SPAIN: Hundreds of people defied a ban on protests

AFP - now "illegal" but determined to hear their ras-le-bol of the crisis and unemployment, hundreds of youths were mobilized Saturday in the camp alternative to the Puerta del Sol in Madrid, despite the electoral truce No events.

Chanting "we are now illegal," an immense crowd welcomed Friday at midnight on the start of the truce, after, at the stroke of the clock, symbolically launched a "silent scream" of scotch tape on the mouth, arms raised to heaven.

Saturday morning, a thousand protesters still occupying the "village" of tents and plastic sheeting blue.

The crowd, much larger than previous days, had begun to thin in late night. Thousands of young people were then kept in the main square, watching sat in a circle, talking, playing music, sleeping in tents or under the stars.

The agency Efe, based on counting a specialist company, puts the figure of 19,000 protesters Friday night at the Puerta del Sol and surrounding streets, crowded.Other media put the number at 25,000 to 60,000 in Madrid and throughout Spain.

"This is something necessary, because in Spain we did not know that people were able to do that. We live finally something," says Julia Estefania, a political science student of 20 years came from Toledo.

She and her friends have rested a few hours, lying on cardboard."Sleep, sleep, I did not feel like finally we're stretched to six hours," said Irene, 18, another girl group.

The police presence, despite a ban on protests, remained quiet throughout the evening, limited to a few police cars parked around the square.

The government, embarrassed by this spontaneous movement occurred a week of regional and local elections on Sunday ahead disastrous for the Socialists, had said on Friday to show "understanding".

The Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, had suggested that police action could be avoided provided that no overflow takes place.

In this context, the youth movement, building on its growing popularity, plays on the ambiguity of the law and the embarrassment of the government, repeating that he is "apolitical", "citizen" and that the days of Saturday and Sunday will be devoted to the pursuit of a "reflection" collective.

"We act in full respect of the truce election meetings will be held but no action will be decided," Lopez said Saturday, a spokesman.

Since Tuesday, the spontaneous movement brings together a mosaic of young people but also people from all backgrounds and all ages, unemployed, students, retirees and employees.

Unique, colorful and pacifist movement, on behalf of the "right to be indignant," denounced the stranglehold of the major parties on Spanish politics, social injustice, the excesses of capitalism, "political corruption" and means a laboratory of ideas for future reforms.

Most importantly, it betrays the frustration of millions of Spaniards who face unemployment reached a record high of 21.19% and hit nearly half of those under 25 years, the salary cuts, fallout from the economic crisis.

The movement, born on the place most emblematic of the old center of Madrid, dares inevitable comparison with the recent Arab uprisings.

"In Tahrir in Madrid, the world, world revolution," declared Friday a big banner in black letters.

The protesters now have "firm intention" to continue moving on Monday, said Juan Lopez, that is to say beyond the original schedule which was to coincide with local elections.

Syria: Opposition calls for general strike

The opposition in Syria on Tuesday launched an appeal for a general strike for Wednesday, once again defying the regime of Bashar al-Assad, subjected to increasing pressures abroad, the United States announcing measures " Extra "in" coming days ".

"Wednesday will be a day of general strike in Syria," said a statement posted on the Facebook page "Syrian Revolution 2011," Engine of the protest movement launched in mid-March against the regime.

"Let's make Wednesday a Friday (usual day of events), with massive demonstrations, no school, no university, no shops or restaurants open, not even taxis."

The unprecedented protest movement of the system continues despite the magnitude of the repression that has, according to NGOs, over 800 deaths and at least 8,000 arrests.

The head of American diplomacy, Hillary Clinton announced that "additional measures" would be taken "in the days to come" in response to this repression. She has also accused Damascus of having "adopted the worst tactics of its ally Iran."

She was speaking after talks with the EU diplomatic representative, Catherine Ashton, who called the situation "extremely alarming".

Ashton said she traveled to Washington to "discuss what we can do.""It is extremely urgent that the Syrian government to act," she said, failing which the international community would consider "all options".

The French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said on his part that a majority was "taking shape" with the UN to condemn the repression, indicating that a veto threat from Moscow and Beijing on a text still existed.

The countries of the European Union are working to broaden its sanctions against the Syrian regime to a dozen people including President Assad, because of repression, with an expected decision in principle on Monday.

Discussions to this effect were held Tuesday in Brussels between ambassadors from the 27 EU states, according to diplomatic sources.

The EU has already imposed sanctions (freezing of assets, prohibition of entry visas) to 13 Syrian officials including members of the president's family and an arms embargo that could be used for law enforcement purposes .

On the ground, the authorities have denied the existence of a mass grave in Deraa, southern town where the dispute arose, admitting however that five bodies had been discovered there.

"This information is totally false," said an official at the Interior Ministry was quoted by the official SANA news agency, speaking of a "smear campaign (...) fabricated."

SANA, quoting a local official in Dera, said that five bodies had been discovered in the city Sunday and the local prosecutor had opened an investigation. The agency did not specify how the bodies were discovered or how the victims died.

The activist Ammar Qourabi, the National Organization for Human Rights in Syria said Monday the discovery of mass grave, said Tuesday told AFP that a second had been unearthed.

"One contained 24 bodies and another seven, including the five mentioned by the authorities as well as unidentified woman and her son."He called on authorities to investigate.

Rami Abdel Rahman, the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, based in London, he insisted on the existence of a single grave, containing five bodies.

The army had besieged Deraa, located 100 km south of Damascus, April 25 to quell the protest, before beginning its withdrawal on May 5

Rami Abdel Rahman has also reported the arrest Sunday of a leader of the protest, Anas al-Choughri in the coastal city of Banias (west).

More than 800 people, including women and children, were killed in the crackdown and at least 8,000 were arrested, according to human rights organizations of human rights.

The regime of Bashar al-Assad for his part attributed these problems to "armed terrorist groups", some of which are in the pay abroad.

LIBYA: Chief of Staff of the British army will intensify strikes

The Chief of Staff of the British Army, General David Richards, NATO's request that steps up air raids on Libya "to increase the pressure" on Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, in an interview published Sunday by the Sunday Telegraph.

"The noose is tightening around Gaddafi, but we need to increase the pressure through military action more intense," J. General and it requires a broadening of targets "selected by NATO in Libya.

"The military campaign so far has been a significant success for NATO and our Arab allies.But we must do more, "the general said, adding:" if we do not set now, there is a risk that the conflict could lead to what Gaddafi is clinging to power. "

"At present, Nato does not attack the infrastructure in Libya.But if we want to increase the pressure on the Qaddafi regime then we must consider increasing the range of targets we can hit, "says the officer.

"We do not aim directly Gaddafi, but if it happened it is in a central command and control struck by NATO and he is killed, then it would be within the rules" commitment, the Judge said.

"We must tighten the vise to demonstrate that Gaddafi is to damn him and he must go," insists General Richards.

NATO took command of operations in late March of the international coalition intervened on March 19 in Libya to stop violence against civilians and establish a no-fly zone, under a resolution of the Security Council UN.

The Libyan capital and surrounding towns are covered by the almost daily raids.

LIGUE 1: Lille is a giant step towards the title, PSG wins

REUTERS - Lille took another step towards his first title of champion of France for over half a century from win (2-1) Tuesday night in Saint-Etienne in advanced match of the 35th day of Ligue 1 .

Two goals from Tulio De Melo and Rio Mavuba, after an initial advantage for the Greens, allow Losc bring their lead to seven points in Marseille, which hosts Brest Wednesday.

However, Paris Saint-Germain has seen his hopes of delighting in Lyon the third qualifying place for the preliminary round of the Champions League dwindle after conceding a draw (2-2) at Parc des Princes against Nancy.

The people of Nancy, struggling to avoid relegation, were conducted twice and reached the mark every time to revert to their opponents.

After this result, PSG has a point behind the third, Birmingham, which moves Wednesday with another ill-classified, Auxerre.

In Stade Geoffroy-Guichard not completely filled, the ASSE opened the scoring in the 5th minute by his center-forward Emmanuel Rivière, well placed to take a shot rejected by Lille goalkeeper Mickael Landreau.

Ten minutes later, the Losc reacted and center Frank Beria from the left, Tulio De Melo mistaken Jeremie Janot an outside right foot.

Master Lille

Stéphanois were about to take the lead shortly after on a penalty whistled for a foul on River, but turned away Landreau hits Bakary Sako.

In the second half, the championship leader showed his technical mastery and collective and finally took the lead through captain Rio Mavuba, author of a magnificent strike from thirty yards (66th) deflected by Sylvain Monsoreau.

At Park, Parisians were detached input through a head of his victorious Turkish striker Mevlut Erding, on receipt of a center for Ludovic Giuly (4th).

But the visitors back into the game on a penalty converted by Lee N'Guemo for a foul on Christophe Jallet Feret into the surface.

In this action, Jallet handed a red card and PSG found himself with ten men after 21 minutes of play

But the Parisians showed their mental strength this season and they regained the advantage in injury time through Zoumana Camara on a flawless delivery of Guillaume Hoarau.

In the second half, Youssouf Hadji, entered the match just minutes before, brought the heads of the two teams tied (69th).

Nancy and PSG also ended the game tied in terms of numbers when Lemaitre picking up a second yellow card mean expulsion (71).

