PAKISTAN: Pakistan's slain former Prime Minister and opposition leader Benazir Bhutto has been buried at her family mausoleum in southern Sindh province. Hundreds of thousands of mourners lined up the route of the funeral procession as the closed coffin draped with the (green, red and black) flag of her Pakistan People's Party was brought to the burial site. Ms. Bhutto's body was placed in the final resting place next to her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Ms. Bhutto was assassinated Thursday in Rawalpindi as she left a political rally -- part of her campaign for parliamentary elections set for January 8th.
PAKISTAN - VIOLENCE: Pakistani authorities say at least 16 people have been killed in violence that flared across the country since Thursday, as angry supporters of slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto continue to protest her assassination. In the northwestern city of Peshawar, more than one-thousand protesters marched through the streets today and then ransacked and set on fire the office of a party that supports President Pervez Musharraf. In nearby Swat Valley, several people were killed in an explosion that rocked an election meeting of Mr. Musharraf's party.
PAKISTAN REACT: World leaders are expressing outrage at the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto. U.S. President George Bush condemned Thursday's attack as a "cowardly act" by murderous extremists and urged Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to keep the country on a democratic path. He later called the Pakistani leader to express U.S. condolences. U. S. officials also urged Pakistan to go forward with January parliamentary elections. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called Ms. Bhutto's death a blow to the democratic process in Pakistan.
CHINA - JAPAN: Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and his Chinese counterpart, Wen Jiabao, are holding talks in China, the latest effort by the Asian rivals and World War Two foes to boost ties and mend relations. Before meeting at Beijing's Great Hall of the People today, Mr. Fukuda expressed Japan's hope to work with China to create a future for Asia and the world. Mr. Wen said the two countries have entered a crucial period to further improve and advance ties. The two leaders are expected to discuss an ongoing dispute over oil and gas exploration rights in the East China Sea, North Korea and other issues including climate change.
TAIWAN - POL: Taiwan's High Court has cleared opposition presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou of corruption and breach of trust charges just months before the island's general elections. In an appeals ruling today, the court found Ma not guilty of misusing 344-thousand dollars while he served as Taipei mayor (from 1998 to 2006). The court also found him not guilty of breach of trust. The judgment upholds a lower court's ruling from August. After hearing the verdict, a crowd of Ma's supporters cheered and waved flags outside the courthouse in Taipei.
SOKOR - US - IRAQ: The South Korean parliament has voted to extend the deployment of troops in Iraq for another year, but has decided to halve the country's contingent to about 650 non-combat soldiers. Today's vote was approved with the support of 146 South Korean lawmakers, and opposed by 104 others. Six lawmakers abstained and 42 did not show up for the vote. Outgoing President Roh Moo-hyun called for the extension, saying South Korea needs to keep troops in Iraq to show its support for the United States.
KENYA - ELECTIONS: Vote-counting is under way in Kenya following presidential and parliamentary elections, and the first official results are expected later today. About 14 million Kenyans were eligible to cast ballots Thursday in a close presidential race between the incumbent, Mwai Kibaki, and his main challenger, Raila Odinga. Witnesses say voter turnout appeared to be high, but no official figures have been released. According to unofficial returns announced on Kenyan television, Odinga is holding a commanding lead over Mr. Kibaki.
Listen to our World News for details.