ICELAND: A volcano erupts, the risks are limited

Reuters - A volcano erupted Saturday in Iceland's largest glacier in the country, a year after the disturbances in European transport by the eruption of Eyjafjöll, but the scenario should not be repeated according to the experts .

The Grímsvötn in south-east of the island, let out a plume of white smoke, said Hjorleifr Sveinbjörnsson, Icelandic Meteorological Services, told Reuters.

"This may be a strong eruption, but it is unlikely that this is like last year," said the latter.

The last eruption of Grímsvötn of 2004.

The Icelandic airline Icelandair, said domestic air traffic was not disrupted.

"We do not expect the rash of Grímsvötn affects traffic in the country in any way," said the spokesman Icelandair Gudjon Arngrimsson.

Images broadcast on local media sites show a thick cloud of white smoke formed over the mountains nearby.

"Grímsvötn volcano is a very powerful, so we are monitoring the situation closely, even though its last eruptions were harmless," said Pall Einarsson, a geophysicist at the University of Iceland, on the website of the daily Morgunbladid.

The air control agency of the continent, Eurocontrol, had suspended several thousands of flights and much of European airspace was closed last year because of the cloud of volcanic ash from the volcano that might deteriorate Eyjafjöll aircraft engines.

IRELAND: Croke Park, the symbol of the march towards Independence

On the second day of his visit to Ireland, Queen Elizabeth II visited this Wednesday at Croke Park stadium in Dublin. A highly symbolic passage in the process of reconciliation between Britain and its neighbor.Croke Park has long remained the undisputed temple of Gaelic sports - such as hurling, Gaelic football and Camogie.

The stadium, which has a capacity of 82,300 seats, was opened to other sports (like football and rugby) in 2005, 92 years after its commissioning in 1913.

Most importantly, Croke Park was in 1920, the scene of a massacre orchestrated by British forces that helped lead to independence.

On the morning of November 21, 1920, the Irish Republican Army (IRA), Armed Force independence, launched a commando in several places in Dublin to remove a network of agents of British intelligence.The review of the operation was high: in the ranks UK, 12 people were killed and two paramilitaries in the pay of the Crown.

In the afternoon, the regular British police, backed by paramilitaries, decides to conduct a "punitive expedition" during a Gaelic football match, sports flagship of Ireland.

Catalyst for the march towards Independence

The British forces entering Croke Park, where 5,000 people gathered, and opened fire on the crowd. Fourteen people, including a woman, two children and two players were killed.

London, which had not been informed of the operation, is struggling to justify the massacre.The official version of the authorities reported a police action aimed at searching the audience to uncover potential supporters of the IRA and said that it is they who opened fire first.

Subsequent surveys will invalidate this thesis.Seventy-nine years later, the "Bloody Sunday" ("Bloody Sunday", not to be confused with the 1972 in Londonderry, Ed) is still remembered for the Irish as one of the pivotal events of the march the country to Independence.

Indeed, he helped establish the resentment against Great Britain in the Irish population, until the formal independence of Eire in 1922.

In Ireland, Croke Park is more than a major sporting complex. It is a temple of Irish culture, a monument dedicated to the memory of the struggle for national independence.

LIBYA: Chief of Staff of the British army will intensify strikes

The Chief of Staff of the British Army, General David Richards, NATO's request that steps up air raids on Libya "to increase the pressure" on Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, in an interview published Sunday by the Sunday Telegraph.

"The noose is tightening around Gaddafi, but we need to increase the pressure through military action more intense," J. General and it requires a broadening of targets "selected by NATO in Libya.

"The military campaign so far has been a significant success for NATO and our Arab allies.But we must do more, "the general said, adding:" if we do not set now, there is a risk that the conflict could lead to what Gaddafi is clinging to power. "

"At present, Nato does not attack the infrastructure in Libya.But if we want to increase the pressure on the Qaddafi regime then we must consider increasing the range of targets we can hit, "says the officer.

"We do not aim directly Gaddafi, but if it happened it is in a central command and control struck by NATO and he is killed, then it would be within the rules" commitment, the Judge said.

"We must tighten the vise to demonstrate that Gaddafi is to damn him and he must go," insists General Richards.

NATO took command of operations in late March of the international coalition intervened on March 19 in Libya to stop violence against civilians and establish a no-fly zone, under a resolution of the Security Council UN.

The Libyan capital and surrounding towns are covered by the almost daily raids.

FOOTBALL - THE CASE OF QUOTA: Laurent Blanc to be heard Monday by investigators

The coach of the team of France, Laurent Blanc, was interviewed Monday by the two commissions of inquiry into the case of quotas that shakes for over a week in French football.

"The hearing was held today, Laurent Blanc," he told Reuters spokesman of the French Football Federation (FFF), François Manardo.

Last person to be heard, White had to deliver to investigators, those measures undertaken by the federation and those appointed by the Sports Ministry, its version of the meeting of the National Technical Directorate (DTN) of 8 November during which was discussed the idea of ​​quotas for young players in the binational federal training centers.

The three officials of the Inspectorate General of Youth and Sports (IGJS) were back in the day they report to the Minister Chantal Jouanno.The latter could speak Tuesday on the subject.

The report of the internal committee of the federation, composed of Patrick Braouezec, president of the Football Foundation and member of Seine-Saint-Denis and Laurent Davenas, president of the National Council of Ethics will be discussed Thursday at an extraordinary meeting of Federal Council, the governing body of the federation.

Francis Blaquart first referred

Based on the findings and recommendations of its inspectors, the department must decide whether to take the floor to lawsuits for discrimination against certain members of the DTN.

The first target is the national technical director (DTN) Blaquart Francis, who has explicitly mentioned the idea of ​​quotas, according to the recording of the meeting last fall done by one of its participants, Mohamed Belkacemi, responsible the football federation of neighborhoods.

Responsible to the Ministry, Francois Blaquart was suspended from his duties as a precaution and risk dismissal.

The federation must decide on its side on the merits of administrative sanctions in domestic.

The case erupted into a federation torn by conflicts and personal rivalries with the approach of the election, June 18, its president and its new executive committee.

It is the latest incarnation for FFF in deep crisis for nearly a year and the fiasco of the national team at the World Cup in South Africa.

Within a few months, the French football has been a controversial qualifying for the World Cup on Thierry Henry's hand, eliminating the pathetic first round of the Blues - with a strike of the unique training in this kind of competition - Case of the Blues finally premiums paid to associations and revelations about the privacy of certain players.

Far largely spared by these controversies and in high popularity because of the good results of the France team since he took over the leadership last summer, Laurent Blanc is the time criticized by some his peers for his statements during the meeting.

The coach, who then made a public apology, said it would be in favor of quotas. His positions have divided the team members' black-blanc-beur "world champion in 1998, to which he belonged.

ITALY: Carabinieri seized one billion euros of assets to a clan of the Camorra

AFP - The Carabinieri have seized one billion euros of assets to a clan of the Naples mafia in the course of the investigation that led Tuesday to the arrest of 39 people, including two activists of the party of Silvio Berlusconi Ansa agency said Thursday.

The Carabinieri have made the seizure of land, buildings, companies, business, vehicles and boats belonging to the clan Polverino for a total value estimated at one billion euros.These properties were registered in the names of clan members and nominees.

