Labour MP charged with election fraud

A British Labour member of parliament, Mohammed Sarwar, has appeared in court in Glasgow in Scotland, charged with electoral fraud.

The charges relate to the alleged late registration of voters, attempting to pervert the course of justice and breaking the law on election expenses.

Mr Sarwar again denied the allegations.

He became Britain's first Muslim MP when he was elected in May.

Scotland's public prosecutors are expected to prepare a detailed case over the next few weeks.

Correspondents say the allegations are a major embarrassment for the Labour Party, which regularly accused the previous Conservative government of corruption.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service