THOUGH Europeans are lucky enough to be able to take democracy and all the great benefits that process confers almost for granted, every now and then some terrible event reminds us that it is a privilege to live in a society that regularly and peacefully elects and dismisses its leaders and, by and large, controls its affairs without resorting to violence.

Riot police clashed with former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s supporters in front of parliament today after she ordered them onto the streets to protest against emergency rule.

Corruption charges against former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto have been dropped, raising speculation she is moving closer to a power sharing deal with President Musharraf.

Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto will return to Pakistan on October 18 to press for the restoration of democracy, regardless of the outcome of talks with its US-allied military president, her party said today.