A roundup of today's other international news in brief:
Left-winger likely to lead Ecuador poll
QUITO - A charismatic left- wing outsider was expected yesterday to lead the first round of Ecuador's presidential election, raising the prospect of another South American government hostile to the US.
Rafael Correa (43) was the front-runner in opinion polls after running a deft campaign which attacked the Bush administration and praised Venezuela's president, Hugo Chavez.
- (Guardian Service)
Erdogan says French say 'sorry'
ANKARA - French president Jacques Chirac has told Turkish prime minister Tayyip Erdogan he regrets that French lawmakers approved a Bill making it a crime to deny that Armenians were victims of genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Turks. "Chirac told me he was sorry . . . and he thinks we are right and he will do what he can in the upcoming process," Mr Erdogan told his AK party.
- (Reuters)
Schüssel may go for right coalition
VIENNA - Outgoing Austrian chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel has said he would consider a coalition with the country's two far-right parties rather than give up power, writes Derek Scally.
Mr Schüssel's People's Party finished second to the Social Democrats in the general election two weeks ago and has entered talks about forming a grand coalition with them.
A right-wing coalition is considered highly unlikely because of huge animosity between the Freedom Party and another breakaway party led by the Freedom Party founder Jörg Haider.
10% say Bali attacks 'defending faith'
JAKARTA- About one in 10 Indonesian Muslims support jihad and justify bomb attacks on Indonesia's tourist island of Bali as defending the faith, a new survey has shown.
- (Reuters)
Call for Ruth Kelly to resign
LONDON - The British Liberal Democrats' equality spokeswoman, Lorely Burt, has called on communities secretary Ruth Kelly - a member of Opus Dei - to stand down immediately.
Ms Burt was responding to a report in yesterday's Observer that Ms Kelly was blocking proposals to stop schools, companies and other agencies from refusing services to people on grounds of their sexuality.
- (PA)