Polverino clan members are accused of mafia association, attempted murder, extortion, usury, illegal possession of weapons, drug trafficking, illegal transfer of funds from illegal activities real estate, finance and trade.

Two persons were arrested Tuesday are candidates of the People of Freedom (PDL, right, the party of the Italian head of government) to municipal Quarto, near Naples: Armando Chiaro, considered one of the leaders of the organization and serving as a nominee to the clan, and Salvatore Camerlingo, cousin of the boss Salvatore Liccardi.

These arrests are the result of an investigation by the Anti-Mafia Directorate of Naples in collaboration with the Central Unit of the Spanish Civil Guard on the activities of the Camorra clan Polverino (Neapolitan Mafia).

According to investigators, the tribe operates from the northern suburbs of Naples, a major drug trafficking from Spain to supply the Italian market.

FLYING RIO PARIS: One of the black box flight AF447 crashed into the sea is fished out by investigators

AFP - The box containing the flight parameters of the Air France Airbus which crashed in 2009 off the coast of Brazil, rescued Sunday is "in good physical condition", leaving the investigators hope to be able to read valuable data, told AFP the director of the Bureau of Investigation and Analysis (BEA).

"At this stage, the box looks in good physical condition.Our experts tell us that we can hope to read these data, "said Jean-Paul Troadec.

He however expressed caution noting that for the moment, it was unclear whether or not there was corrosion.

Shortly before, the BEA, in charge of the technical investigation said it had recovered the memory module of the flight data recorder, Flight Data Recorder (FDR)

"If these data are usable, it will help advance the investigation because the FDR recorded altitude, speed, different positions of the government," he explained Troadec.

Questioned by AFP, a spokesman for Airbus said the group did at this stage "absolutely no comment".

The module is for the time being immersed in water.It must be transported to BEA, where he will be husked. "He should be in our office by 8 to 10 days, the time a Navy ship to pick him and lead him home," he said Troadec.

The objective is to recover the second black box, recording the conversations in the cockpit before the Navy come first search box to route both recorders simultaneously.

The disaster, which has killed 228 on 1 June 2009, remains so far unexplained.

FRANCE: Police exonerated after the death of two teenagers in Clichy

Five and a half after the tragedy, the Court of Appeal of Paris gave a non-suit Wednesday in favor of two officers initially referred to a court investigation into the death of two teenagers in Clichy-sous-Bois in the origin of the 2005 riots.

Both officers were dismissed in October by the judges in charge of the investigation before the criminal court for "failure to assist persons in danger" but the prosecutor of Bobigny had appealed that decision.

The Court of Appeal of Paris followed the submissions of the prosecutor general who believed that the two officers were not aware of the reality of danger.

On October 27, 2005, Zyed Benna, 17, and Bouna Traore, 15, died electrocuted in a power substation where they fled after a chase with police. A third teenager, Muhittin Altun, who survived.

Urban violence had started the night in Clichy-sous-Bois and had spread to all the French suburbs.The state of emergency had been imposed even on November 9.

"The issue has always been empty," said the lawyer for Mr. Daniel Merchat police after the decision in closed session by the Board of Education.

"After 5 years, the small voice of truth, justice eventually cover the decoys media uproar," said the lawyer.

The lawyer for the families of two young was in high contrast against this decision and announced an appeal.

"It is a justice of fear that was made this morning," responded Jean-Pierre Mignard on France Inter. But "we will go through," he said, accusing prosecutors of being "not independent" and "not impartial".

The police initially questioned had seen criticized for not having tried to assist the youth entered the peril of their lives in the transformer.

But for prosecutors, police officers were unaware that the three youths had entered the transformer.Well for one of the policemen who, in exchange radio, "announced that he saw two individuals in the process of stepping over a fence to move to the EDF website.

He also said in this exchange: "At the same time, if they fall on the EDF site, I would not give much of their skin."

Claude Dilain, Socialist Mayor of Clichy-sous-Bois (Seine-Saint-Denis), regretted the decision of the appellate court.

"From day one, I called for an independent investigation and adversarial," he recalled elected to AFP.

"It will not happen and I regret it, even for police officers," he said."Their non-responsibility might have been more clearly demonstrated after the debate," he said.

Mohamed Mechmache, president of the collective associations AC-Fire in Clichy-sous-Bois has also expressed its disappointment. "We work so that young people believe in justice, but after a decision like that is hard for us," he said.

CINEMA: Egeria the auteur cinema of the 1970s, Marie-France Pisier died

Reuters - French actress Marie-France Pisier, muse of auteur cinema, died at the age of 66 in the night from Saturday to Sunday
Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer (Var), where she lived, it was learned from the gendarmerie.

Actress "intellectual" and committed, Marie-France Pisier was crowned twice the Cesar for Best Actress for "Cousin Cousine" (1976) Jean-Charles Tacchella and "Barocco" (1977), a work that Andre Techine made him one of its
favorite actress.

Marie-France Pisier, born May 10, 1944 in the former French Indochina, the cinema began in 1961 by Francois Truffaut, who enlisted for the sketch "Antoine and Colette" face
Jean-Pierre Léaud (Antoine Doinel) in the film "Love at Twenty."

Seventeen later, she embodied Colette in "Love on the Run," the last chapter of the adventures of Antoine Doinel she co-wrote with Truffaut.

Silhouette sophisticated distance any bourgeois tone of voice unparalleled, Marie-France Pisier was at the heart of the universe of Alain Robbe-Grillet, Luis Bunuel and Jacques Rivette.

Film copyright in popular cinema

But it is also found in popular hits, like "Ace of Aces" with Jean-Paul Belmondo (1982) or "The Price of danger" (1983) where she played a producer of reality TV before hour.

Yves Boisset, the director of "Price of risk", on Sunday welcomed an actress "a great class and (of) a great intelligence."

More rare in cinema in the 90s, she toured with young filmmakers in recent years. She made her last screen appearance in "The rest of the ham?" (2010), a comedy by Anne Depetrini.Theater actress, she was also a writer, screenwriter and director.

It was published in 1984 "Governor's Ball," a novel inspired by her childhood, she adapted for film in 1990 with actress Kristin Scott-Thomas in the lead role.

"C" was a woman of solar energy absolutely, who was curious about everything, who never rests on its laurels as an actress, "said Kristin Scott-Thomas on ITélé.

NIGERIA: The main rival of Goodluck Jonathan alleges electoral fraud

Some images in this video may offend the sensibilities of viewers.

Muhammadu Buhari, the main Muslim candidate for president of Nigeria on Wednesday denounced the election fraud that gave the victory to Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian from the South, while condemning the post-election riots in the mainly Muslim north.

In the region of the Niger Delta, the oil predominantly Christian south, "and in the south-east there is not (really) elections and our fans were not allowed to vote," said General Buhari, who headed the military junta in 1984 and 1985, broadcast on Voice of America (VOA).

In several Southern states have announced results from 95% to over 99% of the vote in favor of Mr. Jonathan after the election on Saturday.

Mr.Buhari condemned but, as before, the deadly riots that started Sunday night: "I urge people to calm down and respect the law as we go (to the National Electoral Commission) to get justice," he said in a broadcast in Hausa.

