FOOTBALL: Lille is France champion

AFP - Lille was champion of France of football after Saturday's draw at the Parc des Princes against Paris Saint-Germain (2-2) at the 37th day of the Championship of France.

With 6 points ahead of Marseille (2nd), LOSC can not be caught since there remains only one day to play on Sunday, 29.

Already winners of the Coupe de France a week ago, against Paris SG (1-0), the players of coach Rudi Garcia's second drop doubled the club's history after that achieved in 1946. This is the third championship won by Lille in France after the 1946 and 1954.

As in the Cup final in France, midfielder Ludovic Obraniak who scored the first goal Lille, from the 5th minute.Then it was shown that Mickaël Landreau, pushing many shots of Paris.

Lille goalkeeper could do nothing, however, just before halftime on a goal by Hoarau, following a free kick on which two players were Parisian offside.

After an early second period very stormy, marked in particular by the evictions Guillaume Hoarau and Antoine Kombouare, Moussa Sow is the best scorer (22 goals), who restored the advantage in Lille (59).

Mathieu Bodmer then reduced the height of a PSG magnificent strike (73), but the point made at the park just to Lille.

The reception of Rennes at the 38th day will be nothing at stake for Lille, who will find the Champions League next season after a last appearance in the 2006-2007 season.

IMF: Discussions have begun for the succession of DSK

AFP - IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who was accused of sexual crime and remanded in custody in New York, faced increasing pressure Wednesday after the statements by the U.S. Treasury Secretary doubting his ability to lead the institution.

"It is obviously not able to run the IMF," said Timothy Geithner at a conference Tuesday night, while the head of British diplomacy William Hague said Wednesday he "will take a decision on his future ".

"I think that Dominique Strauss-Kahn will take a decision on his future, but it is obviously in a very, very difficult," saidHague on Irish radio RTE.

This question should be "resolved in the coming days," added Wednesday the chief of the majority party UMP in France, Jean-Francois Cope.

Japan, however, felt it was too early to discuss replacing the IMF's managing director. "On this point, I think it's premature to even consider" the issue of replacing Mr. Strauss-Kahn said the government spokesman, Yukio Edano.

"We are aware that there is much speculation around the status of director general. We do not comment on these speculations," he said Tuesday night a spokesman for the IMF, William Murray, who said that the Fund has not "had contact" with him since his arrest.

Mr.Strauss-Kahn was arrested Saturday in New York and is accused of attempted rape of a maid in a Manhattan hotel.

He was imprisoned at Rikers Island prison in New York, pending his next court appearance Friday before a judge in New York.

According to NBC, quoting an unidentified source, he was placed under surveillance as a precaution against suicide.

Asked by AFP about it, a spokesman for the Prison Service of New York said in a statement that "the health of a prisoner is confidential."

"The prison administration of the City of New York observes the same rules of safety and health for all detainees," the document said, without commenting on the psychological state of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, whose photos in handcuffs have been around the world.

An indictment (grand jury) from 16 to 23 jurors popular due to meet in secret and in the absence of a judge to hear evidence from the prosecution and decide on a formal indictment or not.

To date, Mr.Strauss-Kahn denies the charges against him, according to his lawyers, which also appeal the decision to detain him and deny him bail.

The IMF chief was taken Monday night in the huge prison Rikers Island, an island in the East River, where it benefits from a single cell, according to a spokesman for the Prison Service.

"It is not in contact with other prisoners," he told AFP spokesman.

Mr.Strauss-Kahn, who was arrested Saturday, was detained by the decision of Judge Melissa Jackson on Monday, which has refused to release him on bail of one million dollars, two days after his arrest at Kennedy Airport in New York.

The judge cited a flight risk.

The defense of the former French minister suggested in vain that he surrender his passport to justice and a commitment to reside in New York with her daughter.

The wife of Mr.Strauss-Kahn, the former journalist Anne Sinclair, arrived Monday in New York, according to one of the DSK lawyers, Benjamin Brafman.

The case has rocked the French political class to one year's presidential, where "DSK" was a favorite, as part of a possible socialist candidate.

DSK is covered by seven charges, including criminal sexual act, attempted rape and kidnapping, after accusations of a maid of 32 years, employee of the Sofitel New York. The criminal sexual act, which includes forced oral sex in American law, French law corresponds to a rape.The term of rape under U.S. law that covers only forced vaginal penetration.

Out of his silence, the alleged victim's lawyer, Jeff Shapiro, told CNN that his client lived a trauma "extraordinary".

"The world is upside down for her," said Mr. Shapiro. "Since it happened, she could not go home. She can not return to work and she has no idea what the future holds," he said.

The alleged victim "would not stop crying" after the fact, acted on his side Tuesday at a restaurant AFP posing as his brother.The man from Guinea who runs a small restaurant in Harlem, said his sister called him by phone Saturday afternoon while she was with doctors and policemen.

"She said it just happened something bad, '" he said.

The defense has organized around particular time use the boss of the IMF. Its lawyers provide such that it would not escape, but he calmly lunched with a person whose identity is not yet known, before heading to the airport where his flight to Paris was already booked.

They also said he forgot at the hotel one of its mobile phones and called for the Sofitel we make him wear that would not have done if he was a fugitive.

Another possible line of defense, according to the New York press, is the thesis of consensual sex. The New York Post and The New York Times quoted a source "close to the defense" claiming that "the report may have been made." "The forensic evidence, we believe, does not coincide with forced intercourse," he said Monday before the court Mr Brafman.

Additional DNA samples were made Sunday on Mr.Strauss-Kahn, to detect any traces of violence.

Should he be convicted, the IMF chief risk 15 to 74 years in prison for all counts on which it is subject.

FRANCE: The DSK case undermines the French political scene

The arrest and prosecution of sexual assault, attempted rape and kidnapping of Dominique Strauss-Kahn on Sunday by the prosecutor of New York, has been a bombshell in France. The reactions were quick to share fuser and others of the French political scene, especially, the former Socialist minister was seen as the favorite of the latest polls for the 2012 presidential election.

Prudence left

On the left, despite the shock, caution is the rendezvous. Martine Aubry, the Socialist Party first secretary, said she was "totally stunned" by the DSK case she described as "thunderbolt".

She called for "respect the presumption of innocence and decency to keep the required" before a few reporters in Lille, where she was mayor. Also very conservative, Segolene Royal, Socialist candidate in the primary, spoke of "an upsetting news about all that remains to be seen." The unfortunate rival Nicolas Sarkozy in the 2007 presidential election said on Europe 1 that "this man must be respected, his family must be respected." François Hollande, also a candidate for the primary, spoke of "restraint", citing a "terrible news".Finally, the member-strauss kahnien Pierre Moscovici recommended Sunday "prudence and decency," describing the new "shock that overwhelms us," in an interview with AFP.

"Expect the DSK version of events. I've known him for 30 years, it does not look like I know him. My thoughts are with his family and himself in this ordeal," he added.

For his part, Jean-Luc Melenchon, co-chairman of the Left Party, told AFP he was "appalled". "I hope this is false because rape is a crime.There would be a victim, "he continued, saying" it's enough of the humiliation that this information among his causes. "" I call for restraint. Do not judge until you know, "he said.

"A president who would have looked like Berlusconi"

Unsurprisingly, the DSK affair has caused reactions more sharply toward the right and the extreme right. Bernard Debré, UMP deputy from Paris, has blasted the IMF chief. "This is humiliating for France, is disastrous. Like it or not, DSK represented our country," he said on air on FRANCE 24.While acknowledging that the Socialist was presumed innocent, he nevertheless stated that "the facts argue against this man" whose "known propensities."

Asked about the future president of DSK, the deputy of Paris responds bluntly. "My God, you realize, we would have a president who would have looked like Berlusconi who made orgies over here and there", he said. "If the facts are proven, it must be treated to avoid uncontrolled impulses and impure, it is pathological," he said.

Only member of the government to react to the moment, the Secretary of State for International Trade, Pierre Lellouche, said on ITélé need to "give Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the presumption of innocence and let the process unfold. "If all this were proved, it would be devastating," he added.

Chairman of the modem, François Bayrou, saw something "confusing, sad and extremely disturbing." He also argues that if the facts were "verified", it would be "degrading behavior towards a young woman and women in general."

For Marine Le Pen, president of the National Front, the IMF chief is "permanently discredited as a candidate for the highest office of the state" while it believes "all Paris, the Paris newspaper, the Paris political noise since months slightly pathological reports that Mr. Strauss-Kahn appears to maintain against women. "

JUSTICE: France is reluctant to allow the ex-wife of Marc Dutroux

The Minister of Justice Michel Mercier said he had "no intention of saying yes to the home in a French convent Michelle Martin, the ex-wife and accomplice of the murderer pedophile Marc Dutroux, Wednesday leaving the Council of Ministers.

"We have not been seized by Belgium" in a formal request for this welcome, "said Mercier.

If that were the case, "we will implement the agreement between Belgium and France, we look at things," he added.

But "I'm not going to say yes, for my part," said the Keeper of the Seals.

