New Delhi, Aug 26 : The Supreme Court Friday adjourned hearing on a plea seeking to declare the arrest of activist Anna Hazare on Aug 16 a violation of his fundamental rights.

An apex court bench of Justice P. Sathasivam and Justice B. S. Chauhan adjourned the hearing observing that the petitioner, National Panthers Party chairman Bhim Singh, should obtain Hazare's consent before the matter of his arrest could be considered by the court.

Washington, Aug 26 : The United States has reiterated its "confidence and expectation" that India would be able to address the situation in the wake of Anna Hazare's campaign against corruption through its own democratic system.

"Obviously, our Embassy has been monitoring the situation," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters Thursday when asked if Washington was in touch with the Indian Government over Hazare's fast,

New Delhi, Aug 26 : The parliament was all set to discuss the Jan Lokpal bill Friday, the 11th day of Anna Hazare's fast. He has lost seven kg till now, although doctors monitoring him said he was fine.

The virtual climbdown by the government came Thursday after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made an emotive appeal to Hazare to end his hunger strike in view of his failing health but the 74-year-old activist declined unless parliament discussed three key issues.

New Delhi, Aug 26 : Doctors attending to civil society activist Anna Hazare have said the condition of the septuagenarian is stable.

"Anna has lost seven kilos, but his blood pressure is ok and his condition is stable," said doctors.

On Thursday, Dr. Naresh Trehan, the head of Gurgaon''s Medicity Hospital and the leader of medical team monitoring his health, said: His health is table, but needs to monitored. Our team will continue monitor his health."

Bhopal, Aug 25 : One is a telecom engineer, another is an event manager, the third one is contractor and the fourth quit his government job to become a social activist. On a fast here in support of Anna Hazare's demand for a strong Lokpal bill, their condition is slowly deteriorating, one of the quartet said Thursday.

Kathmandu, Aug 25 : As Anna Hazare's public protest against corruption in the form of a fast in New Delhi's Ramlila Maidan reached its 10th day Thursday, support for the frail 74-year-old began to grow in neighbouring Nepal as well with civil society members and human rights activists showing solidarity.

On Thursday, dozens of Indians marched in a rally in capital city Kathmandu, holding up signs that said in Hindi, "All of us are with you, Anna".

Agra, Aug 25 : Thousands took to the streets in this Taj Mahal city Thursday in solidarity with the fasting Anna Hazare and his call for a strong anti-corruption legislation.

Market associations called for a shutdown while thousands marched on Mahatma Gandhi Road, the city's lifeline.

Demonstrations were also held at road crossings. Some people observed fast at parks.

Since morning, people began assembling at the Agra College playground. Within hours, thousands were shouting slogans hailing Anna.

Lucknow, Aug 25:  Inspired by Anna Hazare's anti-corruption campaign, a budding music director has come up with an "Anna Chalisa".

Sankalp
Srivastava, 21, has composed and sung the five-minute "Anna Chalisa" in
Awadhi language. He is distributing its CDs free to solicit support for
the campaign against corruption.

"Annaji is fighting for all
of us. People from various walks of life are supporting him. So, being a
musician, I thought of doing something in favour of Annaji,"

Bangalore, Aug 25 : Fourteen people, including two women, have been on fast here since Aug 16 in support of Anna Hazare, an activist said Thursday.

According to Anand Yadwad of India Against Corruption (IAC), around 40 people started the fast but over the last 10 days 26 were told to give up their hunger strike on medical advice.

Every day since Aug 16, around 30 people here observe a day's fast.

Freedom Park, formerly Bangalore's central prison, is the main centre of protests, with former Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde joining them every day.

Mumbai, Aug 25 : As social activist Anna Hazare's fast in New Delhi entered the 10th day, his supporters here fasting in solidarity are growing weaker by the day, India Against Corruption (IAC) said.

"I had been fasting since Aug 16 alongside Annaji. But by the seventh day, I had lost 12 kg and almost fainted," India Against Corruption (IAC) youth coordinator Naresh Thakur said. "I was later asked to end my fast and I had no option."

Bhubaneswar, Aug 25 :The hunger strike by 15 people in Orissa in support of social activist Anna Hazare's demand for a stronger anti-corruption bill entered the 10th day Thursday, India Against Corruption
(IAC) that is backing Hazare said.

