Middle East

Pre-Election Hitches in Sulaimaniyah

In the Kurdish areas where people are the most receptive to democracy, they still find it hard to register to vote.

22 Feb 05

Does the new collaborative spirit between the two big Kurdish parties come too late to maximise their gains from the election?

22 Feb 05

Thirty years of state manipulation are proving hard for some Iraqis to throw off.

22 Feb 05

Sixteen years after the Kurdish town was hit by a poison gas attack, a man alleged to have supplied the chemicals could be brought to justice.

22 Feb 05

Many chemical attack victims say its mastermind should be tried and executed in Halabja, but others want him to confront consequences of his actions.

22 Feb 05

Washington and Tehran vie over distribution of Kazakstan's vast energy reserves

22 Feb 05

Some members of the Shanghai Forum are cautious over Islamabad's attempts to establish closer links

22 Feb 05

Concerns over drug smuggling appear to be behind Turkmenistan's decision to tighten border security.

22 Feb 05

Uzbek analysts warn extension of Karimov presidency could derail the democratisation process.

22 Feb 05

Warlord Ismail Khan looks to Tehran to help him consolidate his Herat powerbase.

22 Feb 05

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