Belgium Tuesday lifted the last obstacle to the liberation of the former wife of Marc Dutroux, who still has to wait for the green light from Paris to visit a French convent, which has agreed to host it.

This former teacher of 51 years was sentenced in 2004 by the Assize Court of Arlon (south-east) to 30 years in prison for his involvement in the crimes committed in the mid-1990s by her ex-husband, convicted his hand to life without possibility of early release.

COTE D'IVOIRE: the pro-Ouattara control the last bastion of pro-Gbagbo in Abidjan

AFP - Yopougon in the west of Abidjan, the last stronghold of militiamen loyal to ousted President Laurent Gbagbo, is now entirely under the control of the forces of the new leader Alassane Ouattara of State, announced late Wednesday authorities Ivorian.

"This is the only sector that remains (to be conquered, Ed) and the whole area is now permanently occupied by us," said the Ivorian television TCI commander Cherif Ousmane, operations officer in the military republican Coast Ivory (FRCI).

Yopougon was the last neighborhood that escaped the control of the forces of the new power.Militiamen loyal to Laurent Gbagbo made it their stronghold and fought again in the morning in the area of ​​the naval base in southeastern district, bordering the lagoon.

Guillaume Soro on site

Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Guillaume Soro, visited the premises in the afternoon.

"I saw the streets littered with corpses. Militiamen At HQ, we saw a makeshift cemetery. I guess all the abuses that have occurred. I'm still in shock from all the dead, all dead," he said on the TCI.

"The militiamen executed civilians, if you had a name that was not correct. I find this unacceptable," he said.

"Everything Yopougon throughout Abidjan must be secure.I count on you, "Guillaume Soro launched his troops.

AFP journalists accompanying a team from the Ivorian Red Cross noted Wednesday that dozens of bodies, riddled with bullets and burned or reduced to skeletons, littered the streets of several areas of this vast neighborhood of more than one million inhabitants.

Corpses and mass graves

Mass graves contained the bodies of residents killed by militiamen, according to testimony gathered by residents told AFP.Of half-naked body lying on the ground: the militia for some residents, neighborhood youth killed by FRCI according to others.

In two days, the bodies of more than 60 people killed in recent violence have been recovered by the team of the Red Cross.

The area was Wednesday unrecognizable stalls that have not been looted and burned retain their iron curtain fell, garbage are collected over a long time. Yopougon has nothing to do with Abidjan, where life has returned to normal and it brings back even with the morning traffic jams.

"The mercenaries and pro-Gbagbo militias have been taken out of harm's way (...).Yopougon just been released, "said the captain on the TCI Alla Kouakou Leon, spokesman for the MoD, calling the area" from which fortress had desperately caciques Gbagbo camp.

He also warned against "criminals and bandits" armed and in uniform, who claim to belong to FRCI, ensuring that steps were taken to "neutralize".

President Ouattara, in power since April 11 arrest of Mr.Gbagbo, had threatened on April 22 to "disarm by force" the last remaining armed groups, must not file a "fast" guns.

Three independent international experts, commissioned by the UN to investigate serious violations of human rights allegedly committed in Côte d'Ivoire since the presidential election on Nov. 28, arrived Wednesday in Abidjan and remain in the country until the end of May.

LIBYA: A son of Gadhafi killed by NATO airstrikes, according to Tripoli

The youngest son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Saif al-Arab al-Gaddafi, and three of her grandchildren, were killed overnight Saturday to Sunday during a NATO air strike, which the Libyan leader had narrowly escaped, said a spokesman for the regime in Tripoli.

"The house of Saif al-Gaddafi Arab (...), the youngest child of the Guide (Ed.: Muammar Gaddafi), was attacked with powerful means.The Guide and his wife were in the house with friends and relatives "and is" safe, "said government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim, during a press conference.

"The attack caused the death of a martyr brother Saif al-Arab (...) and the three grandchildren of the Guide," added the spokesman.

Saif al-Arab was aged 29 years, "he added. He was the youngest of six and son of Libyan leader did not occupy official position known. Muammar Gaddafi had already lost an adopted daughter in 1986 during a U.S. bombing in Tripoli.

"The guide itself is in good health. He was not injured.His wife is also in good health and has not been injured, but others have been, "he said.

"It was an operation to assassinate the leader directly to this country," he accused.

The spokesman had previously accompanied the press at the scene of a house bombed Tripoli.Given the scale of destruction, it seemed unlikely that there could have been any survivors.

In Brussels, NATO confirmed shortly after he led strikes in the area of ​​Tripoli, but not death by Gaddafi's son, ensuring not to target individuals.

"NATO has continued its precision strikes against military installations of the Gaddafi regime in Tripoli last night, including strikes on a building command and control known in the area of ​​Bab al-Aziziyah, shortly after 1800 GMT on Saturday "said in a statement General Charles Bouchard, Commander of the operation.

"We regret any loss of life, especially that of innocent civilians," he added, stressing that "all targets of NATO is a military nature."

Saturday night, three explosions were heard in Tripoli from the area of ​​Bab al-Aziziyah, home to the complex M.Gaddafi, after an overview of NATO planes.

In Benghazi, Libyan stronghold of the insurgency, shots of joy rang out shortly after the announcement in Tripoli death of the youngest son of Muammar Gaddafi, said a journalist from AFP.

On the waterfront boulevard, cars drove by honking their horns while the sky was lit up by tracer bullets and the firing of rockets, anti-aircraft guns and assault rifles.

Muammar Gaddafi was repeated on Saturday in the day that he would not give up power, while NATO has rejected his call for negotiations to end the bloody conflict in Libya for almost three months.

At the same time, the rebellion has mentioned a possible "new front" in the south-east, after a second attack against regime forces a city in this desert region that left 10 dead, six civilians and four rebels.

In a first public appearance since April 9, Gaddafi, the oldest Arab leader in power since 1969, reiterated he would not leave despite the military pressure from NATO, the international financial sanctions, the embargo on weapons and freeze its assets.

"NATO should abandon all hope of a departure of Muammar Gaddafi.I will not leave my country and I shall defend to the death, "he said on television, calling the rebels" terrorists. "

"We are ready to negotiate with France and the United States but unconditionally (...). We are not going to give, but I'm calling to negotiate. We can solve our problems without fighting between Libyans, remove your fleets and your aircraft, "Mr Gaddafi launched at the NATO.

NATO has rejected that call, stressing that it was prior to Mr Gaddafi to stop its attacks against civilians.

The NLC has also rejected any negotiations with Mr.Gaddafi, saying that he had no role to play in the future.

The regime has nevertheless called rebels Misrata, 200 km east of Tripoli, "to disarm in exchange for amnesty," after warning that any ship trying to enter the port of Misrata would "hit with force. "

In the evening, 13 powerful explosions rocked Misrata, when NATO aircraft flew over the city. During the day, near the airport, intense fighting continued.Rockets and mortar shells also began to fall on the city.

According to several sources, the fighting left 10 dead and 20 injured Saturday.

NATO said it had neutralized several mines in the harbor, where a humanitarian ship was still blocked and three others waiting offshore.

In the west, insurgents still held the post-Tunisian-Libyan border Dehiba.NATO said it had destroyed 13 ammunition depots in the mountain area mainly supported the rebellion.

In south-eastern desert, 70 vehicles attacked pro-Gaddafi Jalo oasis (300 km south of Benghazi), killing six civilians and four rebels, according to the rebellion.

In Tripoli, more than 400 representatives of tribes loyal to the regime said in a statement to prepare to go to Benghazi to meet with tribal rebels in order to "reconciliation".

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: With Messi, Barca is a great step towards the final

This Act III of the series of "clasicos" which pitted FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, was expected by all Europe football. Even if Barca, winning 2-0 at the Bernabeu, made a big step towards the final of the Champions League, the summit has finally given birth to a mouse.

In his den the Santiago-Bernabeu, Real Madrid, Mourinho has opted expected to refuse the game and wait for his opponent to trap it against the best. The strategy of "Soft" does not work. Worse, it has sealed his team and especially given the "clasico" a bitter taste, where the physical commitment took precedence over the talents of 22 actors.

On the ground, the tactical duel between Mourinho and Guardiola has materialized into open warfare.By the half, the goalkeeper of Barcelona, ​​Pinto was sent off after an altercation with Arbeloa in the corridor leading to the locker room.

At the hour mark, defender Pepe also distinguished himself by engaging in an actual attack on Dani Alves and won a red turn. Mourinho exceeded, then went after the refereeing corps and was expelled in the wake.

Three "facts of the game" finally culmination of a meeting that never gave way to the beautiful game it promised on paper.And that would almost double from Messi anecdotal, although it will obviously be a determining factor in sporting terms.

2-0 away winners, the Catalans have a foot and a half in the final. And Real will have to show something in the return match in a week if he wants to double its eternal rival in the race for the final of the Champions League.

Clashes in series

Faced with Madrid encamped in defense, Barca took the game very logically to his account from the start. Xavi reserved the first chance of the game by clearing a heavy strike from 30 meters in the axis.Casillas, well placed, capturing the carefree leather (5th).

