Red corridor erupts during phase

Naxal violence rocked Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Orissa today in the first phase of polling for the Lok Sabha elections, leaving at least 16 dead, including six BSF personnel, as moderate to brisk voting was reported in 124 constituencies across 17 states and UTs, majority of which lie in the Naxal red corridor.

Shortly before voting began this morning, Naxalites detonated a landmine to blast a bus carrying BSF personnel at Ladup in Jharkhand’s Latehar district. Eight persons were killed and 12 others injured.

Among the dead were six from the BSF. The injured BSF jawans were airlifted to Ranchi and admitted to the Apollo Hospital. “They are out of danger,” said Apollo Hospital superintendent P D Singh.

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McCain, Obama battle over economic prescriptions

Republican presidential nominee John McCain used his final debate with Democrat Barack Obama to attack his rival over taxes,spending and past associations, while Obama countered by stressing his approach to the economic and health- care issues that dominate voters'concerns.

McCain, 72, trailing in most polls, took the offensive almost from the first moments of the debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, last night.

He portrayed Obama as a tax and-spend Democrat whose policies would damage small businessmen -- including would be Ohio entrepreneur Joe Wurzelbacher. McCain repeatedly invoked him, calling him “Joe the plumber,'' triggering a debate within a debate over which candidate was on Joe's side.

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