CALIFORNIA RACE ENTERS FINAL BOUT, BUT CHARGES REFUSE TO FADE

California, Oct.

7 (NNN): Leading aspirants for the governorship of America's richest state, California, on Monday were racing to squeeze the maximum coverage out of the final day of electioneering - already marred by charges of sexual misconduct against the frontrunner candidate, Hollywood actor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Frontrunner to replace incumbent Gray Davis, Schwarzenegger's his campaign continues to be dogged by serious allegations that he harassed women on film sets and in interviews, and that he once praised German dictator, Adlof Hitler.

Schwarzenegger has publicly apologised for "bad behaviour" towards women in the past, but has strenuously denied allegations that he expressed admiration for the German Nazi leader.

In the special election, voters will decide whether to oust Gray Davis, a Democrat, who is being challenged because of dissatisfaction over his handling of the state's economy - the fifth largest in the world.

The second part of the ballot lists 135 replacement candidates - including Schwarzenegger, a Republican.

Gray Davis was in San Francisco, where over 2,000 firefighters marched in support of his campaign.

"If you give me the chance to finish my term, I will do it with all the passion, all the humanity I can muster because my goal is to make your life better," he said.

On his part Davis has said that allegations made by a number of women of past sexual misconduct by Schwarzenegger from a number of women mean that he is unfit to govern.

"It's frankly hard for me to believe that any of them are lying," said Davis.

However, Schwarzenegger was in ebullient mood on Monday, largely ignoring the charges, and attacking Davis' fiscal policies.

"They're chasing jobs and businesses out of the state and now it is time we chase Gray Davis out of Sacramento," he said.

The latest allegations surfaced at a news conference on Sunday, a day after the Los Angeles Times newspaper quoted six women who said they had been fondled by the Hollywood star.

A former TV station intern told reporters that Schwarzenegger had groped her when she was showing him around a studio 25 years ago.

Later, a radio presenter claimed the actor had fondled her ankles and knees while she was interviewing him.

The actor-turned-politician said no one had ever confronted him.

"If they'd said to me 'How dare you?', I could have apologised right there and then," he said.

Last week, Schwarzenegger did admit to behaviour which "offended people" after the Los Angeles Times reported that he had sexually harassed and groped women over a 25-year period.

"Yes, it is true that I was on rowdy movie sets and I have done things that were not right, that I thought were playful but now I recognise that I have offended people," the star said.

South Africa end Pakistan's winning streak Agencies Faisalabad, October 7 South Africa ended Pakistan's winning streak to capture the third one-day international by 13 runs on Tuesday.

Chasing a target of 244, South Africa won the match under the upgraded Duckworth/Lewis formula after Pakistan failed to complete their 50 overs in the stipulated time of three-and-a-half hours and bad light was offered to the batsmen.

When play was stopped, South Africa needed to have scored 208 under the Duckworth/Lewis scoring method.

They had made 221 for six in 45 overs and were declared winners.

South Africa's victory ensured Pakistan's lead in the five-match series was reduced to 2-1.

Pakistan's stand-in skipper Yousuf Youhana promised to find a solution to the problem of his side's slow over rate that possibly cost them the game.

"We have a problem with the over rate.

Maybe we are slow in the field and also because Shoaib (Akhtar) takes time to complete his over," Youhana told Reuters.

"But we will try to find a solution to this in the remaining two matches.

If bad light had not stopped play we probably would have won the match," he said.

QUICK WICKETS South Africa's victory was built around a second wicket stand of 100 in 111 balls between skipper Graeme Smith (51 from 55, eight fours) and Jacques Kallis (62 from 80 balls, eight fours, one six).

Jacques Rudolph (46 from 82 balls) then combined with Mark Boucher (24 from 32 balls) to add 49 valuable runs after South Africa lost three quick wickets.

Although paceman Shoaib Akhtar threatened to prevent the South African win with hostile bowling which won him figures of three wickets for 31 runs, in the end South Africa came through with Shaun Pollock (4) and Andrew Hall (10) at the crease.

Earlier, Yasir Hameed (72) and Razzak (46) helped Pakistan to a competitive total.

South Africa, trailing 2-0 in the five-match series, produced a much improved performance before another big crowd.

Security was tight after South Africa nearly cancelled the tour due to fears of Islamic extremist attacks, and police were extra vigilant after the assassination on Monday of a prominent Sunni Muslim militant leader in the capital Islamabad.