In the aftermath, Real managed to react, but the attempt of Cristiano Ronaldo, eccentric left, fleeing through the Catalans (6e).

The quarter-hour mark, the match had already significantly muscular. In this flood of rough action, David Villa was trying to turn realize the dominance of Blaugrana. Upon receipt of a beautiful opening signed Xavi, former Valencian transplanted into the shaft and arming a curling shot that passed within inches of cage Madrid (12th).

As we approach the half-hour mark, Barça had clearly taken an advantage over his rival (82% of possession), but was always vague in the area of ​​truth.Xavi, again served by Messi was on the verge of scoring the right but his shot from 6 meters was easily repelled by Casillas (26th).

Paradoxically, the Real, curled up until then was close to making a difference in stoppage time of the first period. Cristiano fired in a sublime strike that difficult Valdes repelled along the axis. Ozil, receiving, striking turn toward the goal, but Valdes was able finally to deflect the ball of the right foot (45 '+1).

Messi savior

In the second half, the match resumed on the same pace, with a wait-Real who was content to proceed against and block offensive Catalan.

The expulsion of Pepe in the 61st minute, would tilt the game.Seven minutes after the attack on Madrid's Dani Alves, Pedro, head repeated a deflected shot from Villa but missed the target. And from the start of the last quarter of an hour, hello Barca's Messi would eventually come.

Afellay on center, the Argentine prodigy managed to deflect the ball and catapult into the nets of Casillas in the silence of Bernabeu (76th). And the nightmare would continue even for Madrid.Ten minutes later, Messi, party of 45 feet, dribbling four defenders and arming a superb diagonal shot along the ground which had deceived Casillas (87th).

The end game in an atmosphere poisonous, at least had the merit of taking place in relative calm.

Remains with only two goals conceded at home, Real now has every chance to leave the Champions League next week at Camp Nou. If he wants to reverse the trend, he will make a copy much more successful and find the arguments that have allowed the weekend, to blaze in Valencia (6-3).

PORTUGAL: Lisbon has revised upwards its deficit and public debt

AFP - Portugal's public deficit for 2010 was revised upwards to 9.1% of GDP, against 8.6% previously estimated, said Saturday the National Statistics Institute (INE).

The INE has informed the EU statistics office Eurostat revised deficit "due to higher financing needs and government debt, respectively, 0.5 and 0.6 percentage point GDP relative to baseline, "said the Institute of Statistics in a statement.

The country's public debt has also been revised upwards from 92.4 to 93% of GDP, or about 160.4 billion euros.

This result reflects the impact of such contracts associated with the operation of highways, saying "at no cost to users (SCUT), through public-private partnerships that raised doubts about their accounting in public finance said the Ine.

Discussions were underway between INE and Eurostat on these issues "complex" which should be "analyzed after" but "following the request for foreign aid by Portugal, it was necessary anticipate the calendar to collect stable data for 2010 constitute a starting point for negotiations, "said the Ine.

This revision comes as Portugal is currently in a mission of the European Commission, the European Central Bank (ECB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) responsible for negotiating with the Portuguese authorities and counterparts contours of the bailout, the amount currently estimated at 80 billion euros, requested on April 7.

The EU and the IMF have already expressed willingness to help Portugal, Lisbon but only if adopted by mid-May an "adjustment program" that will include austerity measures "ambitious" and policy of "growth and competitiveness."

Disallowed by the Parliament rejected new austerity measures, the Socialist Prime Minister Jose Socrates has resigned, paving the way for early parliamentary elections scheduled for June 5.

On March 31, INE had already revised up the 2010 deficit to 8.6% of GDP, due to the inclusion of additional spending of about 3 billion euros, corresponding in particular to injection of funds in various public transport companies and losses of the nationalized bank BPN.

The new 2010 deficit figure is well above initial forecasts of the government which envisaged a target of 7.3% of GDP for 2010 and 4.6% for this year.

"There are no hidden costs in the Portuguese public finances, argued Saturday night the Minister of Economy, José Vieira da Silva. It's just a different way to deal with statistics," in Following a change of method.

LEBANON: Seven Estonians removed ask for help in a video

September Estonians kidnapped in Lebanon last month appeared on a video posted late Tuesday unauthenticated YouTube, imploring leaders Lebanese, Jordanian, Saudi and French to help them so they can return home.

Lebanon Files website was informed Wednesday of the publication of this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIHXHk4c5Gw&feature=player_embedded), posted by a user who is as thekidnaper2011 (the ravisseur2011 " , Ed).

The video, which lasts over a minute, shows perfectly shaved seven men in sportswear and appear healthy. They speak English and beg to turn for help.

"We look to you, Prime Minister of Lebanon Saad Hariri, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah of Jordan, French PresidentSarkozy, please do anything to help us go home, "said one of them.

"Please give what they (the kidnappers) asked (...), do everything so that we can go home, our families as soon as possible."

"It's really a difficult situation," said another. "Please do anything, all it takes for you to go home."

The video was released just hours after the Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet had concluded a visit to Lebanon without any news about the seven Estonian tourists kidnapped March 23 in eastern Lebanon.

The seven cyclists Estonians were abducted by a group of Lebanese and Syrians, according to security services.From Syria through the border post of Masnaa, they were intercepted by gunmen in Zahle in the Bekaa Valley.

In an email sent on April 5 at a website of Lebanon, a previously unknown splinter group, Al Nahda Haraket Wal Islah (Movement for Renewal and Reform), claimed the kidnapping of seven Estonians and demanded a ransom for their release , saying they were healthy.

Friday, 11 people, seven in custody and four at large, were charged in the kidnapping of Estonians.

Since the crisis of Western hostages in the 1980s in civil war (1975-1990), kidnappings of foreign tourists are very rare in Lebanon.

The Bekaa Valley is plagued by drug trafficking and rivalries between clan groups.

Increased tensions between Rome and Paris on a train of Tunisian immigrants

AFP - Some 200 activists of human rights, Italian and French but also of Tunisian immigrants, blocked roads Sunday to the station of Ventimiglia, the French border, where trains to France were canceled.

"We'll stay here until we moved the beds to sleep tonight at Ventimiglia, because we want to take a train to France tomorrow morning," said speaker by a militant Italian.

Activists of Human Rights, many Italians but the French had planned to board a "train the dignity" of Ventimiglia (north-west Italy) starting at 1:17 p.m. (11:17 GMT ) to Nice (southern France), along with Tunisian candidates for immigration.A match was to take some of them to Marseilles.

But in mid-day on all regional trains in the direction of France, was canceled by the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes, said a French controller.Information confirmed by the illuminated signs indicating the train departure.

In Rome, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini gave "instructions to the Italian ambassador in Paris to express the strong protest of the Italian government" after the cancellation of trains.

Wishing to express their dissatisfaction with the Consulate of France in Ventimiglia, protesters and Tunisian immigrants have been identified in the station area by carabinieri.vest They then ini station.

"The train will depart from Dignity Ventimiglia to cross the border and arrive in Marseille.Italian, French and Migrants, together, will challenge the government to block open borders, guaranteeing free access to European territory, and remember that no human being is illegal ", the organizers had announced in a statement.

CINEMA: The 64th Cannes Film Festival Unveils Official Selection

Follow the announcement at 11 am on the Twitter account and wire CultureF24 # Cannes2011

AFP - A little less than a month before the opening festivities, the 64th Cannes Film Festival unveiled Thursday at 11:00 the selection of films that will compete for the prestigious Palme d'Or awarded by a jury chaired this year by the American Robert De Niro.

The official selection includes twenty films competing for the Palme, and the twenty works of the Un Certain Regard, chaired by Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica.

Among the possible present, the names rumored breath Danish director Lars Von Trier, the Italian Nani Moretti, the Dardenne brothers, and the French side, Marjan Satrapi, Zem Roschy Mathieu Kassowitz or ...

The selection also includes special screenings, midnight screenings of films shown out of competition.Some have already been released in dribs and drabs by the festival.

"Midnight in Paris", the latest Woody Allen with Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, will be screened in the festival's opening on May 11

U.S. director Gus Van Sant's award at Cannes for "Elephant" and "Paranoid Park" will open Un Certain Regard with "Restless". This film explores the relationship of two teenagers, played by Mia Wasikowska and Henry Hooper.

The organizers also announced a special evening will be dedicated May 17 in Jean-Paul Belmondo, in the presence of the actor.The latter, which should be surrounded by his many friends in the cinema, including attending the premiere of the documentary and Jeff Vincent Perrot Domenech "Belmondo, Directions ...".

A Palme d'Honor - awarded to an important director, but never crowned by the festival - will be handed to the Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci at the opening ceremony.

French actress Mélanie Laurent officiate as Master of Ceremonies for the evening and for the closing ceremony on May 22

Egypt: Hosni Mubarak broke his silence to denounce an "unjust campaign"

AFP - Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said the victim of "smear campaigns" and denies owning property abroad, in an audio message broadcast Sunday on Al-Arabiya, his first speech since his fall.

