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On Sunday Guatemalans vote for a new head of state as well as for , while they experience the most violent campaign in their history, experts say. Almost 50 people were killed during the campaign in a land that is still recovering from 36 years of civil war.

Read more about the situation on Reuters, as well as on the presidential candidates.

Learn about democracy and crime in the Economist and join the debate in our forums: Can terrorism destroy democracy?

Today the Pakistani Supreme Court announced that the term as head of state for General Pervez Musharraf would expire on Nov 15th this year. Despite of that the Attorney General of Pakistan will lead an investigation, wether the double-post of Gen. Musharraf as president and military chief is unconstitutional. Read more about the political situation in International Herald Tribune as well as the legal explanation in Jurist.

Find out what the Pakistani President has to say by watching our documentary "Dinner with the President". More sources on that topic are available via Google News and join the debate in our forums: Are dictators ever good?

After experiencing severe problems during the presidential election in 2004, the US Congress tries to re-assure citizens in transparent and honest elections next year by rethinking good old paper votes. The voting machines used for the poll three years ago, had security issues and the electronic voting systems are still not reliable enough for a large-scale assignment.

Read more about what politicians and experts have to say in International Herald Tribune and join the debate in our forums: Why bother to vote?

Two years after former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan implemented a new whistleblower protection concept within the Ethics Office of the United Nations, whistleblowers who claim to be fired over filing in complaints about incorrect internal UN procedures, request protection services from the Ethics Agency.

Read more about the cases and their background in International Herald Tribune. Join the debate in our forums: What is wrong with democracy?

After he served half of his sentence for planning an overthrow of President Juan Carlos Wasmosy in 1996, the former General Lino Cesar Oviedo was released from prison due to good behavior. Just hours after his release, he swore to govern Paraguay and promised to run for the presidency in 2008.

Read more about the event in International Herald Tribune and on United Press International. Join the debate in our forums: Why bother to vote?