US vice president Joe Biden landed today in Baghdad on what appeared to be a dual mission: to visit US troops during the Fourth of July weekend and coax Iraqi leaders into ending their government impasse.

Iraq’s secular former prime minister edged out Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki as final results of the parliamentary elections were released today.

World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz condemned what he called a “smear campaign” against him and told a special bank panel he acted in good faith in securing a promotion and pay rise for his former girlfriend.

Right-wing politician Pim Fortuyn, who led his anti-immigration party to prominence in Dutch politics, was shot six times and killed today as he left a radio interview.