EGYPT: Government promises firmness after violent clashes between religions in Cairo

AFP - The Egyptian government said Sunday that he would do an "iron fist" to defend the security of the country and take action against attacks on places of worship, a day after clashes between Muslims and Christians with 12 died in Cairo.

The authorities would "strike with an iron fist all those who seek to harm the security of the nation," said Justice Minister, Abdel Aziz al-Guindi, following a crisis meeting after Saturday night's violence, blaming the violence on a "cons-revolution".

The government will "implement an immediate and strong laws that criminalize attacks against places of worship and cons of freedom of belief," assured the minister, adding that anti-terror laws are used against troublemakers.

The army, custodian of the office, said she would bring the 190 people arrested in connection with the violence in military courts.

Two churches attacked in Cairo

Violent clashes between Muslims and Christians on Saturday night in the neighborhood of Imbaba.Twelve people were killed and 232 injured, according to a latest official death toll.

Major confrontations took place around a church, attacked by Muslims believed that a Christian wanting to convert to Islam was shut up.

A curfew was imposed at 11:00 am (0900 GMT) Sunday in the area until Monday 11:00 (0900 GMT), said on state television.

Another church was burned in the neighborhood, where many soldiers and riot police were deployed.

"Counter-revolution"

Mr.Guindi has blamed the violence on a "cons-revolution"-the government has repeatedly claimed to be orchestrated by loyal to the regime of President Hosni Mubarak ousted Feb. 11 by a popular revolt-spreading disorder in the country.

"The Egyptian people, the noble and great military police are standing together today to defeat the cons-revolution," he said.

Laws against attacks against national unity "provide for severe penalties and can lead to the death penalty," he added.

The army has urged "all communities in Egypt, the youth revolution and Muslim theologians and Christians to stand firm against attempts by obscurantist groups to torpedo the national unity."

Sectarian tensions rising

For months, Egypt is experiencing a rise in sectarian tensions fueled by controversy over women Copts wishing to convert to Islam, but would remain cloistered by the Church.

Several demonstrations calling Salafi (radical Islamists) have occurred in recent weeks to demand the "liberation" of Camilia Shehata and Wafa Constantine, two wives of priests they say kidnapped by the Church.

The two women each have left their husbands, seven years ago for Ms. Constantine, the last year for Ms. Shehata.Both were escorted home by police after the Copts have ensured that they had been abducted by Muslims.

The church has denied their possible conversion, but neither is publicly reappeared to give his version of events.

Seized by the Islamists, the prosecution requested April 30 to hear Camilia Shehata, but the Church refused to receive notice of a bailiff.

The Copts, or Egyptian Christians, represent 6-10% of the estimated 80 million Egyptians.They feel discriminated against and increasingly marginalized in a society overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim.

They have been targeted by several attacks, particularly that of the night New Year's Eve against a Coptic church in Alexandria that left 21 dead.

TERRORISM: Washington refuses to publish the photographs of the corpse of Osama Bin Laden

After three days of reflection, Barack Obama on Wednesday decided not to publish photos of the remains of Osama bin Laden, saying they constitute a "security risk" of the United States and could be used propaganda purposes.

Voices were raised in the U.S. Congress calling for the dissemination of such images in order to silence those who doubt the death of the leader of al-Qaida on Sunday in a commando raid against the American home where he was hiding Pakistan.

Hit by bullets, including a face, bin Laden died in the assault. His body was then taken and left at sea, according to the report of the authorities.Photos of the remains were taken to identify and members of Congress said Wednesday in seeing them.

Three U.S. senators are, however, their income statements Wednesday on the shots that circulated among them being obviously fake.

Among them, Saxby Chambliss, the leading Republican member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, who said that these photos "correspond to what is expected when someone is hit by a bullet to the head.It's not pretty. "

Asked if Saxby Chambliss, who is also a member of the Committee of Defence, had seen pictures authentic, his spokeswoman Bronwyn Lance Chester, however, told AFP: "It was very clear about this: he has not seen the official photos.

Two other members of the Committee on Defense, Republican Kelly Ayotte and Scott Brown, who also claimed to have seen pictures of the corpse of Bin Laden, were finally questioned their authenticity.

Mr.Obama has decided that the risks created by the dissemination of these images beyond the benefits to be expected, "he told CBS television.

"We discussed it internally, and remember that we are absolutely certain it was him. There have been sampling and DNA analysis. So there is no doubt that we have killed Osama bin Laden, "Obama said, according to a report of the interview broadcast by the channel.

"It is very important not to allow photographic evidence in nature as a tool of incitement (to violence) or propaganda. This is not our kind. We do not fly these things like trophies, "saidObama, according to the channel that will broadcast the full interview in the Sunday program "60 Minutes".

"The truth is that it was someone who deserved what he got. And I think Americans and people around the world are glad he is dead," Obama said.

But "given the violent nature of the photo, (publication) would create a risk to national security," he said according to CBS.

The nature of the horrible scene mentioned by Obama is illustrated by photographs obtained by Reuters from three unidentified men who died, none of them is like Bin Laden.

AFP was unable to verify the photos.Reuters said to have purchased a Pakistani security official who entered the home of bin Laden shortly after the American raid on Monday.

The dead lie in large pools of blood. One wearing a T-shirt that has blood flowing from her right ear. According to the time indication, this photo was taken at 2:30 am (local time), about 50 minutes after the announcement by U.S. officials to end the raid.

The other two corpses are wearing traditional Pakistani. One of them has blood flowing from his mouth and chin.A computer cable and probably a water gun to child are near his right shoulder.

The third man has blood flowing from his nose and a large blood stain in the middle of his white tunic.

Other photographs taken in the light of dawn showed the tail of a crashed helicopter and land covered with trash on the property of Ben Laden.

Reuters said that the photos had the same pixel size indicating that they had not been manipulated and the data files correspond to the digital time indications in the photos, from 2:30 to 6:43 local.

"There is no doubt that bin Laden is dead. There is certainly no doubt among members of Al Qaeda on his death.And so we do not believe that a photograph in itself make any difference whatsoever, "argued Obama.

"There will be people who will disagree. The truth is that Bin Laden never walk on this earth," stressed the president.

Earlier Wednesday, the head of the Intelligence Committee in the House of Representatives, Republican Mike Rogers claimed to have seen a photo and said he did not want it to be released, saying food security concerns for U.S. troops stationed abroad.

"Imagine how Americans would react if Al-Qaeda killed one of our soldiers and commanders of the army and put the pictures on the internet," he told Mr.Rogers.

The influential Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has meanwhile said Wednesday that Obama had made a "mistake".

"The purpose of sending our soldiers into the residence, rather than bombing, was to obtain clear proof of the death of bin Laden. I know that Bin Laden is dead. But the best way to protect and defend our interests abroad is to prove that fact to the rest of the world, "he said.

YEMEN: The opposition accuses President Saleh to refuse to sign the agreement to end the crisis

AFP - A mediator of the Gulf monarchies left Sanaa Saturday after the failure of his mission, the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh denied having refused to sign a plan to end the crisis providing his resignation, according to the opposition.

Mr Saleh told the Secretary General of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Abdul Latif al-Zayani he refused to sign the plan to end the crisis "as President of the Republic", as stipulated in the document according to the spokesman of the opposition, Mohamed Qahtani.

Mr. Zayani conveyed this position to the Joint Forum (Parliamentary Opposition), which required that Mr.Saleh sign the agreement, an official of the coalition.

The agreement was expected to be signed on Sunday in Riyadh, attended by the heads of diplomacy of the GCC (Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar).

It provides training through the opposition of a government of reconciliation and resignation of Mr. Saleh after a month. It also plans to grant immunity to Mr. Saleh and his staff to hold a presidential election within 60 days after the resignation of Mr. Saleh and draft a new constitution to be submitted to a referendum.

The plan was approved by the opposition and the ruling party, General People's Congress (GPC), but never explicitly by Mr.Saleh faces a growing challenge from the streets since January.

The Head of State had concerted the afternoon, before receiving the mediator of the GCC, with more than 400 personalities from government, parliament and the GPC "to discuss the initiative of the GCC," said Tarek al-Shami, spokesman of the party.

In a statement, the ruling party said the head of state was "not concerned with the signing of the agreement to be signed by the GPC and the Joint Forum," while the text of the plan provides that the document is signed by the president and the opposition.

The ruling party said the vice-chairman of GIC, Abdel Karim al-Iryani, political adviser to Mr.Saleh, would lead the government delegation in Riyadh.

But the opposition refused to go to Riyadh as the president would not sign the text. "We are ready to go to Riyadh, but on condition that Saleh sign," he told AFP an official of the Common Front.

"Mr.Saleh is ready to sign the document in his capacity as chairman of GIC but not as president of the republic, "replied the deputy secretary general of the GPC, Sultan Al-Barakani.

The opposition had in recent days accused the regime of seeking to torpedo the agreement and has blamed a "savage massacre" after the death of 13 demonstrators in Sanaa.

Demonstrations demanding the resignation of President Saleh, in power for 32 years, since late last January and made more than 145 dead.

On Saturday, two soldiers and four civilians were killed in Aden, the main city in southern Yemen, in exchanges of fire between soldiers and gunmen, according to the Defense Ministry and hospital officials.

At the call of the protesters, the city of Aden, one of the hotbeds of protest, was paralyzed by a general strike.

