In a single year under Rasputin's influence Russia had five interior ministers, three war ministers, four agriculture ministers and three justice ministers.

ECONOMIST: Russian history

"I think the problems which have been happening in Darfur are problems which can be happening in any place of the world where there is a war, " Sudanese Interior Minister Ibrahim Hamid said.

CNN: 'A horror movie and a snuff movie'

And it is interesting to speculate on what might have happened to his reputation if he had been given the interior ministry that he so coveted, and thus been responsible for the French police during the Algerian war or the events of 1968.

ECONOMIST: Intellectual adventurers

You can easily imagine that happening in the current location's '60s mod interior with leather banquettes, a giant seafood ice boat and vested wait staff that all give off a Cold War-era highbrow vibe.

BBC: James Bond��s London