BATUMI, Georgia -- After nearly a year and a half at sea as a hostage held by Somali pirates, Memed Zakaradze is relieved to know his grandchildren in this Georgian port city still recognize him.
"They've grown up in my absence," the 63-year-old Zakaradze says ruefully. "But they still remember me."
A day after a deadly prison riot in the Kyrgyz capital, authorities are divided on both the cause of the violence and its outcome. But the unrest is certain to heat up the debate on corruption and criminality in the country's prison system.
As Kyrgyzstan prepares to vote for a new president on October 30, many are hoping the ballot will usher in a period of stability after a volatile season of public protests, deadly clashes, and a dramatic presidential ouster.
Inspired by last month's Egyptian uprising, young activists in Azerbaijan were calling for antigovernment demonstrations today -- and using Facebook to spread the word.
