Bulgaria's ex-premier Boyko Borisov said Thursday he will challenge the results of Sunday's elections that saw his conservatives come first but fall short of a majority, and seek a fresh vote. "For the first time in Bulgaria's history maybe, the party that won the elections will challenge their results. The motive is grave violations of the regulations" on the day before the election, Borisov told journalists in his first public appearance since the vote. "The best is to go for new elections," he added.

Disgraced British cardinal Keith O'Brien has been ordered to leave Scotland for a months-long spiritual retreat following abuse allegations against him, the Vatican said on Wednesday. O'Brien, who had already resigned as head of the Church in Scotland "will be leaving Scotland for several months for the purpose of spiritual renewal, prayer and penance," it said. The Vatican statement said the decision was taken "for the same reasons he decided not to participate in the last conclave and in agreement with the Holy Father" -- Pope Francis.

Bulgaria sank deeper into political uncertainty after final election results published Wednesday showed that the Socialist party and potential partner MRF have failed to secure enough seats to form a government. Both parties are now looking to the fiercely nationalist and unpredictable Ataka party for backing, raising the spectre of an unstable and short-lived government in the European Union's poorest member state. Final results of Sunday's elections showed the outgoing GERB conservatives garnering 30.5 percent of the vote, followed by the Socialist BSP with 26.61 percent.

By Derek Brooks VIENNA (Reuters) - Vienna's Stadtpalais Liechtenstein, the city palace that launched a revival of Rococo in the mid 19th century, will offer public tours for the first time on Friday after an extensive face-lift. The late 17th century palace was once the main residence of the princely family of Liechtenstein, one of Vienna's richest families considered to be at the cutting edge of art and architecture, before they moved to the tiny Alpine principality.