There are some questions under discussion at a democracy and security conference that opened today in Prague, with a scheduled keynote speech from U.S. President George W. Bush. The meeting has brought together dissidents past and present, as well as academics and politicians from many countries.

Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves says the "principled selective isolation" of Russia should be an option for dealing with Russian actions that threaten democracy.

CREW SUES WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION OVER REFUSAL TO RESPOND TO FOIA ON FIVE MILLION MISSING EMAILS.

U.S. secretary of state Condoleezza Rice criticized Spain Friday for not doing enough to support dissidents in Cuba. Rice was speaking en route to talks with Spanish leaders, during a one-day visit meant to smooth over a three-year downturn in relations between Washington and Madrid.

Amnesty International says democracy in Latin America is threatened by chronically weak institutions and undermined by a lack of independence of the judiciary, impunity and endemic corruption.

EU foreign policy and security chief, Javier Solana, praised Monday parliamentary elections in Armenia saying they were held in line with international norms and regulations, while local opposition parties said the poll was undemocratic.

At a time when the India is passing through a coalition era, President A P J Abdul Kalam has favored the need to rapidly evolve a stable two-party system.

Nicolas Sarkozy, the candidate of UMP, collects 53,2 percent of the voices against 46,8 percent for Ségolène Royal with the second turn of the presidential election. This is an election in France, which beats a new record of participation with 84,9%. Nicolas Sarkozy becomes at 52 years the sixth president of the 5th French Republic.

French voters turned out in droves for an election run-off in which conservative Nicolas Sarkozy has been widely expected to defeat Socialist Segolene Royal in her bid to become France's first woman President.

Student William Lloyd, 18, became Britain's youngest ever councillor when he won Warley ward in Brentwood, Essex, for the Conservative Party.

The recent debate between Segolene Royal and Nicolas Sarkozy, the two candidates of coming presidential run-off in France, seemed to be at least heated. Ms Royal was expressing her ideas in a quite aggressive way unlike her opponent, Mr Sarkozy who was trying to remain as calm as possible with respectful attitude towards her.

Iranian journalist Akbar Ganji has won the prestigious Speaker Abbot Award from the U.K.'s House of Commons Press Gallery for his fight for parliamentary democracy in Iran, Radio Farda reported.