Elections

Tackling property crime and gangs should be a priority, many respondents told the survey.

For Silvio Berlusconi, the domestic dimension has always been a key to his troubled political and personal life. From Villa San Martino at Arcore, a small town near Milan, to Villa La Certosa in Sardinia, a breath-taking mansion overlooking the crystalline sea, his houses have equally been theatrical headquarters of political meetings as well as lascivious brothels for the Prime Minister's secret pleasures.

Despite trying to keep a low profile, Dominique Strass-Kahn continues to be in the spotlight after the ex-IMF chief was hit by a new scandal, with sources saying it is all becoming too much for his wife, Anne Sinclair.

Former EU Commissioner Mario Monti will begin consultations to form a new government of technocrats that could be sworn by Wednesday as Italy is expected to push through a bond sale on Monday of up to of 5-year bonds worth three billion euros.

The Italian Senate has approved the austerity law, a package of measures designed to avoid a Eurozone breakdown. The law should get final approval by the lower house at the weekend, leaving the way for Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to step down. The senate voted by 156 to 12 in favour of the austerity package.

Italy's upper chamber, the Senate, will debate and vote Friday on austerity measures demanded by the EU to avoid a eurozone breakdown, while a new emergency government could take over Silvio Berlusconi's administration within days.

Zimbabwean dictator, President Robert Mugabe has moved from politics to show business after reinventing himself as a popstar.

Former South Africa's president, Thabo Mbeki, has hinted that that Africa's right to self-determination is still threatened by a "new imperialism", illustrated by the Nato Libyan operation.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano said on Wednesday afternoon that Italy will soon approve a financial stability law and a new government will be formed, in a dramatic attempt to calm bond markets.

A day after Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi promised to resign as soon as parliament approves urgent budget reforms, Italy has awoken to political limbo.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi who pledged to resign after the approval of urgent budget reforms, has said that he will not stand in new elections planned for February.

Nobel Prize Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is set to win Liberia's presidential elections after her main opponent Winston Tubman dropped out of the electoral race, but an outbreak of violence ahead of the vote has raised fears of anarchy returning to the streets.

Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's controversial leader is trying to survive the latest political crisis affecting his career as Tuesday as he faces a crucial parliamentary vote which could bring down his stricken coalition after three years in power.

The mounting crisis that has gripped the Eurozone countries seems to have boosted China's ongoing efforts to secure a prominent diplomatic space among its western allies.

Silvio Berlusconi's main coalition partner, Umberto Bossi of the Northern League, has called on him to resign.

The Greek press warned political parties that "today is the last chance" to end the political stalemate and appoint a new leader.

Thousands of Russian soldiers and military cadets paraded across the Red Square to mark the 70th anniversary of the parade that saw Soviet Soldiers march from the Kremlin into the frontline where they faced the Nazi forces during World War II.

Former general Otto Perez Molina has been elected president of Guatemala after pledging to tackle crime and drug-related violence that are plaguing the country.

Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni declared Sunday that Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right coalition "has no majority in Parliament" as the government faces a key confidence vote Tuesday on emergency economic measures.

After 48 hours of political deadlock, Greece will name its new prime minster by the end of the day after the outgoing premier, George Papandreou, and opposition leader, Antonis Samaras, reached a consensus with the country’s president Carolos Papoulias yesterday evening.

Tensions between Iran and the U.S. are mounting after Teheran warned that America should think twice as the government would be ready to "defend the country" amid speculation that the U.S. and Israel are considering an attack.

In an effort to save his dwindling political career sources close to the Greek prime minister, George Papandreou, say that plans to hold an EU referendum have been scrapped.

Tensions between the US, its allies and Iran are mounting following a string of reports saying that the U.S. are considering attacking Iranian nuclear facilities, with the potential support and participation of both the UK and Israel.

Conflicting reports said that Greek prime minister, George Papandreou, will stand down after asking for a coalition government to be formed with Pasok and the opposition party New Democracy with elections most likely in the New Year.

The Greek government is teetering on the brink of collapse Thursday morning after news that deep divisions between Cabinet members emerged over Prime Minister George Papandreou's decision to hold a referendum on the Eurozone's rescue plan.

The United Kingdom is prepared to militarily support a US strike against Teheran's nuclear enrichment programme, a British newspaper has reported, while in Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is believed to be pushing for a decisive strike against the Jewish state's arch-enemy.

Prime Minister George Papandreou's shock announcement Monday night that Greece's bailout plan will be put to referendum has been coldly received by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, bringing accusations the move will intensify the euro zone crisis.

Reports that Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi had agreed to step down as part of a 'secret deal' emerged Wednesday denied by The Northern League, the coalition's main ally and the PM's office.

Human Right Watch (HRW) has warned of a cover-up by the Egyptian military following an investigation launched after the killing of more than two dozen demonstrators, mostly Coptic Christians, an incident which has put the spotlight on Egypt's ruling Military Council's harsh tactics.

Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, a long-time opponent of Mugabe's Zanu-PF has changed his stance on gay rights, saying he now wants them enshrined in the new soon-to be constitution.