UNITED KINGDOM: The British Are Always royalists?

April 29, the Union Jack will fly through the streets of the United Kingdom. The avenues are adorned with London country colors in this wedding day and the British can let themselves go to vibrate in a patriotic fervor. But what about the fiber of the British royalist? Will they really go behind the gates that separate the people's monarchy?

According to forecasts, but the polls, the monarchy still has good days ahead. More than 500,000 Britons are expected in the streets of London to celebrate the newlyweds and nearly 4,000 "street parties" (street parties, Ed) are contained in the British capital on the wedding day.Nearly 70% of Britons remain attached to the crown, according to a poll: two thirds of them decided to stay home for the weekend's royal wedding, and nearly 77% of them intend to follow the royal wedding on television.The monarchy, a common reference
Although the royal family has had a cold sweat at the social crises that have shaken England last December - the Rolls Royce of Prince Charles and Camilla has borne the brunt of the wrath of protesters in London against the reduction of budgets of higher education and higher tuition at the university decided by the Conservative government of Cameron - the stormy episodes have never harmed the monarchy. On the contrary. In times of austerity, the British monarchy plébiscitent who became a pillar facing the common economic and social turmoil."In a crisis, they are better off with a queen with a president who monopolizes power. The queen, who has a sense of duty and did not commit a blunder, is the best advertising the monarchy, "said FRANCE 24 Anne-Elisabeth Moutet, a journalist with the British Sunday Telegraph. Furthermore, in a UK multicultural, multifaith and engaged in two armed conflicts around the world (in Libya and Afghanistan), the crown remains the guarantor of national unity. "The monarchy is an element of unity and integration.People from the Commonwealth are royalists and they will surely be present in the streets on the wedding day, "said Anne-Elisabeth Moutet yet. Queen Elizabeth II is in fact the head of state of sixteen countries of the Commonwealth - the number which include Australia, Canada or New Zealand. The Republican alternative is possible?
The republican movement, however, relies on the British royal wedding to his communication. Represent a fringe minority of the population, Republican nourish the hope that the monarchy will be buried along with the queen, now aged 85 years.In early 1990, when the divorce of Charles and Diana, and a year later by the death of the popular Lady Di, the republican movement has soared in the polls. It reaches its highest popularity during the funeral of Diana, the first week of September 1997. The splendor of marriage, the total cost for the British is estimated at 33 million euros (11 million for the wedding itself, and 22 million for public safety), while the kingdom's finances are more evil gives ammunition to critics of the monarchy. But they were quickly contradicted by the expectation that marriage should bring about 700 million euros in the kingdom."Marriage in times of crisis is a tradition. In 1947 [year of the marriage of Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Philip, Ed], the United Kingdom had not relieved of the war. In 1981 [year of marriage Charles and Diana] was also a crisis, just before the revival of Thatcher. And all these marriages have accompanied the economic recovery, "adds Anne-Elisabeth Moutet. Republic, a small anti-monarchist organization, has planned to stage a parody anti-royalist and sassy marriage on D-Day Graham Smith, his campaign manager, has already organized an event in early March before the gates of Buckingham Palace: only about twenty people came. The revolution will not happen overnight.

LIBYA: Misrata bombed despite "stop" operations of the pro-Gaddafi

REUTERS - The Libyan government denied Sunday that the army was withdrawing from Misrata's third largest city in Libya, as was said before the insurgents who held this important port city in western countries.

"The armed forces do not withdraw from Misrata.They stopped their operations because Misrata tribal leaders have decided to take action to restore the course of life, "said Khaled Kaim, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Libya.

He said nearly 60,000 civilians are willing to fight for their city, only city held by insurgents in the western part of the country.

The rebels say, them, very few people support Muammar Gaddafi and the Libyan leader they accuse of paying mercernaires to impersonate people.

Saturday, the rebels said the soldiers had left the city Gaddafi but they stayed outside and were able to bombard.

Soldiers loyal to the Libyan colonel captured by the opponents had said the army had received orders to withdraw from the port city.

Khaled Kaim has also indicated that NATO planes have carried out attacks against targets in Sirte, Garian, Aziziah, Tripoli and Hira Saturday.

TUNISIA: Alain Juppe went to Tunis for the Tunisians of French support

In Tunis, the parade of French ministers continues. After Christine Lagarde, Laurent Wauquiez, Pierre Lellouche, Nathalie Kociusko-Morizet and Frédéric Lefebvre, it was the turn of the head of French diplomacy Alain Juppe to stand at the head of the Tunisian democracy recovering. The Foreign Minister went there Wednesday and Thursday for a two-day visit.

Three months after the fall of the regime of former president Ben Ali, Tunisia is struggling to find its bearings.Despite elections scheduled on July 24, the country has already experienced two Prime Ministers and the economy is still suffering.

In 2011, various estimates put economic growth in Tunisia between 0 and 1%, weighed down by the very slow recovery of the tourism industry.

Bilateral diplomacy eroded

Beyond its economic aspect, the visit of Alain Juppe in Tunis must be the starting point for normalizing relations between the two countries.Having shown his mistakes in the handling of the case of Tunisia, the Quai d'Orsay - then headed by Michelle Alliot-Marie - has increased clumsiness.

Replacing its ambassador Pierre Ménat, January 26, 2011, had initially been perceived favorably by the Tunisians. The choice of his successor, Boris Boillon, came quickly undermine the efforts of French diplomacy.

Boillon, a close ally of President Sarkozy, was forced to apologize publicly after a series of exchanges unhappy with Tunisians. He specifically described as "stupid" and "nonsense" questions of journalists.Boillon was maintained, but events are regularly held in Tunisia demanding his departure.

Convince the Tunisians that France supports

Three months after the fall of Ben Ali, France has stepped up calls to support the country's economic recovery. But in fact the purse strings are still struggling to extricate itself. All in all, Paris has announced the release of almost anecdotal 350,000 euros under an emergency social assistance to Tunisia.

In Tunis, Alain Juppe's primary mission will be to cope with this heavy legacy and strive to "ensure [its] partners the commitment of France", in his own words.

Court reporters, Alain Juppe tried to emphasize this commitment."Tunisia is not abandoned, he said. We're working hard to help."

On the spot, he must convince its leaders.He should talk to his counterpart Meld Kefi, President Fouad Mebazaa and Prime Minister Beji Caid Essebsi, but also the presidents of the three committees of the transition.

The investment, the cornerstone of recovery

Saturday on the sidelines of a conference held at the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, Alain Juppe called for "massive investment to help countries in democratic transition to restore their economic situation and find a sufficient rate of growth."

A subject on which he should agree with the Prime Minister Beji Caid Essebsi Tunisian who acknowledged that his country "needs investment for the future" on the air Tuesday FRANCE 24.

This joint effort towards reconciliation is crucial both for Tunisia for France. If the economic stakes are obvious for Tunis, Paris knows that the success of the democratization process of its neighbors is essential trans in several respects: it will give Europe an additional lever in the sensitive issue of illegal immigration, Tunisia, and may also serve as an inspiration to others who know, too, their "Arab Spring".

YEMEN: The foreign ministers of the Gulf met in Saudi Arabia

The foreign ministers of Gulf states on Sunday in Riyadh were trying to revive their plan to end the crisis in Yemen, where a wave of protests calling for more than two and a half months the departure of President Ali Abdallah Saleh.

A delegation of the parliamentary opposition Yemeni expected in the afternoon in the Saudi capital, hopes to obtain details of ministers that their mediation provides for the departure of Mr.Saleh, in power for 32 years.

"We will meet ministers of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Riyadh to seek clarification on their initiative, first and foremost on the departure of President Saleh," he told AFP Said Noomane Yassin, leader of the Forum common, a coalition of the parliamentary opposition.

Ministers should review "what has been agreed" in their previous meetings on 3 and 10 April "on contacts with conducting the Yemeni government and the opposition as part of their initiative for a peaceful transition of power in Yemen, according to a statement of the GCC.

The Joint Forum is the departure of Mr.Saleh - the main claim of unprecedented protests began in late January in the wake of popular uprisings that have shaken the Arab world - a prerequisite for any political settlement, while the latest proposal of the GCC states that President Saleh held a mere transferring his powers to Vice President.

Mr Saleh, who has lost the support of part of the army of powerful tribes and religious leaders, said he was ready for a "peaceful transfer of power but under the Constitution."

He showed no signs of any rapid departure.Friday, he repeated that he was "constitutional legitimacy" in a speech before tens of thousands of his supporters in Sana'a.

In an attempt to bring the two parties, U.S. and European diplomats have had contacts with the Joint Forum in recent days in Sana'a, according to a Western diplomat who requested anonymity.

"The Joint Forum has obtained assurances U.S. and EU on the success of the initiative of the GCC, including a rapid departure of President Saleh," said the diplomat.

The United States, who fear chaos in Yemen where al-Qaeda is very active, have lent their support to the mediation of the GCC, saying that dialogue on a political transition was "urgently needed".

"The timing and nature of this transition will be determined through negotiations," added the State Department.

But the opposition Yemeni currently excludes any dialogue with the regime and threatened Saturday not to travel to Riyadh if a government envoy was present in the Saudi capital.

"We will go to Riyadh if there is any delegation or representative of the Government in the Saudi capital Sanaa to avoid giving the impression that there will be negotiations," said Mohamed Salem Saturday Bassandaoua which drives his opponents Yemeni delegation in Riyadh.

