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BBC World News,I'm David Lag.
Americans are voting in the hard-fought mid-term elections largely seen as a referendum on President Bush and his Iraq policy. The Democrats are hoping to take control of one or both Houses of congress were all Republicans and dealt a serious blow to them and to Mr. Bush. All the seats in the House of representatives are at stake and 1/3 of those on the senate. From Washington, our correspondent Michael B. reports.

A national ex-poll conducted for The Associated Press and US broadcasters suggested that some 2/3 of Americans say the war in Iraq was very important to hold the caster votes and that the concerns translated into strong support for Democratic candidates for the holds. But even more voters, around 80% say the economy as well as government corruption and scandals strongly influence how to cast their ballots.
The opinion poll also suggests that national rather than local issues were the determining factor for many voters. However, these numbers affect who controls both Houses of Congress will become apparent in the coming hours.

The Democrats will need to take 15 seats from Republicans to gain control of the House of Representatives and 6 to control the Senate. Polls also suggested the House is within their reach with parts of the northeast and mid west considered key battle grounds. In 36 states people are voting for new state governors. Among those prominent candidates is the former Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger who is up for reelectioning California for the Republicans. Voters are also being asked in state referendums to decide on a range of local issues known as a-ballot initiatives.

The Nepalese government and Maoist rebels have agreed a peace deal aimed at ending the ten-year insurgency that has left thousands of people dead. Their agreement will see the rebels join the transitional government in less than a month while their weapons will be put under United Nations supervision. The Maoists entered into negotiations with the government after a popular uprising in the April, force K. to end his direct rule and appoint a multi-party government. From Kathmandu, here's our correspondent Charles Harveland.

[屏蔽] negotiators told the BBC Nepal was at the threshold of permanent peace with the signing of this comprehensive peace deal. The rebels who until May will declare those wanted terrorists will take their place in the cabinet within 25 days. Even sooner, the current parliament will be expanded to take on 73 Maoist members, only 2 fewer than the biggest party. A Senior negotiator said the future of the already disempowered monarchy will be determined at the 1st gathering of the constituent assembly due to be elected by next June. The institution's fate will be decided by a simple majority.

The Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has said that he expects the death sentence against the former President Saddam Hussein to be carried out by the end of the year. In an interview with the BBC, Mr. al-Maliki said he hoped the world under the Iraqi judiciary to hang Saddam Hussein.
In the latest violence in Iraq, police said at least 17 people were killed in a suicide attack on a coffee shop in a Shiite district to the capital Baghdad. Jane Wall has the details.

The attack happened after dark on Tuesday as a suicide bomber walked into a cafe in a Shiite district to Baghdad and blew himself up. It happened a matter of hours after a mortar attack in a nearby Sunni district that left 5 people dead and more than 20 wounded. The attacks come on the day the Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told the BBC the former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein would be executed by the end of the year. He was sentenced to death on Sunday, but appeared in court again on Tuesday on a different set of charges which also carry the death penalty.

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A British Muslim convert who admitted conspiracy to murder and plotting what were termed colossal and unprecedented attacks in Britain and the US has been jailed for life until he must serve at least 40 years. Prosecutors describe the man DB as a senior al-Qaeda operative who carried out detailed surveillance of key financial targets in New York. He'd also considered bombing trains under the river Tames in London and possibly using a radioactive dispersal device known as a dirty bomb.

Members of Parliament in Kyrgyzstan say they reach the deal on a new draft constitution that will curb the powers of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev after another day of street protests. However, it's not immediately clear whether the President will accept the agreement as he was not part of the negotiating process. Earlier in the day, government supporters clashed with opposition protesters in the Kirgiz Capital Bishkek. Hundreds of troops are still out on the streets of Bishkek, and 2 rival demonstrations were said to carry on into the night.
BBC World News.