S'pore opposition plans alliance

S'pore opposition plans alliance

SINGAPORE (AFP): Eight Singaporean opposition parties have
been holding talks aimed at forming an alliance to fight the next
general elections, the Sunday Times here reported.

However, the eight parties have been unable to agree on their
agenda, sharing resources or fielding common candidates under one
banner, the report said.

It quoted Yip Yew Weng, president of the National Solidarity
Party (NSP), as saying: "We have been talking to each other for
six to eight months, and NSP has been working on the idea for
quite some time."

The opposition parties have made unsuccessful attempts in the
past to challenge the ruling People's Action Party, which has
ruled the city-state since it attained statehood in 1965.

The next general elections in Singapore are due by August 2002
but there has been speculation the government could call the
polls earlier.