"No government official will do today in Riyadh," he told AFP a source close to the government.

On the ground, the Yemeni protesters were organizing new events Sunday, the punishment was more than 100 deaths.

LIBYA: In Berlin, NATO members face their differences on the Libyan case

AFP - NATO will be Thursday in overcoming serious differences over the conduct of military intervention in Libya, following the decision of the Contact Group on Libya, meeting in Qatar, to create a fund to aid rebellion.

The discussions between foreign ministers of 28 countries of the Atlantic Alliance, who early in the Libyan crisis response contradictorily February 15, could be difficult, France and the United Kingdom requesting that more allies to bomb alongside their troops Muammar Gaddafi.

On the eve of the meeting in Berlin on Thursday and Friday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister, David Cameron, are agreed on the need for greater "military pressure" on Gaddafi, who " remains determined to maintain its war effort against his own people. "

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who must also attend the meeting, denounced in turn the "savage attacks and ongoing" Gaddafi regime against civilians and "new atrocities", citing reports that forces have used artillery and mortars against residential areas Misrata (west) and cut off water and electricity in the city.

At its meeting Wednesday in Doha, the Contact Group stressed the need to provide rebels take eastern Libya the means to defend himself, while refusing to explicitly include in the aid of military equipment.

A score of countries and organizations participated, co-chaired by Britain and Qatar, almost four weeks after the start, March 19, a multinational military intervention under a UN mandate.

The final statement, the Contact Group has decided "the establishment of a temporary financial mechanism" to provide the National Transitional Council (CNT), political arm of the rebellion, "ways to manage aid and respond to urgent needs "areas controlled by rebels.

No indication was given about the endowment fund, but the rebels said she expected that funds frozen under the sanctions against the Qaddafi regime are made available.

The Group acknowledged the CNT as representing "self" of the Libyan people and reiterated the necessity of departure of Colonel Gaddafi to end the crisis.

He also decided to provide support to the rebellion, including "material support" in the framework of resolutions 1970 and 1973 of the UN, which include an arms embargo.

Asked about the significance of this decision, the British and Italian Ministers of Foreign Affairs Franco Frattini and William Hague, appeared to diverge.

Mr Hague referred to the provision of means of communication, but Mr.Frattini said that "Resolution 1973 does not supply arms, weapons non-offensive weapons for self-defense."

Prime Minister of Qatar, Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabr Al-Thani, said that "the Libyan people have the right to defend itself against the continuous attacks of the pro-Gaddafi" and "self-defense requires devices, which are not offensive but defensive. "

The head of French diplomacy, Alain Juppe, for his part said about supporting the rebels that was intended to "assist in obtaining financing, to strengthen" but "has not been discussed arms deliveries.

The rebellion has indicated it may require some states to the international coalition of arms "defensive" to protect civilians.Chammam Mahmoud, head of information within the CNT, ruled that the Council finances the purchase of weapons with the new funds, ensuring that it should "meet the basic needs of the Libyan people."

"It is important that the coalition shows its full commitment to protect civilians, end seats, worthy of the Middle Ages, and Misrata Zentena (west), and to return troops to their barracks Gaddafi" French sources said after the meeting of MM.Cameron and Sarkozy in Paris.

The United States who had taken command of the coalition as a first step, before announcing the withdrawal of their ground attack aircraft, revealed Wednesday that U.S. fighter jets bombed air defense always Jamahiriya.

The five countries emerging BRIC - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - gathered Thursday in Sanya, China, voted against the use of force in Libya and the Middle East.

Only South Africa had voted in favor of UN resolution paving the way for air strikes in Libya, the other four countries - notably China and Russia, permanent members of UN Security - s 'being abstained, fearing civilian casualties.

On the ground, the rebel forces have taken the strategic town of Ajdabiya (east), 160 km south of Benghazi, the scene of deadly fighting in recent days, but the units are pro-Qadhafi maintained their pressure.

Two loud explosions were heard Wednesday in Tripoli.NATO said it had bombed ammunition dumps near Al-Aziziyah, about twenty miles southwest of the capital.

Earlier, Libyan state news agency had reported air raids on NATO Misrata and Al-Aziziyah (west) and the Sirte, the hometown of Colonel Gaddafi, 600 km east of Tripoli.

The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Libya, Khaled Kaaim, said Wednesday evening that Qatar was providing French-type anti-tank missiles to rebels in Benghazi Milan (east) and accused elements of Lebanese Hezbollah to fight alongside insurgents in Misrata.

The new Libyan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdelati Laabidi, Cyprus will meet Thursday at his Cypriot counterpart Marcos Kyprianou.

COTE D'IVOIRE: The headquarters of Alassane Ouattara has been targeted by pro-Gbagbo

The battle of Abidjan is far from over for the forces loyal to Ivorian President elected Alassane Ouattara. Saturday, the Defence Forces and Security (FDS) of his rival, incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo, seem to have intensified their offensive-cons after strengthening their positions in the disputed areas of Plateau and Cocody.

Laurent Gbagbo, who lives in a fortified bunker located in the basement of his residence in Abidjan, still refuses to relinquish power. He seemed on the verge of defeat there are still three days after the blitzkrieg of pro-Ouattara now called "the people to resistance," according to his spokesman Ahoua Don Mello."President Gbagbo called for resistance against the bombing and the actions of the French army in Ivory Coast, because ultimately it is the French army that attacked us," said Ahoua Don Mello. The latter has also said that troops loyal to outgoing President "are trying to rebuild."

HQ Ouattara under fire from pro-Gbagbo

Symbol of the renewed vigor of the Gbagbo camp Saturday, the Golf Hotel, headquarters of Alassane Ouattara, has been a surprise attack in the afternoon. A first since the beginning of the post-election crisis in Ivory Coast, there are more than four months."The attack consisted of sniper fire from heavy gunfire and shelling has caused panic in the hotel. In addition to the hotel staff and civilians, some of the peacekeepers were Refugees in the basement, in the kitchens, "explains Luc Bragon a special envoys FRANCE 24 Côte d'Ivoire at the scene at the time. The UN military responsible for the safety of the elected president Alassane Ouattara responded to positions held not pro-Gbagbo. "These are only a few hundred meters from the hotel," says Luke Bragon.

A given that counselors prefer minimize Alassane Ouattara."Following this attack, the camp plays down Ouattara this event, which demonstrates, however, that the headquarters of the elected president is vulnerable and that the pro-Gbagbo in Abidjan are gaining ground," said Marc Smith, special correspondent for FRANCE 24 in Coast d'Ivoire.

For its part, the spokesman for the Gbagbo camp, however, strongly denied that the attack was carried out by his forces: "This is absolutely false. There was no attack of Golf", he told AFP, calling the incident an "imaginary attack."

The fact is that despite a quiet night, several hundred people chose to flee Sunday morning near the Hotel du Golf.

LIBYA: According to Alain Juppe, the situation in Misrata "can not continue"

The situation in Misrata in Libya, a city subject for several days at the firing forces of Muammar Gaddafi, "can not last," said Wednesday the French foreign minister, Alain Juppe, stating that he would inform the Secretary General of NATO.

"Misrata is in a situation that can not last and I'll talk in a few hours with the Secretary General of NATO," Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the minister to France Info radio.

The Libyan military leader of the rebels on Tuesday accused NATO of "letting people die of Misrata (west) under fire from forces of Muammar Gaddafi.

Recognizing that in Libya, "the risk of getting bogged down there," Alain Juppe said he did not return to the international coalition "to start reclaiming the land."

"We have formally requested that there be no collateral damage on civilians, it makes intervention more difficult because of Qaddafi's troops have understood things and tend to be closer to civilian populations," said he said.

"We support all our strength the National Transitional Council (opposition), it must also be organized. Finally the field all depend on them.We're here to protect civilians, not to start from the reconquest of the territory, "insisted the minister.

He reaffirmed that Libya was moving towards a political solution, implicitly recognizing that international military action is not sufficient to reach a departure from office of Muammar Gaddafi.

The latter regime is the target since February 15 of a popular uprising that turned into a civil war between insurgents and forces loyal to the leader.

NIGERIA: organizational problems require the postponement of legislative and presidential

AFP - The elections, presidential and local governments in Nigeria, most populous country in Africa, have been reported respectively to 9, 16 and 26 April, said Sunday the head of the electoral commission.

"The commission has weighed all options, taking into account the general opinion of Nigerians, and decided to postpone all elections as follows: Saturday, April 9 (for elections) Senate and House of Representatives, Saturday, April 16, presidential election Tuesday, April 26 (elections in) governorates and regional assemblies, "said Attahiru Jega told reporters.

The elections initially scheduled April 2 had already been postponed due to organizational difficulties to 4 April while the presidential poll was originally scheduled for April 9 and April 16 locales.

Many organizational problems

Motions to postpone these elections had been filed by particular political parties and civil society organizations, and the postponement of legislative elections has had an impact on the conduct of other elections.

The Nigerians had placed much hope in the appointment of a respected academic, Attahiru Jega, head of the electoral commission and the President Goodluck Jonathan had promised free and fair elections.

After the discovery Saturday - the day had to hold legislative elections - many organizational problems, with a lack of staff and election materials in many polling stations, the chairman of the electoral commission has determined, in environment of the day to announce a postponement of the poll.

