New Delhi, Apr 2: Home Minister P. Chidamabaram on Thursday met Leader of the Opposition L K Advani and discussed the security scenario ahead of the general elections.

The meeting, which lasted for 20-minutes, took place at Advani''s residence.

According to sources, Chidamabaram advised Advani to refrain from undertaking unscheduled visits to different parts of the country during the campaign trail.

On Wednesday, Chidambaram has written to Chief Ministers of all the states to provide adequate security for nearly two dozen VVIPs during the period of the upcoming general elections.

New Delhi, Apr 2: The Samajwadi party on Thursday appointed Bollywood actor-turned-politician Sanjay Dutt as its National General Secretary.

Dutt, who was barred from contesting the elections by the Supreme Court because of his conviction under the Arms Act in connection with the 1993 Mumbai blasts case, told reporters here today, "Mein dil se kam karoonga aur sach ke liye kam karoonga (I will work with my heart and for the truth).

New Delhi, Apr 2: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) underplayed the reports of distribution of money by its party leader Jaswant Singh at an election campaign whereas the Congress party sought action by the Election Commission.

However, the party contended that it would take a decision in case the Election Commission takes cognisance of this particular issue.

The world hammered home a unified message Wednesday to Israel's newly-minted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, insisting that he pursue the "two-state solution" as part of his stated commitment to the Middle East peace process.

From the United Nations to London, from Washington to Brussels, to Israel's own President Shimon Peres, the congratulatory statements were laced with the same message: the road map to peace must lead to a separate state for the Palestinians alongside Israel.

Cairo  - In Egypt, even opposition leaders rarely step down from their positions voluntarily.

When rival factions from Ayman Nour's Ghad Party clashed in November, they nearly burnt to the ground the party's offices in a landmark downtown Cairo building.

In April 2006, the deposed leader of the Wafd Party occupied the party's headquarters with a band of armed henchmen. When rivals arrived and tried to eject him, violent clashes ensued and a fire broke out. Twenty-three people were injured.

Valletta - A 60-year-old lawyer was voted in as Malta's next president Wednesday, amid rare consensus in the politically-divided island.

George Abela was unanimously voted in by parliament as Malta's eighth president, and the first ever from an opposition party.

A former deputy leader of the Labour Party, last year Abela contested the top post for a party trailing from three successive electoral defeats.