The Iraqi prime minister's State of Law coalition has called for a recount of all the ballots from the parliamentary elections as the bloc led by his main rival pulled ahead in the count.
The results have been overshadowed by more than 300 complaints of fraud from within Iraq and overseas. How will fraud allegations impact the election process? Will the election bring stability?

As a presidential candidate Barack Obama stressed his willingness to meet  Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and to extend a hand of peace if Iran "unclenched its fist". But with the US stepping up its efforts to isolate Iran and to gain support for a new round of biting sanctions against Tehran, and Ahmadinejad's public posturing with his Syrian counterpart and the Hezbollah leader in Damascus, is it time for the two leaders to meet?

Sudan has signed a ceasefire with a major Darfur rebel group, the second deal in recent weeks, leaving just one band of rebels in open conflict. so will upcoming elections and increased international pressure give this a better chance of survival? Can the seven-year-long conflict be brought to an end and how can the region recover?