M A I N   N E W S

Bush, Gore move Florida SC

WASHINGTON, Nov 15 (PTI) — In a fresh turn that could break the deadlock on US presidential poll outcome, rival hopefuls for the White House, Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore, turned to the Florida Supreme Court seeking its ruling on the legality of hand counts sought by the Democrats.

The two sides’ turning to the Supreme Court came after Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris, a Republican supporter, had filed a petition to block further manual recounts.

Mr Bush, hanging on to 300-vote lead in a state that holds the key to determining the winner of the cliffhanger electoral battle, sought permission of the court to become a party to suit filed by Harris.

Shortly afterwards, former US Secretary of State Warren Christopher said Democrats would ask the court to rule “whether hand counts are appropriate under Florida law and, if so, what was the deadline for their completions”.

Mr Bush made a one-page filing in the Florida state Supreme court saying that he is entitled to become part of Harris’ case because initial vote tabulation and the statutory recount tabulation resulted in a majority of votes being cast for him.

Also, Mr Bush asked to intervene in a separate lawsuit filed by Palm Beach County elections supervisors against Harris.

Fiji HC reinstates Chaudhry govt

SUVA, Nov 15 (AFP) — Fiji’s high court ruled today that the government ousted by the military after a coup on May 19 was still legally in power.

Justice Tony Gates found that Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara remains Fiji’s lawful President and that Parliament legally was still intact.

He upheld the validity of the country’s 1997 Constitution and ruled that it was unlawfully abrogated after the elected government was deposed after failed businessman George Speight seized Parliament.

In a judgment handed down amid tight security, Justice Gates called on Mara to convene an immediate sitting of Parliament so that the elected government could resume the business of ruling the country.

The ruling places the interim government appointed by the military under legal pressure to resign and uphold the sanctity of the constitution. However, it is not expected to do so.

The South Pacific island nation has been in turmoil since Speight and his supporters, including dissident special forces troops, seized Parliament and held Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and his government hostage for 56 days.

The military declared martial law, abrogated the Constitution and removed the democratically-elected government.

Laisenia Qarase was later installed as interim Prime Minister.