Quicktakes

US may attack Iraq

WASHINGTON: US President Bill Clinton and top military officials have concluded that a military strike against Iraq is likely within a few weeks unless Baghdad stops quot;interferingquot; in the work of UN weapons inspectors, media reports here said today. Officials said Clinton had little hopes of a breakthrough unless the US naval and air forces were put on a countdown to military intervention and allied governments notified about the imminent strike.

Konkan Railway

MUMBAI: The Konkan Railway link cutting across the Western Coast is finally complete with the total project cost mounting to Rs 3,370-cr. After too many hiccups, Konkan Railway engineers removed the last hurdle by completing the Pernem tunnel in North Goa opening up the 760-km-long rail link between Roha and Mangalore. On January 26, a DMU train would wind its way between Ratnagiri in Maharashtra and Karwar in Karnataka.

Sonia decision

AMETHI: Former union minister captain Satish Sharma has said that Sonia Gandhi will decide within the next two days whether she or any other member of the family would contest the Lok Sabha election from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. Talking to newspersons at Gauriganj here, Capt Sharma said that Congress workers of Amethi were awaiting Sonia Gandhi8217;s decision.