Kurdish negotiator says deal is close on pact to keep PM al-Maliki as Iraq leader

Kurd: Deal closer on settling Iraq political limbo

Kyrgyzstan hopeful elections will bring some stability after months of violence

Kyrgyz hopeful for fair elections

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — Kyrgyzstan is set to hold parliamentary elections after months of political instability and violence in what many observers hope could be the first ever fair vote in Central Asia.

Mob in Kyrgyzstan’s capital storms headquarters of Bakiyev-linked party ahead of election

Kyrgyz mob storms party headquarters ahead of vote

Sweden’s prime minister forms minority government after unsuccessful election

Swedish premier forms minority gov’t

STOCKHOLM — Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt has formed a minority government after his center-right coalition lost control of Parliament in last month’s election.

Egyptian journalists say government cracking down on media critical of authorities

Egypt’s journalists accuse government of crackdown

UN envoy to Afghanistan says elections show the country starting to assume control

UN says Afghan election a positive sign

UNITED NATIONS — Afghanistan’s ability to even hold recent legislative elections shows it is starting to take control of its own future, a U.N. special envoy said Wednesday as Security Council members took stock of the war-ravaged country’s most recent attempt at democracy.

Irish government rejects calls to fill 3 empty parliamentary seats, survives close votes

Irish government rejects byelections, survives

Italy’s Berlusconi seeks confidence vote, hoping to come out stronger despite defecting allies

Berlusconi betting on winning confidence vote

Italy’s Berlusconi to seek confidence vote; his main ally says they have the votes to win

Italy’s Berlusconi to seek confidence vote

NATO: 3 detained Afghan journalists released after outcry

NATO says 3 detained Afghan journalists released

Swedish election results confirmed: Government loses parliamentary majority

Swedish vote confirmed: Gov’t loses majority

Afghan president Karzai calls for quick release of detained journalists

Afghan president calls for release of journalists

Swedish government gains 1 seat in late vote count

Swedish government gains 1 seat in late vote count

Swiss women claim Cabinet majority, less than 4 decades after winning right to vote

Swiss women claim majority of seats in Cabinet

Insurgent-led Afghan party raises fears of unsavory leaders claiming power by ballot box

Afghan warlords hedge bets, contest elections

Swedish PM says government to stay in power after loosing majority, seek support from Greens

Swedish PM says gov’t to stay in power

STOCKHOLM — Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt says his center-right government will stay in office despite losing its majority in a parliamentary election.

Swedish government loses majority in election as far-right group enters Parliament

Swedish gov’t loses majority, far-right kingmaker

Swedish election too close to call as far-right group challenges government’s majority

Swedish election too close to call

STOCKHOLM — Sweden’s election was heading for a nail-biting finish Sunday with a TV exit poll and partial results showing a far-right party challenging the center-right government’s majority in Parliament.

TV exit poll: Swedish center-right govt wins election, but far-right may become kingmaker

Exit poll: Swedish far-right may become kingmaker

Parties look for coalition after tight outcome in St. Maarten’s 1st parliament vote

Tight outcome in St. Maarten’s 1st parliament vote

Polling stations formally open for voting in Afghanistan’s parliamentary election

Polling opens for Afghan parliamentary vote

Police: Rocket hits Kabul as Afghans prepare to vote in parliamentary elections

Police: Rocket hits Kabul on Afghan voting day

Karzai urges Afghans to vote in parliamentary election despite threats from Taliban

Karzai urges Afghans to vote, ignore Taliban

Japan to get new foreign minister as Kan reshuffles Cabinet to put stamp on his administration

Cabinet shuffle to give Japan new foreign minister

Japan’s Cabinet resigns en masse, to make way for new administration

Japan’s Cabinet resigns ahead of reshuffle

A rundown on the Afghan parliamentary election

A rundown on the Afghan parliamentary election

Russian opposition leaders form coalition to challenge PM Putin, President Medvedev

Russian opposition challenges Putin, Medvedev

Russian opposition forms coalition to challenge Putin, Medvedev

Russian opposition forms coalition

MOSCOW — Some of Russia’s prominent opposition leaders have formed a coalition to challenge the rule of President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Swedish nationalist group surges ahead of election amid loud protests

Swedish nationalist group surges amid protests

Kazakhstan’s long-serving leader to seek an extension of his rule to 2017

Kazakhstan’s long-serving leader to seek new term

Report: Kazakhstan’s long-serving leader to seek an extension of his rule to 2017

Report: Kazakh leader to seek new term

ALMATY, Kazakhstan — Kazakhstan’s aging leader will seek to extend his rule to 2017 in the energy-rich nation’s next election, a senior presidential adviser said in an interview published Thursday, dampening speculation about potential successors.