Several human rights and politicians there had been a "national disgrace" but other officials have said a Nigerian was preferable to delay a vote that could be considered "credible".

Following the announcement of the first reactions of the two main political parties were positive, their spokesmen saying that they can better prepare.

"We'll be in a position to get what we need," said Yinka Odumakin, spokesman for the Congress for Democratic Change (CPC), the party of Muhammadu Buhari, the main rival to incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan."We can only hope that the election commission to overcome its problems and prevent all acts of sabotage," he added.

A spokesman for the Action Congress Nigeria, it is a "welcome development". "This shows that the Electoral Commission is sensitive and listens to the people is a Democrat," said Ibrahim Modibbo.

FRANCE: François Fillon will not participate in the debate on secularism

REUTERS - Prime Minister Francois Fillon will not participate on April 5 at the convention organized by the UMP on secularism, Matignon said Wednesday, adding that the decision had been taken long-standing agreement with Nicolas Sarkozy.

"He was fulfilling a long with the president that he would not go," they say at Matignon, confirming information given by the website of Le Figaro.

"This is not the place to express the government's position," says one in the entourage of Prime Minister.

The secretary general of the UMP Jean-Francois Cope had nevertheless invited the Prime Minister in this debate, says the website of Le Figaro.

François Fillon and Jean-Francois Cope had formally signed the peace on Tuesday, after the tensions caused by criticism of the secretary general of the UMP to the Prime Minister.

The "boss" of the majority party had accused the prime minister not to "play group" in distancing himself from the debate on secularism.

In an interview with Le Figaro, to be published Thursday, Jean-Francois Cope defends again organizing this debate controversial and arouses opposition from representatives of six major religions.

"When we have this debate on April 5, we finish with the hysteria of the debate on the debate leading finally to the real answers," he said.

"This debate will not give rise to confusion." My letter to a Muslim friend, published yesterday in L'Express, is the most honest answer to the fear of a possible drift, "he adds.

FORMULA 1: Sebastian Vettel started 2011 by winning the Australian Grand Prix

The German Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) won Sunday in Melbourne Australia Grand Prix Formula 1, first event of the season, ahead of Briton Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) and Russian Vitaly Petrov (Lotus Renault).

The reigning world champion, after dropping three in as many races on the circuit at Albert Park, has finally vanquished the curse of Australia and won the race handily. With a few laps left to his heir Hamilton, Vettel has occupied all the time the race leader.

He won with 22 seconds ahead of Columbia, giving the impression of having always dominated his subject.

Hamilton, earning 2nd, McLaren can thank for the outstanding work done in a few weeks.The MP4-26 (model 2011), completely out of touch during all the winter tests, achieved a dramatic increase in the favor of the change in its rear part.

Third, Vitaly Petrov continues its metamorphosis. The Russian, used weekends drafts last year, his first season in the discipline, has transcended Australia.

Obnoxious Perez

After a good qualifying Saturday, punctuated with a 6th place, Petrov has made a great start Sunday, allowing him to finish third, the first podium of his career in F1. A result which also marks the progression of Lotus Renault.

Fernando Alonso was fourth in a Ferrari not at the podium.Australian Mark Webber in the second Red Bull continues to run bad at his home GP, he finished in 5th place, just ahead of Jenson Button (McLaren, 6th), a great leader of the race.

Mexico's Sergio Perez (Sauber) completed a fantastic first race, he finished seventh, ahead of teammate Kamui Kobayashi of Japan. Brazilian Felipe Massa (Ferrari) is ninth, while Switzerland's Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso), 10, has assembled the last point at stake

Mercedes has had a calamitous start to the season, with the abandonment of Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher before the halfway point. Nick Heidfeld, Robert Kubica's replacement, injured in rally in February, has experienced first weekend very difficult, punctuated with a sad 14th place.

ISRAEL: One dead and thirty injured in an explosion in the heart of Jerusalem

A woman died and at least 25 others were injured in a bomb blast near the central bus station in Jerusalem. All the wounded were evacuated to hospitals in the city. Four of them are in serious condition.

The bomb, consisting of one kilogram of explosives and concealed in a bag, exploded at the passage of a bus that was heading towards the Jewish settlement of Maale Adumim in the West Bank, according to AFP. Several witnesses said they saw a man drop the bag and run away. The attack has not yet been claimed.

"The bus station is next to a Orthodox neighborhood of the capital.It is a hotspot of the city, it is very crowded, especially early afternoon, shows Gallagher Fenwick, FRANCE 24's correspondent in Jerusalem. The people who perpetrated this attack have undoubtedly tried to reach as many people as possible. "

"This attack has literally shaken the city and the entire country, said the journalist. The mayor of Jerusalem asked the inhabitants of Jerusalem to resume their activities to" show the terrorists they have not won. "In the vicinity of site, people are shocked but not really surprised. "

The Israeli authorities sealed off the area.Police established a cordon around the bus and launched a search with dogs to find explosives that could be still hidden in the area.

Outbreak of violence between Israel and Gaza

The attack comes at a particularly tense between Israel and the Palestinian territories. Since Saturday, about fifty rockets were launched from Gaza into southern Israel. The Israeli army responded Tuesday and Wednesday, killing eight Palestinians, including two minors, two civilians and four Islamic Jihad fighters.

"In response, Islamic Jihad promised to touch the heart of Israel, said Gauthier Rybinski, a specialist in international political FRANCE 24.But it is too early to attribute the attack to this group.

"We will take precautions to try to prevent this crime from perpetuating itself once again in Jerusalem, for his part said Avi Pazner, spokesman for the Israeli government, on the antenna FRANCE 24 .

The heart of Jerusalem had not been touched by terrorism for several years. The latest attack began at 6 March 2008, when a Palestinian attacked a center of West Jerusalem yeshiva, killing eight people.

FRANCE 24 has decided to temporarily close the debate in this page because of violence or offensive nature of some comments posted.

Liveblogging: Launch of international offensive in Libya

What you should remember:

The French army has carried out its first shot against the forces of Muammar Gaddafi at 17:45 (GMT +1, Paris time).
Earlier in the afternoon, French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced that fighter jets had entered French airspace to prevent the Libyan Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's forces to attack the city of Benghazi, a stronghold of the opposition.


The statement by the French head of state concluded an international summit on the situation in Libya, which gathered in Paris this Saturday the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, British Prime Minister David Cameron and many Arab and European politicians.
A military plane was shot Saturday morning while flying over the city of Benghazi. The aircraft belongs to the opponents of Muammar Gaddafi.
According to the insurgents in Benghazi, forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi bombed roads leading into town. The regime denies the accusations and says its planes remained on the ground, according to the cease-fire it announced Friday.

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EGYPT: The security services were dissolved state

The Egyptian Ministry of Interior has decided to discontinue the services of the State Security, the backbone of the repressive system under Hosni Mubarak said Tuesday the official MENA news agency.

"The Interior Minister Mansur al-Issawi has today decided to remove all administrative divisions and offices of state security in all provinces," the agency reported.

The Minister also decided to create a new security institution, called the "National Security", whose role will be to "preserve national security and fight against terrorism."

The unpopular state security was notably accused of spying on the private life and political activities of the population, torture and participate in electoral fraud.

SAUDI ARABIA: Authorities deployed a vast apparatus of preventive security

AFP - The security forces were deployed en masse on Friday in Riyadh and other Saudi cities where no event was reported, despite a call Facebook a "day of anger" in the oil kingdom.

The United States, the main ally of Saudi Arabia had called again Thursday to respect freedom of expression in the kingdom after an incident that left three wounded in eastern countries, where most minority Shiite.

Militants had launched on social networks Facebook and Twitter calls for a demonstration in an upscale neighborhood north of the Saudi capital after Friday prayers.These calls also apply to other cities like Jeddah and Dammam in the west to the east.

These unidentified militants demanding the establishment of elected institutions to replace the Shura consultative council whose members are appointed by the king and government, also left to the discretion of the sovereign.

But no event was reported earlier this afternoon in Riyadh or other cities of the kingdom.

The capital was gridded from morning by security forces, and dozens of police cars took up positions in Olaya, a commercial area in northern Riyadh.

Around the mosque where a demonstration was to start, hundreds of police were deployed and checked the identities of drivers.

No events have been reported in Jeddah, the major port city in western kingdom.

The situation was also quiet in the eastern province, according to a witness.

The police were heavily deployed in the Shiite region where three protesters were injured Thursday night when police dispersed a demonstration in Al-Qatif calling for the release of prisoners, witnesses said.

But according to a Saudi official, a protester fired at police who returned fire."The man was wounded and arrested," the official said on condition of anonymity.

The Shiites, who form 10% of the estimated 28 million Saudis consider themselves victims of discrimination in the kingdom ruled by a Sunni dynasty which advocates a strict vision of Islam.

Saudi authorities have recently reminded that demonstrations were banned in the kingdom.

A view that their American ally disagrees: "What we told the Saudis and everyone in the region (Middle East) is that we will support a set of universal values," he Thursday said Ben Rhodes, an advisor to President Barack Obama.

These values ​​include "the right to assemble peacefully, freedom of expression," he said.

