Soldiers had seized the building a few hours before. Mr.Ravalomana announced Tuesday he was stepping down due to the crisis characterized by what he called a polarization of opinion within the army and the citizenry.

VOA: standard.2009.03.18

Nesterenko says if there is persistence, political will, and genuine desire to make a qualitative move away from the level of relations that characterized recent years and away from the standstill that affected the bilateral agenda, then a new treaty is entirely within reach.

VOA: standard.2009.04.02

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry said after meeting the Pakistani envoy that the legislation does not need to be changed but that Qureshi would get written clarifications of terms of the measure he said have been inaccurately characterized by some quarters.

VOA: standard.2009.10.13