Roman Catholic bishops have called on corrupt Catholic leaders in Africa to repent or resign.

In a 12-page document, more than 200 African bishops, along with dozens of other bishops, also accused multinational companies in Africa of "crimes against humanity" and polluting the environment. The bishops say that "many Catholics in high office have woefully fallen short in their performance". Their message did not mention any names. The international community has often accused Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, a Catholic, of corruption. The three-week synod in Rome, which formally ends on Sunday, covered a range of problems, including AIDS, corruption, poverty and crime.

Photo: Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe (EPA)