And in the general election itself it is by no means certain that Mr Hague's promise to rule out British membership for an arbitrary period of two parliaments will play better than Mr Blair's promise of a referendum as soon as the time is right.

ECONOMIST: Roll up that map of Europe

Mr Hague said restoring security and democratic rule to Mali after last year's military coup was important for stability in the wider region.

BBC: William Hague in Mali for talks on security talks

Kenyatta's International Criminal Court trial is set to begin in July and could take years, meaning that if he wins he may have to rule Kenya from The Hague, Netherlands, for much of his five-year term.

NPR: Kenya Final Vote Total: Kenyatta Has 50.03 Pct

When asked why the British embassy had not been withdrawn, Mr Hague said that he did not rule it out given the "gravity of the situation" but that "our embassy is not involved in killing people".

BBC: Hague: 'Deeply frustrating' situation in Syria

Foreign Secretary William Hague has said he would not "rule out any option to save lives" in Syria.

BBC: Professor Sir Paul Newton

This would also do more, they argue, to establish the rule of law in Yugoslavia than a distant trial before international judges in The Hague.

ECONOMIST: Justice for Milosevic | The

Mr Hague has won the much-needed praise of Lady Thatcher, but she would still prefer him to rule Britain out of the euro forever.

ECONOMIST: Roll up that map of Europe