trade deal

The largest regional trade accord in history is seen by critics as hurting women, aiding antigay regimes and dramatically reducing global access to HIV drugs.

Barack Obama began speaking out more aggressively against his rival Hillary Rodham Clinton in a heated debate, as the Democratic presidential race grew increasingly combative ahead of the pivotal South Carolina primary. Republican White House candidates, meanwhile, were focused on Florida, where former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani has pinned hopes for his candidacy after ignoring previous primaries. His three main rivals split the spoils in contests that netted three different winners in six states, leaving the race wide open.

Rep. Barney Frank said the trailing Democratic presidential candidate should drop out of the race by no later than June 3 -- the date of the two last Democratic primaries -- even if it is the candidate he supports, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. ''Probably sooner,'' the Massachusetts congressman added in an interview Tuesday with the Associated Press. He suggested that the trailing candidate should drop out once it became clear that candidate had no remaining practical chance of winning the nomination. South Dakota and Montana vote on that day. Sen. Barack Obama currently leads Clinton in both pledged delegates and in the popular vote. But neither can mathematically win a majority by that date, and the final outcome will depend on superdelegates.