Srinagar, Nov 16 : The Jammu and Kashmir Coordination Committee on Sunday appealed to the people of the State to totally boycott the Assembly polls, first phase of which is going to be held on Monday in 10 constituencies of Bandipora, Ladakh and Poonch districts. 

The meeting of the Committee was held here today and presided over by Mian Abdul Qayoom (President Bar Association). 

Sanganer, Nov. 16 : A maverick political candidate here has adopted a quite unusual method to draw voters'' attention. He sprinkles Gangajal or the holy water of River Ganges all around during his campaigning. 

Rajendra Patel is contesting elections for the Rajasthan legislature from Sanganer near Jaipur on the ticket of former BJP leader Uma Bharati''s newly floated Bharatiya Janashakti Party. 

He has undertaken the task of purifying his constituency by sprinkling holy water all around him, on roads in the lanes and by-lanes while campaigning in his constituency.

The drama appears to be to influence Hindus, who revere River Ganga. 

Reims, France  - France's opposition Socialist Party failed to decide on a candidate for the post of party leader Sunday after lengthy negotiations that lasted through the night.

Seoul - Amid continuing speculation about the health of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, the country's media reported Sunday on a further public appearance by the 
66-year-old.

Kim viewed cultural performances by several units of the People's Army, the state-controlled KCNA news agency reported, but when and where this took place was not clear.

South Korean secret services reported in September that Kim had suffered a stroke in the middle of August. They said he had also received brain surgery.

Following two months of silence on the leader's activities, North Korean media started broadcasting images of Kim again in mid-October and reporting on public appearances, like inspections of military units and visits to sporting events.

Moscow - Three Kremlin-friendly opposition parties merged Sunday into a new liberal party called Just Cause.

The parties, who failed to win seats in the Russian parliament or Duma in elections in 2007, joined forces with an eye on the next vote in 2011.

At the party's inaugural congress on Sunday, the initiators said the move had been discussed with the Kremlin, according to Moscow radio broadcaster Echo Moskvy.

The party had been formed with the help of the Kremlin, but not by the Russian government, said Leonid Gosman, deputy chairman of the Union of Just Forces (SPS).

The SPS and its two allies, the Democratic Party and the Citizens' Force, disbanded to to form the new union.

Washington - US president-elect Barack Obama made a point of staying far away from Washington while President George W Bush hosted world leaders Saturday in an effort to rescue the global economy, but his pending move into the White House loomed large over the crucial summit.

With Obama keeping a low profile at his transition team headquarters in Chicago, news that he might choose former opponent, New York Senator Hillary Clinton, as his top diplomat rivalled coverage of the Group of 20 summit.