Palin makes US TV interview debut

The US Republican vice-presidential candidate, Sarah Palin, has rejected criticism that she is not experienced enough, in her first US TV interview.

In the interview, conducted exclusively by ABC News, Mrs Palin insisted she was “ready” to serve as vice-president.

On foreign affairs, the Alaska governor said she backed NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia.

Mrs Palin was also quizzed on previous comments about describing the war in Iraq as being a “task from God”.

She said she was quoting the words of Abraham Lincoln: “Let us pray that we are on God’s side’.

Asked whether her support for Georgian membership of Nato meant that the US would have to go to war if Russia again invaded Georgia, Palin said that was a possibility.

“Perhaps so. I mean, that is the agreement when you are a NATO ally, if another country is attacked, you’re going to be expected to be called upon and help.”

But she insisted that the US and Russia “cannot repeat the Cold War”.

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Ex-senator Edwards admits affair

Mr Edwards said he had told his wife of the affair and asked for forgiveness

Former Democratic US presidential hopeful John Edwards has admitted that he had an extra-marital affair and that he lied about it during his campaign.

Mr Edwards, whose wife has terminal cancer, said the affair in 2006 was with a film-maker whose company made documentaries for his campaign.

He denied he was the father of Rielle Hunter’s child, born in February, but said he had not taken a paternity test.

He confessed to the affair in an interview with US broadcaster ABC News.

In a statement released following his television appearance, Mr Edwards said he had made “a serious error in judgment”.

He said he was “ashamed” of his actions, and that he had informed his wife about the affair in 2006 and had asked for her forgiveness, the statement said.

‘Tabloid trash’

The admission followed reports of the sex scandal in the National Enquirer newspaper, which he had dismissed as “tabloid trash”.

Rielle Hunter’s daughter was born in February this year, and no father’s name was given on the birth certificate.

Mr Edwards told ABC that his affair had ended too soon for him to have been the father. However, he said he was willing to take a paternity test.

Correspondents say the revelations could affect John Edwards’ chances of receiving a post in government if Democrat Barack Obama wins the presidency in November.