Showing posts with label press. Show all posts
Showing posts with label press. Show all posts

Sunday, May 15, 2011

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.

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, March 27, 2011

FORMULA 1: Sebastian Vettel started 2011 by winning the Australian Grand Prix

The German Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) won Sunday in Melbourne Australia Grand Prix Formula 1, first event of the season, ahead of Briton Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) and Russian Vitaly Petrov (Lotus Renault).

The reigning world champion, after dropping three in as many races on the circuit at Albert Park, has finally vanquished the curse of Australia and won the race handily. With a few laps left to his heir Hamilton, Vettel has occupied all the time the race leader.

He won with 22 seconds ahead of Columbia, giving the impression of having always dominated his subject.

Hamilton, earning 2nd, McLaren can thank for the outstanding work done in a few weeks.The MP4-26 (model 2011), completely out of touch during all the winter tests, achieved a dramatic increase in the favor of the change in its rear part.

Third, Vitaly Petrov continues its metamorphosis. The Russian, used weekends drafts last year, his first season in the discipline, has transcended Australia.

Obnoxious Perez

After a good qualifying Saturday, punctuated with a 6th place, Petrov has made a great start Sunday, allowing him to finish third, the first podium of his career in F1. A result which also marks the progression of Lotus Renault.

Fernando Alonso was fourth in a Ferrari not at the podium.Australian Mark Webber in the second Red Bull continues to run bad at his home GP, he finished in 5th place, just ahead of Jenson Button (McLaren, 6th), a great leader of the race.

Mexico's Sergio Perez (Sauber) completed a fantastic first race, he finished seventh, ahead of teammate Kamui Kobayashi of Japan. Brazilian Felipe Massa (Ferrari) is ninth, while Switzerland's Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso), 10, has assembled the last point at stake

Mercedes has had a calamitous start to the season, with the abandonment of Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher before the halfway point. Nick Heidfeld, Robert Kubica's replacement, injured in rally in February, has experienced first weekend very difficult, punctuated with a sad 14th place.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

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.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

COTE D'IVOIRE: Gbagbo camp considers "inappropriate" for the resignation of the governor of the BCEAO

REUTERS - The West African leaders have intensified pressure on Saturday Laurent Gbagbo in overturning the Governor of the Central Bank of African States (BCEAO), a relative who continued to provide the outgoing president Ivorian access Accounts of Côte d'Ivoire.

Meeting in Bamako, the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Economic and Monetary Union of West African "noted the resignation of Governor Philip Henry Dacoury-Tabley.

As part of international sanctions aimed at forcing the incumbent president from power, the BCEAO was announced last month it would no longer accept the signature of Laurent Gbagbo, but he still had access to accounts.

"The conference is concerned at the impact of not implementing the decision on the stability of economic, financial and Monetary Union", said the leaders in Bamako.

Gbagbo was declared winner of presidential elections on 28 November by a Constitutional Council in his hand. Alassane Ouattara was judged winner of the poll by the independent electoral commission, a victory recognized by the United Nations.

The current vice-governor of the bank will take the office of governor until the appointment of a replacement.

Alassane Ouattara was invited to propose a successor to Dacoury-Tabley, what will be done "quickly", according to his Prime Department Guillaume Soro.

The French ambassador accredited more

"We are satisfied. It's what we wanted," said Patrick Achi, spokesperson of Alassane Ouattara. "This will reduce the amount of money leaving the account. We're headed to the audit but it will happen in stages," he added.

Patrick Achi has also requested the replacement of the Director of the BCEAO in Côte d'Ivoire, which he said is also a supporter of Gbagbo.

The camp of the incumbent president has denounced the measure, which puts him in danger by the Ivorian banking system.

This decision was "hasty and inappropriate," said Ahoua Don Mello, spokesman for the Gbagbo government."Côte d'Ivoire think it is dangerous to mix politics with the economy and monetary policy," he said.

The camp of the outgoing president appears to now control the revenues from exports of oil and cocoa, despite attempts by the international community to cut off.

A spokesman for the Gbagbo government announced on television alongside the Ambassador of France in Ivory Coast, Jean-Marc Simon, was not accredited.

The Quai d'Orsay, recalling in a statement that France fully acknowledges Alassane Ouattara as Ivorian President has found the decision "null and void and without any legal effect."