Still in power

Freedom House's list of the world's eight "worst" regimes, determined by their repression of civil liberties and political rights.

Than Shwe, BURMA

Corruption is reportedly rampant among Burma's ruling junta, led by General Shwe, which intrudes on all aspects of Burmese life and has committed a range of human rights abuses.

Fidel Castro, CUBA

Life in Cuba, ruled by Mr. Castro, the world's most enduring dictator, is essentially controlled by the state, and political dissent is a punishable offense.

Muammar Qaddafi, LIBYA

Hostile toward the West and a sponsor of terrorism, Colonel Qaddafi rules by decree and denies Libyans a range of basic rights.

Kim Jong Il, NORTH KOREA

Mr. Kim runs one of the most tightly controlled nations in the world.

He denies basic rights, holds thousands of political prisoners, and executes opponents.

Fahd bin Abdul Aziz, SAUDI ARABIA

Under King Fahd, Saudi citizens face arbitrary arrest and are denied freedom of expression and assembly.

Omar al-Bashir, SUDAN

Rattled by a civil war, Sudanese are subject to serious human-rights abuses.

Bashar al-Assad, SYRIA

President Assad's Baathist regime has kept Syria under a repressive and corrupt political system, following in the footsteps of his father, Hafez al-Assad, who brutally repressed dissent.

Saparmurat Niyazov, TURKMENISTAN

Under President Niyazov, well known for his cult of personality, Turkmenistan has widespread corruption and pervasive human-rights abuses.