The spirit at the foundation of the Turkish Grand National Assembly illuminates the new phase today.

BBC: Ocalan statement: Key excerpts

He will also need the help of the Grand National Party, which holds a majority of seats in the National Assembly, to pass legislation.

ECONOMIST: Korean glums

There, President Lee Myung-bak's Grand National Party is desperately attempting to force ratification of the FTA with America through the National Assembly.

ECONOMIST: A battle over American-led free trade brews in Asia

Mr Kim blames the opposition Grand National Party, which holds a majority in the assembly, for slowing down the pace of reform.

ECONOMIST: South Korea

They have boycotted parliamentary committee meetings to protest against a bill to ratify a free-trade agreement with America, and have disrupted the National Assembly by leaving their seats to heckle and scuffle with members of Mr Lee's Grand National Party (GNP).

ECONOMIST: A nasty downturn, but politics as usual

The Shia Muslims' most influential cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, has confounded Mr Bremer's plans for appointed caucuses to choose an interim national assembly, insisting instead on direct elections.

ECONOMIST: Iraq