11.   Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Tuesday fired his flamboyant foreign minister and her top deputy over a feud that has stalled parliamentary proceedings, officials said.

12.   Since it began last month, the trial has been beset by legal wrangling, with defense lawyers raising every possible technical challenge to delay and stall the proceedings.

13.   The court proceedings have been stalled since no one, including members of the Marcos family and the government, could produce the original will.

14.   There were noisy scenes in Parliament, however, as opposition lawmakers stalled proceedings, accusing the government of failing to contain the violence and protect Muslims.

15.   Sayeed called for an all-party meeting on Friday to try to strike a compromise and ensure proceedings are not stalled next week.