JIUZHOU, China, Oct 17, 2007 (AFP) - China's experiment with grass-roots democracy has only caused misery for the people of Jiuzhuo, after their highly despised village leader murdered his opponents following years of graft.

Ning Yongfeng had been accused of widespread corruption since he was first elected village head in 2003 and locals rose up in anger after he stuffed ballot boxes, and threatened and beat rival candidates, in a 2006 re-election.

ROGERS, Arkansas, Oct 15, 2007 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush called Monday for stepped up international pressure to convince Myanmar's military junta to move toward democracy.

Bush told reporters here that while the United States has done its share to ostracize the military regime, what is now needed is 'enormous international pressure, to make it clear to the generals that they will be completely isolated and not accepted into the international community of nations.'

'Sanctions don't mean anything if we are the only sanctioner,' the US president added.

BEIJING, Oct 15, 2007 (AFP) - Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday flagged further political reforms for China, but reassured members of the Communist Party's elite that the party would remain dominant.

'As an important part of the overall reform, political restructuring must be constantly deepened along with economic and social development,' he said at the opening of the party's five-yearly Congress.

'In deepening political restructuring, we must keep to the correct political orientation... We must uphold the party's role at the core of the leadership.'

HONG KONG, Oct 14, 2007 (AFP) - Hong Kong's leader has been forced to make an unprecedented apology after warning that democracy could lead to the chaos of the Cultural Revolution, in which millions of Chinese were persecuted.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang said that democracy, if taken to the extreme, could spark scenes reminiscent of the disastrous decade-long purge of capitalist influence, which tore the country apart.

Tsang is currently spearheading the process of introducing universal suffrage into the former British colony.

WASHINGTON, Oct 11, 2007 (AFP) - A coalition spearheaded by an Iranian-American group Thursday urged Congress to cut 75 million dollars in funding for democracy promotion in Iran, saying it did more harm than good.

A total of 26 organizations, including the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) and human rights groups, argued there was overwhelming opposition to the program among activists within Iran.

BEIJING, Oct 11, 2007 (AFP) - China's ruling Communist Party has intensified a crackdown on dissent ahead of a crucial political meeting next week and is likely to do the same in the lead-up to next year's Beijing Olympics, rights groups said Thursday.

Two of China's leading democracy campaigners, Yao Lifa and Lu Banglie, went missing in recent days as part of security operations ahead of the party's five-yearly Congress, which opens Monday, Chinese Human Rights Defenders said.

BEIJING, Oct 11, 2007 (AFP) - Two of China's leading democracy campaigners have gone missing amid an intensified crackdown by the ruling Communist Party on political dissent ahead of a key meeting, rights groups said Thursday.

Yao Lifa and Lu Banglie, activists promoting local democratic elections in China's central Hubei Province, disappeared in recent days, the Chinese Human Rights Defenders said in a statement.

YANGON, Sept 14, 2007 (AFP) - Myanmar's pro-democracy party on Friday called for dialogue with the ruling military junta after a string of rare protests led to a government crackdown and the arrest of dozens of its members.

The statement by the National League for Democracy, led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, comes after the junta on Sunday threatened action against democracy activists and accused the party of inciting national unrest.

YANGON, Sept 14, 2007 (AFP) - Myanmar's pro-democracy party on Friday called for dialogue with the ruling military junta after a string of rare protests led to a government crackdown and the arrest of dozens of its members.

The statement by the National League for Democracy, led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, comes after the junta on Sunday threatened action against democracy activists and accused the party of inciting national unrest.

DHAKA, Sept 12, 2007 (AFP) - Army-backed authorities in Bangladesh opened crucial talks Wednesday with major political parties aimed at steering the country down the path from emergency rule to democracy, officials said.

The negotiations centre around efforts to revamp voter lists and ensure there is no repeat of the crisis earlier this year when elections were cancelled due to allegations of vote-rigging, paralysing the country.

DHAKA, Sept 12, 2007 (AFP) - Authorities in Bangladesh were to open crucial talks with major political parties Wednesday aimed at steering the emergency-ruled country back to democracy, an official said.

The negotiations centre around efforts to revamp voter lists and ensure there is no repeat of the crisis earlier this year when elections were cancelled by allegations of vote-rigging, paralysing the country.

SYDNEY, Sept 6, 2007 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush on Friday scolded Myanmar, called for elections in Thailand, and urged the creation of an 'Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership' to help 'forces of moderation' in the region.

'Through this partnership, free nations will work together to support democratic values, strengthen democratic institutions, and assist those who are working to build and sustain free societies across the Asia Pacific region,' he said in remarks prepared for delivery at an Asia-Pacific summit here.

WASHINGTON, Aug 6, 2007 (AFP) - The United States has raised concerns over issues such as media freedom and human rights with ally Azerbaijan during a bilateral dialogue, the State Department said Monday.

They were taken up during the third round of the dialogue on democracy and human rights in the ex-Soviet republic on Friday, a department statement said.

'This round of the dialogue focused on media freedom, electoral processes, and human rights concerns, as well as the rule of law and the role of civil society,' it said.

CARACAS, July 22, 2007 (AFP) - Venezuela`s fiery socialist President Hugo Chavez on Sunday vowed to kick out foreigners who brand him a 'tyrant,' after a Mexican politician spoke at a forum here on sensitive democracy issues.

'No foreigner can come here to attack us. Anyone who does must be removed from this country,' Chavez said on his Sunday television and radio broadcast, 'Hello, President.'

'It cannot be allowed -- it is a question of national dignity,' he added.