"I can not remain silent against the smear campaigns and attempts to harm my reputation and my integrity and the reputation and integrity of my family," says the former president, who has resigned February 11 under pressure from the street.

It also evokes "unjust campaign" which he said had "suffered greatly".

Mr.Mubarak assures that neither he nor his wife Suzanne have "property or accounts abroad," while new Egyptian authorities announced the creation of a commission to investigate his assets and those of his relatives.

ISRAEL: A hundred Palestinian arrested by IDF

The Israeli army arrested Thursday over a hundred women in a Palestinian town near Nablus, West Bank, as part of the investigation into the murder of a family of Jewish settlers, local officials said.

The women, some elderly, were placed in a military camp near Awarta where their fingerprints were found, and most of them were later released, according to an AFP journalist.

Hundreds of Israeli soldiers penetrated Awarta in the night and imposed a curfew before stopping these women, told AFP the head of the municipal council of the locality Tayis Awwad.

The soldiers conducted in the night raids on the premises, he added, citing officials of the Palestinian security services.

The Israeli army arrested Tuesday a forty Awarta Palestinians for questioning.

Israeli troops entered regularly and massively Awarta since the massacre of 11 March in which a family of the neighboring Israeli settlement of Itamar, parents and their three children including a baby, were slaughtered in their sleep.

The Israeli army imposed last week including a curfew for five days Awarta following the killings, attributed to Palestinians, whose perpetrators have so far not been identified.

SYRIA: Bashar al-Assad appointed a new prime minister

AFP - Thousands of people accompanied the remains of Sunday killed eight demonstrators Friday Duma, near Damascus, when Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has appointed the outgoing Minister of Agriculture Adel Safar to lead the new government.

The protesters have announced new protests this week when the Internet was cut more than six hours and that the mobile communications were very difficult because, officially, a "congestion" of the network.

"Eight dead were buried Duma today.There are three other protesters were killed but neighboring villages and Sbinah Arbin, "said Mazen Darwish, head of the National Centre for Information and free expression, closed since 2009, who attended the funeral.

He said "tens of thousands of people attended the funeral. They chanted slogans in homage to the martyrs, and demanded the freedom to have attacked the official press."

"Where are the gangs," proclaimed the banners to make a mockery of the official version blaming "armed bands to have opened fire Friday from rooftops.

Some calls to the "fall of the regime" were suffocated by the crowd.The funeral is part of the Great Mosque of Duma to the cemetery through the streets of the city. There was no visible presence of security forces.

For his part, al-Atrash Muntaha, spokesman of the Syrian Organisation for Human Rights "Sawasiyah", who also attended the funeral, assured that "the protests will continue. The people do not keep silent over because the barrier of fear has fallen. "

On Friday, eight protesters were killed during demonstrations after a presidential speech was disappointingly low.

One resident said 90 people arrested by security forces have been released but there are 15 whose whereabouts are unknown.

The appointment of Safar, "a gesture"

Moreover, Assad "has issued a decree instructing Adel Safar to form the government," according the official news agency Sana.

Baath Party member, Mr. Safar, 58, is an expert on agricultural especially in arid regions."It's a gesture toward this population particularly affected in recent years by a terrible drought," he told AFP an economist.

The government led by Mohammad Naji Otri, in place since 2003, has not survived the challenge and submitted his resignation Tuesday.

But this appointment did not satisfy the protesters.They call for a "week of martyrs" with a day of protest on Tuesday to "boycott" on Wednesday that mobile phones have offered a free hour to the public for supporting the regime, and rallies on Thursday at the headquarters of the Baath Party to mark the anniversary of the founding of the party in 1947.

They also asked their supporters to march on Friday in all Syria to show "The dissatisfaction of the people."This will be the fourth Friday in which the Syrians are expected to take to the streets to show their displeasure with the lack of liberalization.

"The challenge is limited in scale but rooted," he told AFP a Syrian businessman who wished to remain anonymous.

And if the number of protesters remained limited, the challenge has expanded geographically. Friday demonstrations were held together for the first time in the northern, predominantly Kurdish.

In total, about 80 protesters were arrested since Friday in Damascus, Homs, Duma Deraa and Deir Ezzor (450 km northeast of Damascus).

COTE D'IVOIRE: Pro-Ouattara seize Yamoussoukro and enter the port of San Pedro

"The increase [military] should continue. The sole purpose is to restore the election results and to establish democracy. Côte d'Ivoire is one and indivisible. Gbagbo few hours to go, otherwise it will be walking Abidjan on and it will be harder for him, "said Wednesday evening on FRANCE 24, Guillaume Soro, Prime Minister appointed by the Ivorian president recognized by the international community, Alassane Ouattara.

"We do not encounter resistance"

On the third day of their lightning advance into southern Ivory Coast, pro-Ouattara took control of the strategic port of San Pedro, the first port of export of cocoa in the world on Thursday.

Wednesday already, Yamoussoukro was also passed into the hands of supporters of Alassane Ouattara.Hometown of former President Felix Houphouet-Boigny, the Ivorian administrative capital fell easily. Just a few shots from an assault rifle were heard, according to the testimony of some of its inhabitants. Guillaume Soro said "want to avoid fighting in that city." According to several testimonies gathered by the AFP, the Republican Forces of Côte d'Ivoire (FRCI) support Alassane Ouattara and then continued their way south, leaving a small detachment in the city.

For three days, FRCI progressing smoothly towards the south, taking control of cities as symbolic Gagnoa, in "country Bete" (center-west), home region of Laurent Gbagbo."We do not encounter resistance, but rallies," said Guillaume Soro was still at the microphone to FRANCE 24. We've already been contacted by several generals who were not publicly disclosed for security reasons.The only difficulties we encountered [three days], it is with the militias and mercenaries on the side of Duékoué (west). "

Shots heard in Abidjan

Although Guillaume Soro would not confirm that the armored forces pro-Ouattara were heading to Abidjan now - "I will not reveal here the military strategy of Republican Forces," he said - he did no secret that controlling the Ivorian economic capital was the ultimate goal of the offensive.

In town, the tension was already palpable on Wednesday. According to AFP, shots, including heavy weapons, were heard in several neighborhoods north of the town and many residents have returned home hurriedly.

Regional elections risky for Merkel

AFP - The Germans are threatening to inflict a blow Sunday to the conservative Angela Merkel and its nuclear policy in two regional elections that coincide with a worsening situation in Fukushima.

"The whole nuclear fuel," headlined the daily Welt am Sonntag, above articles on the latest developments of the disaster at the Chernobyl Japanese election day.

Saturday, some 250,000 people protested in the streets of nuclear fear, exacerbated by the accident in Fukushima, and request a stay of German reactors.

The information from Japan on Sunday were not likely to reassure voters with radioactivity "10 million times higher" than normal as measured in a water escaped from the reactor 2.

"On election day that shook the black-yellow coalition," headlined the tabloid Bild am Sonntag, referring to the colors of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.

All polls indicate that the Christian Democrats (CDU) Chancellor Angela Merkel will lose power in Baden-Wuerttemberg, a prosperous Land of 10 million people in southwestern Germany who voted Conservative for 58 years .

In this Land which stand four atomic reactors, the Greens might even take the head of a regional government for the first time.

The Greens should also enter the regional parliament of Rhineland-Palatinate and emerge as partners of Government in Social Democratic (SPD) Kurt Beck at the helm for 17 years.

The departure of Ms. Merkel after the nuclear accident in Fukushima has angered voters.

The chancellor, who assured that the German plants were "the safest in the world," ordered the temporary shutdown of the seven oldest reactors of 17 and a review of security measures.

Five months earlier, the majority had voted to extend the life of the plants of twelve years on average, while a previous SPD-Green government had promised "the output of nuclear power" in 2020.

The volte-face of Mrs Merkel was seen as an electoral ploy.

A government minister has confirmed in a small committee that electoral considerations are not alien to this shift, according to leaks in the press this week.

The expected defeat in Baden-Württemberg will reduce the flexibility of the conservative-liberal coalition in the Bundesrat, the upper house of Parliament, without threatening the mandate of Ms. Merkel, which runs until 2013.

But Bild, the Vice-Chancellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Liberal Westerwelle, plays his "destiny".

If the PDF is missing the two regional parliaments, he asked his chief of accounts that since the 2009 parliamentary election defeats and accumulates has not convinced the head of German diplomacy.

The failure of Germany to the UN during the vote on the resolution authorizing the use of force to protect civilians in Libya has increased voter confusion. For the first time since the war, Berlin was torn from its U.S. and European allies.

An anonymous source within the party, citing the Tagesspiegel, said that Mr.Brüderle government should resign if the Liberals do not sit in Rhineland-Palatinate, which he headed the federation FPD.

Some 10.8 million voters to the polls in both states. Polling stations close at 6:00 p.m. (1600 GMT) and first preliminary results are expected shortly thereafter.

PORTUGAL: The Parliament rejected the austerity plan, the Prime Minister resigns

REUTERS - Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates has presented his resignation Wednesday evening after the rejection by parliament of the austerity measures proposed by the
minority Socialist government.

