31.   Israeli leaders hailed the smooth running on Saturday of the first Palestinian general elections and dismissed criticism of voting in annexed east Jerusalem.

32.   Behind the scenes, Labour MPs and activists are still marvelling at the smooth running and efficiency of the election campaign he managed.

33.   China Saturday congratulated Afghanistan on the election of Hamid Karzai as its next president and the smooth running of its traditional assembly to choose a new government.

34.   It accused the PUK of having cut of the power supply to the city of almost one million people, affecting the smooth running of water and sanitation plants.

35.   The interior ministry also hailed the smooth running of the elections, saying it had expected far worse violence in a country where practically all men carry firearms.