Pranab Mukherjee's daughter Sharmistha today said she preferred her father becoming the President rather than the Prime Minister, as he would get some rest in his new role.
 
Citing the responsibilities which he shoulders currently for the UPA government, Sharmishtha said, "For me personally, it is far better becoming the prime minister, because he will be having some rest hopefully."

"Yes, as a daughter, I would prefer him as a President," she said, when asked if she prefers her father being the President than the prime minister.

"But the kind of pace he is going on...the kind of multiple responsibilities which he has been continuing over the years. It is not easy for a 76-year-old man to do that. As a President, as a daughter, I'll be happier," she said.

On Pranab becoming the UPA candidate for President, she said, "obviously, it is a moment of celebration. We are really happy and very proud...It (President's post) has been offered to him and we are really proud. I think he deserves it."

Pranab's wife Suvra Mukherjee said, "I am very happy. He is a very nice person. If it is written here (forehead), it will happen."

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today called up Telanganha Rashtra Samithi president K Chandrasekhar Rao and sought his party's support for UPA's Presidential nominee Pranab Mukherjee.

 
"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today congratulated KCR (K Chandrasekhar Rao) on the TRS victory in Parkal assembly bypoll. PM urged TRS to support UPA's Presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee," TRS sources said.

 
When contacted for his response, TRS MLA and Chandrasekhar Rao's son K T Rama Rao said he felt that there may not be a contest at all for the post of President.

Describing Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee as the "most suitable" presidential candidate for his track-record and multi-dimensional personality, DMK chief M Karunanidhi today said his victory was a "foregone conclusion."

   
"I am personally happy because of our decades-old association and your love and affection for Tamils. On behalf of DMK, I wish you a very bright success. Your victory for the top post is a foregone conclusion," he said in a letter to Mukherjee after his nomination was officially announced by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Extending his "hearty congratulations," Karunanidhi described Mukherjee as the "most suitable candidate because of your long track record and multi-dimensional personality."

  
In a separate letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, the DMK leader said he was happy over Mukherjee's nomination.

    
Karunanidhi said Mukherjee has a long and varied experience in administration.

UPA Presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee today sought the support of Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee in the July 19 elections describing her as a "valued colleague" and his "sister".

"I also seek the support of Mamata Banerjee because she is like my sister...a valued colleague," Mukherjee told reporters when asked whether his appeal to political parties to back his candidature included Banerjee's Trinamool Congress.

 
Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) V Narayanasamy, who met Mukherjee at his office, said "my appeal to Mamata Banerjee is to give her support to Pranab Mukherjee. I hope she will support."

So Pranab Mukherjee appears set to be the next President with his candidature announced today by the ruling UPA and endorsed swiftly by supporting parties SP and BSP amid indications that he will gather more support ahead.

The 77-year-old vetran Congress leader, currently Finance Minister with 43 years of parliamentary experience, was named by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi at a meeting of the leaders of the Congress and the alliance partners, including DMK, RLD, NCP, NC and IUML. 

Within minutes, SP, which had joined hands with TMC leader Mamata Banerjee to propose the name of A P J Abdul Kalam for the post, broke away and pledged support to Mukherjee, leaving the West Bengal Chief Minister totally isolated.

This was followed by another major Uttar Pradesh party BSP, whose supremo Mayawati also extended her support, which will take Mukherjee close to the required vote value of 5.49 lakh in an electoral college consisting of MPs and MLAs with a total vote value of 10.98 lakh. Even counting out TMC, which has a vote value of 48,000, Mukherjee is short of just about 26,000 vote value which is expected to be made up by other parties that may include the Left.

Our sources in Delhi tells us that the UPA has fielded MIM chief A Owaisi to go after APJ Abdul Kalam for his 'hunger' for re-entering Rashtrapati Bhavan.

-- T R Baalu was seen to be overenthusiastic during the UPA meeting, after he place ceremonial shawls around Sonia Gandhi, Pranab Mukherjee and the PM. Watch 

-- Buzz is that the Trinamool Congress will withdraw its Union Ministers, but continue to support the UPA from outside. But even in the of Mamata Banerjee going to President to withdraw support of her 19 MPs, there will not be any impact on the UPA2 government.

