So far the protests have been largely peaceful, in contrast to anti-government demonstrations in April last year when the government was forced to enact security laws with the military brought in to end the unrest.

VOA: standard.2010.03.20

But the political leadership does not want that. "So a part of the strategy is building up those elements in Pakistan that understand that having a stable and peaceful relationship with Afghanistan is actually in Pakistan's national security interest,"

VOA: standard.2009.12.06

The 10 individuals affected by EU sanctions will not be named until Tuesday, but the council of the European Union said it condemned "in the strongest terms the ongoing repression in Syria and the unacceptable violence used by the military and security forces against peaceful protesters which have lead to hundreds of fatalities".

BBC: Syria condemns EU sanctions on Bashar al-Assad

The ANC "must avoid competing with demagogues and populists and exploiting a situation that should be returned to normal", he told me - expressing confidence in new moves by the security forces to "restore peaceful conditions" at the affected mines.

BBC: Do unions have a future in South Africa?

And we believe that with Israelis and the Palestinian Authority coming together, making clear that a peaceful, non-violent solution that recognizes both the security needs of Israel as well as the legitimate aspirations of Palestinians is the right way to go, can yield real progress in the coming months.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Meets with Palestinian President Abbas