Goodluck Jonathan, the outgoing president, won 57% of the votes in the election, which observers say, seemed on the whole more honest and transparent than the previous ones in Nigeria.

The balance of riots in several cities and regions of the North was not disclosed, but according to the Red Cross there were many dead, hundreds injured and thousands displaced.

LIGUE 1: Marseille stimulus championship, PSG up to 4th place

The championship was revived! Marseille, second, returned Sunday to a point behind leaders Lille with its success in Montpellier (2-1), while Paris St Germain, who won the Lyon (1-0) took 4th place at a point in the Lyon, 3e, after the 31st day of L1.

Unlike last weekend, OM, ten against ten (Remy and exclusions El Kaoutari) has not missed the boat this time, after another misstep from Lille, who conceded a draw against Bordeaux on Saturday night (1-1).

Lille is still first with 59 points, but sees in his mirror close Marseille, 2nd with 58 points. LOSC, who lost to Monaco (1-0) last weekend, has not reassured about its ability to handle pressure with a home draw against Bordeaux and allowed competition to benefit.The zen of Rudi Garcia Will it take a hit?

Lyon-Paris SG PSG then smiled (4th, 52 points) taking fourth place in Rennes, defeated him by Saturday at Lorient (2-1). In Rennes, 5th with 51 points, times are tough. The team has not won since Breton five games and fears of reliving the nightmare of last season (the last eight games without a victory).

Looking at the standings, Lyon (3rd, 53 points) will manage a big blow to morale. PSG is now just one point behind ... Blame it on an old Lyon, Giuly, decisive passer Camara. The Fight for the Champions League will be fierce.

Place in the League Cup

The winner of the "Big Five" in the French and the weekend is Liverpool, widening the gap on Lyon, 3rd, 5 points behind.Defending champion find Montpellier next Saturday at the Stade de France for the final of the League Cup. The OM has prepared this great event and a soup end championship more exciting.

The last weekend, while OM was already back on Lille, Didier Deschamps' men had had to settle for a draw (2-2) against Toulouse at the Velodrome.

This time, though not really impressive, they have ensured that most precious three points. "We're still alive and there are safety issues, although we still do not dominate the debate," welcomed the Marseille coach Didier Deschamps, while pleased with the progress of the match: "Just 25 minutes from the end, all media would said that we were losers + +, 25 minutes later, we are in the race. "

These points will do good in the locker room and away from the rumors about the possible departure of Didier Deschamps-Lucho, who began to parasitize the end of the championship Marseille.

Arles-Avignon officially L2

In the bottom of the standings, the 31st day was rich in sensations. A free kick from Dudka, which has the bad reputation often do not fit its strikes, helped Auxerre to win (1-0) in Toulouse in injury time and get out of the relegation zone. Auxerre climbed into 15th place and 18th place leaves in Caen, slapped by Sochaux (3-2).

Lens, who conceded a draw (1-1) on its ground against Brest, is still mired in 19th place. Arles, Avignon, the red lantern, is officially in L2 after his defeat against Valenciennes (1-0) Sunday.Expected outcome of a long ordeal.

"The relegation sad for the players and fans," said Faruk Hadzibegic, coach of Arles. Alight of course does not please me but it's not a surprise. We knew what to expect. "

CANNES FESTIVAL: Old and young wolves lions to conquer the Palme d'Or

You do not become one of the most famous cultural events in the world by chance. By dint of stunts as the Cannes Film Festival has established itself since its inception in 1946, as the rendezvous of cinema and the creatures that inhabit it. The recipe works every time: a selection demanding, rhinestones, glitter ... and steps that a horde of celebs in their Sunday best contrives to fit the smile. Unstoppable.

For its 64th edition, the general rout Cannes has offered, among other international stars known and recognized, a presidential couple as a communication plan: Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla.No one yet knows if the head of the French State and the First Lady will parade on the red carpet, but their silhouettes should haunt the Croisette during the 12 days of competition (11-22 May).

The first will be represented in the guise of actor Denis Podalydès in "The Conquest", Xavier Durringer biography traces the rise to power of the current occupant of the Elysee. The second appears in the latest Woody Allen, "Midnight in Paris", will be screened at the opening May 11No chance, however, that Mr. and Mrs. receive a prize from the hands of Robert de Niro, the jury foreman 2011: Both films are presented out of competition.

Four films for a crow

Still in the "crow", note that among the 19 films that have a chance to compete for the coveted Palme d'Or include works by four French filmmakers. In fact, the Hexagon is this year represented the nation of the fortnight. But filmmakers Bertrand Bonello ("The Apollonides"), Alain Cavalier ("Our Father"), Radu Mihaileanu ("The Source for Women") and Maïwenn ("Polished") are not aware that nobody is a prophet in his country.Especially as the competition looks fierce.

Festival regulars regulars, Spaniard Pedro Almodovar defend "La Piel habito that" the Italian Nanni Moretti "Habemus Papam", the Danish director Lars von Trier's "Melancholia", Belgian Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne's "Le Gamin in bike "and the Finns Ali Kaurismaki" Le Havre ". These "customers" of the Croisette, as they are called gossips, will deal with them a serious customer, the highly anticipated and too rare American director Terrence Malick, who will present his fifth feature film "The Tree of Life" with Brad Pitt and Sean Penn. Just that.

Faced with these old lions, a young guard very feminine.The ratio has not escaped the general delegate of the festival, Thierry Fremaux, who said with some pride: four directors, out of 19 directors, will compete this year. Unheard of memory festival. The elected are happy, Maïwenn addition, Japan's Naomi Kawase ("Hanezu no tsuki"), the British Lynne Ramsay ("We Need to Talk About Kevin") and Australian Julia Leigh ("Sleeping Beauty") who, in Like the Austrian Markus Schleinzer ("Michael"), will travel to Cannes as the author of a first film.

A list of recalibrated?

They were expected, they will not come, because they have seduced the selection committee or have been able to complete their work.At the center of rumors that rustled on the Croisette before the announcement of the official selection, the French Mathieu Kassovitz, Marjane Satrapi, Christophe Honore and Dominik Moll does not tread the red carpet at Cannes this year. Ditto for Canadian David Cronenberg, the Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai and the Brazilian Walter Salles yet approached.

Also cited, the American director Gus Van Sant will finally open the parallel competition Un Certain Regard with "Restless".Compete with him "Out Satan" of the French Bruno Dumont, "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" by his compatriot Robert Guediguian, and "Arirang" South Korean Kim Ki-duk, to name a few.

A month before we know the successor of "Uncle Boonmee" Apichatpong Weerasethakul, the organizers have already raised a bit of sailing on the charts 2011: during the opening ceremony hosted by the young actress Melanie Laurent, May 11 The Italian director Bertolucci Bertrand will receive the first Gold Award of Honor from the festival's history.A follow-up session for the author of "Last Tango in Paris" (1972) and "Innocents" (2003) that Cannes has never been able to distinguish.zer;

"This Must Be The Place" by Paolo Sorrentino;

"Melancholia" by Lars von Trier;

"Drive" by Nicolas Winding Refn.

YEMEN: The Gulf states again recommend leaving Saleh

The monarchies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) called Sunday to Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh objected to cede power to his vice president, to resolve the crisis in his country continued demonstrations demanding his departure.

