Across the World: United Kingdom

Blair faces final test

Prime Minister Tony Blair faced the final test of his decade in power yesterday, a vote that could set Scotland on course for independence from Britain.

Blair’s Labour Party is expected to suffer heavy losses in local council, Scottish parliament and Welsh assembly elections because of discontent over Iraq and political scandals.

UVF ends campaign

The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), the most lethal of Northern Ireland’s Protestant paramilitary groups, said yesterday it would put its weapons beyond reach and adopt a “non-military” role.

“As of midnight… the Ulster Volunteer Force will assume a non military, civilianized, role,” said a UVF statement.

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