Six months before the end of his governmental term, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis requested the dissolution of the Greek parliament in order to hold early elections. Karamanlis planned to win a clear mandate for necessary reforms.

The preliminary results of the polls showed a narrow majority for Karamanlis' New Democracy party. The result was delivered by a complex new electoral procedure and declared a "clear mandate" for a second term.

Read more about the elections in the International Herald Tribune, on Al Jazeera and BBC News online as well as a full cover of the aftermath of the poll in the Mail & Guardian and the IHT.

Join the debate in our forums: Why bother to vote?

Three years after facing the Orange Revolution, Ukraine continues to struggle with political instability: During a summit with officials from the European Union and the Ukrainian government, the achievements of the country, which entered talks with the EU after its peaceful revolution, will be assessed today.

Both sides agree that there are major challenges for Ukraine, but there is no doubt that further and stronger cooperation between the EU and Ukraine is the preferred way to solve societal and political issues and stabilize relations.

Read more about Ukraine's path towards democracy on Radio Free Europe, EUbusiness, in the International Herald Tribune and on BBC News online.

Read the statement of Oleksandr Chalyi, deputy head of the Secretariat of the President of Ukraine, in the Guardian's Comment is Free section and discuss in our forums: What would make you start a revolution?

After the Russian Prime Minister and Russia's cabinet resigned on Wednesday - three months ahead of parliamentary and six months before presidential elections - the Parliament confirmed Putin's nominee as the new Prime Minister today. The soon-to-be Prime Minister, Viktor Zubkov, emphasized Russia's defense industry as well as its mineral wealth and agricultural development in his most recent speeches, indicating that he will follow up on President Putin's agenda.

Read more about the fast rise of Viktor Zubkov and some political background on Al Jazeera, in The Hindu, Mail & Guardian, Times online and BBC News online. Find out more about the candidate on Reuters and about Russian politics by watching our documentary: For God, Tsar and Fatherland.

Join the global debate in our forum: Who rules the world?

Against the strong opposition of some developed countries the United Nations adopted a historic bill of rights for indigenous people around the world.

Les Malezer, an an aboriginal leader from Australia, said before the voting results were published, that "If a few states do not accept the declaration, then it would be a reflection on them rather than the document,".

After 22 years of diplomatic negotiations this major triumph for the indigenous population worldwide emphasizes equal access to univesal human, civil as well as collective rights for indigenous peoples.

Read more about this historic milestone on Al Jazeera, the press release of the UN, on OneWorld.net and on Survival International. Join the global debate in our forum: Is democracy good for everyone?

In its annual report the World Conservation Union presents figures about endangered species: The most shocking finding is that approximately 200 more species are facing extinction, compared to last year's Red List. This includes not only animal life but also plant species. The report monitors more than 41,000 species. Among the most endangered species are gorillas, orang utans and corals.

While US President George W. Bush argues that the greatest potential to solve the climate change issue is through nuclear power rather than sticking to Kyoto's milestones, Libya plans to support ecoturism to preserve its fragile marine ecosystem.

Read more about the endangered environment and nature on Al Jazeera, BBC News online, the International Herald Tribune and New Europe.

Join the debate in our forum: Can politicians solve climate change?

Yesterday the speaker of Lebanon's Parliament, Nabih Berri, announced that he supports a plan to desolve the political apathy in Lebanon. His proposal includes the appointment of a new head of state by September 25th, overcoming disagreements on a general political level as well as within  the political factions.

Read more about the difficult plans in the International Herald Tribune and discuss in our forums: What would make you start a revolution?

Due to a new law passed earlier this year, the Mozambican President Armando Guebuza dismissed all six of the country's assistant Attorney-Generals yesterday. The law changed the procedure of appointment of such posts significantly, but so far has no corresponding body.

Read more about the situation at AllAfrica.com

and discuss in our forum: What is wrong with democracy?

After eight years of foreign administration, Serbia's province Kosovo is still in  an unsolved conflictive political state. Read more about the Kosovo as a test for the EU in New Europe.

Join the debate in our forum: Is democracy good for everyone? 

Australia's Prime Minister John Howard is facing his fifth re-election and another three-year term on the post. He also announced today, that in case of a re-election he is planning to retire before his next term as Prime Minister ends while the public opinion considers his retirement before the elections to give national politics momentum.

