News In Brief

Indian opposition teaming up to defeat Gandhi next month

Leaders of some of India's main opposition parties agreed Wednesday to work together to defeat Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's ruling Congress (I) Party in next month's national elections.

Opposition party leaders agreed not to compete against each other in the parliamentary polls Dec. 24.

Last week, Mr. Gandhi called for early elections to be held next month in a move seen as a bid to marshal sympathy for his assassinated mother, Indira Gandhi, into a personal mandate to continue as prime minister.

Gandhi was sworn in as India's youngest prime minister last month just hours after his mother was slain by two Sikh bodyguards.