Europe

Last week the Dutch government said they would no longer pay for the safety of Ayaan Hirsi Ali outside of the Netherlands. Hirsi Ali fled the Netherlands in 2006 because she faced continual threats to her life, and felt that she could no longer live there safely.

Salman Rushdie and Sam Harris spoke out in Global Viewpoint and urged continued protection of Hirsi Ali, calling her "one of the most poised, intelligent and compassionate advocates of freedom of speech and conscience alive today."

Three months after holding general elections Belgium has failed to create government, while separatist voices call for its split.

Belgium is divided into two larger regions - the Dutch-speaking Flanders in the north, and the French-speaking southern region of Wallonia. Friction among both ethnic groups and even calls for Belgium's split from the leaders of both groups left Belgium over three months without a government.

Read more about the historic and political background of the current situation in the New York Times as well as on Bloomberg.

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

The Parliament of Zimbabwe passed a constitutional bill that will allow current President Robert Mugabe to pick his own successor. Furthermore, the new constitutional amendment enables early parliamentary elections in 2008.

Zimbabwe's political and human rights situation is critical. Therefore, UK's Prime Minister Gordon Brown challenges the up-coming summit of the African Union and the EU. He will not attend the meeting if President Mugabe is present.

Read more about PM Brown's announcement in The Independent and find related articles in our del.icio.us-archive.

Join the global debate in our forums: Are dictators ever good?

Find out how other African leaders face today's problems by watching our documentary Iron Ladies of Liberia!

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?

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?.

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?