After a meeting in Riyadh of their foreign ministers, the six GCC members have called on the government of Mr.Saleh and opposition to a meeting in the Saudi capital for a peaceful transition in Yemen.

"The president (should) ad (r) the transfer of his powers to vice-president," Mansour Hadi Abd Rabbou, and "a government of national unity led by the opposition" will be responsible for "setting up a constitution and organize elections, "said GCC Secretary General, Abdellatif Zayani.

Protests continue, repression also

Sunday, tens of thousands of Yemenis have decried the new regime, following street battles between protesters and police in Sana'a and Taiz.

One protester was killed and dozens of people injured in the clashes with security forces on Saturday, which continued well into the night, according to a report delivered on Sunday by medical sources and by committees governing protests against the regime.

The protester died in Taiz, a city south of the capital, where four protesters were killed Friday.

In addition, 43 demonstrators were wounded by gunfire, 29 by blows and 580 others suffered from suffocation after inhaling tear gas.A dozen other protesters were arrested.

The toll was high also in Sanaa, where 30 demonstrators were wounded by gunfire, 80 by blows and 1,200 were treated for inhaling tear gas, according to medical sources.

After the fighting at night, tens of thousands of Yemenis opposed to President Saleh expressed Sunday without incident in Sana'a, Taiz and Ibb, further south-west, and Hodeidah on the Red Sea, according to witnesses.

In Sanaa, protesters camped for nearly two months on the Place du Change, marched on a major artery of the capital.

Saleh had already rejected any idea of ​​starting

The Gulf monarchies, concerned about instability in Yemen, had offered to mediate a week ago.

The Head of State, in power for 32 years, this offer was rejected Friday in the version announced by Qatar, which already provided he cedes power, while continuing to say he remained open to the proposal Gulf countries.

As a sign of anger, he had recalled its ambassador to Doha Saturday.

The Yemeni parliamentary opposition had called for his part, GCC and the international community to "take stronger measures to protect civil society against the repression and killings."

Yemen was the scene since late January demonstrations demanding the resignation of President Saleh, who made a hundred dead.

In other violence linked to Al Qaeda, a colonel in the intelligence services was killed Saturday and his son wounded in the region of Loder, in southern Yemen, officials said Sunday the security and medical sources.

The United States worked closely with the regime of President Saleh in the fight against al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which is active in southern and eastern Yemen.

EURO AREA: "The ECB is acting too soon by raising its key rate"

Everyone expects the central bank increased its key interest rate Thursday for the first time since the crisis began. It should be fixed at 1.25% to fight against inflation in Europe. A gamble for Christophe Blot, économine European specialist at OFCE (French Office of Economic Conditions).

FRANCE 24 is the first time since the crisis began that the ECB will increase these rates, why?

Christophe Blot: Jean-Claude Trichet, president of the European Central Bank, has made clear it was time to fight against inflation in the euro area. Since the beginning of the year it is 2.4% while the target of the ECB is to maintain inflation at 2%.By increasing the policy rate by 0.25% even as it should be the case, Jean-Claude Trichet hopes to curb this trend.

This approach questionable because current inflation is due solely to rising oil prices and it is by definition a highly volatile indicator. If we remove the price of oil and food prices, also volatile, inflation is only 1%. By not taking this into account, the ECB adopts a reflection only in the short term, then it is supposed to reflect the medium-term.Also if you look abroad, particularly in the United States and Great Britain, central banks are not as stringent goals against inflation.

F24: The low rate was that of the ECB so far was supposed to promote growth in times of crisis. Does it increase suggests that the crisis is over by the central bank?

CB: You can ask. Indeed, another reason to raise the rate indicator is that the ECB has always believed that monetary policy before the crisis was too lax.She often said that with interest rates too low, the funds had flowed afloat and had encouraged the emergence of bubbles [real estate speculation] that played a role in triggering the crisis. So by raising rates, it is conceivable that the central bank believes it must now work to prevent future bubbles rather than supporting growth.

F24: Yet one can hardly say that Europe is growing ...

CB: It is indeed a matter of timing. I think the ECB is acting too soon. By increasing interest rates, banks will pay more to finance when the banking sector in Europe is still very fragile.Moreover, ultimately, the banks will raise rates at which they lend money, which will not improve purchasing power. If we add to that all plans rigorously determined in the countries of the euro area is a very risky bet that the ECB does. And all that while inflation is not that strong!

Barack Obama announced his candidacy for president in 2012

AFP - U.S. President Barack Obama announced Monday his candidacy for a second term of four years as head of the United States during the 2012 presidential election, calling on his supporters to take action to "protect the progress made".

"Today we are filing papers to launch our campaign 2012," saidObama in a statement.

Ensuring that its administration and its supporters "fight to protect this progress, achieve and benefit", he stressed that "we must also begin to mobilize ourselves for 2012, well before the time comes for me to launch myself really in the campaign. "

"I will need you to develop our plan and create a campaign that goes further, more focused and more innovative than anything we've built so far," Mr.Obama, whose campaign for the 2008 election was regarded as particularly innovative, relying particularly on the Internet and social networks to mobilize many volunteers.

"This will be my last campaign, at least as a candidate," he continues, the U.S. Constitution limiting to two the number of presidential terms. "But the goal of leaving a lasting legacy for our families, our communities and our country, never concerned that a single person.And it only works if we work together. "

Dissemination of the text was preceded by that of a first video campaign with supporters of the president discussing the importance of seeing him continue the work undertaken since the beginning of his term and ending on the date 2012 with the below address barackobama.com.

Barack Obama, 49, was elected at the presidential in November 2008 and took office in January 2009, becoming the first black president of the United States.

The formal announcement of candidacy will notably allow his campaign team, which will be based in his political stronghold of Chicago (north), to begin to raise funds for the next election.

JAPAN: Nicolas Sarkozy travels to Tokyo to show the solidarity of France

AFP - Nicolas Sarkozy will meet Thursday in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, then members of the French community in Japan on a visit intended to show the solidarity of France after the tragedy of March 11, said Tuesday the Elysee in a statement.

After a visit to China was already on its official agenda Wednesday and Thursday, the president will visit Japan Thursday to "to express France's solidarity, nationally and as chair of the G20 and G8 with the Japanese people in the trials he goes through the dramatic events since 11 March, "it is written.

During the visit, said the statement, Mr.Sarkozy "will meet with Naoto Kan, Prime Minister of Japan, and meet the French community in Japan."

A magnitude 9 earthquake and massive tsunami that occurred on March 11 killed more than 28,000 dead or missing in north-eastern Japan and damaged the cooling of reactors in Fukushima Daiichi (No. 1), causing the start of melting nuclear fuel.

One official said Monday night UMP had told AFP that the head of State had decided that short visit to Japan on the occasion of his visit to China, focusing in particular on the reform of international monetary system placed at the top of priorities the French presidency of the G20.

COTE D'IVOIRE: In Abidjan, thousands of Ivorians express support for Laurent Gbagbo

The camp of the Ivorian head of state Laurent Gbagbo mobilized out Saturday thousands of supporters near the presidential palace in Abidjan, when international pressure is growing to force originally, amid fears of civil war.

