Giuliani drops out of Senate race

The mayor of New York, Rudolph Giuliani, has pulled out of the contest for a seat in the United States Senate.

He was planning to run against President Clinton's wife, Hillary, as the Republican candidate for New York.

The mayor's decision follows his announcement last month that he has prostate cancer and would need some time to undergo treatment.

Mr Giuliani's campaign was also overshadowed when he announced that he was seeking a formal separation from his wife.

She had publicly revealed that her husband was having a relationship with another woman.

Mr Giuliani is due to give a news conference shortly.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service