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.