COLOMBO - Amnesty International accused Sri Lanka's government of trying to undermine the court system, a day after ruling party lawmakers moved to impeach the country's top judge. President Mahinda Rajapakse's UPFA party submitted a resolution on Thursday to sack Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, who has been accused of flouting the constitution. Amnesty also highlighted the case of a judge who was injured by armed assailants last month after he had complained of attempts to interfere with the judiciary. AFP
WASHINGTON - Myanmar is moving at "warp speed" in opening up after years of authoritarian rule but needs to build institutions to improve transparency and governance, the World Bank said as it approved US$80 million in aid. The money will fund a project to provide US$25,000 grants to villages in 15 townships across the country where community councils will identify the kind of help they want, such as roads, bridges, schools or clinics. Activists remain concerned that as international sanctions are eased, the military and its cronies will be first to benefit from the influx of funds. AP
KATMANDU - Nepal's finance secretary says the caretaker government may not have enough money to keep running unless a budget is approved this month. The caretaker government has been trying to get President Dr Ram Baran Yadav to approve the budget through an ordinance, but he has made it clear that Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai needs to get the support of opposition parties first. They say Bhattarai needs to resign. AP