The activists behind the calls for protest, often based abroad, also demand a minimum wage to 10,000 riyals (2,667 dollars) and job creation for Saudis in a country where unemployment is estimated at more than 10% and 30% among those aged 20 to 30 years.

On 23 February, King Abdullah announced a package of social measures for more than 35 billion dollars. Other Gulf states have followed suit and Thursday, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has provided financial support of $ 20 billion in Bahrain and Oman, two members most affected by the wave of revolt.

Obama lifted the suspension of military trials at Guantanamo Exception

The U.S. president Barack Obama will lift the suspension of new military trials at Guantanamo exception and decided to rules governing the indefinite detention of prisoners in U.S. military base on the island of Cuba, said Monday the White House .

"The Defense Secretary will issue a decree annulling its previous suspension of the submission of new charges in military courts," said the American presidency in a statement.

The suspension of new military trials at Guantanamo had been one of the earliest actions of President Obama, the very day he took office January 20, 2009.

In the case of Guantanamo detainees who have been neither charged nor convicted and are not likely to be transferred to a third country, Obama gave the order to conduct "regular reviews crossings," and detailed process.

The White House, however, assured that "the administration remains committed to closing the prison at Guantanamo and maintain a system of legal custody, and based on sustainable principles."

She also renewed the commitment of the administration to try to try selected detainees in federal courts.

On January 22, 2009, Obama had signed a decree ordering the closure in the year of the prison of his predecessor, George W. Bush.But this promise was not fulfilled, largely because of congressional initiatives.

After putting a spoke in the wheels of Obama by prohibiting the coming of Guantanamo detainees on American soil for anything other than trial, the Congress decided in December to ban the Pentagon in 2011 to use its funds to close Guantanamo and in particular for any "transfer, release or assistance" to inmates in the United States.

TUNISIA: The election of a Constituent Assembly announced for July 24

AFP - The Tunisian President Fouad Mebazaa Acting announced Thursday evening in a televised address to the nation, the election July 24 for a Constituent Assembly charged with drafting a new constitution for the post-Ben Ali.

"We announce today entered a new era (...) through a new political system that breaks definitively with the former regime," saidMebazaa.

To do so, elections will be held July 24 for "the formation of a National Constituent Assembly (ANC) who will prepare a new constitution," he added.

"Place to work and stop sit-ins, including the Kasbah (the government district in the heart of Tunis), reacted Ali Ben Romdhane, deputy secretary general of the powerful trade union UGTT (General Union of Tunisian workers) who had contributed to the events that brought down Ben Ali.

"We will work with other political forces to help the public authority to carry out its mission.The agenda is clear, there is more blur, "he told AFP.

"This is a victory of the people and the revolution," he told AFP Hamma Hammami, head of the Tunisian Communist Workers Party (PCOT), while expressing reservations about the particular period "too short four and a half months "he said in the election of the ANC.

Mr. Mebazaa implicitly also announced the dissolution of the current Constitution that "no longer meets the aspirations of the people after the revolution" of January 14 (the fall and flight of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali) and "an obstacle to transparent elections. "

Mr.Mebazaa, whose interim mandate expires on March 15 under the current Constitution, said he would stay in place "Contrary to rumors" that he had lent the intention to withdraw.

"I pledge to continue my mission (...) to the deadline of 15 March," he said.

The interim president and the transitional government, which must be the new Prime Minister Beji Caid Essebsi, will form the "public authority" whose actions "cease the day of the election of the Constituent National Assembly," Has he said.

In view of this election, detailed the president, "a special electoral system" be prepared "at the latest before the end of March" by the "High Committee for the achievement of the revolution, political reform and democratic transition. "

The High Commission now comprises two bodies: the Council and the Commission of Experts, told AFP its chairman, Ben Achour Yadh.

The text will be voting "the subject of consultations within the Council of the High Commission, composed of personalities, representatives of political parties and civil society organizations" who participated in the revolution or have sustained " .

This seems clearly out of the process the Democratic Constitutional Rally (RCD) party of Ben Ali, suspended pending its dissolution by the court.

The acting president urged Tunisians to "get back to work" when the economy is being impacted by problems that peppered the popular uprising that led to the escape of Ben Ali.

A source close to the government, Beji Caid Essebsi expected to announce Friday its transitional government, a cabinet of "technocrats" after the resignation of five ministers two days, two representatives of opposition parties.

This will be the third government since the fall of Ben Ali, the first two having been led by Mohammed Ghannouchi.

TUNISIA: Beji Caid Mohammed Ghannouchi Essebsi replaced as Prime Minister

AFP - Beji Caid Essebsi, Sunday appointed Prime Minister of Tunisia, replacing Mohamed Ghannouchi, challenged for being the last leader of the ousted government of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, is reputed to be a liberal.

Born November 26, 1926 a family Tunis, Mr. Kingpin Essebsi, a lawyer by training, has been a companion of Habib Bourguiba, the first president of independent Tunisia, holding several ministerial posts including those of the Interior, Defense and Foreign Affairs.

Following the independence of Tunisia in 1956, he joined the government as an advisor to Habib Bourguiba, before being appointed Director General of State Security, and in 1965 Minister of Interior.It is then defense minister from November 1969 until June 1970.

Longtime Socialist Party Destour, Bourguiba's party, from which he retired in 1971 calling for political reforms in the country, Mr. Essebsi joined in 1978 the Movement of Socialist Democrats (MDS), a group of Liberal opposition.

In December 1971, he rejoined the government as Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister Mohamed Mzali, who then attempted a political opening.

Appointed April 15, 1981 Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kingpin Essebsi spent nearly six years as head of the Tunisian diplomacy.The highlight of this passage is his role to snatch the Security Council of UN resolution condemning the Israeli air bombardment of the headquarters of the PLO in Hamma Chott, in the southern suburbs of Tunis.

In 1989 he was elected, then president of the Chamber of Deputies until 1991.

At the expiration of his term as MP in 1994, he resumed his law career until his new appointment to head the transitional government, which must prepare Tunisia to an era of democracy after the fall of President Ben Ali .

Mr.Essebsi Kingpin "is known for his patriotism, his loyalty and selfless service of our country," said Tunisian President Fouad Mebazaa Acting, announcing his appointment in his new role.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Defence, flagship asset against Manchester Marseille

"A draw, 0-0 at home, would not be a bad result. That would mean we did 50% of the work," said Tuesday Olympian coach Didier Deschamps, lucid to the challenge that awaits his men in the fourth round to move the Champions League.

Indeed, Olympique de Marseille hosts a monument of European football, Manchester United. Suffice to say that victory will be difficult against the best offense in the English league. However, the Marseille defense, second in Ligue 1 with 20 goals conceded, has for several weeks with a serene face, like that of its custodian Steve Mandanda.

Gabriel Heinze, the veteran

The bad pass last year appears behind him. Finally steady and decisive, Gabriel Heinze reassured his supporters."It is big progress, without complex, well into his shoes and his head. He was released from a weight, may be compared to [Hugo] Lloris," keeper of the Blues, observes the sports director Jose Anigo. At the rear, too, the situation has settled.

Although he said he regretted having left Manchester (2004-2007), Gabriel Heinze should never do more than talk about his experience. At 32, the largest salary of the workforce is one of only three players on the team (with Edouard Cisse and Lucho Gonzalez) to have ever played at this stage of the competition.

A flawed attack

Apart from the expertise of Heinze, Didier Deschamps will also rely on the pair Stephane Mbia - Souleymane Diawara."We must be honest: there is a team when they are there, another when they are absent. When the black guard is not there, it feels like," said Anigo about the two defenders. Between injuries, suspensions and poor form, they have not always been aligned together. But no one doubts that if Mbia, formed Saturday derneir due ishcio-leg pain, was fit, it would take place in line alongside his colleague Diawara. With them since last season, OM Cash 0.65 goal per game. Without them, it amounts to 1.18, according to France Football.

Although Marseille are able to resist against the English armada led by Nani, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov, a victory will be essential to address the phases return with confidence.However, the weak point of the OM lies precisely in attack.

With 37 goals scored, the OM is only the fifth best attacks in Ligue 1. In addition, the package of Andre-Pierre Gignac, who had just returned to his best, not doing much of DD. Loïc Remy should take a position at the forefront with the Brazilian Brandao left and Mathieu Valbuena, back from injury to the right. Will this be enough to deceive the vigilance of the defenders Devils, though deprived of their Taulier Rio Ferdinand? Not so sure.

ALGERIA: The power dispersed another demonstration of the opposition

"Power murderer!", "Bouteflika emerges youth committed!", "Ouyahia thief!", "Down with dictatorship and injustice!", "Bouteflika Ouyahia, terrorist government!". Along the Boulevard Belouizdad, near the popular district of Belcourt and street Hassiba Benbouali, slogans against the Algerian regime has resonated throughout the morning of Saturday, despite the anti-riot trucks that had been made very early to avoid Walking takes the direction of Martyrs' Square.

To elude the vigilance of the police, the demonstrators - 1 000-2 000, according to organizers - gathered in small groups, transforming the square into 1-May arena of contestation. "This is not about people.This is the story of a rotten regime must fall. It is imperative that youth take up the torch! "Said Farouk Atamna, member of the Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD) of Jijel, a coastal city east of the country, present in the crowd. Before further, questioning the hundreds of billions of dollars held by the generals who have gone up in smoke without the Algerians do not see color, "I tell people this scheme: 'Please, release! 'and I call all those who love their country to join us to bring about change. "

"The Algerian people is not a cow who thinks only of eating!"

