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.