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.

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.

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.

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.

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