Florida (United States), Oct. 21: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Monday accused his republican rival John McCain of launching an "ugly" bid to stave off defeat, while campaigning along with Hillary Clinton in the crucial swing state of Florida.

With just 15 days to go before the election, Obama implored supporters to flood early voting stations in the state and vote for him rather than McCain.

In 2000 and 2004, the state had voted Republican.

Mumbai, Oct 21: Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today said that the decision to arrest Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray was not a sudden decision, and that nobody was above the law.

"This is not a sudden decision. We took this decision because nobody is above law. Law is same for everyone,” said Deshmukh while talking to reporters here last night.

Washington - International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn has reportedly apologized to staff over an improper affair with a married subordinate.

Meanwhile, the IMF on Monday said an inquiry into whether he abused his position will be completed by the end of the month.

Strauss-Kahn met Friday with the IMF's executive board, which has the power to dismiss him, and has been "fully supportive" of the investigation, according to a statement from Shakour Shaalan, who leads the 24-member board.

Montreal : Canada's official opposition leader defied expectations Monday by refusing step down immediately following a disastrous showing in Tuesday's national elections.

Liberal Party leader Stephane Dion said he will stay on until the Liberals chose a new leader at the upcoming leadership convention expected in May.

"I will remain as a leader to ensure a smooth and successful transition," Dion told reporters in Ottawa.

New York - With some tickets priced at 25,000 dollars, the seminal concert last week by legendary rockers Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel was always destined to be a huge fundraiser for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

On Monday the New York Daily News reported that the concert Thursday at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom raised a staggering 7 million dollars for the campaign.

Washington - The United States will consider more sanctions against Zimbabwe if President Robert Mugabe does not follow through on commitments to set up a power-sharing government, the US State Department said Monday.

"Should Mugabe renege on this power-sharing agreement, the United States ... is prepared to impose additional sanctions," State Department deputy spokesman Robert Wood said.