The other big story is that the All India Tennis Association today selected Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi for the men's doubles event at the London Olympics, rejecting the latter's insistence on being paired with Rohan Bopanna  in the mega-event next month. Read

Also read: Why nobody want to play with Paes.

@joybhattacharj Pranab babu has got the ideal job for any Bengali 'bhadralok'. Great title, huge house, lots of perks and no real power or responsibility  

@sardesairajdeep Mohandas Pai to CNN IBN: corporate India wanted Pranab Mukherjee out! Honest confession! 

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is all set to attend the G-20 meet in Mexico and Rio+20 summit in Brazil, but many of his colleagues are questioning his absence from the country at such a crucial time. A senior Congress leader told rediff.com, "If I was advisor to Dr Singh I would have requested him to cancel his visit."

Read Sheela Bhatt's piece on Rediff.com

Writing for rediff.com earlier this week, Sheela Bhatt listed the UPA's presidential nominee's plus points thus: In the political world of New Delhi where mediocrity is becoming the norm, Pranab is respected because he knows contemporary history, he is above petty verbal debates and is a leader who can give very valuable reference to context to help solve current problems. He has done it all and seen it all.

He is more of a nationalist and less of Bengali. He is politically savvy, socialist, wise and stable. On many vital issues he is non-committal, on some issues he is centrist, he can navigate difficult waters and digest success without boasting.

Read more

SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav addressing a press conference now says the names given with the TMC were only "suggestions". He said the decision to go with Pranab Mukherjee came because he was the most suitable among all the candidates. He said the SP would not join the government .

Mulayam said in politics developments takes place and things change. There is no constant in politics.

Meanwhile, MOS Narayanswamy says he urges Mamata Banerjee to reconsider her decision.

YSR Congress's Jagan Mohan Reddy with 20 MLAs and 2MPs is likely to support Pranab Mukherjee. Jagan decimated the Congress today in the AP by-polls. Read

Meanwhile, Pranab Mukherjee's wife can't stop smiling when some reporter asks her for reactions that her "pati will now be rashtrapati".

Pranab Mukherjee chatting with AK Antony, Rajiv Shukla, TR Baalu, MV Narayanaswamy inside the gates of 7 RCR.

Pranab Mukheree now addressing a press meet outside 7RCR.

He said he is deeply honoured to be named as the UPA candidate as the president. "I am grateful to Sonia Gandhi for her support and the  nomination and I accept the offer with all humility.

"I  have been fortunate to receive the love and affection and confidence of my party colleagues, members and leaders of other politcial parties. I will again seek their indulgence and support over the next few weeks. We have requested all parties to support us," says a beaming Pranab Mukheree.

When asked how the Congress would manage without him he said, "I am not the repository of all knowlege and expertise. The PM himself is an eminent economist."   

The BJP may back Pranab if Kalam opts out. The JD(U) which does not want Kalam says the final decision on the NDA candidate will be taken soon.

BSP chief Mayawati says the party will support Pranab Mukherjee. She said Sonia Gandhi and the PM had called her about Pranab's candidature. She says the BSP does not agree with the UPA's policies, but keeping in mind the larger interest of the nation, the BSP has agreed to go with the UPA choice of nominee. She says among all the names that have been proposed, Pranab Mukherjee's name is the best suited for president.   

BJP's Shahnawaz Hussain says the PM called Sushma Swaraj to inform her of Pranab Mukherjee's candidature. The NDA will convene its meeting any time now to decide its nominee or whether it will go with the UPA.

Sonia Gandhi called up Lalu Prasad Yadav about Pranab Mukherjee as the nominee. The RJD chief has always maintained that he would go with whoever Sonia Gandhi nominated.

TMC's Dinesh Trivedi speaking to CNN IBN says he wishes Pranab Mukherjee the very best and says he deserves to be president. Trivedi says Mamata lost out on the opportunity to arrive at a consensus candidate.

Omar Abdullah @abdullah_omar And finally before I take off back to Srinagar a final thought - how on earth will Mamata explain opposing a Bengali for President?  

Omar Abdullah '@abdullah_omar For what it's worth I hope former President #Kalam does not fall prey to the petty politics being played out. I hope he doesn't contest.

