What had surprised me is that it doesn't seem like it's being discussed very much as to whether the U.S. should or should not release the women prisoners that the kidnappers are demanding be released.
The Arab League proposals - accepted by the government of President Bashar al-Assad - include the release of prisoners, the withdrawal of security forces from the streets and talks between the government and opposition.
But the House of Commons debate on the release of prisoners did sow genuine confusion in the ranks of the Ulster Unionist Party.
But the criteria already being applied for the release of prisoners mean that only 71 of the 340 will still be in jail in two years' time.
Mr Trimble, who is also the area's MP, said if dissident loyalists are found to have been involved, the release of their prisoners under the Good Friday Agreement should be suspended.
Mr. Obama, who last year became the first U.S. president to visit Myanmar, lauded the release of political prisoners, the completion of credible elections and Mr. Thein Sein's efforts to resolve ethnic conflicts.
But what is insufficiently appreciated is that society in Northern Ireland is increasingly becoming mafia like, the competing rival paramilitary organisations are there and the release of prisoners has reinvigorated those organisations and is ill omen for the future.
While Mr Abbas's people were busy trying to spin their way out of the Goldstone imbroglio, Hamas gleefully celebrated the release of the 20 women prisoners it had secured in exchange for a videotape of Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier seized by Hamas over three years ago.
ECONOMIST: The Palestinians and the Goldstone report: Stranded between America and the street | The
Broadly, it seems that Mr Thein Sein promised to push ahead with the release of political prisoners, and give the nod to political reforms that might one day allow the NLD to take power.
Jill Carroll, a freelancer for The Christian Science Monitor, was abducted in Iraq by militants who are demanding the release of prisoners.
Mr Trimble digs holes for himself by appearing to go back to demanding preconditions, on the release of prisoners and on Sinn Fein ministers.
Sanaa, Yemen (CNN) -- Tribesmen demanding the release of prisoners kidnapped a female Swiss teacher in Yemen, two Yemeni Interior Ministry officials told CNN on Friday.
In addition to a ceasefire, Mr Annan's initiative calls for the withdrawal of soldiers and heavy weapons from cities, the release of prisoners, delivery of humanitarian aid and free movement for journalists.
An EU embargo on arms sales remains in place and the bloc has said that it still expects the unconditional release of remaining political prisoners and the removal of all restrictions placed on those already released.
Deputy Prime Minister Hussain al-Sharistani announced the release of 160 prisoners, including 13 women, during a ceremony at the prison on Thursday.
Despite recent "positive developments" in Burma - including the release of political prisoners and an outline peace agreement with Karen rebels - the UK said there were "ongoing challenges", particularly the conflict in Rakhine state, where 100, 000 people have been displaced.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who earlier this month visited Myanmar -- also known as Burma -- has asked the ruling junta to release all political prisoners, including the National League for Democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.
CNN: Myanmar opposition skeptical of government's amnesty claim
At talks in Islamabad in November, officials from Afghanistan's High Peace Council had urged the release of Mullah Turabi, but the prisoners freed then were said to have been mid-level operatives, plus Anwar ul-Haq, a former militant commander in eastern Afghanistan.
Earlier in the week, Bozize had offered to release some political prisoners, but the rebels said the gestures were too little, too late.
President Obama ordered government lawyers earlier this month to object to the court-ordered release of photos depicting the mistreatment of prisoners, reversing an earlier White House decision.
In recent months, Pakistan has started responding to long-standing Afghan demands for the release of Taliban prisoners.
Officials said people belonging to the Biahan tribe of Shabwa province are demanding the release of two prisoners.
The Afghan government said it does not support the release of militant prisoners.
But the deal quickly collapsed, with the rebels saying their demands, including the release of political prisoners, had not been met.
Earlier South Korean diplomatic efforts failed to bend Afghanistan's refusal to respond to Taliban demands for the release of militant prisoners.
The group is demanding the release of Muslim prisoners in U.S. jails.
Together with the rest of the DUP, Peter Robinson opposed the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, honing in on aspects like the release of paramilitary prisoners.
Mr. Obama urged Mr. Thein Sein to continue the release of political prisoners, institutionalize political reforms and stop communal violence directed at Muslim communities in Myanmar.
It wants the United States, before lifting the embargo, to secure a commitment from Europe and Latin America to press for the release of political prisoners.
ECONOMIST: The difficulty of pressing for change in a police state
These organizations do not directly demand the release of political prisoners nor do they call for special meetings of their member states to condemn in unison what is now taking place in Venezuela.
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