Conservatives won Monday's parliamentary elections in Canada, ending 12 years of Liberal rule. They were 33 seats short of the required majority, so the conservatives will have to seek an alliance with other political movements. In the 308-seat parliament, 122 seats went to conservatives, 103 to liberals. The new cabinet will most likely be headed by Conservative leader Stephen Harper, 46.

Putin and Lukashenko promise a better life for the union of Russian and Belarusian citizens Yesterday, as has been happening more and more often lately, St. Petersburg again became the capital.

Most of the victims are children and teenagers One of the largest tragedies in the entire history of this small republic occurred in Montenegro. On Monday evening, 15 kilometers from the capital of the republic, Podgorica, a passenger train traveling from Bijelo Polje to Bar derailed at a bend. Four carriages fell from a cliff several tens of meters high into the valley of the Moraca River.

Swiss senator and member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Dick Marty presented yesterday to the PACE session in Strasbourg the results of his preliminary investigation into reports of secret CIA prisons in Europe. The speaker calls the activities of the CIA contrary to the norms of the rule of law.

Manufacturers of counterfeit alcohol convicted in Belarus A criminal group of nine people involved in the production of alcoholic beverages from non-food mixtures has been convicted in Belarus. The investigation into this case was carried out by the Belarusian special services jointly with the Russian FSB. The business scheme was as follows.

The Tribunal shuffles its chairmen Yesterday's eighth hearing of the trial of Saddam Hussein and seven of his associates was postponed until Sunday due to the "non-appearance of witnesses." The head of the legal team, Khalil al-Duleimi, called this explanation “a cover for the chaos reigning in the court and the manipulation of politicians with the tribunal, funded by the Americans.” Indeed, on the eve of the meeting, a representative of the tribunal boldly asserted that the process would go

Islamists give Palestinians a choice The Palestinian Authority, home to more than 3.6 million people, is holding its second parliamentary elections since its existence. The intrigue began immediately after the Islamic Resistance Movement (HAMAS) announced its desire to compete for power last year. Since Islamists are popular, this decision alarmed the Palestinian leadership. The Israelis were so worried that they asked the United States to intervene.

On Monday, Viktor Yushchenko addressed the people on the occasion of the anniversary of his inauguration in the Rada. He credited the authorities with freedom of speech and the transformation of Ukraine into a predictable international partner.

Kuwaiti parliamentarians yesterday voted at an emergency meeting to remove 76-year-old Emir Sheikh Saad al-Salem al-Sabah ( pictured ) from power. He lasted just over a week on the throne, which he received by right of succession after the death of Emir Jaber on January 15. It is noteworthy that the deceased was the thirteenth in the al-Sabah dynasty, which ruled for about 250 years. The reason for the removal is Sheikh Saad's very poor health.