Abbas victor of Palestinian election
Ramallah, West Bank
Mahmoud Abbas, officially declared the winner of the Palestinian presidential election with 62 percent of the vote, faces the challenges of ending an armed uprising that many of his people support, reviving peace talks with Israel and reforming a government rife with corruption.
Abbas said Monday his side was ready to resume talks based on the internationally backed peace plan known as the oad map.'
The 69-year-old Abbas has set out a broad agenda for the coming weeks, aides said Monday. ""Continuing this democratic process is the first thing on his mind,' Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath said.
Abbas will need to quickly begin talks with the Islamic Resistance Movement, known as Hamas, and other radical groups, Shaath said, to ""reassess whether they will agree to a cease-fire and pursuing a peace process.'
-Los Angeles Times-Washington Post news service
Areas of Iraq unfit for upcoming elections
Baghdad, Iraq
Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi acknowledged Tuesday that parts of Iraq are too lawless to take part in the upcoming national election.
Preparations for the landmark vote have deteriorated in several areas as some election officials have resigned under threat.
""Certainly, there will be some pockets that will not be able to participate,' Allawi said, ""but we think that it will not be widespread.'
Allawi's admission echoed statements made earlier by U.S. military leaders.
Allawi said Tuesday that the Iraqi government would spend $2.2 billion to bolster its security forces, expanding the army from 100,000 to 150,000 troops and upgrading its weaponry.
U.S. and Iraqi officials expect a barrage of attacks in the next 18 days as insurgents attempt to disrupt the election.
-Los Angeles Times-Washington Post news service
Falk unopposed for third Dane Cty. exec. term
Madison, Wis.
Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk will run unopposed for her third consecutive term.
Falk has been involved in three public office elections and will not have an opponent for the first time in her career because any competition failed to file nomination papers before Tuesday's 5 p.m. deadline.
Falk was first elected Dane County Executive in 1997, beating David Blaska by fewer than 5,000 votes. She was then re-elected in 2001, defeating David Wiganowsky by more than 30,000 votes. Falk's only loss was the Democratic primary in the 2002 governor's election, in which she placed third.
-Wisconsin State Journal
