Laos has freed two political prisoners held for more than a decade for calling for peaceful political and economic change. Lao officials say Feng Sakchittaphong and Latsami Khamphoui completed their 14-year prison terms last month. The officials say the two are currently hospitalized for treatment of medical problems.
Southeast Asian leaders have agreed to begin talks next year on free trade accords with Japan and South Korea. The agreements were made during today's final session of the two-day summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the Lao capital of Vientiane.
Ukraine's Supreme Court and parliament have begun meeting separately today to work on a solution to a national crisis set off by a disputed presidential run-off election. The court met first on Monday to consider allegations of widespread voter fraud raised by Viktor Yushchenko-- the West-leraning opposition presidential candidate. There is no indication when the court might make any rulings.
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