S P O T L I G H T

Haidergarh counting
New Delhi, April 8
Counting of votes for the Haidergarh Assembly byelection in the Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh will be taken up at 0830 hours tomorrow morning as scheduled, according to the Secretary to the Election Commission, Mr K. J. Rao. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Rajnath Singh is among the candidates from the constituency. UNI

Z plus security for TADA Judge
MUMBAI, April 8
The police has recommended Z plus security for designated TADA Judge P. D. Kode, hearing the serial blast case, following threats received by him and his staff in a series of letters even as surveillance have been stepped up in and around the central prison where the court is housed. The recommendation for Z plus security was given a nod by the Maharashtra Government’s review committee. However, the proposal is awaiting sanction from the competent authority at Mantralaya, official sources said. PTI

PM to visit Iran
NEW DELHI, April 8
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will pay a four-day official visit to Iran beginning April 10 to give a major thrust to multi-faceted bilateral ties with special focus on enhancing cooperation in fields of oil, natural gas, fertilisers and railways. Mr Vajpayee, who is going at the invitation of President Syed Mohammed Khatami, will address the Iranian Majlis (Parliament) on April 11 and have wide-ranging discussions on regional, international and issues of mutual concern with the Iranian leadership. This will be Mr Vajpayee’s first visit to the oil-rich Gulf since he assumed the high office. PTI