New video information discredits the official story that former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri died as the result of a car bomb. It now appears that the explosives were pre-positioned in the road and detonated remotely. This new evidence gives added weight to a recent UN report on the incident which blamed the Syrian backed Lebanese security forces for the attack and fell a few millimeters short of blaming Syria directly. Further investigations have been called for; investigations that give investigators subpoena powers.
For the first time, Syria has committed to a withdrawal timetable saying that they will withdraw all Syrian military and intelligence assets in Lebanon before the elections in May. The recent violence in Lebanon, three bombs in Christian sections in eights days, did not produce the desired results; a call for Syria to stay and provide security. Instead, Syria was blamed for the violence. And while the pro-Syrian Prime Minister Omar Karami has announced he will resign, again, President Emile Lahoud is vowing to end the violence. And Lebanese Nationalists are saying I don't care what you people do, just hold the elections as scheduled.
It appears that against all odds, progress is being made.
When thousands protested the fixed elections in Kyrgyzstan, President Askar Akayev fled the country. Today, he resurfaced in Russia claiming he didn't resign and he's still the big cheese in Kyrgyzstan. Unfortunately for him, someone has taken his place temporarily. And acting President Kurmanbek Bakiev has some words of advice for Mr Akayev: "Don't come back." With a new Parliament in place, the US has offered assistence in get the country's political house in order. But Russia is not reacting too well to the offer.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov ... warned against outside interference in the political affairs of former Soviet nations.
Given that this is the third former Soviet state that has had Russian friendly governments swept from power by popular uprisings against fixed elections in the last 18 months, I'd say that Russia has to worry about internal meddling more than outside interference.