Mr Laws also appeared to offer an olive branch to teachers, saying they did one of the most important jobs in the country.

BBC: Schools told to narrow gap between rich and poor

One of Gowda's first actions as PM was to offer an olive branch to India's insurgency-torn northeastern states, which symbolize another of the nation's many festering divides.

CNN: Center Cut

He said Palestinians would now have to prove that they were committed to peace, and that if they did, Israel would offer an olive branch in return.

BBC: 2005: Settlers protest at Gaza pullout