Commonwealth update

The tsunami hits eight Commonwealth countries from Malaysia to Kenya-Sri Lanka worst of all. Huge stretches of its eastern and southern coasts are laid waste. Severely damaged Maldives manages to hold an election only a month late. The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group keeps Pakistan on its agenda and Africans remain unhappy about its lifted suspension. Bush visits Canada, but Prime Minister Martin refuses to join his ballistic missile system. The UK pushes Kenya even harder to clean up corruption. Chissano steps down and Mozambique has a new president. Mugabe chooses a woman vice-president for Zimbabwe after upheaval within Zanu-PF. Spain and Britain give Gibraltar a seat at the negotiating table. And the first underground trains begin to run in New Delhi. Reprinted by permission of Carfax Publishing, Taylor & Francis Ltd.