Read more about the change of Australian politics in the International Herald Tribune and join the debate in our forums: Who rules the world?

This weekend Sierra Leoneans voted for a new head of state. Now, 50 percent of the votes have been counted and it seems like opposition candidate Ernest Bai Koroma is still ahead. This year's election in Sierra Leone is widely recognised as fair and transparent but there was some tension during the campaigning period. The national electoral commission has therefore appealed for all sides to be patient and stay calm until the final results are presented.

Read more about the historic elections in Sierra Leone on BBC News online and the New York Times join the debate in our forums: Why bother to vote?

After a series of scandals, decreasing public approval and less than one year as Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe announced his resignation from the post today. Another reason for his         resignation is the lack of oppositional support for an extension of Japanese military assistance in Iraq. Read more about the situation in The Japan Times, on BBC News online, the International Herald Tribune and Al Jazeera.

Join the global debate in our forums: Why bother to vote?

After the presidential and parliamentary elections in Guatemala last Sunday it was clear that there would be a second round of run-off elections to decide weather former general Otto Perez Molina or centre-left businessman Alvaro Colom would become the new head of state. The new poll to confirm a president will take place in November. Read more about the election results on Al Jazeera and about the situation of the indigenous voters in Guatemala in the New York Times. Join the debate in our forums: Why bother to vote?

At a meeting at the Somme Heritage Centre at Conlig, Ian Paisley, leader
of Northern Ireland, shooks hands with Irish President Mary McAleese.
Read more about the historic handshake on BBC News online, as well as in the New York Times. Join the debate in our forums: What does democracy mean to you?.

According to preliminary results only 37 percent of the 15 million voters in Morocco participated in the elections for a new parliament on Sunday. It seems that Morocco's conservative Istiqlal (Independence) party, already a member of the governing coalition, won most of the seats in the parliament, although claims exists that the some of the vote were obtained by fraud. In general international experts and monitors agree that the campaign and the poll itself was transparent and fair.

Read more about the elections in the young democracy of Morocco on BBC News online, as well as on the The Guardian and on Al Jazeera. Join the debate in our forums: Why bother to vote?

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe put his position at stake on Sunday, when he announced his resignation if Japan will not extend its military assistance in Afghanistan. Japan currently discusses the option of extending Japan's support of the US-led mission in Afghanistan, which requires an re-enactment of a bill to do so. If not, the Japan's military assistance will expire in November. The new bill is not in favor of the opposition, the Democratic Party of Japan, who argues, that Japan should only engage in UN peacekeeping missions. Some experts also claim the military assistance is unconstitutional. A poll published on Tuesday also revealed, that the Japanese population is split over this matter, as the International Herald Tribune reports today.

Read more about the situation on BBC News online. Join the debate in our forums: What is wrong with democracy? and learn more about the political circus in Japan with our documentary Campaign! The Kawasaki Candidate!

On Saturday Sierra Leoneans voted on the run-off poll after the first round of presidential elections did not presented a clear winner. Although violence and tension in Sierra Leone increased during the campaign, the polls are widely accepted as free and fair. Due to preliminary results, the opposition leader Ernest Berewa won the poll in a tight race.

Read more about the election on BBC News online, as well as on the Mail and Guardian, on iol and on Al Jazeera. Join the debate in our forums: Why bother to vote?

Almost two years after Evo Morales gained 54 percent of the votes to become President of Bolivia he faces his toughest crisis: For over a century La Paz and Sucre have shared the title of Bolivia's capital. Now this situation is at stake, with proposals to transfer executive and legislative government to Sucre. With raising tensions among protesters, police and military forces as well as limitations in freedom expression, many are concerned about the new un-democratic movement in the young democracy of Bolivia.

Read more about the democratic Bolivian revolution BBC News online, from AP and Jurist.

Join the debate in our forums: What would make you start a revolution? and follow our documentary Looking for a Revolution, which shows how Evo Morales, the first indigenous leader in Bolivia became President.

On a meeting at the Somme Heritage Centre at Conlig Ian Paisley, leader of Northern Ireland, shakes hands with Irish President Mary McAleese.

Read more about the historic handshake on BBC News online, as well as in the New York Times. Join the debate in our forums: What does democracy mean to you?

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 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?