Washington, September 7
President Barack Obama today told his war-weary country that America needs to use limited military force in Syria to deter future chemical weapons attacks, but said he did not want to enter into another costly and protracted war. “This would not be another Iraq or Afghanistan,” Obama said in his weekly radio and internet address, previewing arguments he will make in a nationally televised address on Tuesday.

“Any action we take would be limited, both in time and scope — designed to deter the Syrian government from gassing its own people again and degrade its ability to do so,” Obama said. A week ago, Obama said he felt limited strikes in Syria were needed, but added he wanted to ask the Congress to authorise the use of military force. Neither Democratic nor Republican lawmakers have been enthused about the prospect, partly because Americans strongly oppose getting involved in another Middle Eastern conflict.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll on Tuesday said 56 per cent of Americans believed the US should not intervene, while only 19 per cent supported action. "I know that the American people are weary after a decade of war, even as the war in Iraq has ended, and the war in Afghanistan is winding down. That's why we're not putting our troops in the middle of somebody else's war," Obama said in his recorded address.

Obama and his top officials plan an intensive lobbying effort on Capitol Hill next week, scheduling meetings with undecided lawmakers.

Obama said failing to respond to the August 21 attack that Washington blames on President Bashar al-Assad’s government and that killed hundreds of children and more than 1,400 persons in total, would threaten US national security by increasing the chance of future chemical attacks from the Syrian government, terrorist groups, or other nations. “We are the United States of America. We cannot turn a blind eye to images like the ones we've seen out of Syria,” he said. — Reuters

Melbourne, September 7
Australia’s Conservative challenger Tony Abbott was swept to power today with a thumping mandate for his coalition in national polls, as Prime Minister Kevin Rudd conceded defeat, ending Labour Party’s six-year rule.

With 88 per cent of the vote counted, the Australian Electoral Commission said Abbott]s Liberal/National coalition was heading for a landslide win, leading in 89 seats in the 150-strong House of Representatives, to Labour’s 56.

“I declare that Australia is under new management and is once again open for business,” 55-year-old Abbott told cheering supporters in Sydney.

“I now look forward to forming a government that is competent, that is trustworthy....I can inform you that the government of Australia has changed. For just the seventh time in 60 years the government of Australia has changed. “I can inform you that the Australian Labor Party vote is at the lowest level in more than 100 years,” Abbott, a former trainee Catholic priest, boxing enthusiast and monarchist, said.

The Prime Minister-elect said that in a “week or so” Governor-General Quentin Bryce would swear in the new government.

The dramatic change of fortune for 55-year-old Rudd came months after he ousted Julia Gillard as the Prime Minister and Labour leader.

Rudd had called for elections after defeating Gillard in a leadership challenge in June, amid dismal polling figures that showed Labor on course for a wipe-out.

Earlier, outgoing Prime Minister Rudd conceded defeat and announced that he would not re-contest the leadership of the Labor Party, saying it was "time for renewal". — PTI

Male, September 7
Former President Mohamed Nasheed was tonight ahead in the first round of the Maldives' presidential election but may fall short of the crucial 50 per cent mark by a whisker, raising the prospect of a run-off between the top two candidates.

The Election Commission announced results from 315 of the total of 470 ballot boxes. Forty-five-year-old Nasheed secured 45 per cent of the votes while President Mohamed Waheed got about 8 per cent votes.

"The results from 315 ballot boxes have come... 45 per cent of votes have gone to Mohammed Nasheed, who is the highest scorer, 26 per cent has gone to Progressive Party of Maldives candidate (Abdullah Yamee) and 24 to Jumhooree Party candidate (Gasim Ibrahim)," President of Election Commission Fuwad Taufeek said. "Waheed has got about 8 per cent," he told a press conference.

Taufeek said none of the candidates has got more than 50 per cent of the votes.

Under the country's election laws, if none of the candidates get more than 50 per cent of the vote, a run-off will take place between the top two candidates.

A run-off could see Nasheed contesting against Gasim Ibrahim or Abdullah Yameen.

India has been engaging with both the candidates — Nasheed and Yameen — who are likely to contest for the second round, much before the elections.

Both the leaders had recently visited New Delhi and met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assuring full support, sources said here. Former President Abdul Gayoom and brother of Yameen had also visited New Delhi in June.

India, which shares close ties with the archipelago nation, is of the view that multi-party democracy is in a very nascent stage and should be given time to deepen its roots here, they said.

The second round of elections is scheduled for September 28 and the new President has to take charge by November 11.

Polling was peaceful barring one minor incident at Dhiggaru island on Meemu atoll. — PTI

Islamabad, September 7
Pakistan has assured the International Monetary Fund that it was moving forward with eliminating the negative list on trade with New Delhi and granting the most favoured nation status to India as part of its overall trade policy, a media report said today.

"We are moving forward with eliminating the negative list on trade with India and extending India most favoured nation status, and shifting to ‘sensitive list’ under SAFTA regime to facilitate increased regional trade," Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said.

The minister said this in a written assurance to the IMF during negotiations for recently approved $6.64 billion economic bailout package, The Dawn daily said. The PPP government had decided in March last year to switch over from positive list of about 1,900 tradable items to a negative list of about 1,206 items, thereby allowing about 5,000 items to be traded between the two countries.

The PPP government's assurance on December 31 last year that it would grant MFN status to India by doing away with the negative list has not materialised. Earlier in an interview to state-run PTV, Dar had said that granting of MFN status to India is not on the table "for the time being". — PTI

London, September 7
The UK has relaxed its immigration rules giving greater flexibility to students and businesses that employ and sponsor international migrants, a move likely to benefit Indians.

According to the new rules, visitors to the UK will be allowed a short period of study or training as part of their stay.

Multinational firms will be able to bring their own auditors to the UK on business visitor visas. Business visitors will also be able to do a short course of study while they are here.

The changes, announced yesterday, will make the UK more attractive to international students by allowing them to take up corporate internships after completing their degree and making it easier for graduate entrepreneurs to take up skilled jobs, an official statement said.

The British Home Office also made changes to the Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) visa system to enable employees to extend their stay without having to take a language test.

“The UK is open for business: we are building an immigration system that works in the national interest and supports growth,” Immigration Minister Mark Harper said. — PTI