KENYA: Violen ce in the wake of Kenya's disputed presidential elections has left scores dead as the opposition candidate prepared today (Monday) to declare himself head of state, rejecting the official victory of President Mwai Kibaki. Kenyan police have fired tear gas and shots into the air to disperse rallying protesters. Security forces have flooded the streets, and the government has ordered a media blackout.
THAILAND POLITICS: Allies of ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra say they have enough parliamentary seats to form a coalition government. Officials in the People's Power Party said today (Monday) that the coalition would have more than 250 seats in the 480-seat lower house, after three minority parties agreed to join their government. The PPP captured 233 seats in the lower house in elections December 23rd. The Democratic Party was second in the poll with 165 seats, but has refused to join a PPP-led government.
U.S-NORTH KOREA: Th e United States and Japan are expressing regret that North Korea is breaking a key promise made in a pact to end its nuclear weapons program. Pyongyang appeared certain today (Monday) to miss an end-of-year deadline to disable a key nuclear reactor and declare all its nuclear programs. In a statement Sunday, the U.S. State Department said the situation is "unfortunate," but that Washington will continue to work with Japan, South Korea, China and Russia, to urge Pyongyang to meet its commitments.
NEPAL POL: Five former Maoist rebels will be sworn in as government ministers in Nepal today (Monday), ending three months of political deadlock. The Maoists bolted from the interim government in September after demanding election reform and an immediate end to the monarchy.
Audio in Lao.