"Ex-PM Nawaz Sharif says his PML-N is quitting the government because of differences over the reinstatement of judges sacked by President Musharraf. Mr Sharif wants the judges, who became a focus of opposition to Mr Musharraf, to get all their old powers back. But the biggest party, the PPP, wants limitations on their powers. Mr Sharif has said that despite quitting the government, his party would support the Pakistan People's Party (PPP)-led government from the treasury benches on an issue-by-issue basis."
Daily Times (Pakistan): armed group/political party/masters-of-Karachi Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) ready to jump into fray to support PPP; ironies abound since MQM and PPP have engaged in recurrent and very lethal ethnic clashes in urban Sindh for decades
The News (Pakistan): More ironies and more abounding - after all the past drama, will Zardari's PPP now cozy up to Musharraf's "King's Party," the PML-Q?
"Now after 20 years, last week in Lahore, Gilani was once again found meeting MPA Najaf Sial of PML-Q who is heading the forward bloc in the Punjab. Many believe that Gilani was meeting MPs of forward bloc on the instruction of Zardari to see the possibility of any future alliance with PML-Q."
The News (Pakistan): And it just keeps getting better - another media crackdown in Pakistan?
Indian Express: more violence in Kashmir; deadly encounters in Jammu in the south and Kupwara in the north. Could get worse
"Three days after claiming to have foiled an infiltration bid by militants amidst heavy gunfire in the Samba sector in Jammu, the Border Security Force on Monday made an embarrassing admission that some of the militants might have succeeded in entering the country that night."
BBC: in Sri Lanka ruling government and its former-LTTE ally win a majority of the Eastern Province Provincial Council in a crucial election
Daily Mirror (Colombo): opposition charges serious electoral irregularities in said election
"The UNP-SLMC alliance which lost the battle for the Eastern Provincial Council vowed yesterday to take to the streets to protest against the electoral fraud committed by the government and the Pillaiyan group on the day of polling. The party also vowed to take it up with the international community."
Hindu: scattered unpleasantness in West Bengal local elections
"The first phase of the panchayat polls in five districts on Sunday was marred by a confrontation between CPI(M) MP Lakshman Seth and CRPF’s DIG Alok Raj.
During the polling, which was by and large peaceful, Maoists detonated a landmine in Purulia, killing a BSF jawan and injuring 11 others, while CPI(M) cadres allegedly blocked supporters of the Trinamool Congress from casting their vote at some villages in Nandigram in East Midnapore district. A large contingent of paramilitary forces, including the CRPF and the BSF, was deployed in the areas where polling took place on Sunday. Sporadic incidents of violence involving Trinamool Congress and CPI(M) activists were reported from parts of Nandigram on Monday. Leaders of the two parties traded allegations of instigating violence in the Balrampur and Gorchakrabera areas in which rival supporters were injured in clashes and some houses destroyed, forcing their occupants to seek shelter elsewhere."
BBC: bangladesh's ruling junta decides on December electionsNYT: burma's ruling junta continues its lethal obnoxiousness
BBC: Afghan security officials suspended in wake of attack on Karzai
"The move came after the attorney general took over an investigation into the attack. Among those suspended are defence and intelligence heads"
Follow-up on last week (I): Sri Lankan defence analyst Iqbal Athas' criticisms of press suppression attracts the ever-classy attentions of the Ministry of Defence. Choice excerpts from press release entitled "Iqbal Athas - haunted by his own disturbed mind":
"Dear Mr. Athas, do you seriously believe that the defence authorities in this country are silly enough to deploy intelligence officers to follow a crap writers like you? . . . The public are increasingly aware about these sociopaths, despite their extravagant ballyhoos carried on through the media and other forums. . . . In our view, Mr. Athas should seek flowers from the terrorists and not anybody else for his great propaganda contribution to the Eelam cause and the terrorist outfit as well."
The crowning, and somewhat baffling, climax - "It may be possible for a person with a disturbed consciousness to see crocodiles in his teacup." And here I thought my frequent sighting of aardvarks in my whiskey glass was somehow unusual. . . .
See also the surrealistic epic "Mr Athas, it is the truth you rape" ("in our view it is the truth that he regularly rapes for the journalistic treachery he is engaged in").
Follow-up on last week (II), from NYT: Russia plans near-quarantine for English soccer fans
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