The Worst Of The Worst

This list was compiled and featured Sunday by Parade. For more information, visit the Parade page.

2006's Top 20: World's Worst Dictators

1) Sudan, Omar al-Bashir. Age 62. In power since 1989.
2) North Korea, Kim Jong-il. Age 63. In power since 1994.
3) Burma (Myanmar), Than Shwe. Age 72. In power since 1992.
4) Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe. Age 81. In power since 1980.
5) Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov. Age 67. In power since 1990.
6) China, Hu Jintao. Age 63. In power since 2002.
7) Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah. Age 82. In power since 1995.
8) Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Niyazov. Age 65. In power since 1990.
9) Iran, Seyed Ali Khamane’i. Age 66. In power since 1989.
10) Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema. Age 63. In power since 1979.
11) Libya, Muammar al-Qaddafi. Age 63. In power since 1969.
12) Swaziland, King Mswati III. Age 37. In power since 1986.
13) Eritrea, Isayas Afewerki. Age 59. In power since 1993.
14) Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko. Age 51. In power since 1994.
15) Cuba, Fidel Castro. Age 79. In power since 1959.
16) Syria, Bashar al-Assad. Age 40. In power since 2000.
17) Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf. Age 62. In power since 1999.
18) Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi. Age 50. In power since 1995.
19) Laos, Boungnang Vorachith. Age 68. In power since 2001.
20) Vietnam, Tran Duc Luong. Age 68. In power since 1997.

Only two are under 50, most are over 60.
Never underestimate these cagy old dogs.