London, Sept.22 : The Queen could be dropped as Australia’s head of state within three years under plans drawn up by the man tipped to be the country’s next prime minister.

Labour Party leader Kevin Rudd is surging ahead in the polls and is expected to deliver a humiliating defeat to the government of Prime Minister John Howard at an election due within weeks.

A staunch republican, Rudd wants Australia to cut its constitutional ties with Britain, replacing the Queen with an elected president, reports The Telegraph.

Mumbai/Delhi: Pakistan on Monday formally dissented to India decision to open Siachen glacier and Saltoro ridge to trekkers.

Washington: The Bush administration has tried to alleviate worries brought up by various US lawmakers over the civilian nuclear transaction with India.

U.S. National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley said it seems the North Korean have indeed close down their major plutonium reprocessing facility at Yongbyon, about 100 km north of Pyongyang.