An opinion poll published yesterday showed that, for the first time in the US presidential campaign, the Democratic contender, Vice-President Al Gore, has caught up with - and overtaken - the Republican frontrunner, George W Bush, by wooing independent voters.

The poll, published by the Washington Post and the ABC television network, showed Mr Gore leading Mr Bush by 48% to 45% among registered voters. The lead is no larger than the poll's margin of error, so the poll was declared a dead heat.

But for Mr Gore, the survey shows a dramatic improvement in popularity since last year, when Mr Bush had a double-digit lead. It suggested he benefited more than Mr Bush from the withdrawal of two other presidential hopefuls last week.

Mr Gore inherited supporters of his Democratic challenger, Bill Bradley, and has won over a substantial share of independents who backed the Republican reformist candidate, John McCain. In December only a third of registered independents supported Mr Gore. Yesterday's poll showed he now has the backing of half. Reuters, Washington

Six pilgrims die in crush at Mecca

At least six pilgrims have been crushed to death while performing Muslim rites as part of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, officials said yesterday.

Two Jordanian men in their 60s were killed on Wednesday and a Jordanian woman, also in her 60s, was crushed on Friday in the crowd of people at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Islam's holiest city, an official said.

The official, who is leading the Jordanian delegation to the hajj, or annual Muslim pilgrimage, spoke on condition of anonymity.

Youssef Salameh, head of the Palestinian hajj delegation, said three elderly Palestinian women were also crushed on Friday at the mosque.

Safety is a key issue during the hajj owing to the immense overcrowding. About 2.1m pilgrims are expected in Mecca this week for the hajj, which all Muslims are expected to perform at least once in their lifetime. AP, Riyadh

Starvation threatens Mongolia

Mongolian herders will face hunger by May as their livestock die off after the harshest winter for 30 years, the United Nations said yesterday.

"The starvation is going to come, and it is going to be a long-term thing," said Syann Williams, coordinator for the UN Disaster Management Team in Mongolia.

"It is a creeping disaster that will affect the entire country. It is serious," she said after a team report released on Saturday called for urgent relief.

The landlocked country suffered its worst drought in 60 years last summer, followed by a harsh winter. Huge losses of livestock have directly affected 500,000 people, 20% of Mongolia's population, the report said, adding: "The famine will continue for at least the next 12 months."

Mounting livestock deaths in the coming months are expected to add to the problems of the herding population, which has already seen 1.5m animals perish owing to insufficient fodder, it said. Many herders have lost almost all their animals - the only source of food, transport, heating materials, purchasing power and access to medical services and children's education.

The report recommended immediate shipment of animal fodder, food supplements and veterinary medicines. Reuters, Ulan Bator

Russian rocket fails to launch

A Russian space launch ended in failure yesterday, sending its US payload plunging towards earth, a spokesman for Russian mission control said.

Interfax news agency said the payload was a communications satellite built by the US firm Hughes.

Mission control said the Zenit-3 SL rocket, launched from a ship at the equator, failed 467 seconds into its flight. The spokesman initially said it was a Ukrainian rocket carrying a Ukrainian payload but later said it was American. Reuters, Moscow

Sharif wife accused of treason

Police have filed a complaint against the wife of Pakistan's deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, accusing her of treason after she criticised the military government that toppled her husband, authorities said yesterday.

Khulsoom Sharif and several leaders of her husband's Pakistan Muslim League are accused of inciting people against the state in speeches in Hyderabad last week.

Under Pakistan's legal system, a police complaint is the initial step before formal charges are filed. Mrs Sharif said she had spoken out against the October 12 army coup that ousted her husband.

"Now they have gone to the extent of framing a woman like me on treason charges," she said. "I have come out of the house for democracy and to save the life of my husband.