Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama’s campaign has swung into damage-control mode after a paper criticising Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's links to India and the Indian American community was leaked last week. Senator Obama may address the situation personally, according to a group of his South Asian supporters.

The three-page memo, which derisively described the former first lady and Democratic presidential front-runner as a "Democrat from Punjab," added, "The Clintons have reaped significant financial rewards from their relationship with the Indian community, both in their personal finances and Hillary's campaign fund raising."

On Sunday, South Asians for Obama, a grassroots movement that seeks to mobilise the South Asian American community to help elect the Senator as the next President of the USA, expressed shock and dismay at the contents of the paper. The document also was critical of Mrs. Clinton's ties with two prominent Indian American Democratic fund raisers — New York hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal, and Nebraska entrepreneur Vinod "Vin" Gupta.

"Like most of you, (South Asians for Obama) was shocked and dismayed to learn the news about an opposition research memo entitled 'Hillary Clinton (D-Punjab)'s Personal Financial and Political Ties to India,' which was distributed to reporters on a not-for-attribution basis by the Obama campaign," the groups said. SAO added that although intended to draw attention to Mrs. Clinton's "hypocritical position on outsourcing, the memo was laced with criticism of Senator Clinton's longstanding support among the Indian American community."

"In addition to being offended by the clear anti-Indian sentiment in the memo, we were particularly disturbed because the memo flies in the face of what we respect most about Senator Obama -- his inclusive message and his ability to relate to people of all backgrounds," the nascent group said.

As the story broke last week, SAO set about drafting a response. But before they could send it the group got a call from Senator Obama's campaign headquarters in Chicago.

"We learned, as we had already suspected, that the memo did not reflect Senator Obama's views regarding the Indian American community, and he was deeply disturbed by its content. (Indeed, the memo even appears to contradict some the Senator's own statements regarding outsourcing.)," SAO said.

On Friday evening, Senator Obama's campaign manager David Plouffe said in a statement: "Barack Obama has been a longtime friend of the Indian-American community and our campaign is fortunate to have strong support from Indian-Americans across the country. The intent of the document was to discuss the issue of outsourcing, but we regret the tone that parts of the document took." The response prompted a mixed reaction from the Indian American community. Mr. Plouffe's statement didn't do much to satisfy SAO.

"As organisers of an effort committed to building a relationship between the campaign and the South Asian American community, we were less than satisfied," the group said. It has been in contact with Senator Obama's campaign over the weekend and is confident that this issue is now receiving the attention "of those at the highest level."

"The Senator himself is cognizant of our concerns (not just with the memo, but also the initial response) and has made clear his intention to address the situation personally," SAO said. 

President Pervez Musharraf is weighing the option of advancing general elections because of legal and political obstacles to his original plan to get elected from present assemblies, a senior federal minister has indicated.

Railway Minister Sheikh Rashid who is regarded close to the President told newsmen in Lahore that the next elections would be held early if the President decided to get himself re-elected through the new assemblies.

The opposition has threatened to resign from assemblies if Musharraf sticks to current plans to secure another 5-year term through present assemblies where he is assured of comfortable majority. Presidential election is due in September-October while the assemblies will compete their term on November 15.

A smart amendment to the Constitution in 2002 which substituted the expression "preceding" with "following", deferred assembly elections by two months after instead of before the expiry of their term. Since Musharraf took oath a couple of hours before the National Assembly was installed, it permanently distorted the constitutional scheme whereby the President would always be elected by the outgoing assemblies just days ahead of its natural demise. This guaranteed Musharraf's second term.

The Opposition hopes its move would divest such an election of any credibility and legitimacy. To further bolster its position, it can get the provincial assemblies of NWFP and Baluchistan dissolved through the MMA governments there. 

Islamabad, June 18
Are former Pakistani Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif in a power-sharing deal to rule for five years each? Yes, says Bhutto; no says a Sharif aide, two Pakistani newspapers reported on Monday citing a purported interview the former gave to an unnamed British publication.

Bhutto, in the interview, is quoted as saying: "Mr Nawaz Sharif and I agree.

Nawaz says, 'You should be the Prime Minister for the first five-year term,' and after that five-year term he wants to run." "So I hope that we can move forward. That's a verbal discussion between us, but that is what he has said to me," Bhutto added The News and The Nation Monday carried the interview.

Sharif's top political aide Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, who is secretary general of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), immediately denied Bhutto's claim.

"The people will decide in fair elections who forms the government," Jhagra maintained. The Bhutto claim, whatever its veracity, is a clear signal to President Pervez Musharraf who has promised elections later this year, that she means to keep her political options open.

Bhutto said she had struck the deal with Sharif so that the pair could present "a united front to put the army — IANS

Kathmandu, May 18
A day after Girija Prasad Koirala’s controversial remarks to retain monarchy in the name of “minor king”, Maoist chairman Prachanda today criticised Koirala saying that his statement.

Talking to journalists here today, Prachanda said: “At a time when the recently amended interim constitution has authorised power to the constitution that can abolish monarchy through its two-third majority, PM Koirala’s statement will only weaken the constitutional spirit.”

Prachanda also claimed that PM’s remarks could create rift among the eight-party alliance. He also said that Nepali Congress, which is led by Koirala, was not in favor of republic set up.