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Voters hand ruling party a setback

By Times Wires
Published March 9, 2008

MALAYSIA

Malaysia's ruling coalition on Saturday suffered its biggest electoral upset ever, losing control of four state governments and more than one-third of Parliament in a show of frustration by voters over racial tensions, crime and corruption.

It was a humiliating outcome for the National Front coalition, which has governed Malaysia since independence from Britain in 1957, and raised questions about the political future of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The coalition failed to win a two-thirds majority in Parliament for the first time since 1969. Instead it had to be satisfied with a simple majority.

Anger among ethnic Indians and Chinese over religious disputes and a system of economic preferences for the Malays, the majority ethnic group, appeared to play a major role in the vote.

CUBA

Chavez, Fidel Castro chat it up during visit

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez paid a visit to his close friend Fidel Castro on Saturday, making his first trip to Cuba since the ailing 81-year-old was replaced as president by his younger brother Raul on Feb. 24.

"I talked for a long time with Chavez today," Fidel Castro said in a statement. Before returning to Venezuela on Saturday, Chavez told Cuban state television than he found Castro "happy, splendid and full of ideas."

Chavez also met with Raul Castro, Cuban officials said.

CHINA

Human rights lawyer free after questioning

A prominent human rights lawyer was released Saturday after two days of police detention.

Teng Biao, 34, said police questioned him about articles calling for an independent and fair legal system that he has written for his blog and overseas Chinese Web sites. China's Communist Party controls the judiciary, which routinely imprisons dissidents after convicting them in secret trials.

Teng has defended dissidents and been an outspoken critic of human rights abuses in China, especially as international scrutiny has increased ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games.

RUSSIA

Putin says successor no easier to deal with

President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that the West should not expect relations with Russia to be any easier under his newly elected successor, who is "no less of a Russian nationalist" than Putin.

Putin said many observers view Dmitry Medvedev as a more liberal politician and hope Medvedev's presidency will help ease strained relations between Moscow and the West.

"Some of our partners can't wait to see me stop fulfilling my duties so that they could deal with another man," Putin said at a news conference after talks with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel. "But (Medvedev) is no less of a Russian nationalist - in a positive way - than me. And I don't think it will be easier for our partners to deal with him."

Elsewhere

Britain: Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher spent the night in a London hospital for medical checks after feeling faint and returned home Saturday.

Armenia: A court on Saturday rejected an opposition candidate's appeal of the presidential election, the outcome of which has led to deadly clashes between protesters and police.

Times wires

[Last modified March 9, 2008, 00:36:53]