Briefly World

Maliki leads in early Baghdad vote count

Baghdad: A coalition led by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was winning in the all-important capital,according to a partial tally of results released on Saturday. If the trend continues,the vote tallies would be a substantial boost to al-Maliki and his chances to regain the Prime Ministers office. Baghdad accounts for 70 of the Parliaments 325 seats and would go a long way toward deciding who will be tasked with forming a government which will oversee the country as US forces go home.

Anti-govt protesters head for Bangkok

Bangkok: Thousands of red-shirted,anti-government demonstrators converged on the Thai capital from the north and northeast of Saturday,vowing to oust the government in a mass,do-or-die display of muscle. The million-man march,which is to climax on Sunday,is regarded by some as the last chance for ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to return to Thailand.

Kissinger in Seoul hospital: Official

Seoul: Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger was admitted to hospital in the South Korean capital Seoul on Saturday with what an official called a minor stomach problem. Kissinger,86,came to Seoul on Wednesday to speak at a security forum and met President Lee Myung-Bak on Friday. He was admitted to Severance Hospital in the north of the city after complaining about stomach pain,Yonhap news agency reported.

Prabhakarans ailing mother may visit India

Colombo: Slain LTTE Supremo Velupillai Prabhakarans ailing mother could be sent to Tamil Nadu for treatment,if the Indian government grants permission,a distant relative of the family and the rebel Tamil National Alliance leader M K Sivajilingam said here on Saturday. We are considering sending Prabhakarans mother Parvathi Velupillai to Tamil Nadu for medical treatment if granted permission,even as arrangements are being made to send her to Canada to live with her daughter, Sivajilingam said.

Imran Khan now on Twitter

Islamabad: Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan has made his debut on Twitter only to be booed by fellow Pakistanis,who called him a failed politician and a Taliban supporter. Khans entry into the Twitter world was announced on Friday by his ex-wife Jemima Khan. For the Pakistani contingent Imran is now on twitter and will be tweeting daily, wrote Jemima. Within minutes of Jemimas tweet,Pakistani twitterers got into action. Mehmal Sarfraz,a senior journalist,posted: Oh my god! He was the only ***** missing! A member going by the name FiveRupees wrote: Oh God. Check out who just joined twitter…I also love that hes following Jemima Khan. Presumably Hugh Grant is next.

Brunis affair on Simpsons

London: After reports of French President Nicolas Sarkozy and first lady Carla Bruni cheating on each other,she will be seen having an affair in a cheeky episode of The Simpsons. In the latest episode of the American animated television sitcom The Simpsons,she will be seen having a fling with Homers workmate Carl Carlson when he visits Paris,The Sun reported online.