Political Turmoil, President | featured news

Venezuela awoke to political turmoil Monday after Hugo Chavez's chosen successor, Nicolas Maduro, won the country’s presidential election by such a tight margin that his rival demanded a recount. The country, already shaken by the death from cancer of its dominating leader, faces uncertainty after Maduro secured 50.7 percent of the votes in Sunday's election, compared with 49.1 percent for Henrique Capriles -- a difference of just 235,000 ballots.

Alassane Ouattara has been inaugurated as Ivory Coast's president after months of violence and political turmoil.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters screamed and cheered Friday as it was announced that President Hosni Mubarak was stepping down.

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak says he will stay in office and transfer all power only after September's presidential election.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sought to put the turmoil over the disputed presidential elections behind him and declared on national television that the contests were clean, fair and were the start of a new era.