Holiday

Well folks im off on holiday on Friday, and due to packing etc, this will be my last update for just over a week. A quick round up and some things to look ahead to:

• The ballots have been cast, now its time to count those essential votes in Haiti. Here's hoping that whoever takes the Presidency will have the full support of the Haitian security forces, and the violence of recent months can be avoided.

• In China, Tibetan independence activists have been jailed after calling for self-determination.

• A bit late, but thin on the ground newswise today im afraid. Something I will be observing closely will be the Benin Presidential elections. One of Africa's few Democracies, its credentials will be put to test once more on 5th March. Here is the list of candidates

Keep your eyes peeled for the Haitian legislative elections on the 15th. The course of that nation's future will be significantly altered after that date. In addition the Kyrgyz Parliamentary Speaker is allegedly about to step down. Will noteworthy to see who takes over. A Bakiyev loyalist, a Kulov man, or someone completely different? Finally expect a 'big' incident in Belarus. The Presidential poll is coming next month and has so far lacked any dramatic repression. Unless Lukashenko has gone clean, something is bound to happen.

Here's a few recommended sites for Democracy news:

• Registan

• Publius

• and Demologue

Enjoy your weekend, Happy Valentines, see you in a while!

Matt