President Anibal Cavaco Silva was charged with handling current business and said he would receive on Friday leaders of political parties.

Jose Socrates warned that the rejection of the austerity measures would compel Portugal, like Greece and Portugal, to seek international assistance, a solution he is hostile.

The decline of the euro against the dollar accelerated after the rejection of the austerity program, the single currency back below the 1.41 dollar.Around 2100 GMT, the euro yielded 0.8% against the greenback.

Parliament's vote is not a surprise, the main opposition, the Social Democratic Party, said Monday that it would not support such measures.

The cost of debt Portuguese has also registered higher before the vote in parliament.

Insurance against default on sovereign debt Portuguese was more expensive on the market for CDS (credit default swap) while the yield spread between government bonds and German Portuguese widened.

Lisbon had hoped to get his plan before the EU summit dedicated to the comprehensive plan for the debt crisis, which begins Thursday.

All opposition parties voted for a resolution to reject the measures, which are part of the stability and growth for the years 2011-2014.

Only the Socialists, who hold 97 of the 230 seats in Parliament, voted in favor of the measures.

RUGBY - SIX NATIONS TOURNAMENT: France enters into a disastrous tournament on a high note

AFP - England won the Six Nations rugby despite defeat (8-24) in Ireland after victory (28-9) XV de France against Wales (halftime: 11-6 ), Saturday at the Stade de France during the 5th and final day.

The British, who had not won the event since 2003, however, have missed the Grand Slam after their defeat Saturday in Dublin.

The XV de la Rose, which was thus raised Bookmark nations of the Northern Hemisphere for the World 2011 in New Zealand (September 9 to October 23), ahead of France (2nd), Ireland (3rd ), Wales (4th), Scotland (5th) and Italy (6th) after the defeat (8-21) Saturday at Edinburgh Italians.

The French led 11-6 at the break thanks to an essay by Lionel Nallet and two penalties from Morgan Parra, against one for James Hook. The Welsh fly-half added three points after the break before lining Nallet on a new ball recovery.

Parra transformed and added a penalty to respond to that success by Hook few minutes earlier. The temporary exclusion of the opener facilitated the task of the French who added a third try by Vincent Clerc, transformed by Parra.

COTE D'IVOIRE: Four killed at a checkpoint pro-Gbagbo in Abidjan neighborhood

Gunmen killed four people Tuesday near a roadblock manned by young supporters of Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo out in Abidjan district of Deux Plateaux, several witnesses reported.

"I'm not sure what happened but we heard a series of gunshots near the roadblock young Sococe behind the supermarket," said Marco Abad, a resident of a residential area north of economic capital.

"We heard screaming and there were four bodies of young people on the road," said Abad could not confirm if the dead were members of the pro-Gbagbo Young Patriots, who set up roadblocks across the city.

Fighting between supporters and those of Gabgbo of Alassane Ouattara, former Prime Minister regarded by the international community as the winner of the presidential election of November 28, raged for three weeks in the neighborhood
pro-Ouattara Abobo, further north, and this week moved closer to downtown.

Clashes also erupted in western countries, on both sides of the demarcation line established since the end of the civil war in 2003.

A spokesman for the government led by Alassane Ouattara said Monday that neither party insurgents to attack several areas of Abidjan, the rebels nor the north outside the scope of his authority.Patrick Achi added that there were apparently a lot of defectors from the army in their ranks.

General Mangou "ready for war '

The Chief of Staff of the Army, General Philippe Mangou, told the newspaper Notre Voie pro-Gbagbo on Tuesday that his troops were ready if necessary to the war.

"If it pushes us to war, we will," he said.

On Monday, pro-Ouattara fighters moved into the neighborhood of Adjame near the business center, where fighting has killed one person.They also launched two simultaneous attacks in Yopougon, a stronghold of Gbagbo.

"It was total war, with grenades and gunfire everywhere," said one resident told Reuters TV that the store was destroyed by the fighting.

Smoke escaped again Tuesday with several buildings of Williamsville, part of Adjame.The corpse of a civilian lying on the road to this neighborhood.

A team from Reuters was unable to go further due to a roadblock set up by young supporters of the president.

Met Tuesday in Paris, the foreign ministers of the G8 have supported Ouattara and Gbagbo threatened new sanctions if it refused to relinquish power.

Sunday, Pascal Affi N'Guessan, a close Laurent Gbagbo rejected a proposal Friday in Addis Ababa by a group of heads of state mandated by the African Union (AU) and of forming a unity government National
directed by Ouattara.

Laurent Gbagbo had declined the invitation to visit the Ethiopian capital to defend his record.Noting the failure of mediation attempts by the Heads of State, the AU finally demanded that Alassane Ouattara is installed in his functions as head of the Ivorian state.

Laurent Gbagbo, in power since 2000, refuses to give his presidential chair on the grounds that his victory in the second round of the presidential election was confirmed by a Constitutional Council which was granted.

The UN, however, certified the victory of his rival, also recognized by the AU and the Economic Community of West African States and the West by
Western powers like the United States and France, the former colonial power.

The EU recognizes the legitimacy of opposition to the regime of Gaddafi

AFP - EU leaders believe that opposition to Muammar Gaddafi in the National Transitional Council (CNT) is an interlocutor "legitimate", said the EU president Herman Van Rompuy.

"The opposition in Benghazi is considered a legitimate political interlocutor," he said after an EU summit in Brussels on Libya.

The Heads of State and Government of the European Union "welcomed and encouraged the National Transitional Council (CNT) based in Benghazi (east), which is regarded as a political interlocutor" for the EU and a partner "worthy of faith, "he said.

Representatives of the CNT had several interviews with European leaders Friday on the sidelines of the summit, including Mr Van Rompuy, the head of European diplomacy Ashton and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, said the EU president.

In this regard, the French head of state assured that Colonel Muammar Gaddafi was "no longer an interlocutor" and should "go."

LIGUE 1: Lille Olympique Marseille at the Velodrome offers and takes championship lead

AFP - Lots of cool, Lille, Marseille's winning, keep your head temporarily abandoned in Rennes, while Marseille disillusion even allows Lyon to nibble his late after the 26th day of L1 marked by the absence of referees and the usual lack of offense Saturday.

Deprived of victory from five matches, Lille struck a blow (2-1) in a direct rival remained on four consecutive wins, and believed himself launched the sprint for the conservation of its title.

And it is only fair for the LOSC, which has digested his defeat in the first leg.Again they delivered a splendid first half, marked by the magnificent goal of Hazard but could not increase their lead and sent their reach.

But then he snapped at Stadium Lille made the round back at the Velodrome.Until Frau arise in the extra time (90 +2)

For OM and rang back to 4th place with four points from two co-leaders, the next move in Rennes, in one of them will be worth much.

For the Britons, the first in action on Saturday, have not been more brilliant in Montpellier but they brought a fifth of the Herault and fortunate success in a row (1-0) through their rookie Boukari that no longer touches land since Lens he left this winter.

Expert in money-time + +, Lyon has also issued a message brilliantly by improving its goal difference against almost relegated the Arles-Avignon (5-0).

The return to the axis of Lisandro, injured for two matches, was the right choice and after a quarter of an hour OL led with a goal and an assist by Argentine finally written a tripled.

Thanks to this great success, Lyon doubled OM and PSG and take 3rd place.

For Paris, probably the most hated team in France, has yet shown very generous in offering late in the game to an opponent on the verge of his first success since K0 16 matches (0-1).With infernal cadences facing him and his group limited, Paris, which dominance remained sterile, has any team in the Top 5 that the first crack ...

Fortunately for him that the hole seems to be made with the peloton, now led by Montpellier, 6th.

Wake offensive Sunday

Behind, in the absence of purpose, it will not happen much. With the victory of Bordeaux Brest (3-1), the three matches on Sunday afternoon have made it possible to register 12 goals, against four in seven games the previous day!

A very bad publicity before the launch of the next tender for TV rights this L1-who-is-600-ME + according to the president of the LFP ...

Lorient-Nancy, Nice, Monaco, Lens and Valenciennes have indeed delivered a sad 0-0.Caen and Saint-Etienne has suffered the same score without the inspiration of El Arabi in stoppage time (1-0) in favor of the Normans.

However, the metronome Maiga scored his 11th goal to the delight of Toulouse Sochaux (1-0).

This standstill is neither the Greens nor the affairs of TFC, both systematically beaten for four days, but it is those of the AJA which moves away from relegation.

To believe that the attackers were also absent than usual referees! For them, suspended by the FFF for wanting to delay by 15 minutes of kick-off matches, had ample opportunity to see their replacements, usually national, lead the discussion.

The neophytes are showing much more up to the trust placed in them than conventional arbitrators criticized for their adequacy and repeat their mistakes, they trembled through.

Because it took them until the last game and a load of illegal Fanni on Lille Marseille Gervinho (67) in order to talk about the first significant error, but harmless, their colleagues.