Struck by the riot police, another member of the RCD, Tahar Besbes, lost consciousness for several hours. He had to be urgently admitted to hospital Mustapha Bacha. Mohsen Belabas, spokesman of the party, the days of Mr. Besbes, who had regained consciousness, are not in danger, even if it suffers injuries in the knee and back.

Foreign language teacher at the University of Algiers, Ismail Sebai wishes him a peaceful change in his country. "Everybody is corrupted in Algeria since the ordinary citizen to the president. The people want change. Even those officers that you see and affecting 40,000 dinars per month (about 350 euros) in dream."And specify that the Algerians are under an arbitrary power since 1962, the country's independence. Kamel, another protester from the town of Tizi-Ouzou, said the crisis in Algeria has no connection with the soaring prices of food staples, foremost among which sugar and milk. "The Algerian people is not a cow who thinks only of eating. It seeks to regain its freedom and dignity", and launches it.

For its part, the honorary president of the Algerian League for the Defence of Human Rights (LADDH), Mr. Ali Yahia Abdenour, 90, braved the forbidden to come to support the protesters.Surrounded by police and journalists, he promised that the fight would continue until the regime fell. "It is a march for the people. We will not allow anyone to recover it. Neither political parties and even less power," he said before moving on: "I can not talk too much, I'm sick and tired ". At his side, Mr Mustapha Bouchachi, president of the LADDH, also manhandled by the police, assured that this campaign would not stop there. "We will continue to organize walks every Saturday, to the satisfaction of our claims."

AVIATION: EADS revises its offer price of tanker aircraft for the U.S. Army

The European aerospace and defense group EADS has modified the content and price of its final response to the call for tenders to renew the fleet of tanker aircraft to the U.S. Air Force said Wednesday its President North America, Ralph Crosby.

"We've actually revised our proposal and our prices," saidCrosby during a press conference.

EADS, parent company of aircraft manufacturer Airbus and U.S. rival Boeing had announced Thursday they have filed their final offer for the mega-tanker contract, valued at $ 35 billion, they are fighting for many years.

Boeing said it had revised its offer to make it more competitive with Airbus to EADS but had previously refused to say whether he had changed his.

RBS Six Nations: Ireland-France: expert opinion

"The return of Jamie Heaslip will make the difference"

"If the Irish have done a very bad game against Italy, the French, they were impressive against Scotland. And it is expected to have an even better French team on Sunday in Dublin. For Damien Traille is in its place at number 12, more than 10 or 15. Clement Poitrenaud is just "pure class" and Francois Trinh-Duc has brought what was missing in France in the opening. But it is also s' expect a rise of the Irish XV. The return of Jamie Heaslip at number 8 will affect the play of the team. The harsh criticism made after their narrow success in Rome should also motivate the players.Coach Declan Kidney given a chance to silence the gossips retaining virtually the same composition. "Prove them they are wrong," is essentially the message he sends them ... "

Tony Ward, scorer of the opener and Ireland from 1978 to 1987 (19 caps)

"The most important game of the year for the Irish"

"There is great concern in Ireland for France against Scotland has shown itself capable of having a game fluid and powerful at once. Ireland has shown signs of weakness in Rome. Many balls dropped, passes missed ... Clearly, they will have to resume. So I weigh my words when I say that this game will be the most important year for the Irish.With the World Cup in their sights, it will be essential to build something positive. "

Hugh Farrelly, specialist rugby newspaper "Irish Independent"

"They have talented players, maybe more than Scotland"

"After this victory snatched in extremis in Italy, the Irish will be keen to redeem themselves. They have talented players, maybe more than Scotland, capable of surprising the France team. Their main weakness is their melee which suffered front face of the Italians last weekend. Two years ago, they managed to put three tries to France in Dublin. It is still possible this year. French side, I see Damien Traille s illustrate.This is an exceptional player who does not count 80 selections by chance ... "

Jerome Prevost, journalist Midi Olympique

FRENCH POLICY: After MAM, Francois Fillon, in turn, attacked on his holidays

After the controversy caused by the escapades of the Tunisian Foreign Minister, Michele Alliot-Marie ("MAM") in December, it was the turn of Prime Minister Francois Fillon, to cross a zone of turbulence. This Wednesday, "Le Canard chained" reveals that family vacations as head of government has spent in Egypt at Christmas time were partly paid by the Egyptian authorities ...Anticipating the release of the weekly satirical French, Matignon Tuesday detailed the conditions that trip along the Nile, which ran from December 26 to January 2.

In the statement issued by the Prime Minister, it is stipulated that Francois Fillon, his wife and children, were sheltered by the regime and used a plane "of the government fleet" graciously provided by Cairo for a tour the whole family Fillon at Abu Simbel. "He also made a boat trip on the Nile under the same conditions", further clarify the text.

"Mixing genres"

"The hierarchy is respected, the Prime Minister has hit even harder than the Minister of State," quipped on his side "Le Canard chained" which states that the device used by the leader of the French government during his stay in Egypt belonged President Hosni Mubarak himself. "How can we demand the departure of a chief of state and have a critical eye on his diet when you become indebted to him?" Went on air on FRANCE 24 Brigitte Rossigneux, the journalist who signed the article in the satirical newspaper.She says "do not mix genres, because it was not a State visit, but rather a private residence with his wife and children."

For his part, Martine Aubry, the boss of the Socialist Party (PS) expressed "dismay" by this new case, saying the government had "lost the sense of public spirit." The Minister of Labour, Employment and Health, Xavier Bertrand, François Fillon responded that "[could] not behave like tourists."His stay in Egypt was responding to "safety," he said, accusing the opposition to the passage to draw "a smokescreen".

This revelation comes as the Foreign Minister Michele Alliot-Marie is accused of having used it twice in late 2010, the private jet of a businessman close to the famous clan Tunisian Ben Ali on the occasion of his holiday in Tunisia.Overwhelmed by opposition calls for his resignation last week, criticized by the media, the patron saint of French diplomacy fought back as best they could attack which is the subject and has received support from Matignon.

Specifically French Republic and impeccable

If the holiday in Tunisia and MMA Francois Fillon in Egypt have certainly taken place in different contexts - those of the Minister of Foreign Affairs took place in Tunisia full revolution while those of the Prime Minister were held before the uprising in courses in Cairo - these two cases converge on one point: to reveal a common practice at the top of the French state which is being offered for travel and private stays abroad by authoritarian regimes ...

The daily Le Parisien "and recalls in its Wednesday edition" African hunting parties "of former President Valery Giscard d'Estaing in the Central, then headed by the capricious and violent Emperor Bokassa," the holidays Mitterrand in Aswan, "or" Cuban cruises Jack Lang, "the former Culture Minister, on the yacht Fidel Castro. According to Brigitte Rossigneux, "a story like that would have triggered the immediate resignation of the minister implicated in countries such as Canada or the United States."

Yet if these two cases are as loud today because they add to the recent controversy arising from the case-Woerth Bettencourt and the resignations of Secretary of State for Greater Paris, Christian Blanc and Secretary of State for Cooperation and Francophony, Alain Joyandet, last July. The first was forced to leave his post after it was learned that he had paid his personal cigars by his department to the tune of 12,000 euros. The second had rented, meanwhile, a private jet for a total of 116,500 euros for a ministerial trip to the West Indies.A series of law that undermines the "Republic impeccable" advocated by President Nicolas Sarkozy during his presidential campaign in 2007. The latter has also asked Wednesday his team at the Council of Ministers, now "focus on France" for their holidays and approval by the Prime Minister their invitations abroad.

TUNISIA: At least two people dead during a demonstration against the police in Kef

The Tunisian government is betting on Saturday on an improved security situation, lowering again the curfew, but remains vigilant about security and social situation remains uncertain, three weeks after the fall of Ben Ali.

Two people were killed Saturday in clashes between protesters and police in the town of El Kef (North-west), told AFP a source at the Interior Ministry.

According to union sources attached to Kef, 200 to 300 people had gathered to demand the departure of the head of the local police.

The demonstration degenerated into clashes when it slapped a protester, to the anger of the mob who burnt the police station.The police responded by firing two demonstrators and 19 and 49 have been killed, according to these same sources.

The previous day, several hundred people protested outside a police station in Sidi Bouzid (center) after the death of two people who were detained there. Three police cars were torched, according to a witness contacted by AFP.

Two security officers suspected of involvement were arrested Saturday, said the official news agency TAP.

For the Minister of Interior, Farhat Rajhi, it is a crime that could be the work of supporters of the former regime.

The authorities announced Friday a reduction of two hours of the curfew will apply from this Saturday from 0:00 to 4:00 local, "because of improved security in the country."

Britain had also lifted its warning Friday about travel in Tunisia.

Vital for the country, tourism is expected to regain its level in the spring before the troubles that have driven thousands of foreigners, on Friday assured Tourism Minister Mahdi Houas.

CEO Fram second French tour operator, said Saturday in Tunis that his group was "fully prepared to support the revival of tourism."

Tunisia "has been and continues to be one of the top destinations Fram Voyages with over 100,000 French tourists a year," said Antoine Cachin, following a meeting with Tourism Minister Mehdi Houas.

