Howard gets elections boost: A dramatic last minute twist arising

Howard gets elections boost: A dramatic last minute twist arising
from the government's tough stance on asylum seekers dominated
the final campaign day before Saturday's federal election, likely
boosting Prime Minister John Howard's third term bid.
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New regency: After being delayed twice, Kepulauan Seribu (Seribu
Islands) was finally inaugurated on Friday by Governor Sutiyoso
as a new regency with Kamil Abdul Kadir appointed as the first
regent in an inauguration ceremony was held on Pramuka island.
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Refugee repatriation: Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare
Yusuf Kalla has officially requested the Indonesian Military
(TNI) leadership to allow Maj. Gen. Willem T. da Costa, chief of
Udayana Military Command to participate in the government's
endeavor to repatriate East Timorese refugees.
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U.S. bombs Taliban front: U.S. warplanes pounded Taliban front
lines in Afghanistan with renewed ferocity on Friday as anti-
Taliban forces announced the start of a major attack on the
strategic northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.
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