A boy points a toy gun and gestures as demonstrators rally at a protest against the Israeli invasion of Gaza

A boy points a toy gun and gestures as demonstrators rally at a protest against the Israeli invasion of Gaza

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The Israeli action - which began on 27 December - prompted protests in support of Gazans across Africa. On Sunday, this boy takes part in a rally in the Moroccan capital, Rabat…

An anti-Israel demonstration in Khartoum, Sudan

An anti-Israel demonstration in Khartoum, Sudan

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… on Thursday, Sudanese protesters show their anger at what they see as America's support for Israel by waving their shoes and shouting: "Down, down USA!"

Salva Kiir, Sudan's vice-president and South Sudan's leader, shakes hands with US President George Bush.

Salva Kiir, Sudan's vice-president and South Sudan's leader, shakes hands with US President George Bush.

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Sudan's Vice-President Salva Kiir, a former rebel commander in southern Sudan, meets outgoing US leader George W Bush on Monday in Washington.

A vendor in Ghana holding a badge saying, "God's chosen presidents".

A vendor in Ghana holding a badge saying, "God's chosen presidents".

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Two days later at the inauguration of Ghana's President John Atta Mills, a vendor holds a badge showing the new Ghanaian leader together with US President-elect Barack Obama.

Paulus Moses (right) punches Yusuke Kobori of Japan in Yokohama, south of Tokyo.

Paulus Moses (right) punches Yusuke Kobori of Japan in Yokohama, south of Tokyo.

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Namibia's "hitman" Paulus Moses defeats Yusuke Kobori of Japan in a boxing match on Saturday to become the World Boxing Association's lightweight champion.

A man looks at a plane from Ivory Coast blocked by snow at the Marseille Marignane airport

A man looks at a plane from Ivory Coast blocked by snow at the Marseille Marignane airport

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Heavy snow put a stop to flights in parts of Europe and grounded this Air Ivoire plane at an airport in Marseille on Thursday.

Gelada monkeys cuddle together at the Wilhelma zoo in Stuttgart on Wednesday.

Gelada monkeys cuddle together at the Wilhelma zoo in Stuttgart on Wednesday.

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The European chill also affects this group of Gelada monkeys - usually found only in the Ethiopian Highlands - but huddled here at a zoo in Germany on Wednesday.

Suspected Somali pirates with their hands on their heads.

Suspected Somali pirates with their hands on their heads.

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On Sunday, suspected Somali pirates are arrested by French navy marine commandos off the Somali coast as they tried to take over two cargo ships...

Somali students writing an exam

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... Two days later, Somali students sit annual exams despite the ongoing violence in the capital Mogadishu. For more on Africa's week tune into This Week in Africa on the BBC World Service this weekend.

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