Ukrainian prosecutors said Wednesday they had opened a criminal investigation into the alleged poisoning of a leading candidate in presidential elections scheduled for next month.

The candidate, former prime minister Viktor Yushchenko, became sick more than two weeks ago, and his campaign charged that he was poisoned by political opponents.    more »

David Fox of Reuters has a story -- with a groan-inducing headline -- about how both Hamid Karzai and his chief electoral rivals, an alliance of Yunus Qanuni, the former education minister, and Defense Minister Mohammad Qasim Fahim are trying to wrap themselves in Masood's martyrdom. The latter benefit from their status as Panjshiris who were close to Massood, although Karzai has received the endorsement of Ahmad Zia Masood, the brother of the slain mujahedin commander. Masood has become the John McCain of Afghanistan.