Ram Gopal Yadav of the Samajwadi Party has said the party will support Pranab Mukherjee as the presidential candidate.

Congress spokesperson Janardan Dwivedi speaking to the press right now.

Kunal Ghosh says that the TMC was willing to go it alone -- quoting from Rabindranath Tagore's akla cholo re -- but it would stay with Kalam as its candidate.

The BJD which had proposed PA Sangam as its candidate says they believe he is an exceptional candidate, but will now wait for the NDA to decide on its nominee.  

Kunal Ghosh of the TMC says the party will  NOT support Pranab Mukherjee as the presidential candidate. Till now the stance of the SP and TMC remain unchanged, they will not support Pranab. Kalam remains the candidate.

Pradeep Bhattacharya, president of the Bengal Congress, says it is a matter of pride that Pranab Mukherjee has been nominated.

While announcing his candidature Sonia Gandhi says Pranab Mukherjee has almost five decades of public service and a distinguished career which make him an ideal candidate for the post of President. Much bonhomie at the UPA meet. Photo ops begin. 

TV reports say that APJ Kalam is unlikely to contest against Pranab Mukherjee. So the wind taken out of Mamata Banerjee's sail.  

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to be finance minster if Pranab Mukherjee becomes President. Read

That should answer Minissha Lamba's query on Twitter @Minissha_Lamba The question I'm most curious about.. If Shri Pranab M is to be President, then who shall be the next Finance Minister?

The UPA meet on the presidential polls begins. All key players in UPA are present along with Sonia Gandhi and the PM, except of course ally Mamata Banerjee.

Mulayam Singh Yadav, the street fighter that he is, has emerged as a keystone in the polls. He obviously used Mamata's antipathy towards Pranab to go along with her and moot three names, different from the ones suggested by Sonia Gandhi. The idea was to send his own message to an otherwise unheeding Congress party, that they had to take his concerns on board, says rediff.com' Neerja Chowdhury.

Read

The Presidential polls seem to have given the UPA leadership the nerve to openly denounce Mamata Banerjee's conduct, although it took care to keep hopes of reconciliation alive and not burn bridges completely.

Read

We can sort out certain sensitive issues with the Left, we can put aside certain economic reforms, but there will not be day-to-day skirmishes with them, a senior Congress leader tells rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt.

Read

It is at this meet that the UPA is expected to name its candidate, most likely Pranab Mukherjee. When that happens, the NDA and the Left will name their nominees.

Countdown to the UPA presidential candidate begins as Sonia Gandhi reaches the PM's residence at 7 Racecourse Road. Sonia is expected to meet the PM before the meeting begins.

Rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt reports that there is a view within the Congress party to look for common ground with the Left parties and negotiate for their support for the UPA government in remaining two years.

A senior leader from Maharashtra who is close to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi, told rediff.com that the Left party leaders were much better when they supported UPAI  when compared with Mamata Banerjee. The leader said there were differences on ideological issues, but the Left never approached the Congress with a list of demands. They could have got the best of ministries, but they remained outside the government. 

Full report on rediff.com in a bit.  

In the second call to arms in 24 hours, the West Bengal Congress has said that it wants to part ways with Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress in the state. Party sources say they will speak to Congress president Sonia Gandhi on the issue.

The JD(U) leader who spoke to PTI on condition of anonymity also felt that UPA's nominee will have a smooth sail in the Presidential election as a number of parties could be ready to bail out their candidate even if some ally walks out of the alliance.

"No decision is also a decision. A decision has not been taken right now so that a decision can be taken at an opportune time. The message of the NDA meeting today was wait and watch and allow a clear picture to emerge," Yadav said when asked about the outcome of the NDA meeting.

Yadav refused to answer questions whether NDA may agree to support Pranab Mukherjee as a Presidential candidate if there is an attempt by the ruling alliance to seek larger consensus in a quid pro quo for Vice Presidentship going to an
Opposition nominee. "It is imaginary. Let them first take the initiative. Let
them first come out with the name," the JD(U) chief said. 

Pictured: Will Rashtrapati Bhavan be Pranab Mukherjee's new home? 

