World Bewildered by U.S. CliffhangerThe cliffhanger presidential election in the United States on Tuesday fascinated and bewildered folks around the world, where many were waiting for word about who would take the helm in the globe's most powerful nation.The announcement by U.S. networks that Gov. George W. Bush had clinched the White House and that Vice President Al Gore had conceded sent newspaper presses rolling. Then Gore retracted the concession. In Japan, the country's largest newspaper sent out 20,000 copies of a special edition with a Bush victory in banner headlines to distribution points around Tokyo and then put on the brakes. ''We called the drivers and told them to stop,'' said Masayuki Miyashita, distribution official for the Yomiuri newspaper. Others didn't make that call on time. The Japanese tabloid Gendai hit the streets Wednesday night with ''Bush Barely Wins'' as the headline and a color photo of the Texas governor giving a gleeful thumbs-up. Several early Thursday editions of South Korean newspapers declared a Bush victory on their front pages. ''Bush Elected US President,'' read the banner headline of The Korea Times, an English-language daily. Foreign leaders were also caught off-guard. South Korean President Kim Dae-jung was among those who sent a congratulations to Bush a little too soon. British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook was more circumspect. ''I congratulate George Bush, if it is confirmed that he has won,'' Cook said. The Germans were also hesitant. Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder had initially scheduled a news conference on Wednesday morning then kept reporters waiting when the apparent Bush victory fell into doubt. Eventually, Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer appeared and said: ''Before one of them concedes the election ... .'' Without completing his sentence, Fischer just shrugged his shoulders. On the streets, regular people seemed incredulous that the election of the leader of the world's biggest economy and strongest military power could turn into such a guessing game. ''It's ridiculous,'' said 46-year-old Hong Kong teacher Anny Poon. ''Hong Kong elections are much better in this aspect.'' The dead-heat race kept many tuning in periodically to television and the Internet for updates. In Asia, many pondered how a possible shift from the Democrats to the Republicans in the White House could affect their region's issues -- particularly the U.S. stance on China and on efforts to improve ties with North Korea. In the Middle East, concerns focused on a new administration's policies on the peace process. ''It's a fantastic election,'' gushed Prannoy Roy, the anchorman of India's New Delhi Television as the station broadcast tallies of the electoral votes. ''It's really right down to the wire. A few thousand votes could make all the difference.'' For others, the suspense reeked of Americana. ''It was unbelievable just like a Hollywood movie script,'' said Kenneth Chee, 22, a university student in Malaysia. ''I wouldn't mind seeing a ... movie like this someday. Maybe Michael Douglas could play George W. Bush.'' |
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