Ahmadinejad pledges ‘crushing’ response if Obama continues criticism of postelection crackdown

EDITOR’S NOTE: Iranian authorities have barred journalists for international news organizations from reporting on the streets and ordered them to stay in their offices. This report is based on the accounts of witnesses reached in Iran and official statements carried on Iranian media.

Thailand braces for anti-government demonstration as thousands of protesters mass in Bangkok

BANGKOK — Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra lamented that he was “really lonely” in self-imposed exile and urged thousands of cheering supporters to help him return to Thailand “to serve the public” in one of the country’s largest demonstrations in months.

American’s how-to guide to toppling dictatorships

Excerpts from the book “From Dictatorship to Democracy,” a guide to nonviolent resistance written by retired American scholar Gene Sharp and being cited by some Iranian protesters:

American’s how-to guide for toppling dictatorships finds it way to Iranian protesters

EDITOR’S NOTE: Iranian authorities have barred journalists for international news organizations from reporting on the streets and ordered them to stay in their offices. This report is based on the accounts of witnesses reached in Iran and official statements carried on Iranian media.

Myanmar’s opposition welcomes arrival of UN envoy in Myanmar amid Suu Kyi trial

YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar’s opposition welcomed the arrival Friday of a U.N. special envoy whose visit to the military-ruled country comes during the trial of their leader, pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.

Honduras lurches toward constitutional crisis pitting president against military, courts

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — With backing from Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez, Honduras’ leftist president pushed ahead Friday with a referendum on revamping the constitution, risking his rule in a standoff against Congress, the Supreme Court and the military.

FIA president Max Mosley says F1 peace deal in doubt over Ferrari chief’s ‘dictator’ gibe

LONDON — FIA president Max Mosley warned that Formula One’s peace deal may collapse unless Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo apologizes for branding him a “dictator.”

Analysis: Iran’s twin pillars of rule _ the turban and the helmet _ tighten grip

EDITOR’S NOTE: Iranian authorities have barred journalists for international news organizations from reporting on the streets and ordered them to stay in their offices. This report is based on the accounts of witnesses reached in Iran and official statements carried on Iranian media.

Honduran president says he will not obey Supreme Court order to reinstate fired military chief

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — The Honduran president vowed Thursday to ignore a Supreme Court ruling ordering him to reinstate the military chief he fired, escalating a showdown that has threatened the leftist leader’s hold on power.

Supreme Court says Arizona entitled to fresh look on adequacy of programs for English-learners

PHOENIX — The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday handed a partial victory to Arizona officials, ruling that the state is entitled to a fresh legal review that could lift a court order requiring changes in how schools teach children learning English.

Honduran Supreme Court reinstates fired military chief in growing power struggle

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — The Honduran Supreme Court rejected the president’s attempt to fire his military chief Thursday, escalating a showdown that has threatened the leftist leader’s hold on power.

Finding shadows of a king, and a troubled nation’s history, in Nepal’s former royal palace

KATMANDU, Nepal — Pity the king.

Honduran military chiefs quit in growing controversy over referendum on constitutional reforms

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — The Honduran president warned that his country’s stability is at risk after the attorney general called for his ouster and the military chiefs resigned over an upcoming national referendum on constitutional reforms.

Obama praises Cuban dissidents for pro-democracy work, urges release of political prisoners

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama praised five Cuban dissidents for their pro-democracy activities Thursday, and called on the communist government to release all political prisoners.

Mexican president says future of democracy at stake in fight against corruption, drug gangs

MEXICO CITY — President Felipe Calderon said Wednesday the future of Mexican democracy is at stake in the government’s fight against official corruption and organized crime, and he criticized politicians who he said want to return to the era when gangs were tolerated.

Wearing head scarves, wielding rocks: Iranian women take center stage in country’s protests

EDITOR’S NOTE: Iranian authorities have barred journalists for international news organizations from reporting on the streets and ordered them to stay in their offices. This report is based on the accounts of witnesses reached in Iran and official statements carried on Iranian media.