Wikileaks: Julian Assange appealed his extradition to Sweden

AFP - The founder of the website Wikileaks Julian Assange appealed his extradition to Sweden as part of a case of sexual violence, said Thursday the British justice system.

Lawyers for the Australian filed a formal application before the High Court of Justice in London, said a spokesman for the court, but when will the hearing has not yet been set.

A London court had validated 24 February the extradition request issued against him by Sweden where two women accused him of sexual assault and rape during a stay in Stockholm last August.The founder of Wikileaks, aged 39, has always denied the charges against him and ensured that young women were consenting.

The judge had swept the arguments of the defense that the Australian is a victim of a conspiracy and an "abuse of right" from the Swedish court has issued a European arrest warrant against him.

He also found no merit in the argument that Julian Assange could be extradited from Sweden to further the United States, with the risk of being imprisoned at the U.S. base at Guantanamo, even sentenced to death.

His lawyers immediately announced their intention to appeal the court decision, to the chagrin of two young Swedish defender who has lamented the further delay caused by this action. "I told my clients that I hoped would be completed before the summer," argued Claes Borgström.

Supporters of the founder of Wikileaks believe he is the victim of a conspiracy, after the disclosure in recent months tens of thousands of official documents by Wikileaks, which have embarrassed Washington and many capitals.

This appeal to the High Court, however, is one of many legal remedies available to Julian Assange.Once the decision of the High Court made a further appeal is possible before the Court of Appeal within a month, then a final challenge before the Supreme Court, in the same period.

The Supreme Court decision is final in the United Kingdom. But the defense Assange could still turn to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg (France), extending even this long legal process.

Julian Assange, who visited the British police on December 7, was released on bail nine days later. He has been under house arrest in the opulent mansion of one of his friends to 200 miles from London.He must wear an electronic bracelet and be subject to a curfew.

On Wednesday, the U.S. soldier Bradley Manning, who was suspected of having provided military documents to Wikileaks, was charged with 22 new leaders, including collusion with the enemy ".

This charge is punishable by death, but the U.S. attorney decided not to require.

The young man is in solitary confinement since July in a military prison in Virginia.

LIBYA: The city came under the control of organized opposition to Gaddafi

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said his country was "completely calm" on Sunday, while an "independent National Council" was created to represent the towns controlled by the protesters, including several cities in the west.

In Washington, the United States declared themselves "ready" to provide "any assistance" to opponents while London has asked the Libyan leader to go "now."

In an exclusive statement given by telephone to the Serbian television station TV Pink, Colonel Gaddafi, in power for nearly 42 years, said that "Libya is completely calm."

"People have been killed by terrorist bands that definitely belong to Al-Qaeda", he just recognized the 13th day of an unprecedented revolt, noting that a "small group" of opponents was currently "circled".

Earlier announced the creation of an "independent national council", Benghazi (east), second largest city and stronghold of the challenge to represent "all the liberated cities of Libya."

This body will be "the face of Libya during the period of transition," said a spokesman for the Council Abdelhafez Ghoqa.

"The city councils of each function and it is out of question to divide Libya in the north, south, west or east, or tribal bases.The Council is in Benghazi because it is a liberated city, "said Ghoqa.

"The rest of Libya will be released by the Libyan people," he added, reiterating that Tripoli was the capital of Libya."We rely on the army to liberate Tripoli.

Several towns in the west are "the hands of the people" for several days and "preparing a march to liberate Tripoli", told Nalout (230 km west of the capital), a VIP member of the Revolutionary Committee of the city.

"The city was liberated from February 19, since it is managed by a revolutionary committee + + February 17 communities designated by the city," he told AFP Chaban Abu Sitta, a lawyer for the city, s' is placed "under the authority of the interim government of Benghazi.

A Zawiyah, 60 km west of the capital, the authorities organized a press trip for journalists "invited" by the regime, have been unpleasantly surprised to see thousands of protesters march, chanting "Down regime, we want freedom ". Witnesses said anti-Gaddafi demonstrators seemed to control the city.

Meanwhile, the United States declared themselves "ready" to "any assistance" to the opposition."We are ready to offer any assistance that anyone could want from the United States' opponents in Libya," said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

In London, British Prime Minister David Cameron has held that "it is time for Colonel Qaddafi to go, and go now."

The record of violence was difficult to assess. The Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has spoken of a thousand deaths.A Benghazi alone, 256 people were killed and 2,000 injured, according to doctors quoted in this city on Sunday by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Britain has imposed a freeze on assets of the Gaddafi family, evaluated according to the newspaper The Telegraph about 20 billion pounds (23.4 billion euros).

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper also announced Sunday the freezing of assets of Gaddafi and his family and called for "an end to bloodshed" and resign.

In New York, the Security Council of the United Nations has adopted a series of tough sanctions against the Libyan leader and his relatives.

The resolution is "worthless," responded Colonel Gaddafi, sweeping and the freezing of assets abroad, a travel ban and an embargo on arms sales to Libya.

In Tripoli, crowds lined up at banks to withdraw the 500 dinars (about 400 dollars or 300 euros) promised the families by the government. This measure, announced Friday, was relayed by SMS in the city's most loyal to the regime.

At the airport in the capital of the huge crowds waiting to leave the country, "said airport director Yussef al-Jarbi.

Only drove into the town militia of Colonel Gaddafi, aboard 4X4.Checkpoints were set up in and around the capital, where bread and gasoline were rationed, according to a resident reached by telephone.

"There is no fire. The morale is good. Some young people want to hold a demonstration (...) but we are against, because if there are other events, Gaddafi will continue to kill us," said he said.

In the district of Tajoura, opponents were asked to shout "God is great" on rooftops in protest against the regime.

Faced with the chaos, the evacuation of foreign nationals still in difficult circumstances.Nearly 100,000 people, mostly Egyptian and Tunisian workers have already left the country through the Egyptian and Tunisian borders.

"More than 51,000 people of various nationalities have been repatriated since 21 February," the other said Youssef al-Jarbi, director of the Tripoli airport where huge crowds were waiting to leave Libya in mid-heap clothing left behind by those parties without their business.

COTE D'IVOIRE: Fighting with heavy weapons in a district of Abidjan

The Ivorian crisis has taken a more violent turn Wednesday, with clashes involving heavy weaponry between forces loyal to incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo and unidentified fighters in a district of Abidjan supports Alassane Ouattara.

Defence Forces and Security (FDS), loyal to Mr.Gbagbo, lead a "major operation" to "secure" the neighborhood of Abobo (north), told AFP a senior military official on condition of anonymity.

"Exchanges of heavy weapons" are held in the neighborhood where fighting, sporadic since January between the FDS and the gunmen have stepped up in recent days, he confirmed in the afternoon.

According to several residents contacted by AFP, fighting in the northern Abobo started around 16:00 (GMT) and ended around 20:30.

"It takes all the time", said one resident, adding that "everyone is locked up at home."A taxi driver said that the SDS had made earlier fired warning shots to residents returning home.

Ten elements of the Centre for Security Operations Command (Cecos), an elite unit of the SDS, were killed Tuesday night in Abobo in fighting after an ambush by "attackers," said a security source.

Witnesses reported a death toll will FDS side, and several civilian casualties.The body of a civilian shot dead lay in pools of blood in the morning near a service station.

A senior Cecos but assured on Wednesday that the unit had lost only three men, lamented "seven bullet wounds" in her womb and killed "seven attackers.

In the morning, the SDS were deployed in Abobo, blocking access to certain areas, while many streets were deserted and shops closed, noted AFP.

Dozens of people, especially women and children, then fled the area."I leave the area," a woman let go, sack on his head.

The government accuses Gbagbo of "rebels" to operate in this neighborhood before Tuesday's fighting, at least a dozen of SDS had been killed since January.

The camp Ouattara, combined with the former rebel New Forces (FN) controlling the northern Ivory Coast since 2002, denies any involvement in these actions.

Inspired by the examples of Egypt and Tunisia, supporters of Mr.Ouattara has turned up the heat last week calling for a "revolution" to hunt out.

More than 300 people have been killed since mid-December according to the UN in the violence that marked the crisis resulting from the November 28 presidential, between Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara, President recognized by the international community.

Since Saturday, at least a dozen pro-Ouattara demonstrators were killed by the SDS, which dispersed the crowd with live ammunition, according to several sources, but also in Abobo areas in Kumasi and Treichville (south).

This renewed tension comes as African Union deploys fresh efforts for a solution to the crisis, so far found.

Monday and Tuesday, four African presidents to a panel appointed by the AU met Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara. Objective: To arrive by 28 February solutions "binding".

Group members, chaired by Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz (Mauritania), left the country since Tuesday evening and will meet in Nouakchott "in the coming days."

AU favors a peaceful settlement, but the former mediator Raila Odinga, Kenyan Prime Minister, has found that if economic sanctions fail to achieve "regime change, then of course the force will be used" as "West Africa has brandished the threat against Mr. Gbagbo.

Iran: Release of two German journalists detained for four months

Iran has released on Saturday after four months of custody, two German journalists who left for Germany on Sunday night with Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle came specially to find them.

