Briefly World

Nepali Congress to withdraw Poudyal

KATHMANDU: An end to the over six-month deadlock in Nepal appeared to be in sight as Deputy Prime Minister Sujata Koirala Wednesday said that Nepali Congress will withdraw R C Poudyal,the sole candidate in the 17th run-off poll for a new Prime Minister. Nepali Congress should be prepared to join government under the leadership of other parties if it is not possible to form a new government under its leadership, Koirala said.

Russia blames Polish crew for air crash

MOSCOW: The Russian Interstate Aviation Committee investigating the plane crash that killed Polish President Lech Kaczynski placed the blame squarely on the Poles on Wednesday. It said the crew was pressured to land in bad weather by an air force commander who had been drinking.

Brisbane floods: 20,000 homes hit

BRISBANE: Emergency sirens blared across Brisbane Wednesday as floodwaters that have torn a deadly path across the northeast poured into an empty downtown. The surging waters reached the tops of traffic lights in some parts of Brisbane,and the citys mayor said at least 20,000 homes were in danger of being inundated.

Arizona shooting suspects family expresses sorrow

The family of accused gunman Jared Lee Loughner expressed sorrow on Tuesday for his actions that included shooting at US congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

In their first statement,Loughners relatives said,There are no words that possibly express how we feel. We wish there were.

Meanwhile,Sarah Palin slammed as blood libel charges that overheated political rhetoric contributed to the shooting in Arizona. Especially within hours of a tragedy unfolding,journalists8230; should not manufacture a blood libel that serves only to incite the very hatred and violence they purport to condemn, she said.