Seventy percent of Zimbabweans surveyed recently by the Afrobarometer polling institute said they would like to see a new round of elections this year, but most of them also fear that the process will lead to intimidation and violence as seen in the 2008 elections.

The survey of 1,192 Zimbabweans found that while most favor elections in 2011 they do not believe such polls can be free or fair. Only 6 percent favored postponing elections to 2012, while 3 percent said they would prefer to put them off until 2013.

Security officials in Mali say two people were wounded Wednesday when a man threw an explosive device at the gate of the French embassy in Bamako.

Police said the man they arrested for the attack says he is a Tunisian citizen and a member of al-Qaida.

Security guards at the embassy said a man fired shots and threw an explosive device at the embassy gate.

Malian police officials said the device was a gas cylinder.

Witnesses said the wounded are both Malian.

Egypt has tightened security as Coptic Christians mark their traditional Christmas, following a New Year's Day suicide church bombing that killed 23 worshipers in Alexandria.

Copts are gathering in large numbers Thursday for Christmas Eve services.
Authorities say police have set up a large-scale security operation to protect the worshipers.

In Vatican City, Pope Benedict XVI sent ‘heartfelt greetings’ to Christians in Eastern churches who are celebrating Christmas on Friday, under the Coptic calendar.

At least three policemen and a police commando have been killed in Kyrgyzstan by suspected Islamic militants.

The three policemen were killed late Tuesday in the capital, Bishkek, while checking documents. A police commando was killed on Wednesday when commandos attacked a house where the militants alleged to be involved in Tuesday's incident were hiding out.

At least two militants were reportedly killed in the operation, which took place in a village outside the capital.

FPI YOUNG PROFESSIONALS FILM SCREENING:

Mugabe and the White African

Special Guest Peter Godwin

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

6:00 – 6:30 PM
Networking Reception

6:30 – 7:00 PM
Introduction by Peter Godwin

7:00 – 8:30 PM
Film Screening

8:30 – 9:00 PM
Audience Discussion

The Heritage Foundation
Allison Auditorium
214 Mass Ave. NE

Click here to RSVP

Iran's parliament speaker, Ali Larijani, says his country plans to further boost its missile program.

He said Tuesday that Iran does not hide its weapons intentions to defend itself against "possible aggressions" from Israel and the West. His comments confirm Western analysts' views that Iran has developed short- and mid-range missiles capable of striking Israel and possibly parts of Europe.

Larijani's comments come as Iran's Defense Ministry says it has armed its navy with new coastal cruise missile systems.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan is introducing a series of new anti-terrorism measures following a New Year's Eve bombing that killed four people in the capital.

In the next week, President Jonathan will appoint a special advisor on terrorism and a presidential committee on the control of explosive materials. Spokesman Ima Niboro said there also will be an inspection of police-licensed armories to establish the source of their arms and ammunition, as well as the installation of closed-circuit televisions, or CCTV's, to better monitor public places.

The governor of Pakistan's Punjab Province has been assassinated, allegedly by one of his security guards in Islamabad.

Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik says the slain governor, Salman Taseer, was returning to his car after visiting a shopping center in the Pakistani capital when one of his armed guards sprayed him with bullets.

Witnesses say the Punjab Governor fell down and the attacker dropped his gun before surrendering to police.

Interior Minister Malik told reporters an investigation has been ordered into the incident.

Eight men are on trial in Paris on charges of armed robbery to finance Islamist extremism. As the proceedings begin, there is heightened concern about terrorism in Europe.

The eight men are accused of one armed robbery and another botched attempt in the Paris area in 2004 and 2005. The attacks allegedly were intended to finance radical Islam, notably in Iraq. Prosecutors claim the eight, who include French and North Africans, made contacts with extremists linked to al-Qaida in Syria, Algeria and Turkey.