Conservative candidate pulls fraud complaints, Iran moves to declaring Ahmadinejad president

CAIRO — A conservative candidate in Iran’s disputed presidential election said Wednesday that he was withdrawing his complaints about voting fraud for the sake of the country, state television reported.

Protests muted in Iran as regime expels British diplomats, toughens crackdown

CAIRO — Overwhelmed by police and left with limited alternatives, Iranian demonstrators resorted Tuesday to more subtle ways of challenging the outcome of the presidential election: holding up posters, shouting from rooftops and turning on car headlights.

Iran expels British diplomats and refuses to hold new election despite charges of fraud

CAIRO — Iran expelled two British diplomats Tuesday after bitterly accusing Britain of meddling and spying. The government also dealt a fresh blow to the opposition by making clear it will not hold a new vote despite charges of fraud.

Boyfriend of woman killed in Iran protests says she only wanted democracy, freedom for Iran

LOS ANGELES — A man identifying himself as the boyfriend of a young woman whose grisly death in Iran’s postelection protests was captured on amateur video said Monday that she only wanted democracy and freedom for the people of Iran.

Zimbabwe’s PM Morgan Tsvangirai defends decision to share power with Robert Mugabe

LONDON — Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Sunday defended his decision to enter a power-sharing government with President Robert Mugabe, a day after being heckled offstage by protesters in London.

Myanmar jails 2 Aung San Suu Kyi’s supporters after prayer for her release

YANGON, Myanmar — A court in military-run Myanmar has sentenced two members of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s party to 18 months in prison after they prayed for her release at a pagoda, the opposition party spokesman said Sunday.

Senior cleric Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani may be playing key role in Iran’s escalating crisis

CAIRO — One of Iran’s most powerful men may be playing a key role behind closed doors in the country’s escalating postelection crisis.

66 bank accounts, 45 homes: Despite robbing country, Gabonese ruler still mourned by people

LIBREVILLE, Gabon — When longtime dictator Omar Bongo died last week, he left behind at least 66 bank accounts. The first family owned 45 homes in France, including at least 14 in Paris and 11 on the French Riviera. And they boasted of 19 or more luxury cars, including a Bugatti sports model that cost the Republic of Gabon $1.5 million.

Iran’s leader warns opposition: End street protests or be accountable for ‘bloodshed’

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s supreme leader sought to end the deepening crisis over disputed elections with one decisive speech — declaring the vote will almost certainly stand and sternly warning opposition leaders to end street protests or be held responsible for any “bloodshed and chaos” to come.

Brazil apologizes, offers reparations for torture of poor farmers during dictatorship

BRASILIA, Brazil — The Brazilian government has apologized for the torture and abuse of 44 poor farmers under the military regime that ruled the country from 1964 to 1985 and announced reparations for the victims.

Tehran residents shout ‘God is Great’ from rooftops in defiance of Iran’s supreme leader

TEHRAN, Iran — Tehran residents are climbing to their roofs and crying “God is Great!” in open defiance of Iran’s supreme leader.

Global rallies demand release of Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi on her 64th birthday

YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi shared rice and chocolate cake with her prison guards to celebrate her 64th birthday Friday, as global condemnation of her trial galvanized rallies in capitals around the world.

Iran top leader calls recent election historic celebration in rare Friday address to country

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s supreme leader says the country’s recent presidential elections showed off the country’s religious democracy for the world to see.

Hundreds of thousands rally to mourn protesters killed in anti-government clashes in Iran

TEHRAN, Iran — Hundreds of thousands of protesters dressed in black and green flooded the streets of Tehran on Thursday in a somber, candlelit show of defiance and mourning for those killed in clashes after Iran’s disputed presidential election. The massive march — the fourth this week — sent a powerful message that opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi has the popular backing to sustain his unprecedented challenge to Iran’s ruling clerics.