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. "

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).