France, former colonial power, announced this week that have submitted a draft resolution to the Security Council of the United Nations to halt the firing with heavy weapons in Abidjan, which are a "scandal" according to President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The text, which must be considered in the coming days, explicitly requires the departure of Laurent Gbagbo and his rival Alassane Ouattara recognizes as legitimate president after the November ballot, which plunged the country into a deadly crisis.

At the invitation of Charles Ble Goude, leader of the "patriotic" pro-Gbagbo, several thousand people, mainly young, have invaded in mid-day the Republic Square in the Plateau district, heart of the bristling power many young dams.

"Gbagbo or nothing", "Côte d'Ivoire belongs to the Ivorians," or "Sarkozy, the country is your last stop," proclaimed banners and posters.

Mr.Ble Goude has entered to the cheers by wearing a mattress on the shoulder of the rally-style festive campsite was to continue all night prayer sessions, and ended Sunday morning.

"Before attacking Laurent Gbagbo, you (should) kill all these people there," he said at the international community, pointing to the crowd.

"There will be no civil war," he stressed, attacking Mr Sarkozy, but also to President Barack Obama, the United Nations and the Economic Community of African States of the (ECOWAS).

While Pascal Affi N'Guessan, head of Gbagbo's party, accused MrOuattara from being "a mercenary in the service of Western imperialism," Charles Ble Goude, echoing Laurent Gbagbo, has renewed its call for "dialogue" to "find a solution to the post-election crisis."

The African Union (AU) last Saturday appointed a senior representative in Abidjan, the former Minister of Cape Verde José Brito Foreign Affairs in charge of opening negotiations between the two sides to implement the decisions taken by the AU March 10 in Addis Ababa: she recognized Mr. Ouattara as president and asked him to find an "honorable exit" for its rival.

But Mr. Ouattara was immediately challenged Mr.Brito for "his personal and political connections" with Laurent Gbagbo.

The crisis has never been so dramatic consequences for the Ivorians or generated as much concern outside. Over 460 people were killed in violence since late 2010, one million people may have been displaced in the country, the UN says.

Mr Ble Goude said that "over 100,000" young people had registered with the staff to enlist in the Army, responding to his call last weekend.The army said it would call these recruits to the "appropriate time".

In the West as in Abidjan, the time remaining in the clashes, and the use of heavy weapons, as in the districts of Abobo and Anyama, pro-insurgent strongholds Ouattara in the economic capital.

Abobo remains the epicenter of fighting. In the sector "Samankè" shots were heard Friday and two light armored Defense Forces and Security (FDS) loyal to Gbagbo were visible at a crossroads, charred.Witnesses said they had fallen into an "ambush" of insurgents, called "Commando invisible."

In the north, controlled by the former rebel pro-Ouattara, the population was from Wednesday night's private water and electricity, according to residents. The Ivorian Electricity Company (CIE, private) has blamed on the Gbagbo government, which controls the system since mid-January.

"The children are sick because they can not sleep well (lack of ventilation, ed.) There is also a lack of hygiene", said a resident of Bouake, the stronghold former rebel in the center of the country.

COTE D'IVOIRE: ECOWAS relies on a strengthened UN mission to solve the crisis

AFP - West African leaders met in ordinary summit in Abuja Wednesday examined the possibility of asking the UN to go further in its response to the Ivorian crisis worsens.

"I think we can pass a resolution asking the UN to take action a bit more serious about the situation in Côte d'Ivoire," said Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan to the Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS, 15 countries).

The meeting held with representatives of UN and African Union (AU), was completed shortly after 20:00 local time (1900 GMT).It will resume and will end Thursday, and a final statement on Côte d'Ivoire will be published, said participants.

Goodluck Jonathan is the current chairman of ECOWAS.

Stressing "the commitment and collective determination" of the regional organization to end the election crisis in Côte d'Ivoire, which has nearly 440 deaths, according to the UN since the presidential election of 28 November 2010, he hoped that this would be possible "without the use of legitimate force".

Three months ago, the West African leaders have threatened to oust Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo out by force if he persisted in refusing to cede the presidency to Alassane Ouattara, recognized winner of the election by the Almost all of the international community.

Mr Gbagbo still occupies the presidency and now there are fears a civil war.

Chairman of the AU Commission, Jean Ping, absent from the summit, in a message deemed "serious concern" the developments of recent weeks. Noting an "escalation", Mr Ping urged the summit to "begging Mr. Gbagbo to do what is right."He added that the AU was about to appoint a "senior representative" for Côte d'Ivoire.

In the morning, hundreds of West Africans have protested outside the ECOWAS headquarters in Abuja to demand an end to violence in Côte d'Ivoire.

One of them was invited to speak before the summit, asked the officer to "redouble efforts" before bursting into tears.

The military option in Côte d'Ivoire seems for now ruled out by ECOWAS. The Nigerian foreign minister, Odein Ajumogobia has highlighted that the UN should validate any armed intervention.And the Court of Justice of Ecowas has urged the community last week to refrain from the use of force in Cote d'Ivoire.

John Shinkaiye, chief of staff Jean Ping, said to AFP that "ECOWAS and the AU agreed that the force be our last resort after all peaceful means have failed."

Among those present were the heads of state summit Boni Yayi (Benin), Blaise Compaore (Burkina Faso), Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia), Amadou Toumani Toure (Mali), Abdoulaye Wade (Senegal), Ernest Koroma (Sierra Leone) and Faure Gnassingbe (Togo), was a journalist from AFP.

As the special representative of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in West Africa, Said Djinnit.

The West African leaders will choose the successor of Goodluck Jonathan at the rotating presidency of ECOWAS and review the suspension of Guinea and Niger.

Excluded from the organization due to military coups, in 2008 and 2010, these countries have recently held elections for a transfer of power to civilian rule.

Liveblogging: For Washington, the first phase of air strikes is a success

Basic information about the military operation in Libya:

The international military coalition bombed Tripoli by air and sea before dawn Sunday. These strikes have a "stop ahead" of the pro-Gaddafi in Benghazi, "said Admiral Michael Mullen, the highest ranking American on the ABC television network.
The bombings have intensified from 19h (GMT) on Saturday night. French fighter jets have carried out the first shots against the forces of Muammar Gaddafi at 16:45 (GMT).Warships and submarines, British and American then fired over 110 Tomahawk missiles against Libyan twenty sites.
In a televised address shortly after the first strikes, Muammar Gaddafi said that the Mediterranean and North Africa was now a "battlefield" and that air and sea targets, military or civilian, were now exposed to a real danger in the region.
France, Great Britain, the United States, Italy and Canada are participating in this operation, dubbed "Dawn of the odyssey", coordinated from a U.S. military base in Germany.This is the largest military intervention in the Arab world since the invasion of Iraq in 2003 led by the United States.

If you want to follow the liveblogging from a smartphone, click here.

LIBYA: Gaddafi's troops are preparing to take Benghazi assault

AFP - The pro-Gaddafi forces regained the advantage in Libya Tuesday, a month after the start of the insurgency, pounding Ajdabiya (east) and announcing an offensive on the insurgent headquarters in Benghazi, (is), not the G8 no agreement on military intervention.

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said in the evening to be "determined to crush the enemy" in a televised speech, hammering: "if it is a foreign conspiracy we'll crush it, if it is an inside job we will also crush. "

Government forces launched air force and heavy artillery against Ajdabiya, strategic communication node and final lock held by the rebels before Benghazi, 160 km further south, cutting the main road between the two cities.

