European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso Thursday urged Turkey to speed up reforms needed to meet European Union membership criteria. Barroso, who is on a three-day visit to Turkey, said the country's membership in the EU would offer what he called a "powerful alternative" to militant Islam.

Monks in a small town in central Burma have defied the military junta to stage a peaceful march. It is the first public gathering of monks since September's brutal crackdown against the monk-led protests.

While applauding the latest round of EU sanctions to be imposed on Burma's military government, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says he would be willing to offer economic aid if the ruling elite embraces democratic reform.

The European Commission has condemned the latest wave of arrests of opposition figures in Belarus. A commission spokeswoman also rejected Minsk's recent offer of deeper economic cooperation with Europe, saying Belarus must first initiate democratic reforms.

Roman Catholic bishops in Zimbabwe have warned President Robert Mugabe's Government there will be a revolt unless it agrees to democratic reforms. In an open letter, the bishops say the confrontation in Zimbabwe has reached a flashpoint.

A day before Egyptians are to vote in a controversial referendum on constitutional changes, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice says she told Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak about her concerns over the progress of democratic reform in Egypt.