Budapest - Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany called Sunday for parliament to dissolve itself so that new elections can be held to end a government crisis.

Gyurcsany called for a vote on Monday, but it was unclear if Parliament Speaker Katalin Szili, like the premier a member of the Socialist Party (MSZP), would put it on the legislature's agenda.

The prime minister said it was important for him to know how the party viewed the crisis triggered by the pull-out of the Liberal Party (SZDSZ) from his ruling coalition in April.

Gyurcsany's government has been without an overall majority since the withdrawal of the SZDSZ.

The next regular elections in Hungary are not due until 2010.

New York, Sept 14 : Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who is said to be instrumental in the reversal of positions of Barack Obama and John McCain in the presidential race, has reportedly fired a salvo at Barack Obama on not picking up Senator Hillary Clinton as his running mate.

Islamabad, Sept 14 : Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza became her country’s first de-facto President, as both President Asif Ali Zardari and Senate Chairman Mohammadmian Soomro are presently out of the country.

As per Article 49(2) of Pakistan’s Constitution, the National Assembly Speaker assumes the charge of the President if both the President and Senate Chairman are out of the country.

Under the article, she will hold the office until the return of either the president or the Senate chairman, reported the Daily Times.

Jammu, Sept 14 : Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission officials today said that the state was ready to hold the next Assembly polls, as work was going on in full swing.

Earlier, Central Election Commission (CEC) officials held a meeting with political parties in the state on September 8 to decide the poll dates for Jammu and Kashmir.

Officials said that they would be all ready to hold the polls in a few days.

Bangalore/New Delhi, Sept 14 : Gujarat Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Narendra Modi today urged the country to unite against terrorism.

"I don''t want to blame anyone. As far as terrorism is concerned, it is my conviction that country''s voice must be united," said Modi, who is here to attend a conclave of BJP.

Modi''s remarks came in the wake of the five serial blasts that shook New Delhi on Saturday evening, killing around 30 people and injuring around 125.

Earlier, he said that his state police had informed the Centre in advance about a detailed plan of the terrorists to hit the Capital. He also attacked the UPA for being "soft" on terrorism.

La Paz - The government of Bolivian President Evo Morales on Sunday ordered the arrest of Leopoldo Fernandez, the influential opposition governor of Pando province, as a regional insurrection in the Amazonian province continued.

Fernandez has been charged with defying government-ordered martial law, said Juan Ramon Quintana, a minister in the office of the president.

In addition, the government accuses Fernandez of responsibility in a "massacre" of aboriginal farmers who were killed on their way to a demonstration.

The Bolivian government confirmed Sunday at least 16 deaths from a regional insurrection in Pando.