The curfew was eased for the first time January 26 (2200-04HOO) since its inception on the 12th of that month, two days before the flight of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

The transitional government did not fall so far custody. The memory of the "assault" given Monday by hundreds of people against the Ministry of Interior is still fresh.

The minister had to flee the building and spoke the day after a "conspiracy against the state."

The Government is also facing a persistent social unrest in the phosphate mines of Gafsa (center-west) crippled by job seekers who block sites.

For two weeks, two public companies CPG (Gafsa Phosphates Company) and Groupe Chimique Tunisien (GCT) lose about 3 million dinars (1.5 million) each day, according to TAP.

While twelve members of the European parliament Saturday continued their mission of support and information in Tunis, the French Socialist Party has provided "support to all democratic forces engaged in the construction of a new Tunisia", after a mission in the country.

Not a day goes by now without the team in charge of the transition does not receive outside support.

Denmark and he announced a strengthening of support for democratic reform in Tunisia but also in Egypt, with a budget of 1.34 million euros to include "free media and civil society."

TUNISIA: The head of the Jewish community denies the rumors of a synagogue fire

The president of the Jewish community in Tunisia, Roger Bismuth, said on Wednesday told AFP that no anti-Semitic acts were reported in Tunisia since the beginning of the popular revolution, warning against rumors that reported Tuesday the burning of a synagogue.

"At no time, Jews have been targeted by attacks or even words moved during the revolution.Tunisia is a revolution, for all Tunisians, "said Roger Bismuth.

The head of the Jewish community in Tunisia, which has about 1600 people, has opposed a "formal denial" to "a rumor that has reported a synagogue on fire" Monday night at El Hamma, near the coastal city of Gabes (south).

"There is no synagogue in El Hamma. There is a mausoleum, with the tomb of a rabbi, a place of pilgrimage. On Monday night, several buildings in the region have been targets of looting and gate keeper's mausoleum was vandalized and removed a few chairs, "he said.

"It was not the Jewish community itself.A local UGTT (the main union Tunisia) was also ransacked and other buildings, "he said.

"We must pay close attention to rumors. People try to pretend that there is a willingness to attack synagogues. Wrong.We're not worried, we did not ask for reinforcements of security to the government because we believe that there is no reason to do so, "he said.

Tuesday, several officials of the local Jewish community had told the AFP and other international agencies had been burned a synagogue in El Hamma, after allegations relayed to Paris by a vigilance against anti-Semitism.

Several representatives of the Tunisian League of Human Rights denied to AFP the allegations, making them also cautions against the many rumors circulating in the country while security is not yet fully restored.

RUSSIA: The bomber Airport Moscow from the Caucasus north

AFP - Russian investigators announced Saturday that the suicide bomber at the Moscow airport was from the volatile Russian Caucasus and that he sought "primarily" to kill strangers, a finding of bad omen Safety Olympics 2014 in Sochi.

The bomber was identified by the Investigation Committee of Russia as a "man of 20 years, from one of the republics of North Caucasus", Southern Region of the country plagued for years to a bloody Islamic rebellion army.

Investigators do not yet want to disclose his name to "identify and arrest the organizers and accomplices" of the attack.However, they stressed that the attack, which killed 35 people Monday, including eight from other countries that Russia was "primarily" foreign citizens.

"It is no coincidence that the terrorist act took place in the arrivals hall for international flights (from Moscow-Domodedovo airport).Investigators said the terrorist attack aimed to kill before all foreign nationals, "said the spokesman.

According to the list of victims published by the Government, 27 Russians were killed and two citizens of Tajikistan, an Uzbek citizen, two Austrians, a German, a Ukrainian and a Briton.

Tracking the Caucasus

This is the first time that an attack in Moscow is admittedly authorities before any foreigners, while many observers question the ability of Russia to guarantee the security of the Olympic Games of Winter 2014 in Sochi, a city along the Black Sea located a few hundred kilometers from unstable areas of the Caucasus.

Investigators had not given any official information on the progress of their investigations since Monday, but many police sources had told the Russian media that the track was largely Caucasian privileged.

All suicide bombings in recent years Moscow has been claimed by the Islamist rebels Caucasians, like the double attack in the Moscow subway in March 2010 which had killed 40 people.

The attack Monday in the main airport in Russia has still not been claimed, but the fact that the bomber is from the Caucasus suggests that rebels in the region are the organizers.

After the first Chechen war (1994-1996) between Russian forces and separatist rebellion has gradually Islamized and has increasingly spilled over the borders Chechnya to become the mid-2000s in an armed Islamist movement active in all the North Caucasus.

Outside Chechnya, the republics of Ingushetia, Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria are regularly the scene of bombings and armed attacks, which generally target security forces.

The Russian Committee of Inquiry has also confirmed Saturday the information revealed by the press that the Islamists had attempted to commit a suicide attack Dec. 31 in Moscow.

The bomb exploded accidentally, however, according to press reports, in a room of a sports complex in the district of Kuzminki. Four suspects were arrested, according to the Committee.

Investigators ensure that the attack Domodedovo and attempting to attack Dec. 31 are "not linked", but both were committed by "armed groups operating in different Caucasian republics."

The Investigation Committee does not mention by cons in its press Razdoboudko Vitali, 32, a Russian convert to Islam than the Russian press had for several days as the number one suspect for the attack at the airport.

COTE D'IVOIRE: Gbagbo camp considers "inappropriate" for the resignation of the governor of the BCEAO

REUTERS - The West African leaders have intensified pressure on Saturday Laurent Gbagbo in overturning the Governor of the Central Bank of African States (BCEAO), a relative who continued to provide the outgoing president Ivorian access Accounts of Côte d'Ivoire.

Meeting in Bamako, the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Economic and Monetary Union of West African "noted the resignation of Governor Philip Henry Dacoury-Tabley.

As part of international sanctions aimed at forcing the incumbent president from power, the BCEAO was announced last month it would no longer accept the signature of Laurent Gbagbo, but he still had access to accounts.

"The conference is concerned at the impact of not implementing the decision on the stability of economic, financial and Monetary Union", said the leaders in Bamako.

Gbagbo was declared winner of presidential elections on 28 November by a Constitutional Council in his hand. Alassane Ouattara was judged winner of the poll by the independent electoral commission, a victory recognized by the United Nations.

The current vice-governor of the bank will take the office of governor until the appointment of a replacement.

Alassane Ouattara was invited to propose a successor to Dacoury-Tabley, what will be done "quickly", according to his Prime Department Guillaume Soro.

The French ambassador accredited more

"We are satisfied. It's what we wanted," said Patrick Achi, spokesperson of Alassane Ouattara. "This will reduce the amount of money leaving the account. We're headed to the audit but it will happen in stages," he added.

Patrick Achi has also requested the replacement of the Director of the BCEAO in Côte d'Ivoire, which he said is also a supporter of Gbagbo.

The camp of the incumbent president has denounced the measure, which puts him in danger by the Ivorian banking system.

This decision was "hasty and inappropriate," said Ahoua Don Mello, spokesman for the Gbagbo government."Côte d'Ivoire think it is dangerous to mix politics with the economy and monetary policy," he said.

The camp of the outgoing president appears to now control the revenues from exports of oil and cocoa, despite attempts by the international community to cut off.

A spokesman for the Gbagbo government announced on television alongside the Ambassador of France in Ivory Coast, Jean-Marc Simon, was not accredited.

The Quai d'Orsay, recalling in a statement that France fully acknowledges Alassane Ouattara as Ivorian President has found the decision "null and void and without any legal effect."

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen is to lead his party

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen said Sunday that he intended to remain as head of his party despite calls for his resignation, including within his own training, but he will ask Tuesday for Fianna Fail to renew his confidence.

"I have come to the conclusion that I should continue to lead" Fianna Fail, said in a press statement Brian Cowen, who has consulted for 48 hours within his center-right party.

While the Irish media were lost in conjectures Sunday on his imminent departure, he argued he was not "in the national interest" that he resigns.

But he said he would ask his party to renew its confidence in a secret ballot held on Tuesday, during the meeting of the parliamentary group of Fianna Fail.

"By taking this initiative, I think to better serve the interests of the party," he continued, saying "confident about the outcome" of that vote.

Brian Cowen, the lowest in the polls, is under fire from critics since he accepted that his country be call for international assistance to prevent the sinking of Irish banks.

He is also accused of "collusion" with the former boss of Anglo Irish Bank Sean FitzPatrick.The latter has indeed revealed in a book, excerpts of which were published recently, have played golf and dined with Brian Cowen, then Minister of Finance, just before the development of the rescue plan of this institution.

"I'm not guilty of economic treason," replied Brian Cowen to opposition MPs who were harassing this week in Parliament.

Brian Cowen directs since 2008 the coalition government formed by Fianna Fail and the Greens.

His popularity has plummeted since the announcement of the plan of international aid (85 billion euros), missed by the Irish who had the sense to abandon a portion of their sovereignty.

The Prime Minister has thus received only 10% approval rating in the latest survey available, and his party only 14% of the vote in the upcoming general elections.

The government has promised to organize after the adoption, scheduled under a month, the next budget. This budget is the most severe the country's history, according to the requirements of the EU and the IMF in exchange for the rescue of the island, including the financial sector has suffered the brunt of the crisis. It remains to stop the exact date of the election.