With just days to go until the first-round vote on 22 April, we have a guide to the contenders’ stance on the major issues. Click on the contender and a policy tab to see where the five leading presidential hopefuls stand on the economy, jobs, Europe, nuclear power, education, immigration and social issues

Fearing an attack from its enemies, Iran has deliberately chosen to keep its nuclear programme scattered.

Uranium is mined at a number of facilities in eastern and southern Iran, then shipped to other sites, notably Fordo and Natanz, for enrichment. The country has one operational nuclear reactor, in Bushehr, with another under construction.

Many of these facilities have also been the site of mysterious incidents - assassinations and explosions - over the past few years. The culprits are rarely identified. Iran has blamed the attacks on Israel and the United States.

Washington has denied any responsibility; Israel refuses to confirm or deny its involvement

It has been almost a year now that Syria has been in turmoil. What initially started out as protests for reforms has escalated over time into an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad’s one-party rule, dragging the country into chaos and a period of uncertainty. 

Parts of Syria today resemble a war zone. Few cities and towns have been left unscathed by the political upheaval. As the government responds with a brutal security crackdown, province after province has risen up in revolt against Assad, whose family has ruled the country with an iron-grip for decades.

Buoyed by support that he evidently enjoys within some sections of Syrians, Assad has dug in his heels. But there has been no let-up in the protests and the stand-off is increasingly taking on a more ominous tone.

Many opponents of Assad have taken up arms and some analysts say Syria is staring at the prospect of a civil war.

Thousands of lives have already been lost in the violence and the death toll is rising daily.

Al Jazeera maps the events of the past 10 months that shaped the current crisis: from the first protests in a nondescript town to military assaults on protesters in cities and towns that only hardened their resolve.  The interactive also runs you through how Syria’s immediate neighbours and the global community are viewing the current situation