Lisbon - The Portuguese parliament Friday rejected a proposal to legalize same-sex marriage with an overwhelming majority, with the governing Socialists arguing that the time was not ripe.

The draft legislation had been tabled by the Greens and the Left Bloc.

Prime Minister Jose Socrates' Socialists and the opposition conservative parties voted against.

The Socialists were against discrimination, but the question of gay marriage should not be allowed to split Portuguese society, Socialist legislator Jorge Strech said.

Lisbon - Portugal announced Tuesday evening its official recognition of Kosovo, which last February had unilaterally declared its independence from Serbia.

The office of Foreign Minister Luis Amado announced the move, which reduced the number of European Union states still opposed to recognizing Kosovo's independence.

Cyprus, Spain, Greece, Romania and the Czech Republic are still opposed to Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence which they regard as contrary to international law.

Lisbon- Portugal's main skinhead leader was Friday sentenced to 4 years and 10 months in prison, judicial sources said.

Mario Machado, leader of the Portuguese section of the Hammerskin far-right group, was found guilty of racial discrimination, illegal possession of weapons, threats and violence.

Six others were also handed prison terms, the length of which was not immediately given.

Seventeen were given suspended prison sentences, seven were handed fines, and five were acquitted.

Lisbon - Portugal is preparing to recognize the independence of Kosovo, media reported Friday.

Foreign Minister Luis Amado may disclose the date of recognition on Tuesday, when he will inform a parliamentary foreign affairs commission about Portugal's stance, the daily Publico said.

Amado is currently holding meetings with the parliamentary parties to discuss the issue.

Portugal wanted align itself with most other European Union countries, which have backed the February 17 independence declaration of the former Serbian province, the daily said.

Lisbon - A day of strikes against precarious labour conditions affected hospitals, schools, railways and garbage disposal in Portugal on Wednesday, trade unions said.

Unions said 75 per cent of their members followed the strike call, but government officials estimated the figure at 11 per cent.

Hundreds of schools remained closed, trade union representative Ana Avoila said. Garbage also piled up on the streets, and buses and trains stopped running in many places.

The 24-hour stoppage, which unions called a "protest," was called to press demands for better salaries and work conditions.

Lisbon - Portuguese woman Maria de Jesus, Europe's oldest person and the world's second oldest, celebrated her 115th birthday on Wednesday, the daily Diario de Noticias reported.

"We are not planning a special celebration, because my mother has become a bit apathetic in relation to her surroundings," said Maria de Jesus' 84-year-old daughter Maria Madalena, who looks after her in the central Portugal village of Corujo.

Maria de Jesus, who worked in agriculture for seven decades, has always eaten "what the earth offers," Maria Madalena said when asked to explain the reasons for her mother's longevity.