Politics

US President George W Bush says that he wants to solve the Iran issue peacefully.

Mr. Bush said that diplomacy is the first choice in dealing with Iran's nuclear ambitions but all options remain open.

Slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's 19-year-old son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, was named as Chairman of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) on Sunday at a meeting of Central Executive Committee of the party held at Bhutto's parental Naudero House in Larkana.

According to reports, General Pervez Musharraf will lift Emergency within 24 hours and resign the post of Army chief.

Tomorrow, Musharraf will address the nation after taking oath as a civilian president.

It is reported that all persons confined after the imposition of Emergency will be released soon.

Former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif is expected to make another comeback bid to the country by November 26.

Sources said that the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) chief would be accompanied by his son and son-in-law during his return.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today informed the Rajya Sabha that it is correct that China refuses to recognize the Mac Mohan Line as the border between India and China.

Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee has resigned from her South Kolkata Lok Sabha seat in protest against the continuing violence in Nandigram, which has become a 'battlefield' between CPI (M) cadres and activists of a Trinamool supported group.

Announcing her resignation at a press conference here, Banerjee, said, "I am sending my resignation letters to all concerned."

Banerjee also threatened to 'paralyse' life in the State for an indefinite period, beginning from Monday.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set to form the next government in Karnataka, a first for the party in South India, with the support of Janata Dal-Secular on Monday.

The swearing in ceremony of BJP's chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa will be held at 12 noon.

BJP national leaders, including Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha L K Advani, party President Rajnath Singh, M Venkaiah Naidu, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, are likely to be present at the swearing-in ceremony in Bangalore.

Expressing deep concern over the imposition of emergency in Pakistan, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today said the concern in India is greater since “Pakistan is our immediate neighbour.”

Party General Secretary Arun Jatiley said that the BJP has always believed that the struggle for democracy in Pakistan is inseparable from the struggle against terrorism, which is backed by religious terrorism.

“The Party conveys its deep solidarity with the people of Pakistan in this hour of struggle in restoration of democracy and the rule of law,” he said in a statement.

Former cricketer and chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan Niazi has reportedly managed to run away from his house here today, after he was put under house arrest in the wake of the imposition of emergency.

"He was detained along with eight supporters at the house. The supporters are at home but he has slipped away," his close relative told a foreign news agency.

The BJP-JD (S) short lived 'divorce' in Karnataka came to an end on Saturday after JD (S) leader and former Chief Minister of the State, H D Kumaraswamy, gave a letter to the Governor confirming his party's support to the BJP.

"As the leader of the JD (S) Legislature party, I have requested the Governor to invite (BJP leader) B S Yediyurappa to form the government," Kumaraswamy said after he met the Governor here today.

The BJP leaders led by former Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa met Governor Rameshwar Thakur at the Raj Bhavan and staked the claim to form the next government.