Putin leads exit polling in Russian parliamentary vote; Venezuelans reject Chávez constitutional reforms; Annapolis may warm US-Syria relations...

3 December :: With 54.5% of vote counted, Putin's 'United Russia' party has reportedly gathered 62.9% of the vote, the Communist party a distant 2nd with 11.6%; NY Times reporting "Across Russia in recent weeks, members of opposition parties said they had been subjected to intense harassment from the authorities, and people who worked for government agencies and companies that received state financing reported that they had been ordered to vote for United Russia"... Observers around world say Putin gov't manipulated parliamentary elections, European observers say there is "no doubt" the elections were "[not] free, fair nor democratic", US calls on Kremlin to investigate allegations of media bias, widespread voter intimidation; opponents say Putin plan to become 'national leader' with no clear constitutional role, no clear limit to power, dangerous for Russia's fledgling democracy... Official results show Venezuelan pres. Hugo Chávez has suffered a major political defeat, as population votes 51% to 49% against his proposed constitutional reforms; Venezuelan gov't ministers, speaking anonymously, had claimed Chávez won referendum, by as much as 6% margin; "If approved, the referendum vote on a raft of reforms would allow Chavez —in office since 1999— to run for reelection indefinitely, control foreign currency reserves, appoint loyalists over regional elected officials and censor the media if he declares an emergency", according to Reuters; VP says election results are too close to call, are already in dispute, opposition has called for calm, but says its numbers show Chávez victory not assured... Speculation spreads US may be considering talks with Syrian gov't in new post-Annapolis worldview; CSM reports US may be tacitly backing Syrian favorite for Lebanese presidency, despite opposition from US allies in Lebanon, who now appear to also approve Gen. Michel Suleiman's rise as president... UN climate change policy conference opens on Indonesian island of Bali, to draft successor protocols to Kyoto treaty; with 180 nations in attendance, hopes are US will support accord, push global emissions regulations... Facing mounting international pressure, and after meetings with muslim members of the British parliament, Sudan pres. Omar al-Bashir pardons British schoolteacher jailed for allowing pupils to name teddy bear 'Muhammad', she will be sent home in coming days...

Key Chávez ally criticizes planned end to term limits; coordinated sabotage attack hits French high-speed rails...

22 November :: Recently retired army chief, long-time Chávez ally, Gen. Baduel under attack for break with Venezuelan president, as Chávez supporters label him 'traitor'; Baduel, who helped restore Chávez to power after failed 2002 coup, has said he disagrees with plans to change constitution to allow indefinite presidential term; IHT reports such critique "considered especially dangerous not only because he was a close ally, but also because he is said to command respect within the powerful armed forces", Baduel could mount viable opposition to Chávez, though general denies this, says he's just expressing his opinion... Withering French strike situation aggravated as new negotiations meet with coordinate sabotage attack on high-speed trains; authorities suspect saboteurs wish to weaken gov't position in negotiations; Laurence Parisot, head of a French business lobby, told press "The cost of the strike is quite simply incalculable. That's to say it is probably gigantic. It is a real catastrophe for our economy"... UN-backed tribuunal has opened interrogations into Khmer Rouge reign of terror across Cambodia in 1970s, calling head of regime's worst torture center to face charges for crimes against humanity; Washington Post reports "A presiding judge then read aloud from Duch's case file: 'Under his authority, countless abuses were committed, including mass murder, arbitrary detention and torture'"... Univ. of New Hampshire poll finds Hillary Clinton's lead over rivals in Democratic primary has shrunk from 23 points to 14 points, as Obama, Edwards make gains on integrity, war, leadership qualities... Naples, Italy, has banned smoking near children or pregnant women, after studies showed rates of tobacco-related illness were higher there than elsewhere across country; critics say new law is folly as Neapolitans are notorious for flouting civic order laws...

US military to hand detained AP photographer over to Iraqis; FBI says hate crime up 7% in US; Chávez threatens $200 oil if Iran attacked...

20 November :: US military to turn over AP photographer to Iraqi authorities for prosecution, accusing him of links to terrorist groups; AP says no such links have even been demonstrated, Iraq native —who won Pulitzer Prize with team of AP photographers— was detained by US after offering shelter to people fleeing a bombing raid in Ramadi, allegedly knowing none of them; AP further says identity of alleged militants among those sheltered has never been demonstrated, calls process "a sham of due process"... FBI reports 7% rise in hate crimes across US last year, to more than 7,700 officially recognized cases nationwide; 19% are reported to have been cases where individuals were targetted for their religious beliefs... While Iowa is reported to be "up for grabs", a Wash. Post/ABC News poll shows Obama leading Democrats with 30% support, Clinton with 26%, Edwards with 22% support; the poll represents an overall gain for Obama, but also, according to the Post, "strategic gains for Obama. His support is up eight percentage points since July among voters 45 and older -- who accounted for two-thirds of Iowa caucus-goers in 2004. He also runs evenly with Clinton among women in Iowa, drawing 32 percent to her 31 percent, despite the fact that her campaign has built its effort around attracting female voters"... Hugo Chávez says oil prices will double, to $200/barrel, if the US takes military action against Iran, also calling on OPEC to drop the dollar-based pricing scheme, use "basket" of currencies; Chávez made declaration as he, Iran pres. Ahmedinejad annoucned binational joint bank, invited other OPEC members to join... Pakistan announces 8 January date for parliamentary, regional assembly elections; opposition leaders say they will boycott if emergency rule not lifted, jailed opposition figure Khan on hunger strike until ousted supreme court justices reinstated...