During his visit of several hours, the first by a minister of the EU in Iran for several years, Westerwelle was received by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad held talks with his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi.

Mr Ahmadinejad also drew attention with Westerwelle "regional issues, the situation in Afghanistan and the need for cooperation against terrorism and drug trafficking," the Iranian presidency website.

During a brief joint press conference with Mr. Salehi, M.Westerwelle said the meeting between the two ministers had allowed "an" exchange of views and opinions, "the direct translation made by the Iranian television channel Press-TV in English.

"It was a meeting to get acquainted," he said, adding she had "not been time to discuss major issues."

Salehi for his part said that the visit of Mr. Westerwelle Tehran was to "strengthen bilateral relations" and that the two ministers had "agreed to further meetings already planned in the future."

He expressed the desire of Iran to "look to the future" in its relations with Germany, saying the two countries had "many issues to discuss."

Iran has been subjected since 2007 to severe political and economic sanctions imposed by the EU because of its controversial nuclear program, which prohibit particular high-level bilateral contacts with Tehran.

Westerwelle departed for Germany immediately after the talks, about 2:00 local Sunday (2230 GMT Saturday) with the two journalists released, Marcus Hellwig, Jens Koch, the newspaper Bild am Sonntag (BAMS).

The two Germans held in Tabriz (northwest) since October 10, 2010, arrived by plane to Tehran in early evening."No comment," replied one of them to journalists who asked them questions.

Before their release, they were each sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 20 months which was immediately converted to a fine of 500 million rials (50,000 dollars), according to the judicial authority who said they were convinced "crime against national security".

The two journalists were arrested in Tabriz while interviewing the son and attorney-Ashtiani Sakineh Mohammadi, an Iranian woman sentenced to stoning in a case of murder and adultery and for which the international community 's is mobilized.

The Iranian authorities accused them of being entered Iran with tourist visas, without asking permission and special press visa that foreign journalists must obtain in order to work in Iran.

The Iranian Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, imprisoned in Tabriz, was sentenced to death by two courts in 2006 for his involvement in the murder of her husband and adulterers. His murder conviction was reduced to 10 years in prison on appeal in 2007 but his sentence of stoning for adultery was upheld by another court of appeal. The court decided to review his case and has not yet delivered its final verdict.

ALGERIA: Prime Minister announces the lifting of emergency rule by the end of February

Algerian Prime Minister and Secretary General of the National Democratic Rally (RND, Liberal) Ahmed Ouyahia announced Wednesday in Algiers in late February before the lifting of the state of emergency in force for 19 years.

"The lifting of emergency rule take place before the end of this month along with the announcement of several decisions regarding housing, employment and management of the administration," saidOuyahia, quoted by news agency APS, the opening of a meeting of the presidential alliance.

The state of emergency was proclaimed in 1992 at the beginning of the decade of Islamist violence that killed at least 150,000 dead.

Besides the RND, the presidential alliance, created in 2002 to support President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, includes the National Liberation Front (FLN, nationalist) and the Movement of Society for Peace (MSP, Islamist).

She holds an absolute majority in Parliament.

Ouyahia also said that it was "not ignore the events taking place in the Arab and Islamic countries."

He stressed "the need to provide adequate solutions to the problems of Algerian youth."

The announcement of Mr.Ouyahia occurs after an event which was attended by 12 February some 2,000 people in central Algiers.

The marches are banned in the Algerian capital and protesters were prevented from scrolling by deploying some 30,000 police officers.

The opposition in the National Coordination for Change and Democracy (NCCD) has called for a new event for February 19.

This coordination includes opposition parties, the Algerian League for the Defence of Human Rights and representatives of civil society.

Mr.Bouteflika announced February 3 the lifting of emergency rule "in the very near future" at a Council of Ministers.

He then instructed the government to tackle "without delay" to develop "appropriate texts that will enable the State to continue the fight against terrorism."

EGYPT: Protesters keep up pressure on the army Tahrir Square

Reuters - Thousands of people returned on Tahrir Square in Cairo Sunday when the army tried to disperse demonstrators who have pledged to take the roundabout, the epicenter of the revolution, until the army takes its promises, witnesses said.

"The army and the people are united," "Revolution, revolution until victory", they chanted.Earlier, the head of the military police had called on protesters to dismantle their tents and leave the room to allow life to return to normal.

While military police encircled the demonstrators in the center of the roundabout to avoid disrupting traffic, the protesters were guiding the cars to another end of the square.

The Army tries to restore order

The army, which ensures respect the demands of protesters whose mobilization has brought down the regime of Hosni Mubarak, called on the occupants of the Tahrir Square to return home to allow life to take its course.

In the wake of protests launched January 25, traffic around the roundabout was interrupted on January 28.

"On the square, the square, we demand our rights to the place," had earlier chanted some 2,000 protesters as the army encircled the crowd.

Despite the departure of President Hosni Mubarak on Friday, protesters' main demand, some have warned that they would remain Tahrir Square to protect the revolution and put
pressure on the supreme council of the armed forces, which now assumes power.

"The army is the backbone of Egypt. The solution is not to make us leave the place.It must meet our demands, "said a protester in a loudspeaker.

Some protesters, more than 30 leaders of the movement were arrested and taken near the Egyptian Museum, located near the square.

The army, called by Mubarak on January 28 last to come support the police overwhelmed by the situation, has remained generally neutral and withdrawn during the revolution.

"There is no hostility between the people and armed forces. We ask you not to take our son. It is a peaceful demonstration," said one protester.

INTERNET: Syria restores access to Facebook and YouTube

Facebook is back in Syria and the White House was delighted. FRANCE 24 Observers have confirmed that this was the subject of many tweets since Tuesday afternoon after two and a half years of censorship, the Syrians can again log on to Facebook. An adviser to the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has even split congratulations to Damascus for this gesture.

But the star network social web, often cited for his alleged role in important events in Tunisia and Egypt, is not the only one to be available again in Syria.YouTube, the online video platform owned by Google, has also resurfaced after many years of enforced absence on the Web Syrian.

Two symbolic gestures that the Syrians were discovered by themselves. Authorities have not actually announced officially the lifting of censorship. "It's an important gesture, but not sufficient for a variety of other sites, less known, continue to be inaccessible," said Bassam al-Kadi, a FRANCE 24 Observer based in Damascus and site manager Syrian Women Observatory .

This is particularly the case for Elaph, the largest online newspaper in the Arab world, or Asharq al-Awsat, one of the most renowned Arabic dailies.The Syrian authorities are not ready to let their people have unlimited access to the global network. Why then this leniency toward Facebook and YouTube?

Less censorship for more control

Several commentators believe that the authorities' decision to Damascene Facebook and YouTube is a gesture of appeasement to the people. It would be better safe than sorry and have reasoned President Bashar el-Assad. "For sure this decision is a direct consequence of events in Egypt and Tunisia", recognizes Nourane Kuli, another Syrian Observer for FRANCE 24.

However, the explanation does not seem satisfactory."In my opinion, the main reasons are that the authorities can better control what is going on these sites and they also realized that censorship was not necessarily effective," said Bassam al-Kadi. Indeed, part of the population - as in Egypt and Tunisia - were already using proven methods to circumvent censorship (proxy, virtual networks, etc.)..

Still, making Facebook accessible to all is not without risk to the Syrian regime, but it is a risk that seems perfectly calculated and controlled. "The situation here is very different from Egypt or Tunisia.The use of the Internet is not the same, there is no real activists on social networks which makes sites like Facebook less useful, "concludes Bassam al-Kadi.

Unemployment has a very slight decrease

AFP - The official unemployment rate in the United States fell to 9% in January, its lowest level since April 2009, despite increased hiring whose mediocre testified Friday the government's monthly report on employment.

A thorough review of data from the Labor Department suggest that still leaves the rally on the employment front is not as good as it seems and that the slowdown in hiring is less serious than it seems.

The figures appear in fact disturbed by bad winter weather that raged in several regions and a change in the sample population used to calculate the unemployment rate.

"In short, none of these figures are reliable," said Ian Shepherdson economist, the research institute HFE.

We must therefore await the numbers and revisions will be published in early March or early April to get a clearer view of the situation.

The White House has also called for "not conclude too much from a single monthly report," even if economic growth strengthens.

Nigel Gault, the firm IHS Global Insight, January figures conceal "an underlying improvement in the labor market buried under snow and ice."

Compared to December, unemployment fell 0.4 percentage points formally, while the median forecast of analysts gave a recovery rate at 9.5%.

The report, however, shows a modest increase in the proportion of active employees, 0.1 percentage points over December, to 58.4%, less than a year earlier (58.5%), when unemployment reached 9 , 7%.

In addition, the net job creation month (36,000) was four times less than expected by analysts, and three times lower than in December.

The private sector, object of attention, appears to have established that 50,000 net jobs.It is his worst since the beginning of the upturn in employment in March, according to new estimates by the ministry.

The survey on employment and those on unemployment are not consistent since it is generally accepted that a minimum of approximately 150,000 net job creation per month is needed to reduce unemployment.

