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.

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.

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.

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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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.

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.