Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf pledged in Brussels Monday that Pakistan's elections next month will be free and fair, and appealed to western nations to be more patient on human rights. Lisa Bryant has more for VOA on his European trip.

The three major candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination met Monday in a debate televised by the Cable News Network and co-sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus Institute. The event, which took place in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, featured an exchange of sharp barbs between Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama -- both of whom are in a tight race for first place in that state's January 26th primary. VOA's Houston correspondent, Greg Flakus, has more on the story.

Serbia is heading for a showdown next month between a nationalist who leans towards Russia and a liberal favouring the West following the first round of a presidential election.

Serbs vote this Sunday in Serbia in a presidential election seen to shape the Balkan state's future direction amid rising tensions over the status of Serbia's breakaway province of Kosovo.

South Korean officials are confirming an election result that has been expected for weeks. Former Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak has apparently won the presidency by about half of the popular vote. VOA's Kurt Achin reports from Seoul.

Lebanon's divided parliament is unlikely to hold a session this week to vote on a new president because rival leaders are still deadlocked over a compromise candidate, political sources said.

Former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who returned to the country on Sunday after eight years exile, has applied for registration to run in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

A session of the Lebanese parliament for electing a new president has been postponed until November 30 amid a looming political crisis that could lead to violence between rival factions.

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili is expected to be nominated as his party’s candidate in an early election in January.

Political sources in Lebanon say the country's presidential election has been postponed until Friday, to give rival political factions more time to agree on a candidate.

Georgia's opposition said on Monday that lawmaker and wine businessman Levan Gachechiladze would run in the January 5 early presidential elections as its single candidate.

Pakistan's Attorney-General says the country's revamped Supreme Court is likely to resume hearings next week on challenges against Pervez Musharraf's re-election as president.