Feb 13 Shiite Party Narrowly Votes to Retain Iraqi Prime Minister By PBS News Hour The leading Shiite alliance party voted to retain moderate Islamist Ibrahim al-Jaafari as Iraq's prime minister, but the one-vote margin exposed deep differences within the leading political party over the direction of the new Iraqi parliament. Continue reading
May 18 Gandhi Declines Post As Prime Minister of India By PBS News Hour Sonia Gandhi, whose Congress party won a landslide election, announced Tuesday she will not accept the post of prime minister of India. Gandhi made her decision following protests from Hindu nationalists over the fact that she was born in Italy. Continue reading
May 13 Indian Prime Minister Resigns After Surprising Party Defeat By PBS News Hour Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee resigned in the wake of the crushing defeat of his governing Bharatiya Janata Party in India's general elections. Close to 380 million voters turned out for the elections held over three weeks. Continue reading
Apr 23 Arafat, New Prime Minister Agree on Palestinian Cabinet Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat approved a compromise version of his new prime minister's cabinet Wednesday, paving the way for implementation of an internationally-backed "road map" for peace with Israel. Continue reading
Mar 14 Pres. Bush to Submit Mideast Roadmap Once Palestinian PM in Place President Bush announced Friday that he would unveil his long-awaited "road map" for Middle East peace once a new Palestinian prime minister with real governing authority takes office. Continue reading
Mar 10 Palestinians Approve New Prime Minister Post The Palestinian parliament approved the creation of a new prime minister post Monday, a day after Palestinian President Yasser Arafat announced his choice for the position, moderate Mahmoud Abbas. Continue reading