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.

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.

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

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.

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.