BBC news with John Jason
The party of the deposed Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra says it's won the general election and will form the next government. Figures released by the election commission suggest that the People Power Party will fall just short of winning an overall majority in parliament. The PPP has invited other parties to join its coalition. But the leader of the rival Democrat Party, Abhisit Vejjajiva said he would not be accepting the offer.
The Democrat Party has declined that invitation because we think that our ideologies are different and so it remains to be seen how the other parties respond to that invitation and my only advice to them is do what is best for the country.
Officials in Nepal say the government has agreed to abolish the monarchy as part of the deal to persuade Maoist former rebels to rejoin the interim government. They say Nepal will be declared Republic next year after a general election has been held and a new constituent assembly put in place. Our Nepal correspondent Charles Haviland reports.
Now that this agreement to abolish the monarchy has been signed by the leaders of the most powerful parties including the Maoist, it is likely to be passed by the parliament and to take effect after elections to a constituent assembly rescheduled for next spring. While a milestone, the move is no surprise. The Maoist walked out of the government three months ago, vowing not to return unless the royal system was scrapped; they have now secured what they wanted even though the other parties in the ruling coalition have said up to now that the electorate should decide on the issue via the new assembly.
The United States has unveiled a plan to help tens of thousands of Iraqi former insurgents reintegrate into the society. The Sunni fighters are currently members of an American-backed militia known as the Awakening Movement. Humphrey Hawksley reports from Bagdad.
At least 70, 000 Sunni fighters are now thought to be part of the Awakening Movement with predictions that their numbers might rise to 150, 000 over the next year. This new fighting force is being paid for by the American government. It's credited largely for the big drop in violence in recent months. But the Iraqi government has made it clear that it will not tolerate indefinitely a separate armed group outside of its control. And the United States has said it's allocating $150 million in the first instance to train militia members for jobs that don't involve firearms and security.
Security officials in northern Iraq say Turkish planes have carried out further air raids in their campaign against the Kurdish rebel group, the PKK. The official said several villages were bombed; no casualties were reported. Officials said people had fled in anticipation of the attacks. It’s the third time in less than a week that Turkey has launched air raids across the border. The Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani said the Turkish attacks were aimed not just at the PKK but at the idea of an autonomous Kurdish region.
World news from the BBC.
First results were expected in the next few hours after Sunday's presidential elections in Uzbekistan.
The incumbent Islam Karimov is seeking another term in office after more than two decades in power. A BBC correspondent in the region says the outcome is a foregone conclusion because Mr. Karimov faced no real opposition in the election. The three nominal rival candidates publicly supported his policies. The campaign group, Human Rights Watch, says Uzbek opposition groups have been prevented from holding meetings. Opposition leaders are imprisoned and journalists are persecuted.
The spiritual leader of Iraq's Chaldean Christian Community Cardinal Delly has called on American forces to free Saddam Hussein's former Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz if there is no evidence against him. Mr. Aziz, who is himself a Christian, surrendered after the invasion of Iraq four years ago, but no charges have been brought against him. Cardinal Delly made the request in his Christmas message. As regards to Tariq Aziz who has worked so long for Iraq and who I am sure so wants good things for Iraq, we have to demand the release of all those who were captured and against whom there is no evidence as soon as possible.
The Israeli government has approved funds for a system to protect Israel against rockets fired from Gaza and Lebanon. The system which is known as Iron Dome will use radar-control weapons to shoot down incoming rockets. It is expected to cost $200 million and take several years to develop. The Israeli military has so far had little success in halting almost daily rocket attacks from Palestinian militants in Gaza.
At least five people have died and tens of thousands have been left without electricity in the Mid-west of the United States due to a fierce snowstorm. Strong winds and heavy snowfalls are creating hazardous conditions for holiday travelers. Traffic accidents have killed three people in the state of Minnesota and one in Kansas.
BBC news.