Forming an alternative Govt not easy: PM
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee yesterday attempted to dispel doubts about the longevity and stability of his government, saying it would survive because an alternative was difficult to form. In his first interview to Doordarshan after assuming office, he also claimed that the nuclear tests had not affected the nation's relations with China or Pakistan.

Jaya may avoid sharing dais with Atal at DMK rally
All India Anna DMK (AIADMK) general secretary J Jayalalitha is likely to skip the September 15 Marumalarchi DMK rally in Chennai to be addressed by, among others, Prime Minister A B Vajpayee and Union home minister L K Advani, as she is scheduled to address a public meeting organised by her party at Tiruchirapalli on the same day.

Islamic law to be supreme in Pakistan: Sharif
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif yesterday said his government was proposing a constitutional amendment that would make the Koran (the sacred book of Muslims) and Sunnah (the sayings of Prophet Mohammad) the ``supreme law of the land.'' Sharif made this announcement during an address to Parliament amid protests from the opposition benches.

Letters to the editor

LEISURE
  1975 or 1977? Take your pick, Mumbai
  Jaya may avoid sharing dais with Atal at DMK rally

SPORTS
  Sir Don honours Tiny Ten with a `bonzer' medal
  Crawley gives Lanka the creeps

EXPRESSIONS
  The dangerous dead end
  Nairobi bombing suspect indicted

BUSINESS
  MUL suffers 25% drop in exports
  Warriors and thinkers

GENERAL
  Indo-China talks on Kailash route
  Presumed Guilty: Docs In The Dock

POLITICS
  Forming an alternative Govt not easy: PM
  Asian markets crash again