ISLAMABAD: The chief of the 16-party opposition alliance in Pakistan quit abruptly following serious differences with former premier Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) over the group's future agenda. Allama Tahirul Qadri resigned on Sunday as head of the Pakistan Awami Ittehad (PAI) blaming Benazir's party of not even accepting even half of PAI's 14-point programme, making way for Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan as the next chief. A serious difference of opinion has cropped up between the PAI and PPP, Qadri told mediapersons shortly after resigning, over a host of issues including Islamisation, Indo-Pak ties, Kashmir, the nuclear issue and corruption. In an obvious reference to Benazir, Qadri said he would never accept the leadership of a woman, and urged the PIA, set up last year to oust Premier Nawaz Sharif, to defer its anti-Sharif campaign till a national agenda was finalised.

Speeding towards sainthood

VATICAN CITY: Pope John Paul II has granted aspecial dispensation from Catholic Church rules that will allow Mother Teresa to be put on the fast track towards eventual sainthood, the Vatican said on Monday. Church rules call for five years to pass after a person dies before the bureaucratic procedure that can lead to sainthood can begin. A Vatican statement said the Pope had dispensed with this regulation for Mother Teresa, who died on September 5, 1997.

Obasanjo in the headlines

LAGOS: Nigeria's press on Monday blazed with headlines declaring the victory of former military ruler Olusegun Obasanjo in a key presidential election, relegating claims of fraud to less prominent places. ``Obasanjo in clear lead for presidency,'' trumpeted the independent newspaper The Guardian in a headline splashed across the front page, ahead of an official announcement on the winner of the poll. Tucked away in the lower lefthand corner, The Guardian, considered almost a paper of record in Nigeria, noted the protests by supporters of the contender defeated onreleased results, ex-finance minister Olu Falae. ``Falae's agents withdraw from centre, allege unrealistic figure,'' it said.

Anwar assailant `lost his cool'

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's former police chief had to be restrained by two other officers when he beat up ousted deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim after his arrest last year, according to an inquiry into the assault heard on Monday. The Royal Commission of Inquiry also heard that the video camera monitoring Anwar's cell was not working at the time of the attack. Abdul Rahim Noor, who was then inspector-general of the Malaysian police force, admitted through his lawyer on Sunday that he ``lost his cool'' and assaulted Anwar on the night of his September 20 arrest.