Mr Shahristani heads a committee formed by Prime Minster Nouri Maliki to look into the demands of the protesters.

BBC: Hundreds of prisoners released in Iraq

When Ecowas was formed in 1975, the majority of its members states had military heads of state - and a new coup leader was therefore warmly welcomed at meetings, without anybody batting an eyelid.

BBC: African viewpoint: Coups, a West African disease?

While most products are likely three to five years away, companies like Cisco, Whirlpool (nyse: WHR - news - people ) and home retailer Sears (nyse: S - news - people ) among others have formed an industry consortium called the Internet Home Alliance where all member companies can put their collective heads together.

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