The Canadian media had little trouble setting up interviews with Paul Martin yesterday as the beleaguered prime minister pulled out the stops to save his Liberal minority government and forestall a general election. The two main opposition parties, the Conservatives and the separatist Bloc Québécois, suggested that they were eager to capitalise as soon as possible on a billowing scandal over a federal sponsorship and advertising programme in Quebec in the 1990s. Mr Martin promised in a rare televised speech on Thursday evening that he would call an election within 30 days of publication of a judicial inquiry's report...