The number of jobs created in January was therefore likely to be revised upwards in a month, tens of thousands of people that the bad weather prevented them from going to work to receive their pay has been is excluded from the calculation of the department.

The Federal Reserve chairman, Ben Bernanke said Thursday that more than a year and a half after the end of the recession, we still could not consider the economic recovery as "very prepared" because of the slow improving employment.

The country has regained a million jobs over almost 8.7 million officially destroyed from December 2007 to February 2010.

Taking into account, in addition, positions that could not be created because of the crisis, are 11.4 million jobs we need today in the U.S. economy to reduce unemployment to its level before the recession (5.0% in December 2007), calculates Heidi Shirholz, the Economic Policy Institute.

To return to this level in five years, the economy would "create 285,000 jobs a month for 60 months without interruption," she adds, while employment increased by only 93,000 jobs per months on average since March.

EGYPT: The irreducible Tahrir Square are not about to sleep

A few hours after the end of the event that brought together nearly one million Egyptians in Cairo, nearly ten of thousands of protesters are still present on Tahrir Square towards which all eyes converge.

Armed with tents and sleeping bags, hundreds of them, including women and young children, are sleeping on the ground. "I come every day protest last week on this site. Tonight I will sleep here in the middle of my countrymen because it is a memorable day," said Hamdy, an unemployed 49 year old .He said the movement might take a more violent turn on Friday, after prayers, if the will of the people is not heard.

A strong smell of burning from several areas of the vast square, where fires were lit to protect against the cold. But the atmosphere gradually warms to the announcement of the impending speech by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

Mubarak's voice echoing in the square

It is almost 23 o'clock, when the voice of rai finally resonates through speakers instead and radios made by protesters. In a painful hiss, the voice of rai, so unpopular in those places, however, has been listened gravely.Unsurprisingly, just concluded, the statement raises a very strong backlash.

Some Cairenes, frustrated by the reaction of President Mubarak, kneel and take his head with both hands. Others hide their faces with their flags. Hosni Mubarak, who has held power for 30 years, has announced he will not abandon the presidency before the next presidential election scheduled for September 2011.

Instead, bit busy until then because of the late hour, suddenly caught fire. Spontaneously, protesters come alive to form more compact groups, to better block against the regime. "He does not want to leave, but he will leave. We are left," they cry, unanimous.Later, a group led by supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood slogan chanted demanding that Mubarak is "tried and sentenced to death." Alerted by the commotion visible from several kilometers Tahrir, foreign journalists who had deserted the flock up, cameras in hand, to gather initial reactions.

"He does not understand"

Came from Alexandria, to live a "historic day", Rawan, a young student in international business, is struggling to hide his disappointment. "We were millions in the streets today across Egypt to tell him to go, but Mubarak did not understand, he does not listen to the people," she laments.

For his part, Omar despair.This philosophy student fears the effects of the status quo. "If Mubarak persists, demonstrations continue. Our economy and our future will be so threatened," he says. He said the president must withdraw and leave a transitional government amend the constitution and hold a presidential election.

Tomorrow we will be even more

Already, a call for new events is launched. "We'll come back tomorrow, we will remain a week if necessary, or even a year. Mubarak is 30 years remained in power," quips Karim, a hairdresser at home aged 21. His forehead still bears the scars of the violent demonstration on 28 January during which a policeman hit him with a wooden club."I do not want a step backwards, says he visibly upset by the speech. We suffer, we, the poor Egyptians, and we can not get out until this corrupt regime will remain in place. "

Reconstructed as a seller of cigarettes on the sly Tahrir Square, like many Cairenes, Karim invites you to its customers for the next day. "You see, tomorrow we will be even more than today," he said before vanishing into the crowd of demonstrators. Around 3 am, the voices of the protesters were still ringing in the neighborhood of Tahrir Square, which is aptly named because it is the place of the "Liberation".

HAITI: The date of the second round of presidential elections scheduled for March 20

The publication of the final results of the first round of presidential Haiti will be held on February 2, announced Friday the Haitian Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), indicating that the second round would take place March 20.

"The final results of the second round of elections will be announced April 16," we read in the electoral calendar.

In detail, the electoral timetable is as follows: publication of final results of the first round will be held Feb. 2, then the election of 17 February to 18 March.The second ballot will be held March 20, preliminary results of the second round will be announced March 31 and finally, the final results of the second round will be announced April 16.

Since the first round of presidential elections on 28 November, the country is plunged into a political crisis linked to qualification for the second round, alongside the former first lady Mirlande Manigat, Jude Celestin, the government candidate, according to Preliminary results released in early December by the POC.

These results have been denounced by supporters of the candidate who came in third place, Michael Martelly.They were also challenged by an audit of the votes of the Organization of American States (OAS), which suggested a duel between Mr. and Mrs. Manigat Martelly the second round.

Close to the outgoing president Rene Preval who was appointed to succeed him, Jude Celestin is accused of fraud by his opponents.

To break the deadlock, the party of Mr.Celestine Wednesday took the decision to remove him from the ballot, but the candidate has not indicated what his intentions were.

President Préval, who was originally scheduled to leave power on February 7, has already said he plans to stay in office until the electoral process to succeed.

"We need things to be clarified before the 7", Wednesday urged the Secretary General of the OAS, Albert Ramdin. "We need to know what will happen because the situation is too confusing," he told reporters before a meeting of the organization in Washington.

CYCLING: Lance Armstrong ends his international career

Lance Armstrong, Tour de France legend, has ended his international career ended on Sunday last stage of the Tour Down Under in Australia.

At 39, the American champion, seven-time Tour de France, had indicated that it was his last international race.

He does not expect a special celebration to bid farewell after a career marked by so many controversies arising from allegations of doping.

"I leave knowing that I gave the best of myself and did not need that poses a plaque or a statue is set myself up", had said before the race, the Texan, whose sporting activity should continue with a few races at his home in the United States, and in mountain bike events and triathlons.

"I won seven times Tour de France because I think it has changed the approach of our sport," he said on that occasion. "It has revolutionized the way of training, mental toughness in a team, how to prepare for the races and run them, and how to sell the sport, telling stories to the world".

A federal investigation is underway in his country, launched after the doping allegations against him by his former teammate Floyd Landis.

Lance Armstrong has also dismissed the rumors started by the Australian media about wanting to buy the Tour de France.If he thinks it's a super idea, "he also believes it would be" expensive "and says he never had" any serious discussion "about that possibility.

The Constitutional Court partially annuls Berlusconi immunity

AFP - The Italian Constitutional Court decided on Thursday to a compromise on the immunity law that protects the prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's trial will resume against him, but he may avoid appearing in his absence related to its function .

The law, partly invalidated by the Court, allowed far to Silvio Berlusconi, facing several lawsuits, not to appear in court as he leads the government.

Two trials against him in Milan, one for tax evasion (Case Mediaset) and one for corruption control (Mills trial) can therefore restart but the president of the Council will continue to enjoy a wide margin of maneuver for avoid.

The Court reduced the scope of the law called for "sufficient cause" adopted in April 2010 and valid until October 2011, without striking, eliminating the automatic nature that allowed Mr Berlusconi to avoid all appearance, a provision deemed "illegitimate."

Under the decision the 15 judges of the highest judiriction Italian, it will be conducting the trial judges to decide case by case whether the ground of "legitimate cause" provided is valid or not and if it is truly impossible to Mr.Berlusconi to attend the hearing because of his occupation.

The Court recognized as valid reasons, however participation in government meetings, meetings between State and regions, international summits and any kind of preparatory meetings or essential to the function of head of government.

Professor Giovanni Guzzetta, University of Tor Vergata in Rome, called the constitutional decision of "balanced".

Berlusconi's lawyers, Niccolo Ghedini and Piero Longo showed their "appreciation". They were pleased that the law "in its general framework has been recognized as valid and effective."

Osvaldo Napoli, vice-president of the LDP, the party of Mr.Berlusconi, the Chamber of Deputies, regretted that the leader of the government should now "take its time to explain why he did not have time to be in court." "Pontius Pilate would have been more daring," he said.

Evidence that the sentence tends to satisfy everybody, four members of the anti-Berlusconi Popolo Viola (purple people) have opened a bottle of bubbly to celebrate this "victory". "This award allows Berlusconi to try like everyone else, it means that the judge will decide when to call Berlusconi and Berlusconi will not see her coming," welcomed Gianfranco Mascia del Popolo Viola.

During a visit to Berlin on Wednesday, the eve of the verdict, Mr.Berlusconi had assured him that the Court's decision left him "completely cold", saying this would not prevent him from governing.

It would have been politically embarrassing but for Berlusconi to resume duty routinely appear in court when he has a slim majority in the House of Deputies for a total break with his former ally Gianfranco Fini, in late 2010.

Mr. Berlusconi, 74, has had numerous brushes with the law since he entered politics in 1993 but has never been definitively convicted.

Even if they will resume, as the court reporters from several newspapers, the trial against Mr. MilanBerlusconi took a long overdue and are to be prescribed even before reaching the decision of last instance (Court of Cassation).