Prime minister Viktor Yanukovych is at first declared winner of a rigged (and subsequently annulled) presidential election in Ukraine

Tests reveal that Viktor Yushchenko, opposition candidate in Ukraine's presidential election, has been poisoned with dyoxin

Opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko easily wins the re-run of the rigged presidential election in the Ukraine

The first general election is held in Iraq, for 275 members of a permanent Iraqi General Assembly

The Republicans lose control of both houses of the US Congress in an electoral backlash against the Iraq War

Evidence suggests that Tsvangirai has won Zimbabwe's presidential election, but after a delay of more than a month it is announced that a second round run-off is required