Adnan Pachachi, this month's president of the U.S.-appointed Governing Council, said he backs direct elections in principle but indicated the caucus-elected assembly, or some variation of this plan, would be more realistic in view of the June deadline.

CNN: Iraq leader: Direct vote could delay handover

But are accident black spots simply the result of random variation or are there some areas where speeding is a particular danger?

BBC: Speed Cameras

At least 30 other states require some variation of background checks, or fingerprinting, or both.

ECONOMIST: Fingerprinting teachers

Or maybe Germany will sign up, after all, to some variation of the "Redemption Fund" proposal from Germany's own "wise men", which would involve guaranteeing only a proportion of each government's debt, for a finite period of time.

BBC: War of words for euro summit