An Iraqi Shi'ite leader says he has given a United Nations envoy a report showing it would be possible to hold elections in Iraq before the scheduled handover of political power in June.
A published report says the Bush administration is putting together a plan to promote democracy in much of the Middle East.
Vietnam has confirmed another human death from bird flu, bringing the country to 14 and the overall toll in Asia to 19. Five of the deaths have occurred in Thailand.