Asked about the warm reception extended to Kalam by Nitish Kumar in Patna, Yadav said the former President's visit was pre-planned and "there is no need
to look at it from any political prism. No talk on the issue of President happened between them (Kalam and Nitish)." 

There is a view in the party that given their past, any stand by Trinamool Congress or Samajwadi Party cannot be taken as their final one and, hence, NDA "should not get into this mess" till a clear picture emerges. 

A party leader, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that a "too calculated" Kalam is unlikely to agree to contest under the current scenario.

In effect this meant that the NDA meet turned out to be indecisive over supporting APJ Kalam after Sharad Yadav opposed his candidature. In fact, there was no unanimity within the JD(U) itself over supporting Kalam.

JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar is in fact hosting Kalam who is in Patna today. Before the NDA meeting in Delhi began, NDA convenor Sharad Yadav, who is a leader of the JD(U),  said about the names proposed by Mamata and Mulayam, including that of Dr Kalam: "There is no meaning of these names , we are not saying yes or no for these names; we will discuss and decide."

Both Mamata and Mulayam had proposed the former president's name as a candidate, apart from the PM and Somnath Chatterjee's names.

Our sources tell us that the NDA strategy meeting today on the presidential elections was a wait-and-watch. That, of course, is old hat. But what was interesting about the meeting, was the NDA convenor Sharad Yadav's comment to its constituents that they should not back former President APJ Abdul Kalam for President.

Nor should the NDA, he is reported to have remarked, back PA Sangma for the post. Our sources add that it was not a diktat or a recommendation, but merely a passing remark from Yadav.

Will the NDA heed it? Wait and watch.

Sources have told Rediff.com that the Left is likely to support Pranab Mukherjee. The four Left parties are meeting on the issue this evening. "I will not comment on it now. Let the four left parties decide. They will sit in Delhi to decide their course of action in the Presidential election," Bhattacharjee, a CPI(M) politburo member, told reporters today.

UPA's probable Presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee had telephoned him and Left Front chairman Biman Bose yesterday seeking support.

Tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi declines to partner Leander Paes in the Olympics. Rohan Bopanna has declined as well. Bhupathi says he would like to partner Bopanna because they have played together and have a chance to win. The Selectors have however chosen to pair Bhupathi and Paes. Details awaited.

Trinamool MP and sacked railway minister Dinesh Trivedi gets back at Mamata Banerjee saying she cannot eat cake and have it to referring to her being with the UPA but choosing to go against it. Trivedi says that Mamata should go with the UPA consensus candidate and this time, she has gone too far.

Mamata made Trivedi resign as the union railway minister four days after he presented his debut budget for his alleged 'anti-people' policies. Since then they haven't exactly been sipping cha together.

With NCP asking its leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma to opt out of the Presidential race, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC)
today said Chief minister Naveen Patnaik was now "exposed" in the process as he had proposed Sangma's name for the post.

"Naveen Patnaik's immaturity in politics is now exposed," OPCC media cell chairman Narasingha Mishra told reporters here replying a question on Patnaik's role in the Presidential polls. Raising a question on Patnaik and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jaylalithaa's silence over the Presidential polls for the last few couple of days, Mishra said, "As Sangma is not getting his own party's support, it is politically wrong on the part of Patnaik to project him as Presidential candidate," the Congress leader said.

Mulayam Singh to clarify his stand on Pranab Mukherjee and thereby, Mamata Banerjee, shortly. About time.

India's political class has somehow managed to turn the election for president -- a largely ceremonial post with few powers -- into a soap opera with surprising alliances, power plays, dramatic snubs, and some real implications for the stability of the Congress party-led government.

Read on the WSJ

Just in: The Lok Janshakti Party's Ram Vilas Paswan says he will support Pranab Mukherjee's candidature for President.

CPI(M) leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharya says the Left will decide on their candidate after the UPA meet today. The UPA is to meet at 4 pm and officially announce its candidate.

Pranab Mukherjee's nomination is likely to be announced this evening.

The NDA remains non-committal on its nominee. It's wait and watch till the UPA meeting is over.

So 4 pm is the time, stay with us.

Reports say that finance minister Pranab Mukheree is set to resign from the Cabinet on June 24. He is expected to file his nomination papers on June 25, if he in fact becomes the UPA candidate at the meeting today. Sources says he remains the first choice of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. If that happens, Pranab will resign as finance minister on June 24. 

