World at a glance

POERTSCHACH (AUSTRIA): THE British and Spanish Prime Ministers have said that the fate of former Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet is in the hands of their judicial authorities and that they will not interfere. ``Both myself and Mr Aznar agree that this is not a matter for us to discuss,'' British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Sunday, referring to Spanish leader Jose Maria Aznar. ``I've avoided commenting on that judicial process and I don't intend to do so.'' Aznar made similar comments on the margins of an EU summit here. Pinochet is under arrest in a London hospital where he had gone for back surgery. He was detained on a warrant from a Spanish magistrate seeking to extradite him on charges of genocide, terrorism and torture during his 1973-90 rule. The Chilean government has urged Britain to release Pinochet on humanitarian grounds.

RIO DE JANEIRO: With a harsh austerity package to be unveiled this week, voters have elected a key ally of President Fernando Henrique Cardoso inBrazil's most important state, official results showed. With 96 per cent of the vote counted yesterday, Sao Paulo state governor, Mario Covas, was the apparent winner with 56 per cent of the vote. Two-time former governor, Paulo Maluf, had 44 per cent. The race in Sao Paulo, Brazil's wealthiest and most populous state, was the most closely watched of the gubernatorial runoff elections in 12 states and the federal district. The support for Covas, a frugal administrator and friend of Cardoso, is a tremendous boost for the president, who is trying to rescue Brazil from the global financial crisis.

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