Malawi president frees 651 prisoners, and other brief reports

* Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika has pardoned 651 prisoners, a senior government official said. \'The president has invoked his clemency prerogative to pardon prisoners as the world celebrates Christmas and New Year,\' Home Affairs Minister Uladi Mussa said. The pardoned did not include inmates convicted of offences such as armed robbery or rape. – The Mercury