Palmer had been the leading donor to the conservative Liberal National Party which governs Queensland and is part of the federal opposition.

NPR: Australian Behind New Titanic Plans Political Bid

"I have always maintained that Mr Ashby's application was about manipulating the justice system to inflict damage on my reputation and political career, and to advance the interests of the Liberal National Party, " he said.

BBC: Australian court rejects sex case against former Speaker

Bristol's Liberal Democrat leader has blamed national policies after the party lost overall control of the city in the local elections.

BBC: Bristol Liberal Democrats 'disappointed' after election

Second, while the challenger attacks Allen for being too liberal and too closely attached to the national Democratic party's agenda, Allen has made a name for himself championing campaign finance reform and will be able to use all the advantages of incumbency in his re-election bid.

CNN: 'Carpetbagger' Label Could Hurt Maine Challenger

Mr Abe, who was briefly prime minister between 2006 and 2007, was returned to the post earlier this month, when his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won a landslide victory in national elections.

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Head of the World Wide Fund for Nature Scotland, Simon Pepper, said the Liberal Democrats scored reasonably well with Labour a close second and the Scottish National Party third.

BBC: Holyrood parties only 'pale green'

The center-left ruling Labor Party has traditionally backed abolition, while members of the center-right opposition Liberal-National coalition have tended, like Mr. Howard, to be monarchists.

WSJ: Australia Lawmakers Seek Split From U.K. Monarchy

The BBC's Shahzeb Jillani in Islamabad says that security fears faced by the MQM and other relatively liberal parties including President Zardari's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the Awami National Party (ANP) are overshadowing the run-up to the vote.

BBC: Pakistan's MQM party shuts Karachi offices after attack