President Pervez Musharraf will not step down as head of state despite the sweeping election victory by his opponents, his spokesman says.

Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton accused her rivals of “throwing mud” and distorting her record as she clashed with her opponents on stage in Las Vegas.

Eight Iraqi civilians were killed and four others were wounded when a suicide bomber driving an explosives-laden fuel tanker was fatally shot by police and his truck blew up near police headquarters in Samarra, about 60 miles north of Baghdad, police said today.

US officials say there is no immediate plan to strike targets in Iran, but would not rule out military action.

A string of car bombs and other blasts killed at least 54 Iraqis on yesterday, including 17 outside Baghdad’s most venerated Sunni mosque.

The Bush administration in Washington is saying it has no plans for radical shifts in Iraq war policy or for ultimatums to the Iraqi government, despite election-year pressure to change course.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on Congress today to approve an unprecedented US plan to share nuclear technology with India, saying it was “not enabling a larger weapons programme".

Acting prime minister Ehud Olmert has said Israel cannot trust a Palestinian leadership in which the Islamic group Hamas has a role, his office said today.

The US Senate opened its first Supreme Court confirmation hearing in 11 years yesterday with Republicans and Democrats jockeying for position as they told chief justice nominee John Roberts to expect tough questions on his legal record.

WITH the deadline for Iraq’s constitution rapidly approaching, the US ambassador to the country dismissed the suggestion yesterday that Iraqis may need a few more weeks to iron out differences.

US President George Bush refuses to rule out war with Iran. Iranian President Mohammad Khatami says his country is ready to defend itself against a possible US attack.

CONDOLEEZZA RICE was confirmed as US Secretary of State yesterday after undergoing torrid questioning by Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Condoleezza Rice was confirmed as US Secretary of State today after undergoing torrid questioning by Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

US Secretary of State nominee Condoleezza Rice told senators today that a US exit strategy from Iraq is “directly proportional” to Iraq’s ability to defend itself against terrorists after this month’s elections.

A growing number of Americans want to replace George Bush with Democratic presidential candidate General Wesley Clark, according to an opinion poll out today.

THE UNITED STATES yesterday announced new plans to pacify angry former Iraqi soldiers and create a new Iraqi army as two visiting US senators said American soldiers could stay for more than five years.

The UN nuclear watchdog today deplored North Korea’s decision to remove seals and surveillance cameras from nuclear facilities that Washington says could yield weapons within months.

Washington

THE White House yesterday opposed an alternative congressional resolution authorising force against Iraq, saying it does too little to disarm President Saddam Hussein.

The White House today opposed an alternative congressional resolution authorising force against Iraq, saying it does too little to disarm President Saddam Hussein.

THE US must decide whether the Iraqi people would benefit from any move to topple Saddam Hussein, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said yesterday.

THE United States will delay any attack on Iraq until after the Congressional elections in November, it emerged yesterday.

The United States will delay any attack on Iraq until after the Congressional elections in November, it emerged today.

Senator Joseph Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he was assured of Pakistani cooperation in a meeting with Ahmed last night.

Millions fell silent today in a public act of mourning for the victims of the US terror attacks.

White House officials and congressional leaders agreed early Friday to final details of a $40bn package to combat terrorism and recover from attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Israeli warplanes demolished a building in the West Bank, in retaliation for yesterday's suicide bombing in Jerusalem.