Arab human rights activists have condemned a Saudi religious edict calling for the execution of two writers for apostasy - giving a rare glimpse of tensions over Islam inside the conservative kingdom

In Oliver Stone's biopic of the President Bush, W just may stand for warts and more warts

Muslim Uighurs have held anti-government protests in the far western region of Xinjiang, Chinese officials have acknowledged, blaming separatists inspired by the unrest in Tibet.

Being hailed as a statesman and peacemaker around the world is no guarantee of domestic survival

Humanitarian mission to head to Colombia in attempt to deliver medical aid to Ingrid Betancourt

Jeffrey Skilling claims his 24-year sentence resulted from an unfair trial in a city alive with venomous emotion over the energy trading company's collapse

Russia's most celebrated living writer launches memorably waspish attack on George Bush

Move cheers NATO leaders unable to reach agreement on new members at summit in Bucharest

Irish PM announces resignation to save EU treaty vote, but denies allegations of corruption

Berlin newspaper editorial team to be investigated after senior journalists identified as former Stasi informants

Next month's general election in Italy could be postponed as political party wins court ruling

IMF, World Bank, EU and UN to coordinate international emergency aid and development package to rescue the ruined Zimbabwean economy

Arab human rights activists condemn Saudi religious edict calling for the execution of two writers for apostasy

A group of states are attempting to force the Environmental Protection Agency to comply with a Supreme Court ruling

Leader: No one can predict what is going to happen next in Zimbabwe

There is mounting concern at the gap between the government's policies on learning disability and the reality being delivered through services on the ground, writes David Brindle

Leader: A hundred years ago this week, Herbert Henry Asquith began the second longest premiership of the 20th century

Leader: Ministers are shuffling away from the educational policies of Tony Blair

Libby Brooks: Ignored in the 'land grab' hysteria is how we have criminalized the way of life of Britain's most deprived ethnic group

Victor Keegan: The other day I went to a rehearsal of a new production of Hamlet at Shakespeare's Globe ... in the virtual world Second Life