Wikinews Shorts: May 4, 2007
<noinclude>
{{Wikinews Shorts header|May 4, 2007}}

===Newspaper accuses Ahmadinejad of indecency===
Iranian President [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]] has been accused of "indecency and violating religious values" for   embracing and kissing the hand of an elderly woman - his former schoolteacher - to express his gratitude. 

The Iranian ''Hezbollah'' newspaper issued a statement saying, "The Muslim Iranian people have no recollection of such acts contrary to [[w:Sharia|Shariah law]] during Islamic rule." The Iranian government instituted Shariah law soon after the 1979 [[w:Islamic Revolution|Islamic Revolution]].

Ahmadinejad has been criticised in the past for his objections to the enforcement of [[w:hijab|hijab]] and for permitting women to attend soccer matches.

'''Sources'''
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6619077.stm
|title=Ahmadinejad accused of indecency 
|author=
|pub=BBC News
|date=May 3, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=147115&version=1&template_id=37&parent_id=17
|title=Ahmadinejad in controversy over embrace
|author=AFP
|pub=Gulf Times
|date=May 3, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/Iran/212502
|title=Ahmadinejad kiss draws criticism....
|author=
|pub=Al Bawaba 
|date=May 3, 2007}}
----

===Campaigning drawing to a close for French presidential candidates===
{{missing image|Image:Logo de la République française.svg|right|150px|Logo of the French Republic|thumb}}
[[Ségolène Royal]] ([[w:Socialist Party (France)|Socialist Party]]) and [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] ([[w:Union for a Popular Movement|UMP]]) made their final appeals to voters today.

Campaigning is not allowed tomorrow or on the day of voting, which will take place on Sunday, May 6.

Royal, who has been falling behind in the polls, said, "It is my responsibility today to alert people to the risk of [his] candidature with regards to the violence and brutality that would be unleashed in the country [if he won]," specifically referring to the type of violence seen in the [[w:2005 civil unrest in France|2005 civil unrest]].

Sarkozy responded in a radio interview with ''[[w:Europe 1|Europe 1]]'': "She's not in a good mood this morning. It must be the opinion polls... She's finishing in violence, in a certain state of feverishness. When I hear her remarks, I wonder why a woman of her qualities carries such violent feelings. It adds nothing to the debate."

'''Sources'''
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6622929.stm
|title=French poll rivals in final push
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=May 3, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL0366942020070504
|title=France's Royal warns of violence if Sarkozy wins
|author=Kerstin Gehmlich
|pub=Reuters
|date=May 3, 2007}}
----

{{published}}

===Scottish elections: SNP gains 20 seats===
[[Image:ScottishParliamentFront.JPG|right|150px|Scottish Parliament Building]]
:''Please also see a full article at: [[Party supporting Scottish independence from UK wins elections]]

Following yesterday's [[w:Scottish Parliament election, 2007|parliamentary election]], the [[w:Scottish National Party|Scottish National Party]] (SNP), led by [[Alex Salmond]], became the largest party in the new Scottish Parliament. The SNP is committed to hold a referendum on Scottish independence by 2010.

After a confusing day, in an election marred by many thousands of rejected ballot papers, the party has a 1 seat advantage over the [[w:Scottish Labour Party|Scottish Labour Party]] (SLP) who have controlled the [[w:Scottish Executive|Executive]] for the last 8 years.

For Salmond to become take the position of [[w:First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]] from SLP's [[w:Jack McConnell|Jack McConnell]] he needs to gain the support of another party. Only the [[w:Scottish Conservative Party|Scottish Conservative Party]] and the [[w:Scottish Liberal Democrats|Scottish Liberal Democrats]] (the current junior partner of the SLP) are large enough.

The parliament election was held on a combined 'first past the post' and Party List system, at the same time as local council elections, (which do not have the same constituencies) and used, for the first time, a [[w:Single Transferable Vote|Single Transferable Vote]] system. This appears to have confused many voters and led to a high number of spoilt papers. 

'''Sources'''
*{{source|url=http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/domestic_politics/leaping+salmond+snp+overtakes+labour+in+scotland/497642
|title=Leaping Salmond: SNP overtakes Labour in Scotland
|author=Gary Gibbon
|pub=Channel 4 News
|date=May 4, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6620905.stm
|title=SNP beats Labour in Scottish poll
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=May 4, 2007}}

{{Archived}}
[[Category:Iran]]
[[Category:Islam]]
[[Category:2007 French presidential election]]
[[Category:Elections]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:France]]
[[Category:Scotland]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Alex Salmond]]
[[Category:Scottish National Party]]
[[Category:Scottish Conservative Party]]
[[Category:Scottish Parliament]]
[[Category:Scottish Independence]]
[[Category:Jack McConnell]]

</noinclude>
The Iranian Hezbollah newspaper issued a statement saying, "The Muslim Iranian people have no recollection of such acts contrary to Shariah law during Islamic rule." The Iranian government instituted Shariah law soon after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Ahmadinejad has been criticised in the past for his objections to the enforcement of hijab and for permitting women to attend soccer matches.

'Sources'
*
*
*
----

Campaigning is not allowed tomorrow or on the day of voting, which will take place on Sunday, May 6.

Royal, who has been falling behind in the polls, said, "It is my responsibility today to alert people to the risk of his candidature with regards to the violence and brutality that would be unleashed in the country if he won," specifically referring to the type of violence seen in the 2005 civil unrest.

Sarkozy responded in a radio interview with Europe 1: "She's not in a good mood this morning. It must be the opinion polls... She's finishing in violence, in a certain state of feverishness. When I hear her remarks, I wonder why a woman of her qualities carries such violent feelings. It adds nothing to the debate."

'Sources'
*
*
----

Following yesterday's parliamentary election, the Scottish National Party (SNP), led by Alex Salmond, became the largest party in the new Scottish Parliament. The SNP is committed to hold a referendum on Scottish independence by 2010.

After a confusing day, in an election marred by many thousands of rejected ballot papers, the party has a 1 seat advantage over the Scottish Labour Party (SLP) who have controlled the Executive for the last 8 years.

For Salmond to become take the position of First Minister from SLP's Jack McConnell he needs to gain the support of another party. Only the Scottish Conservative Party and the Scottish Liberal Democrats (the current junior partner of the SLP) are large enough.

The parliament election was held on a combined 'first past the post' and Party List system, at the same time as local council elections, (which do not have the same constituencies) and used, for the first time, a Single Transferable Vote system. This appears to have confused many voters and led to a high number of spoilt papers. 

'Sources'
*
*
Iran Islam 2007 French presidential election Elections Politics and conflicts Europe France Scotland United Kingdom Alex Salmond Scottish National Party Scottish Conservative Party Scottish Parliament Scottish Independence Jack McConnell