The official television and a senior Libyan government announced qu'Ajdabiya was controlled by loyalist forces.

The Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaaim said Tuesday evening qu'Ajdabiya AFP was "under control" forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi.

The information had been denied earlier by the military spokesman of the National Council of Libya, the governing body of the rebels based in Benghazi.

"Ajdabiya is still in the hands of the revolutionaries," said the spokesman, Khaled El-Sayeh, saying: "Army units tried to enter the city, but our forces have repulsed.He also denied the insurgents to retreat Benghazi despite the scenes of stampede which has seen an AFP journalist.

Hundreds of civilians and insurgents fleeing Ajdabiya arrived in the south of Benghazi in cars, trucks and pickups.

"I took my family as much business as possible and we left," he told AFP a family man, Said, 42 years, telling "there was a lot of bombs."

The fighting has killed at least three dead and fifteen wounded, according to doctors, in addition to two deaths received during the night.

"There are still some elements that take and our forces are now chasing them," said Khaled Kaaim stating: "We will now beyond Ajdabiya, our forces are moving towards Benghazi.

The Libyan army announced on television on an imminent offensive Benghazi, where the rebels have used anti-aircraft guns in the evening, without journalists on the spot from the AFP have seen or heard aircraft.

It was unclear whether the rebels retaliated in an attack or expressing their joy after rumors of a bombing aimed at the residence of Kadhafi in Tripoli.Fireworks took place at the same time as the heavy artillery and air defense, early in Benghazi.

The Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) withdrew its staff from Benghazi, stressing that "everyone evacuate Benghazi, humanitarian as journalists."

The major powers met at the G8 in Paris have dismissed for lack of consensus the military option to slow the forces of Muammar Gaddafi, merely promised for this week a new UN resolution on tougher sanctions.

The NATO countries were examined for the first time the military options available to them if the alliance decided to intervene in Libya, although the probability of a UN resolution authorizing them down.

The French Minister of Foreign Affairs Alain Juppe described as "outdated" idea of ​​establishing an air exclusion zone, originally due by Paris and London as well as the Arab League and claimed by the Libyan opposition.

He spoke of "targeted strikes", while stating that the Security Council of the United Nations was blocked because of opposition from the Chinese, while the Americans have still not defined its position.

Barack Obama has again called on the Libyan leader to leave, but his Secretary of State Hillary Clinton refused to promise military aid to the rebels.

The United States expanded its sanctions 16 firms Libyan government, the national oil company.

Crunch time for the insurgents, who have announced they still masters of Misrata (150 km east of Tripoli), where government forces were gathered in a nearby barracks, presaging an attack.

Zouari, a town located 120 km west of Tripoli on Monday and resumed the pro-Gaddafi, supporters of the regime demonstrated by the television, and shots rang out, "probably shooting in the air to scare residents, "according to a witness near the rebellion.

Since February 15, the bloody suppression of the insurgency has killed at least hundreds dead and forced more than 250,000 people to flee the country.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) called on fighters to allow civilians to flee, noting the unusually low number of women and children arriving at the borders with Egypt and Tunisia.

According to the International Energy Agency, Libyan oil production, usually by 1.6 million barrels per day, was nearly stopped in recent days.

On the other hand, London confirmed Tuesday the arrest of a Libyan man with dual British and Libya after it became known to journalists in a Tripoli prison by claiming to have raised funds for a Islamist organization.

Liveblogging: Find events Friday in Libya and the Arab world

AFP - Forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi continued Friday to bomb rebel positions in eastern Libya, while the West showed its rapprochement with the opposition, which has lost two cities in recent days.

European leaders have increased the pressure on the Libyan leader, in power for nearly 42 years, calling the National Transitional Council of the Opposition (CNT) based in Benghazi (east), an interlocutor "legitimate".

President Barack Obama announced at the same time he was going to have a representative to the rebellion Jamahiriya.

France acknowledged Thursday CNT as "the legitimate representative of the Libyan people." Libya has responded Friday by suspending diplomatic relations with Paris.

On the ground, the loyalist forces launched two airstrikes east of Ras Lanuf, reaching an insurgent checkpoint and a refinery, according to AFP journalists.

This strategic oil city, south-west of Benghazi, a stronghold of the rebellion, was the basis for a week rebel advance in eastern Canada.But the insurgents had to abandon it, after intense bombardment Thursday of the pro-Gaddafi.

"Their supremacy was complete. They shot from boats, and they control the air," said a doctor at Brega, a city further east.

According to medical sources, the fighting on Thursday in Ras Lanuf made more than 10 dead and dozens wounded insurgents.Friday, an AFP reporter also saw at least five bodies evacuated from the city.

The intense bombardment that hit Lanouf Ras blocked the progression of the insurgents left Benghazi to conquer the coastal cities to Tripoli.

Last Saturday, the rebels had advanced to Ben Jawad, a town a few dozen miles west of Ras Lanuf, but had been expelled the next day by pro-Gaddafi, whose strikes have continued s intensified since.

A Zawiyah, 40 km from Tripoli, the regime's forces were celebrating their victory Friday in the rebel stronghold officially dropped Wednesday after more than two weeks of fierce resistance, according to an AFP journalist.

According to rescue workers at the border between Tunisia and Libya, a man arrived on the night of Zawiyah told that the situation was "catastrophic" and that "there were dead bodies everywhere."

Elsewhere, the rebels still controlled Misrata (150 km east of Tripoli) and several cities in the Northwest, especially in the mountainous region of Jabal Al-Gharbi, witnesses said.

In Benghazi, the rebels remained committed to fighting men of Kadhafi, despite setbacks recorded in recent days.

"We are not afraid of the army composed of mercenaries to 90%.We can beat them, "says Khaled, Fathi Ali's uncle, a 21-year insurgent killed Thursday in Ras Lanuf and buried Friday.

More than 10,000 people have also gathered in this city to demand the departure of Colonel Gaddafi.

At a summit in Brussels, the Heads of State and Government of the 27 EU countries have agreed to dialogue with the Libyan opposition and discussed a military option carefully to protect civilians, although they remain sharply divided to this prospect.

They decided to consider "all options" available, in an allusion to a possible military intervention, but specifying that it should be "a demonstrated need, a clear legal basis and support of the region."

For this purpose, a tripartite summit to be held soon between the EU, the African Union and Arab League, which meets on his side on Saturday in Cairo that the emissaries of the Libyan regime will not be allowed to participate.

"The current leadership (of Libya) must relinquish power immediately," he also said EU President Herman Van Rompuy after the summit.

United States President Barack Obama, "concerned" about the ability of Muammar Gaddafi to stay in power, said he was determined to "tighten the noose" on the Libyan regime, and made solemn warning against the risk of a large-scale massacre in Libya.

"The United States and the international community have an obligation to do what they can to prevent a repetition of what happened in the Balkans in the 90s, what happened in Rwanda", he said.

More isolated every day on the international level, Colonel Gaddafi has threatened Europe to stop supporting the fight against international terrorism and illegal immigration.

If "Europe does not and ignores the active role of Libya in the fight against immigration (...) Libya will be required (...) To withdraw from efforts against terrorism and to completely change its policy toward al-Qaida, "he said, quoted by state news agency Jana.

