.
You're listening to the World News from the BBC.
Officials in the American state of Maine are expected to announce the result of
caucuses
to help decide who should be the Republican Party candidate in November's presidential election. Party officials say they anticipate a
close contest
between the former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and the Texas congressman Ron Paul. Mr Romney has been considered a front-runner in the race, but he's hoping to avoid a fourth
consecutive
defeat after losing contests in Minnesota, Missouri and Colorado. The other two candidates Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum haven't actively campaigned in Maine.
Three soldiers have been killed in a rebel ambush in Colombia. Officials say the soldiers were
on patrol
in the mountains of Valle del Cauca province when members of Colombia's largest rebel group, the Farc, threw grenades. The attack took place a week after two police stations were bombed in the west of Colombia, killing 18 people. The Farc have stepped up their offensive against the security forces since their leader was killed in a military raid in November.
The Liverpool footballer Luis Suarez has been criticised for refusing to shake hands with Manchester United's Patrice Evra before their Premier League match today. It was the first time the players had met since Suarez served an eight-match ban for
racially
abusing Evra in October. The black defender offered his hand before the match, but Suarez ignored him. The manager of Manchester United, Alex Ferguson, condemned the Liverpool player's behaviour.