We cannot afford to wait for world leaders to solve our problems but instead unite to force them to act, and act fast, writes Michel Rocard.

A Socialist former French prime minister is urging Nicolas Sarkozy’s major rivals to unite in a nearly unthinkable alliance to keep the front-running conservative party candidate out of the Elysee Palace.

International observers toured army roadblocks in the West Bank and Gaza Strip today and Palestinian officials complained Israel was not fully complying with promises to ease travel restrictions ahead of presidential elections to replace the late Yasser Arafat.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is expected to discuss the war in Iraq when he delivers a lecture today.