United States:Republican presidential hopefuls expressed support for President George Bush's policy in Iraq, but criticised past mismanagement of the war in a televised debate in which three of the 10 candidates said they did not believe in evolution.
There was no clear winner in Thursday night's debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, although former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney may have gained most by introducing himself to a wider public.
Mr Romney raised more money than any other Republican candidate during the first three months of this year, but he is trailing far behind frontrunners Rudy Giuliani and John McCain in opinion polls. Mr Giuliani held firm to his support for abortion rights, a position at odds with most Republicans and with all other candidates on the podium.
Asked if he believed that the reversal of Roe v Wade - the supreme court ruling that established abortion rights - would be a good day for America, Mr Giuliani was alone in sounding unenthusiastic.
"It would be okay to repeal it. It would be okay also if a strict constructionist judge viewed it as precedent, and I think a judge has to make that decision.
"The court has to make that decision, and then the country can deal with it. We're a federalist system of government, and states can make their own decisions," he said.
Three candidates - Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, Senator Sam Brownback and Congressman Tom Tancredo - raised their hands to indicate that they do not believe in evolution. They did not elaborate during the debate but Mr Huckabee said later that he has no problem with teaching evolution as a theory in public schools and he does not expect schools to teach creationism.
He said it was his responsibility to teach his children his beliefs, though he could accept that others believe in evolution.
"I believe that there is a God and that he put the process in motion," he said.
Mr McCain gave strong backing to Mr Bush's decision to send more troops to Iraq, although he said the war had been "terribly mismanaged". The senator, whose campaign has appeared to be in trouble in recent weeks, offered the most memorable soundbite of the debate, promising to capture Osama bin Laden.
"We will bring him to justice, and I will follow him to the gates of hell," he said.
Mr Tancredo and California congressman Duncan Hunter returned time and again to the issue of illegal immigration, calling for a more secure border with Mexico and opposing comprehensive immigration reform, which they believe will give an amnesty to illegal immigrants.
With Nancy Reagan in the front row, next to California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, all candidates invoked the Reagan legacy and sought to present themselves as its embodiment.
Mr Romney came closest to mimicking Mr Reagan's sunny demeanour, drawing a blank when asked what he disliked most about America. "Gosh, I love America. I'm afraid I'm going to be at a loss for words," he said.
Hovering over the proceedings were the absent figures of former senator Fred Thompson, now an actor on the TV series Law and Order, and former House speaker Newt Gingrich. Neither have joined the race but polls show that both are more popular among Republicans than most of the declared candidates.
During the debate, the candidates all identified the prospect of Hillary Rodham Clinton becoming president as a threat to America's wellbeing.
For her part, Mrs Clinton this week escalated her opposition to Mr Bush's policy on Iraq by calling for Congress to revoke his authority to conduct the war there.
