But the swimming competition was almost marred by a rowdy crowd who hurled three empty bottles into the pool, reviving memories of the Arab Games three years ago when swimming was scrapped from the programme following crowd trouble.

Coventry, who already had the 50 metres and 100 backstroke, 400 individual medley and 800 freestyle under her belt, added the 200 backstroke in a Games record of 2:10.66 with South Africa's Melissa Corfe taking silver in 2:13.88.

Suzaan van Biljon won the women's 50 metre breaststroke in a Games record of 32.62, while Amanda Loots and Kathryn Meaklim earned South Africa gold and silver in the women's 200 butterfly in 2:14.28, another Games record, and 2:14.77.

HUGE CROWD

But it was the victory of one-legged Natalie Du Toit in the women's 1,500 freestyle that caught the imagination of the huge crowd as the 23-year-old emerged from the pool and dashed to fix her artificial leg. She also set a Games record of 17:09.05.

Kenya's Jason Dunford won the men's 50 butterfly in a Games record of 23.91 causing a major upset as South Africa's world champion Johannes Zandberg finished a lowly fifth.

That was Dunford's second gold after the 100 butterfly he won two days ago. Tunisia's Ahmed Mathlouthi won the men's 200 medley gold in 2:05.21.

Algerian tennis players won all four gold medals up for grabs on Monday at the Olympic Complex's tennis courts.

In searing heat that hit 40 degrees celsius and in front of empty stands, Samia Medjahdi justified her top seed status with a gold and her first major title.

The 22-year old Algerian beat South Africa's fourth-seeded Lizaan Du Plessis 6-1 6-4.

In basketball, the Democratic Republic of Congo pipped Ivory Coast 48-45 in a group A match at Hydra while Kenya lost 69-45 to Senegal in a pool B match.

Congo, Mozambique, Angola and Algeria have qualified for the quarter-finals from group A.