Young Taiwan democracy struggles with gangster influence, highlighted by premier-convict trip

Taiwan’s young democracy struggles with gangsters

Obama says breakthrough on election crisis strengthens democratic hopes for Afghanistan

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Tuesday applauded Afghan President Hamid Karzai for accepting election fraud findings that invalidated nearly a third of the votes cast for him in August.

Rights group: Founder of democracy party in China gets 10-year sentence

BEIJING — The founder of a Chinese group that challenged Communist rule with a call for multiparty democracy has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, a human rights group said Saturday.

Opposition leaders say Clinton pledges US support for democracy, human rights in Russia

MOSCOW — Visiting U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton assured Russia’s struggling independent journalists and rights activists Tuesday that U.S. efforts to improve ties with Moscow did not mean Washington was abandoning its support for democracy in Russia.

Myanmar’s detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi allowed to meet Western diplomats

YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar’s junta leader allowed detained Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi a rare meeting with Western diplomats Friday to discuss sanctions imposed against the military-ruled country.

Myanmar court rejects pro-democracy leader Suu Kyi’s appeal of latest house arrest

YANGON, Myanmar — A Myanmar court rejected an appeal Friday by democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi for her release from house arrest, another reminder that the country’s military junta treads warily when considering concessions to the opposition or improving relations with the West.

At UN, Myanmar prime minister lashes out at Western sanctions, promises democracy on the way

UNITED NATIONS — The highest-ranking official from Myanmar’s military government to appear before the U.N. General Assembly in 14 years lashed out Monday against Western sanctions on his country, but promised to take “systematic steps to hold free and fair elections” next year.

Lawyer: Myanmar democracy leader Suu Kyi willing to help junta on Western sanctions issue

YANGON, Myanmar — Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi says she is willing to work with Myanmar’s military government on getting Western sanctions against the country lifted, but needs to be allowed to gather more information about the issue first, her lawyer said Friday.

Activists say at least 25 political detainees freed as part of Myanmar amnesty

YANGON, Myanmar — At least 25 political detainees were released Friday as part of an amnesty for prisoners in Myanmar, just over 1 percent of the total number of political prisoners believed to be held by its military government.

Ukraine’s political chaos deepens ahead of January presidential vote

KIEV, Ukraine — The lawmaker strode through parliament, smiling politely and clutching a chair — his contribution to a barricade designed to paralyze proceedings.

Medvedev: Russia’s democracy weak, its economy ineffective, demographics bad

MOSCOW — Russia’s democracy is weak, its economy is ailing and the country faces long-term problems with the health of its population, President Dmitry Medvedev said in an article published Friday.

Myanmar pro-democracy party calls on junta to allow branch offices to reopen

YANGON, Myanmar — The pro-democracy party of detained Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi called on the ruling junta Tuesday to allow it to reopen its branch offices, which would be crucial for taking part in next year’s planned national elections.

Commonwealth suspends Fiji from group over lack of progress to democracy

SUVA, Fiji — Fiji’s military-led government said Wednesday its suspension from the 53-nation Commonwealth is the price it must pay for its reform of the country’s political system, and insisted that it will not hold elections before 2014.

Commonwealth suspends Fiji from group over lack of democracy

LONDON — The 53-nation Commonwealth says it has suspended Fiji automatically after it failed to respond to a demand to begin restoring democracy to the island nation.

Commonwealth says it is ready to suspend Fiji from group over lack of democracy

LONDON — The 53-nation Commonwealth says it is ready to suspend Fiji if it does not respond to a demand to begin restoring democracy to the island nation.

Dalai Lama calls on Taiwan to safeguard democracy on visit to typhoon victims that irks China

SHIAO LIN, Taiwan — The Dalai Lama exhorted Taiwan on Monday to safeguard its democracy, interspersing prayers for the victims of Typhoon Morakot with a challenge to Communist China.

Dalai Lama, on prayer visit, says Taiwan, China should have ‘very close and unique links’

SHIAO LIN, Taiwan — The Dalai Lama said Taiwan should have “very close and unique links” with China but also enjoy democracy as he arrived at a devastated village Monday to pray for victims of Taiwan’s worst storm in 50 years.

Farewell, Mr. Sunshine: In death as in life, SKorea’s Kim Dae-jung brings Koreas together

SEOUL, South Korea — In death as in life, Kim Dae-jung managed to bring the two rival Koreas together.

Amid final farewell to Nobel laureate Kim Dae-jung, NKoreans hold talks with SKorean president

SEOUL, South Korea — Tens of thousands of mourners filled the lawn outside parliament for the state funeral Sunday of ex-President Kim Dae-jung, a longtime defender of democracy and advocate of reconciliation who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to reach out to communist North Korea.

US Senator Jim Webb meets Myanmar’s detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi

YANGON, Myanmar — U.S. Sen. Jim Webb met with Myanmar’s democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi on Saturday, the first foreign official allowed to see her since the military junta sentenced her to 18 months of detention, witnesses said.

Clinton delivers blunt call for better government in Africa, and is applauded for it

JOHANNESBURG — In Liberia, Hillary Clinton brought out the crowds despite torrential rain. In Congo, she came away deeply shaken from a meeting with rape victims. Kenya’s prime minister said Africa didn’t need lectures from the West about democracy, but Africa got one anyway.

Myanmar’s pro-democracy leader returns to isolation after trial with resolve, charisma intact

BANGKOK — Myanmar’s generals have again succeeded in isolating democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, but her fleeting emergence during a grueling trial showed that her steely resolve and charisma remain intact.

Philippine former President Aquino laid to rest as huge crowds pay tribute

MANILA, Philippines — Former Philippine President Corazon “Cory” Aquino was laid to rest Wednesday next to her assassinated husband after a funeral procession joined by hundreds of thousands of supporters who hailed her as an exemplar of moral leadership.