World IN BRIEF : CANADA : Early Election Threat Ends in Quebec

Quebec’s separatist leaders backed away from a threat to call an early election, but they announced other steps to show their fury at the federal government for challenging the French-speaking province’s right to secede. Emerging from an emergency meeting of his Cabinet, Premier Lucien Bouchard said he will cancel a planned meeting next week with Prime Minister Jean Chretien. He also said the Quebec legislature will be asked to adopt a resolution affirming the province’s right to decide whether to leave Canada. The separatists’ anger was sparked last week when the federal government announced it will intervene in a court case challenging Quebec’s right to secede unilaterally.