But his criticism of what he saw as authoritarianism and human-rights abuses led to his being dropped as successor to the nation's Supreme Leader.

VOA: standard.2009.12.22

The country's first post-apartheid president, Nelson Mandela, campaigned hard for the prestigious tournament because he saw it as a way to further reconciliation after decades of racial separation and conflict.

VOA: standard.2010.06.07

"We were committed from the beginning to reset the U.S.- Russia relationship because we saw it as essential to making progress on our top priorities, from counter-terrorism, to nuclear security and nonproliferation."

VOA: standard.2010.03.26