At the parliamentary election in December, Unity, a hurriedly constructed pro-Putin party, won nearly 30% in the region one of its best results.

ECONOMIST: Russia

The main non-Communist opposition grouping there, Fatherland-All Russia, is merging with the main pro-Kremlin party, Unity.

ECONOMIST: The country may get poorer, again

He refuses to be labelled as either pro- or anti-agreement, insisting he is a unity candidate.

BBC: Rural South Antrim constituency

Calls for unity within the Syrian opposition were also echoed by Al-Bayan, a pro-government daily in the UAE.

BBC: Middle East

Rather than capitalize on Hizbullah's defeat by strengthening the victorious pro-democracy forces, the White House signaled that it preferred the formation of a unity government with Hizbullah.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Syria's hour of triumph

Led by Hizbullah, the pro-Syrian parliamentary bloc demands that a "compromise" candidate who will bring "national unity" be elected to the presidency next week.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: How not to help ��moderates��