Two activists - Bhabani Parija, 50, and Rajnarayan Jena, 30, have been fasting here, Nishikant Mohapatra, a local coordinator of IAC, told IANS.

Eight others are fasting in Kalahandi, four in Bolangir and one in Sambalpur, he said.

No major health complications have been reported so far, Mohapatra said.

New Delhi, Aug 25  A day after talks between the government and Team Anna had collapsed, Team Anna on Thursday called for a protest outside the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh''s 7 RCR residence at 5 p. m today.

Talks between the government and Team Anna ended in a deadlock on Wednesday night with both sides failing to resolve key issues.

Hazare''s representatives - Arvind Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan and Kiran Bedi - were visibly upset at the lack of progress during the meetings with government negotiators.

New Delhi, Aug 25: On the 10th day of his fast Thursday, civil society activist Anna Hazare said that he is doing fine and thanked the media people for supporting his movement against corruption.

"I am doing fine and there is nothing to worry about. I have lost 6.5 kg in the last 10 days but there is no difficulty," Hazare told the crowd at the Ramlila Maidan.

He looked weak but there was no flagging of his spirit as he shouted "Vande Mataram" and "Bharat Mata Ki Jai".

"I want to thank the media for their support. I am confident that the Jan Lokpal Bill will be passed and I won't die before it is passed," he said as the crowd cheered.

New Delhi, Aug 25 : The government and civil society representatives are likely to resume their talks over the contentious Lokpal bill Thursday as social activist Anna Hazare's anti-graft hunger strike enters
10th day.

A day after their parleys ended in a logjam, the two sides will meet again around noon to thrash out a solution to the row that will also end Hazare's fast amid growing concerns over his health.

New Delhi, Aug 25 : Talks between the government and Anna Hazare's team on a sweeping anti-corruption law ended in a deadlock Wednesday night, shattering hopes of an early resolution to spiralling political crisis triggered by the social activist''s indefinite fast

At the latest round of talks between the two sides, the civil society activists insisted that their version of the Lokpal bill should be passed expeditiously, but the government refused to bypass parliamentary procedures.

New Delhi, Aug 25 : Breakthrough continues to elude to solve the snowballing political crisis triggered by social activist Anna Hazare's indefinite fast that continued for the ninth day Wednesday, as his side and the government hardended their stands over a sweeping anti-corruption law.

Talks between the government and Hazare's aides ended in a deadlock as key issues remain unresolved.

New Delhi, Aug 24 : Stating that his health was fine, Anna Hazare alleged Wednesday that the government had no intention of fighting corruption.

Speaking at the Ramlila Maidan on day nine of his fast, Hazare, 74, said the government was corrupt and did not want to pass a strong Lokpal bill.

"Yesterday, three people from our side went to talk to the government, but even today they don't have the intention of ending corruption," Hazare said.

He added that his health was fine.

Shimla, Aug 24 : More than 6,000 shopkeepers in the Himachal Pradesh capital Wednesday kept their shops closed to express solidarity with fasting social activist Anna Hazare.

"We have decided to keep the shops closed for one full day to support the cause of Anna," Shimla Beopar Mandal president Ramesh Sood told IANS.

He said shops dealing with daily necessary items like medicines and eatables would be exempted from the shutdown.

The move is not associated with any political front, he added.

New Delhi, Aug. 24 : Civil society activist Anna Hazare''s health is poor, but his spirit is keeping his medical situation under control, said Dr. Naresh Trehan, the head of Gurgaon''s Medicity Hospital and the leader of medical team monitoring his health on a round-the-clock basis.

New Delhi, Aug 24 : A day after parliament was stalled over the issue of Anna Hazare's fast and corruption, both houses started their proceedings on a peaceful note Wednesday.

A debate on corruption has been scheduled in both houses, as demanded by the opposition.

In the Lok Sabha, the debate will be initiated by senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Murli Manohar Joshi. In the Rajya Sabha, it would be Ram Jethmalani, according to the list of business for both houses.

An all-party meeting on Hazare's fast and the Lokpal bill is also scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.(IANS)