Showing posts with label description. Show all posts
Showing posts with label description. Show all posts

Saturday, May 21, 2011

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.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

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).

Thursday, May 5, 2011

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.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

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".

Sunday, April 17, 2011

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.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

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.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

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.