In short

A roundup of today's other stories in brief.

Belgium set for permanent government

BRUSSELS - Belgium is finally set to get a permanent government following eight months of political deadlock after the interim cabinet struck a deal over the 2008 budget, prime minister Guy Verhofstadt said yesterday.

"The two main obstacles to forming a definitive government have been resolved," Mr Verhofstadt told a news conference, saluting also an agreement on Monday to devolve more powers in the linguistically divided country.

Both devolution and budget issues needed to be settled by March 20th, when Mr Verhofstadt plans to step down and make way for a permanent administration led by Christian Democrat and former Flemish premier Yves Leterme. Key cabinet members reached agreement over a balanced budget for 2008 yesterday. - (Reuters)

Nigerian poll results upheld

ABUJA - A Nigerian tribunal upheld the 2007 election of President Umaru Yar'Adua yesterday, rejecting challenges from rivals who had demanded a re-run because they said the vote was massively rigged.

The two challengers immediately said they would appeal to the supreme court, which could take several more months to deliver a final ruling. - (Reuters)

One dead in Cameroon riot

DOUALA - Police in Cameroon shot dead a 23-year-old man yesterday as violent anti-government protests spread to the African nation's third city, state radio reported.

This brought to at least six the number of people killed in four days of riots over rising prices and plans to change the constitution to extend president Paul Biya's 25-year rule. - (Reuters)

Low TV ratings for Oscars

LOS ANGELES - Films in the line-up for this year's Oscars failed to click with cinemagoers, and proved a turn-off to US television viewers as this year's show hit record low ratings.

The 80th anniversary edition of the Academy Awards, dominated by European stars and films that played poorly at the box office, averaged 32 million viewers, entering the record books on Monday as the least watched Oscar telecast ever. - (Reuters)

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times