Violence and accusations of fraud have marred elections in Malaysia Saturday, where a long-ruling coalition is expected to win. The elections have been overshadowed by racial tensions in a nation that prides itself on ethnic harmony among its Malay, Chinese and Indian population. VOA's Luis Ramirez reports from the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.

International agencies are helping Indonesia prepare for a massive country-wide election in 2009 that will include local offices in hundreds of districts. As Chad Bouchard reports from Jakarta, election officials hope to avoid past mistakes.

The stinging rebuke Pakistani voters delivered to President Pervez Musharraf has reverberated in the corridors of power in Washington. Since 1999, the United States only had to deal with one single figure in Islamabad, especially on United States' key concern in Pakistan: counterterrorism. But, as VOA correspondent Gary Thomas reports, the U.S. must now navigate a considerably more complex political landscape.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is expressing concern over Burma's decision to exclude pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from future elections. The statement from ASEAN follows the completion of Burma's draft constitution. But the regional bloc still says it will not interfere in Burma's domestic affairs. Naomi Martig reports from VOA's Asia News Center in Hong Kong.

President Bush says Monday's general elections in Pakistan were fair and that he hopes the new government there will continue an anti-terrorism alliance with the United States. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns reports Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf says he will not step down, despite big opposition wins.

With bleak opinion polls in his briefcase, Prime Minister Fredrick Reinfeldt says it’s time to kindle new life into the New Moderates.

The African Union has elected new leadership at its summit meeting in Addis Ababa, but postponed action on an audit report that sharply criticizes the outgoing leaders.

Thailand's governing coalition in parliament has chosen former Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej as the country's new prime minister. Mr. Sundaravej is a close ally of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a military coup in 2006. VOA's Luis Ramirez reports from Bangkok.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe announced on Friday that general elections will be held on March 29, when he will seek a sixth term in office. Peta Thornycroft reports that on February 8, candidates will have to register at the nomination court but there are likely to be only two political parties there - the ruling ZANU-PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is warning of fraud in the country's coming general elections, which are widely expected in March. VOA's Heda Bayron reports from Hong Kong, where the former deputy prime minister has been visiting.

Amid speculation whether Fidel Castro will be the President again, Cubans elects a new Parliament on Monday where by 5th March a new President will be named.

Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will decide tomorrow about the fate of the January 8 general elections in the country, following the receipt of reports from other provinces.