On his part, Pranab Mukherjee has remained tight-lipped about his candidature. He apparently told the media hounding him for a statement on the polls, "Don't torture yourself in the sun. You will be told soon." 

Meanwhile, in the bypolls, the ruling CPI(M) in Tripura today retained the Nalchar Assembly seat in Sipahijala district with its candidate defeating the Congress rival by 4777 votes. 

The seat fell vacant following the death of ruling CPI-M, MLA, Sukumar Burman on March 10.

And of course, Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSR Congress has swept the bypolls in Andhra Pradesh with 13 out of 14 seats.

The decision on whether APJ Kalam will contest has been taken by two people -- PA Sangma and Mamata Banerjee.

When asked about Kalam's candidature, the NCP leader said that he felt that the former President will not enter the fray. "Kalam has been President once. He will not take such a risk," Sangma said.

Mamata on the other hand said reports that Kalam had said he will make the right decision at the right time, were incorrect. She said the Congress was putting "words in the reporters mouths" and that Kalam will contest.

For now, Kalam is lunching with Nitish Kumar in Patna.

Addressing the media from his residence, LK Advani says the 2012 presidential polls will be sensational and history will remember it.

He said the NDA is in no hurry to name its nominees. "We will closely watch every development. We want to impress on the government as a result of confusion and lack of coherence in the ruling party our economy has suffered badly and because of the manner in which the presidential election is being handled, even the polity is damaged."

Alluding to Mamata and Mulayam, he said, "Two leaders played a very vital role in Delhi yesterday, they have gone back to their homes today. Both are allies of the ruling party."

So far, this is what is happening.

The NDA meet on the President polls ends.  

Senior Congress leaders meet the PM at his residence.

APJ Kalam will meet Nitish Kumar for lunch.

TV reports claim the Congress says Pranab Mukherjee is set to be the UPA candidate. This comes after the party began back-channel talks with SP and the BSP.

The UPA meet is at 4 pm today, which is when the candidate will be announced.  

Despite Mamata Banerjee's statement that the Samajwadi Party and the Trinamool Congress were together at the press conference 20 minutes ago, the Congress says that they are sure of the BSP and the SP's support in the prez polls.

Point to note is that Mamata Banerjee seems to have taken the decision for Kalam saying, "Kalam will contest." When reporters told her that Kalam had said he would let people know the "right decision at the right time", she rubbished it and said that was the Congress speaking.

Kalam who is in Patna told reporters, "Many political leaders have contacted me and want me to become President of India. I appreciate this idea, I respect their views. I will take the right decision at the right time."

Even as 24, Akbar Road (headquarters of the Congress party), continues to toss between the names for presidential candidate due to opposition from allies, bookies in the 'satta bazaar' have declared their hot favourite. Punters are riding high on odds that Pranab Mukherjee, at 76, will become the next President of the country.

Read

Addressing a press conference at Delhi, Mamata Banerjee confidently says, Mulayam is with her: "Mulayamji and I are together." She "congratulated Kalam in advance" and maintained that he was 'our' candidate.

When told that the SP's Ram Gopal Yadav had issued a statement earlier this morning saying Kalam was Mamata's candidate, not the SP's and that the word 'hamara' was used to indicate her and not our.

Mamata listened quietly and said that hamara meant Mulayam Singhji and in a moment of self-deprecation said her Hindi may not be good, but hamara meant ours.

She said at the press conference on Wednesday, Mulayam Singh had proposed, the candidates, and she had supported him, "since he was a senior leader and that is how democracy functioned."

She said they would stick with their three candidates and requested reporters not to "put Congress words in their mouths."  She requested that a clarion call be made to all political parties to choose Kalam as president. "The President's post is a golden post and there should be no divide and rule and no politics," she said.

Now Mamata Banerjee says that Mulayam Singh Yadav and Trinamool are together. In her words, "Mulayam with me."

Yet, a short while ago, the SP indicated a parting of ways with Mamata by saying Kalam was her candidate. No meeting with Sonia and Mulayam as of now or with Mamata for that matter.

