Over the past decade, billions more have been spent clearing urban slums and building new housing for the poor, a project that officials say has benefited 6.5m of more than 100m people in the region.

ECONOMIST: Reforming the north-east

While the urban poor were rioting about food prices, a fleet of new Mercedes cars was ordered for the 50-odd cabinet ministers.

ECONOMIST: Zimbabwe

John Edwards dares to stand in the gap between rich and poor, black and white, urban and rural, a vision of a new America.

CNN: Jackson: Candidates 'represent hope and healing'