Egyptians continued voting in parliamentary elections for a second day Tuesday, marking a historic change for a nation that was under authoritarian rule less than a year ago. The elections to fill the People's Assembly, the lower house of Parliament, are the first held since the ousting of former dictator Hosni Mubarak, who resigned from power following massive uprisings earlier this year. The first days of voting have seen an unexpectedly high level of participation (authorities estimate participation to be above 70%) amongst a population optimistic that their votes will finally matter after decades of totalitarian governance. The elections have also been surprisingly peaceful and free of obstructions that many feared would put a damper on the watershed moment for the budding democracy.

The election of a new Parliament is a months-long process, done in regional stages that will not be completed until March. This vote will set the stage for the creation of a new constitution next spring as well as a presidential election to be held next summer. The success of the voting thus far gives hope that the resulting government at the end of this process will be truly democratic and representative of the Egyptian people.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has reportedly issued an arrest warrant for Laurent Gbagbo, former leader of Cote D'Ivoire, and he may be turned over to the Hague as soon as today.

Gbagbo was deposed from power last April after refusing to leave office following his loss in the country's 2010 election to now-President Alassane Ouattara. Three thousand people were killed and more than a million displaced during the post-election violence. 

The ICC began an investigation into the situation in Cote D'Ivoire in October. Although Cote D'Ivoire has not ratified the Rome Statute, the Court says that the country accepted its jurisdiction in 2005.

Citizens for Global Solutions, along with 11 other non-governmental organizations, sent a letter to Secretary of State Hilary Clinton asking her to push for strong democratic reforms ahead of her historic visit to Burma on Thursday.

Before planning a trip of a high-level government official to Burma, the U.S. required that President Thein Sein meet with political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi, the government release political prisoners, and allow former political prisoners to participate in the electoral process. This will be the first visit of a U.S. secretary of state to the country in 50 years.

Don Kraus, CEO of Citizens for Global Solutions, said,

"Secretary Clinton's trip is an opportunity for the United States to use the Burmese government’s desire for warmer relations as a bargaining chip to strongly push for effective and long-lasting democratic reforms."

Click here to read the full press release.

Syrian President Bashar Assad's despotic regime received major setbacks today, as the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman called on Syria to better cooperate with the Arab League the same day that body approved economic sanctions against the regime. The moves further isolate the deteriorating government, cutting off almost all trade and investment between Syria and other Arab nations and demonstrating the distance Syria's traditional allies are putting between themselves and the tyrannical actions of Assad.

Hong Lei, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, told reporters today that "China believes that the Syrian issue should be solved within the framework of the Arab League." While the Chinese did not officially comment on the League's sanctions, this is still a bold change of tune for Chinese officials, who have until now been some of Assad's most stalwart protectors against attempts for international action to reprimand the Syrian regime.