The Samajwadi Party and the Congress are very close to finalising a deal, says CNN IBN. The Congress is also set to announce Pranab Mukherjee's name as President.

Just in: Samajwadi Party MP Kiranmoy Nanda meeting Mamata Banerjee right now. This is the fourth meeting between the SP and Mamata since the last two days. Wheels within wheels...

In fact Sangma has evoked more ridicule than sympathy by raising the politically sensitive question of the first tribal President as his campaign is seen as an audacious self-promotion exercise.

Even his own party, the NCP, had washed its hands of his personal ambitions last month when Sangma was in the thick of vote-mongering. NCP chief Sharad Pawar had told Sangma that his campaign was uncalled for. Pawar had also explained the ground reality to him to prove his point that the NCP was not in a position to back his candidature.

Though Sangma has been working on the idea for quite some time, it compelled the NCP to intervene after two major regional parties, the AIADMK and the BJD, declared support for his candidature. The BJP continues to support his candidature. More

Meanwhile PA Sangma has refused to bow out of the presidential polls. NCP's DP Tripathi who is meeting with Sangma right has been asked to tell Sangma to withdraw from the Presidential race. NCP chief Sharad Pawar is believed  to have told Tripathi to persuade Sangma to withdraw his candidature so that the NCP can then support a candidate that the UPA suggests at today's meeting. It may be recalled that Pawar had met with Congress chief Sonia  Gandhi yesterday morning to discuss the Presidential polls.

Sangma says he will not withdraw his candidature and will contest the polls even if Kalam does. "I am committed to those who are supporting me," he tells CNN IBN.

Meanwhile, APJ Kalam has refused to comment on the developments only saying that he would let it be known at the right time whether he was contesting.

Yadav, who is the Samajwadi Party's General Secretary, says that the Trinamool Congress chief may have only been expressing her 'own' opinion when asked about the nominees for the presidential poll. He said it does not necessarily mean the Samajwadi Party subscribed to it.

He also did not comment why Mamata and Mulayam Singh failed to address a joint press conference after their meeting last evening. Yadav said reporers should ask the two leaders as only they could answer the question.

The SP, so far, unless there is another U-turn has ruled out joining the UPA or mid-term polls. Yadav said, "We don't want people or the exchequer to be burdened by elections."

Yadav also said that the party is not in favour of early polls nor will it join the UPA. This is by far the most significant statement made this morning. "Hamare aur mein main kuch farak nahin hota," says Yadav explaining Mamata's use of 'our' candidate while referring to Kalam at the joint press conference. He also said that Mulayam Singh would decide on Pranab Mukherjee's candidature.  

BJP candidate Sangeeta Thombre was leading over her nearest NCP rival Prithviraj Sathe by over 5,237 votes after five rounds of counting in Kej Assembly by-election in Beed district of Maharashtra. The bypoll was necessitated after the death of former NCP minister Vimal Mundada.

A P J Abdul Kalam, who has been backed by Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party for Presidential race, arrived here today on a scheduled visit and was welcomed by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at the airport.

Kumar's receiving Kalam at the airport assumes significance in the backdrop of Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party rooting for his candidature for the post of President.

    
Kalam will attend two separate functions in the city on Friday.

A suicide bomber blew up a vehicle near an important Shiite shrine in Syria's capital Damscus on Thursday, wounding 14 people, state media and witnesses said, as 35 people were reported killed across the country.

A photo released by the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency shows a youth inspecting the site of a car bomb in the Sayyida Zeinab suburb of Damascus. A suicide bomber has blown up a vehicle near a revered Shiite shrine in the Syrian capital, wounding 14 people and damaging the shrine, state media and witnesses said.

Official news agency SANA said the vehicle exploded in a garage 50 metres from Sayyida Zeinab shrine. There was "substantial damage in the area of the blast" and "the terrorist who carried out the operation was killed," it said.'

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, citing anti-regime activists, said the bomb went off near security offices, damaging the apparent target as well as the shrine, as seen in a video posted on the Internet.

U-turn? Yet to take final call on Prez, says SP

Mandzukic strike earns Croatia draw against Italy

I am NOT afraid, I won't give in: Mamata

Adhere to principles to continue alliance: Nitish to BJP

PM's lack of leadership makes UPA a sinking ship: BJP

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