Canadian Pledge
I am a Canadian,
a free Canadian,
free to speak without fear,
free to worship God in my own way,
free to stand for what I think right,
free to oppose what I believe wrong,
free to choose those who shall govern my country.
This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold
for myself and for all mankind.
~ John Diefenbaker
Paramilitary police and bands of ruling party militants patrolled Zimbabwe's capital and marshals led voters to polling stations Friday for an internationally discredited presidential runoff held in an atmosphere of intimidation. [...]So you see Mr. Combs, why some of us think you're slogan Vote or Die is stupid?
Mugabe, the country's ruler since independence in 1980, was expected to use violence and intimidation to get people to vote for him in the hope that a massive turnout could demonstrate he still has support and to make his inevitable victory appear credible. [...]
About 20 paramilitary police in riot gear were stationed in a central Harare park then began patrolling the city in a truck. Militant Mugabe supporters roamed the streets, singing revolutionary songs, heckling people and asking why they were not voting.
"I've got no option but to go and vote so that I can be safe," explained a young woman selling tomatoes.
Results released early Saturday showed Boris Johnson defeating Ken Livingstone in Labour's first test at the polls since then-Prime Minister Tony Blair handed the reins last year to Gordon Brown, who has since been dogged by accusations of indecision and incompetence.Hmmm... Could something be afoot in Europe?
Voters also picked opposition candidates in more than 300 municipal council races, prompting Brown to humbly pledge to heed the scathing verdict.
Conservative leader David Cameron said his party's strong gains represented a key moment on the path to ousting Brown at the next national election, to be held before mid-2010.
"Three years ago the idea that the Conservatives would win London and build up a 20-point lead across the county would have been literally unthinkable," Cameron said.
"I do hope that it does show that the Conservatives have changed into a party that can again be trusted," Johnson said, shortly after the result was announced to cheers from raucous supporters. "Let's get cracking tomorrow and let's have a drink tonight."
From VOA News...
Conservative Muslim candidates have swept elections in Saudi Arabia's first nationwide municipal vote, giving rise to complaints that they had an unfair advantage because of religious endorsements.
Thursday's voting in the western part of the kingdom completed the three-phase vote, which began in February.
Western region winners were announced Saturday. In the holy city of Medina, as well as in the ultra-conservative town of Buraydah, cleric-supported candidates swept the vote. In Jeddah, long considered one of the country's most liberal cities, voters also chose conservatives.
Saudi men over age 21 voted for half the members of the kingdom's municipal councils. The government will appoint the remaining half.
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