Fernandes reiterates stand
The Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes, today said India could not be compelled by anyone to play a role in resolving the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka and reiterated the country's stand on non- military intervention.

Chaudhry beaten up, collapses
Fiji's ousted Prime Minister, Mr. Mahendra Pal Chaudhry, was beaten and threatened with death today by the self- styled leader of Friday's `coup', Mr. George Speight, who declared himself Prime Minister. Later, Mr. Chaudhry collapsed, according to the Labour Party president, Ms. Jokapeci Koroi.

Chandrika willing to talk with LTTE
Even as the President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga, said she was ready for talks with the LTTE provided the militant outfit laid down arms and eschew violence, the army commander in Jaffna said the troops were determined to fight the LTTE and would not vacate the town.

Make the Union more federal: CMs
The sixth meeting of the Inter-State Council here today witnessed differences between the Centre and the states over the administrative and financial contents of the federal structure.

Indian cricket clean: Muthiah
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president, Mr. A. C. Muthiah, today gave a clean chit to the game in the country, saying, ``I don't believe there is any match-fixing.''

PM's intervention ends stalemate in Bengal
The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, today stepped in to help resolve the differences between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Trinamool Congress over seat- sharing in the civic polls of Calcutta and other parts of West Bengal.

Sonia doing a good job, says Manmohan
Close on the heels of the scathing attack on the Congress leadership by some leaders, the senior party leader, Dr. Manmohan Singh, today came out in strong support of Ms. Sonia Gandhi saying she was doing a ``very good job under difficult conditions'' and the party could bounce back to power under her stewardship.

15 killed in Tripura
Fifteen persons, including two women and a child, were killed and 13 injured, in separate incidents of violence, in Tripura since last evening. Curfew was imposed for an indefinite period and shoot-at-sight orders issued in some parts of west Tripura district.

We'll fight to the finish, says Sri Lankan General
The overall commander of the security forces in northern Sri Lanka said today his troops in the embattled Jaffna peninsula were determined to fight it out ``to the last man''.