Today's news


--> U.S.: Former President Bush endorsed John McCain today and defended the conservative record of the Republican Party's presumptive presidential nominee.

"At this critical time in history ... the United States of America cannot be allowed to falter," the 41st president said in Houston, Texas. "No one is better to lead our nation in these trying times than Senator John McCain."


"We congratulate the people of Kosovo on this historic occasion," Rice said. "President Bush has responded affirmatively to a request from Kosovo to establish diplomatic relations between our two countries."

European Union nations Monday were also starting to individually recognize Kosovo as the world's newest nation -- but had not agreed collectively on the way forward.

--> Pakistan: Fearful of violence and deterred by confusion at polling stations, Pakistanis voted today in parliamentary elections that may fail to produce clear winners and could result in protracted postelection political skirmishing.

A number of clashes among polling officials and voters resulted in 10 people killed and 70 wounded, according to Pakistani television channels.

Voter turnout was low; in the North-West Frontier Province, which abuts the lawless tribal areas, turnout was only 20 percent, according to election officials. In Peshawar, the provincial capital, Islamic militants prevented many women from voting. Election officials estimated that only 523 of 6,431 women who were registered to vote at six polling stations had cast ballots.


At least 28 people were wounded in the attack in Spin Boldak, a town in Kandahar province near the border with Pakistan, said Abdul Razeq, the Spin Boldak border police chief. Three Canadian soldiers were lightly wounded, he said.

The attack comes one day after Afghanistan’s deadliest bombing since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. More than 100 people were killed by a suicide bomber outside Kandahar city on Sunday.

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