TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Honduras's post-coup de facto leader said on Friday he would give up his presidential duties for a week, a step Washington welcomed as a way to help ease a five-month-old political crisis.

TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Honduras's post-coup de facto leader said on Friday he would give up his presidential duties for a week, a step Washington welcomed as a way to help ease a five-month-old political crisis.

ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - President Dmitry Medvedev on Saturday criticized regional officials in Russia's ruling party for failing to ensure fully democratic local elections last month.

The Conservatives, tipped to win power in an election next year, said on Saturday they would pull the country's 25,000 troops out of Germany as part of a reorganisation of NATO forces.

Opposition Conservatives, tipped to win power in an election next year, said Saturday they would pull the country's 25,000 troops out of Germany as part of a reorganisation of NATO forces.

ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - President Dmitry Medvedev scolded leaders of Russia's ruling party on Saturday for "bad political habits" and ordered them to win future elections fairly.

Iraqi lawmakers seek compromise on election law dispute, delay key vote until Sunday. Iraqi lawmakers are seeking a compromise in a dispute over an election law that was vetoed by a vice president, throwing national polls slated for January into question.

Russian president scolds ruling party over regional elections, urges it to reform. Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev on Saturday sharply criticized officials in the ruling Kremlin-backed party for manipulating recent regional votes, saying it must learn to win fairly.

Today is Monday, November 23, the 327th day of 2009. There are 38 days left in the year.

PRISTINA (Reuters) - Kosovo held its first elections on Sunday since declaring independence from Serbia last year, with unemployment, corruption, poor infrastructure and low investment the biggest issues for voters.

Kosovo holds peaceful 1st vote since independence, Serbs take part despite call to boycott. Kosovo's first independent elections have ended peacefully, with the prime minister claiming his party won convincingly and some minority Serbs ignoring a call to boycott and casting ballots alongside ethnic Albanians.

MANILA (Reuters) - The son of Philippines democracy icon Corazon "Cory" Aquino continued to lead candidates for the 2010 presidential election, an opinion poll said on Monday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Anti-Castro Cuban-Americans are donating more money to Democratic lawmakers in hopes of blunting momentum in Congress to lift the U.S. trade embargo of the Communist-ruled Caribbean nation, a report said on Monday.

Kosovo's two coalition parties claimed victory in the country's first election since declaring independence as the election commission postponed Monday releasing complete results.

The son of Philippine democracy champion Corazon Aquino is an overwhelming favourite to win next next year's presidential election, according to a national survey released on Monday.

Calif. lawyers reap financial benefits from voting rights law they wrote. Every lawsuit filed or even threatened under a California law aimed at electing more minorities to local offices ? and all of the roughly $4.3 million from settlements so far ? can be traced to just two people: a pair of attorneys who worked together writing the statute, The Associated Press has found.

Iraq's general election in January was thrown into doubt on Monday when the war-torn country's presidential council demanded a greater say for minorities and nationals living abroad.

Iraq's general election in January was thrown into doubt on Monday when the war-torn country's presidential council demanded more clout be given to minorities and nationals living abroad.

KIRKUK, Iraq (Reuters) - A car bomb exploded in a crowded market place in northern Kirkuk on Monday, killing at least six people and wounding six others, Iraqi police and hospital sources said.

It looked like a stunning reversal: the same church that helped defeat gay marriage in California standing with gay-rights activists on an anti-discrimination law in its own backyard.