A demonstration was held in front of the office of East Timor’s President today, with hundreds of ex-soldiers requesting honorary discharge status. The move follows weekend riots, which were a response to the sacking of almost 600 troops from East Timor’s army. Authorities say the soldiers were sacked after a mass mutiny in protest against alleged nepotism and poor working conditions. But there’s been criticism of the way the Government's handled the situation. A short time ago, Sonny Inbaraj, a journalist from the non-for-profit media organisation, Internews, spoke to Sophie Gyles from Dili about the current mood in East Timor.

It’s a nail-biting wait for the three main contenders in the Isreali elections today, Kadima, labour and likud. After months of a full on political campaign they can do nothing but wait for the results. The latest opinion poll shows that Kadima has the best chances. Its leader Ehud Olmert plans to withdraw from most parts of the West Bank while keeping control over large Jewish settlements within the area. The Likud, headed by Benyamin Netananyahu, intends to maintain control of the West Bank, and a keep military presence in the area. The Labour Party’s Amir Peretz stated that he will withdraw from the West Bank and support the Geneva formula, but was still cautious with his intentions regarding negotioations with the Hamas. The Wire spoke to Sorana Sigal, Avi Schroeder and Pablo Kizelsztein, from the Medical school in the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, about their expectations from today’s elections.

Palestinians remain pessimistic that any newly elected government of Israel will increase prospects for peace. The Palestinians held their own election in January, and they voted in the Hamas party, which up until 12 months ago was one of the terrorist groups responsible for dispatching suicide bombers into Israel to kill civilians. However, for more than a year they have maintained a ceasefire. Now observers are concerned that if Kadima, the party originally dreamed up by Ariel Sharon, is voted in, prospects for peace and a viable state will be set back, because of its policy of unilateral disengagement. Such a policy would see Israel withdraw from only parts of the West bank, without a real peace settlement with the Palestinians. Ali Abunimah is the co-founder of the Electronic Intifada, an online news site that tells the story from the Palestinian perspective. He gave his response to Kadima's policy of unilateral disengagement.

Legislation allowing for the civil union of same-sex couples was today tabled in the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. Under the legislation, civil unions will have the same recognition as marriage under ACT law. Chief Minister, Jon Stanhope claimed that this demonstrated the government’s commitment to relationship equality. At the same time however, Mr Stanhope was careful to point out that civil unions did not replace the institution of marriage, which is still barred to same-sex couples under Federal legislation. Nonetheless, gay and lesbian advocacy groups have responded positively to the legislation. David Scamell, Coordinator of NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby spoke with Tristan Burt about the advantages of civil union for same-sex couples.

When it comes to protecting workers from smokey environments, the NSW government could claim to be on track, with a plan to phase out smoing in all clubs and pubs by mid 2007. Since Bob Carr announced these changes in 2004, the progression towards them has been gradual, to help patrons and the industry adapt. However last month, after long negotiations with the industry, a compromise came about. It was a loophole that allowed smoking to continue inside so long as 25 percent of a room, or one wall, was open to fresh air. Today, at the NSW State Parliament, a group of anti-smoking protestors lit up in the upper hosue gallery during an attempt by the Democrats to introduce a disallowance motion, to stop the legislation going ahead. The Wire spoke to Stafford Sanders, one of the protestors who lit up, as well as Lloyd Swandon, Phil Edge and NSW AHA spokesman David Elliot.