On the humanitarian front, Ras Lanuf, doctors called the International Red Cross for help.The International Organization for Migration said in turn negotiate with the Libyan authorities to send a humanitarian mission in Libya, where thousands of immigrants awaiting repatriation.

Since mid-February, more than 250,000 people have fled to neighboring Libya, according to the UN, and the bloody suppression of the uprising has claimed hundreds of lives.

A UN humanitarian mission is expected Saturday in Libya to assess humanitarian needs, announced in the evening the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Libya, Khaled Kaaim.

ITALY - Feature: Lampedusa, step on a long journey to Europe

They land boat patched up, soaked to the bone. Trembling, exhausted by long hours and grueling journey, but the smile from ear to ear. On Lampedusa, a small piece of land lost to the Italian middle of the Mediterranean, Tunisian immigrants, Egyptian and Libyan pile up, forcing the Europeans to look differently, probably a bit less exalted, the revolts that shake all plans up across the Mediterranean.

In recent weeks, more than 7000 Tunisian illegal migrants - men between 20 and 30 years, mostly - have crossed the narrow strip of sea between Lampedusa their country, this parcel of Europe located 400 km south of Sicily and 200 km from the Maghreb.

The mayor of Lampedusa has ordered their placement in detention centers. Most of them do not spend their days locked up yet.Every day, they span the barriers surrounding the center to sit in one of the cafes of the Via Roma, main street of Lampedusa.

No work, no hope

Walid, a young 22 year old Tunisian native of Tatooine, a few miles of Djerba, landed three days ago after a journey of twenty hours in the choppy waters of the Mediterranean. His trip was rather short: the boats are sometimes three days to reach the coast of the island.

Throughout the trip, the boat was battered, buffeted by gusts of wind. Last week, the same swell prevented the crossings."The water kept from splashing into the hull and we have used our shirts to plug the holes in the boat," says Walid.

Like most Tunisians of Lampedusa, the young man does not plan to stay long in the area. His goal: Pantin, outside Paris. There, parents are waiting.

When asked if the departure of Ben Ali gave him hope, Walid shrugs and replies: "Not for me." The answer is the same for the dozens of migrants sipping a coffee bar outside Rome. All speak fluent French and a few words of Italian. "These are all the same", for his part said Scandar, referring to the new Tunisian authorities."They got rid of the boss, but not thugs."

As Scandar, Salim comes from the coastal town of Zarzis in eastern Tunisia. One of his neighbors had been killed during the recent riots that rocked the country. "You feel less safe there. And there is no work for people like us", he said. Unemployment and job insecurity that may be encountered in Europe do not scare him. Because it "can not be worse than in Tunisia," he swears.

Salim and his fellow travelers seeking to learn how to reach France and that the trip may cost them. They are confident.According to them, the Italian authorities will get them on the mainland, then let them go.

Objective: To reach the mainland

Indeed, flights to the north resumed. For, once again, the Lampedusa holding center is saturated. Its director, Cono Callipo, says 250 migrants are currently en route to the mainland, where the Italian authorities will determine if they are applying for political asylum or not. "If they are simply looking for work, they will eventually be returned to their country," he says.

The Italian authorities are assisted by a host of humanitarian workers, omnipresent in Lampedusa. Emiliano Cadeddu is one of them.A native of Sardinia, he strives to provide first aid to migrants aboard Coast Guard vessels. He does not eat a lot of hope when the ambitions of young men he sees scroll. "I wash, I feed, I look after them, but in the end I got them back," cried he.

In Lampedusa, all Tunisians do not fit the country against their will. A small boat flanked by the Tunisian flag is part of the port this morning. On board, six fishermen who had found refuge on the Italian coast of the island after suffering a storm three days ago.

"We go home now," says Mohamed, the master, by swallowing a share of Panettone. "There are hopeful now that Ben is gone.Nobody is afraid to talk. "

Mohammed and his men do not understand why so many of their countrymen fleeing Tunisia. When he utters these words, a new boat is looming on the horizon, its board, dozens of immigrants determined to stay at any price this side of the Mediterranean.

GERMANY: The author wanted to avenge the shooting of U.S. intervention in Afghanistan

The young Kosovar accused of killing two American soldiers on Wednesday in Frankfurt (West Germany) was unrelated to an international network and wanted revenge for the U.S. intervention in Afghanistan, said Friday a German federal prosecutor.

The accused, aged 21, acted "because he wanted revenge against the U.S. intervention in Afghanistan," said prosecutor Rainer Griesbaum during a televised news conference from Karlsruhe (West).

"According to preliminary results of the investigation it is the act of one individual motivated by Islamism.There is currently no evidence of belonging to a terrorist organization, "he added.

The young man said during his questioning that he "viewed the eve of his act on a video portal YouTube," he said.

"We would see," said federal prosecutor, recording the interview, "American soldiers looting the home of Muslims and raping the daughter of the family. The pictures do it not out of the head, and he wanted to avoid, by its action, that U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan and go do something like that. "

If these elements are confirmed, the attack "would have a personal origin.She would have occurred outside the structures international jihadists. "

Wednesday, Arid Uka, a Kosovar living in Frankfurt, drew on military U.S. Air Force who came from England and had to travel by bus to the Ramstein base, 140 miles away. Two soldiers died and two others were seriously injured. One remained in critical condition Thursday.

An accident on a carnival float made a couple of dead

At least 16 people were killed in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais (southeast) when a high voltage cable was accidentally touched a carnival float, according to local media on Monday, citing emergency services.

The accident occurred late Sunday in the small town of Bandeira do Sul, 5,000 inhabitants, when the cable broke and struck a car carrying an orchestra, according to the websites of newspapers O Globo and Estado de Sao Paulo .

"It was a disaster.There were many people on the float and we do not yet know the exact number of deaths or injuries, serious or light, "he told Globo Jose Balducci, a senior regional health issues.

According to a report of fire at least 12 people died instantly electrocuted.

Emergency services quoted by newspapers ensured that an unspecified number of serious injuries were transported to hospitals in the region.

Brazil prepares for major carnival festivities, which begin this weekend, but many traditional carnival floats roam the streets of the country in the days before the formal period of carnival.

A week ago a young man of 21 years died by falling four meters from the top of a tank on which he danced in a parade in the tourist area of Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro.

Carnival in Rio has also been threatened this year by an apparently accidental fire that erupted on Feb. 7 City of samba, a set of warehouses and workshops in the port area, destroying tanks and costumes for three nine samba schools taking part in parades on "sambodrome," scheduled this year on 6 and 7 March.

Solidarity with other groups and prices of hard work, the samba schools affected should, however, scroll normally.

Regarded as the greatest show on earth, the Rio carnival attracts hundreds of thousands of Brazilians and tourists and an important source of revenue for the city.

LIBYA: In another speech, Gaddafi accused the insurgents of serving the interests of Bin Laden

AFP - Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said on Thursday in an audio message broadcast on television that the protesters were serving the interests of the leader of al-Qaeda Osama bin Laden, saying in addition not to leave office, it does he said that being moral.

On the tenth day of an unprecedented revolt in the country, Colonel addressed especially to the inhabitants of the city of Zawiyah (60 km west of Tripoli), according to state news agency Jana, "terrorists" several soldiers were slain by the "method (of the former terrorist leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq), Abu Musab al-Zarqawi."

