The British experience in Basra, far from being a model to be replicated in the rest of Iraq, is an example of what to avoid. The city's descent into chaos under British occupation offers important lessons for Baghdad and the nation as a whole. Following a military "surge" by coalition forces, Basra’s political arena is now in the hands of actors engaged in bloody competition for resources, undermining what is left of governorate institutions.

The international community must press the warring sides for urgent action to address wide-spread human rights abuses in Sri Lanka as a first step to restoring a climate in which the long conflict can ultimately be resolved. Both the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have been committing abuses since they resumed their war in 2006. The international community should support a resolution in the UN Human Rights Council, reassess aid policies and support more international involvement in monitoring abuses.

Despite some recent optimism and new talks starting on 18 June, the conflict in Western Sahara – with its heavy continuing costs on all the parties – will not be resolved without a fundamental change in the UN Security Council’s approach. The International Crisis Group releases two reports on the conflict today. The first, Western Sahara: Out of the Impasse, examines the long-running stalemate between Morocco, the Polisario Front and Algeria, focusing in particular on the role played by the UN Security Council.

Despite some recent optimism and new talks starting on 18 June, the conflict in Western Sahara – with its heavy continuing costs on all the parties – will not be resolved without a fundamental change in the UN Security Council’s approach. The International Crisis Group releases two reports on the conflict today. The first, Western Sahara: Out of the Impasse, examines the long-running stalemate between Morocco, the Polisario Front and Algeria, focusing in particular on the role played by the UN Security Council.

With rumours of emergency rule – in effect martial law – flying about Islamabad, the U.S. should lead an immediate move by the international community, including the EU and Japan, to urge peaceful transition to democratic rule in Pakistan. Amid increasingly strident opposition, President Pervez Musharraf is facing his most serious challenge in nearly eight years of authoritarian rule, but any attempt to impose emergency rule and suspend fundamental rights would be pouring petrol on the fire.

The European Union and U.S. have fundamentally misinterpreted Serbian politics for years and now face the prospect of living indefinitely with a highly nationalist government that is turning away from Europe. The West for years wrongly saw the domestic struggle as one about democracy. In reality the dividing line has been between adherents of Western values and European integration and those emphasising a virulent nationalism.

After deeply flawed elections, Nigeria’s new president must act urgently to pull the nation back from the brink of chaos. The electoral injustice in April 2007 is undermining the country’s democratic status and weakening its position as a broker of peace across the African continent. President Umaru Yar’Adua should reach out to the opposition to form an inclusive government of national unity, in which all major parties are genuinely represented.

Touraj Daryaee @ Iranian.com

It is these insinuations in the film that are more troublesome to me as a Persian immigrant to the U.S., than as a historian of antiquity. After all, Hollywood tries to sell movies and does not care if they are historically accurate, but movies also carry a subtle message which has very effective and current consequences.

Reporters without Borders