"These people have no real claims, their claims are those of bin Laden," said Colonel Gaddafi.

He presented his "condolences to the families of four security forces killed" in Zawiyah. "I wonder if bin Laden will help compensate the families" of victims, he added.

He also accused bin Laden and Al Qaeda to manipulate young people by giving them including "hallucinogenic pills".

"They take advantage of the young age of these people because legally they are not punishable," he said.

He urged residents to stop supporters of the leader of al-Qaeda and to bring him to justice.

To those who call him from power, he has held for 42 years, Colonel Qaddafi said that his power was only moral.

"I have no power to make laws or enforce the law.The Queen of England has no such authority. That is exactly my case, "he said.

"The situation is different from Egypt or Tunisia. Here, the authority is in your hands, hands of the people. You can change the authority as you want," he added.

Colonel Gaddafi came to power by toppling the old King Idris on September 1, 1969. In 1977 he was proclaimed the "Libyan", defining it as a "state of the masses" who rule through popular committees elected and given the single title of "Leader of the Revolution."

"Muammar Gaddafi has no official position he resigned.Muammar Gaddafi is the leader of the revolution is synonymous with sacrifice until the end of days ", he had already said Tuesday during a televised address to the nation.

Ten people were killed and dozens wounded on Thursday in the assault by security forces against Zawiyah, according to a provisional report issued by a Libyan newspaper.

Tuesday in his first public speech since the beginning of the uprising on February 15, the Libyan colonel vowed to punish the protesters in the blood.

Muammar Gaddafi was increasingly isolated on Thursday, faces opposition from the mistress of the country and ordered by the West to stop the bloodshed, saying the international community fear a humanitarian catastrophe due to the exodus.

Opponents seem to control the region from the Egyptian border to the town of Ajdabiya further west, to Tobruk, Derna and Benghazi, the epicenter of protest to 1,000 km east of Tripoli.

At least 300 people were killed in clashes between demonstrators and security forces and supporters of the regime according to official sources. But human rights organizations of human rights refer to a higher balance.

LIBYA: New clashes in Benghazi, where dozens of people were killed

AFP - At least 173 people were killed in Libya since the start of the protest on February 15 according to Human Rights Watch (HRW), while the movement of revolt against Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, in power for nearly 42 years, began Sunday reach Tripoli.

Most victims were killed in Benghazi, the second largest city 1,000 km east of Tripoli, but according to witnesses contacted by AFP, bloody clashes erupted Saturday in Musratha, 200 km east Capital.

Opposition stronghold, Benghazi became the scene of "massacres," said Fathi Terbeel, one of the protest organizers, on Al Jazeera."It looks like a war zone opened between protesters and security forces."

In the Libyan capital, dozens of lawyers have participated in a sit-in protest against repression in court, witnesses and opposition websites. Many residents were food reserves while traders emptied their shops for fear of coming events.

Members of revolutionary committees in plainclothes patrolling the streets of Tripoli, very few moving sometimes in cars without license plates, according to other witnesses.Clashes also took place Sunday at Zaouia, 60 km west of Tripoli, the sources said.

According to the director of HRW's office in London, Tom Porteous, "at least 173" people have been killed since Tuesday. This statement is based on hospital sources in four cities in eastern countries including Benghazi, he said, adding that it was incomplete because a number of communication difficulties in the country.

According to an AFP count compiled from various sources Libyan stock of protest against the regime of Colonel Gaddafi was at least 77 dead, mostly in Benghazi.In this city, thousands of people protested in court, told AFP Mohammed Mughrabi, a lawyer.

Security services, quoted by state news agency Jana reported that clashes were continuing around a barracks in Benghazi, causing deaths and injuries among the attackers and the military. Witnesses said several protesters were killed Saturday in an attempted attack against the barracks.

"We asked the Red Cross to send field hospitals. We can no longer cope," said Mr. Mughrabi."It seems that the Libyan leader has ordered his security forces to end the protests at all costs, and the Libyans are now paying the price with their lives," Amnesty International has denounced.

Prime Minister Al-Baghdadi Al-Mahmoudi said Libya was "right to take all measures" to preserve the unity of the country, during a meeting with ambassadors of European Union countries in Tripoli according to the agency Jana.

The Arab League has called for his part in a statement "to cease immediately all acts of violence."The Permanent Representative of Libya to the League, Abdel Moneim al-Honi, announced he was resigning to join "the revolution" and to protest against "violence against demonstrators" in his country.

Many western countries were preparing to evacuate their citizens, while Turkey has already repatriated more than 500 people since Saturday, saying some have been targets of violence in Benghazi. According to a union official Tunisian, hundreds of Tunisians have left Libya on Sunday to take refuge in their country and run "a real massacre."

Muammar Gaddafi has made no official statement since the beginning of the movement.Libyan state television announced that Seif al-Islam, a son, would speak Sunday night.

A Musratha third largest city, the police were supported Saturday by "African mercenaries" who "shot (have) on the crowd without distinction", according to testimony consistent.

In addition, a senior Libyan official said Sunday that a "group of Islamic extremists" was holding hostage members of law enforcement and citizens in Al-Baida, in Eastern countries, demanding the lifting of head around it.

Meanwhile, authorities announced they had arrested dozens of Arab nationals belonging to a "network" with a mission to destabilize the country, according to Jana.

According to the Hungarian presidency of the EU, the Libyan authorities have summoned a representative of the EU to threaten to Tripoli to stop its cooperation in the fight against immigration if Europe continues to "encourage" unprecedented events in the countries.

Despite these threats, Europeans strongly condemned the bloody suppression of protests. "We call for restraint, we urge an end to violence and dialogue," said the head of European diplomacy Ashton.

A U.S. customs official gunned down in Monterrey

AFP - A member of the U.S. Agency Customs and immigration (ICE) was gunned down in Mexico Tuesday "in the exercise of his duties" by "unknown assailants" and a second is in a state serious, it was learned from official sources and Mexican American.

In a statement, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano said she was "deeply saddened by the news" of the assault by bullets with the two victims were American agents, one of whom subsequently died from his injuries .

The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs has "condemned" this act of violence in which "an agency official U.S. Customs and immigraton (ICE) was killed and another injured.

They "have been targeted in the exercise of their functions by unknown assailants while they were driving between Mexico City and Monterrey," Napolitano said, adding that the injured officer "was shot in the arm and leg and is in stable condition. "

"The U.S. agency responsible for law enforcement are working closely with Mexican authorities who are investigating the shooting, to ensure that the perpetrators of this horrendous crime are caught as quickly as possible," adds it.

The shooting occurred in a context of increasing violence in recent days in Mexico, ravaged by war between drug cartels for control of territory and by repression of drug trafficking conducted by the army for four years.

More than 34,600 people died in violence related to drugs since December 2006, when President Felipe Calderon deployed the army and federal police to fight cartels.

"Let me be very clear: an act of violence against personnel from ICE, or anyone working for the Department of Homeland Security, is an attack against all those who serve our country and put their lives at risk to our security "Napolitano wrote.

It was unclear Tuesday night whether the two officers had been specifically targeted because they worked for the U.S. government.

EGYPT: The army suspended the constitution and dissolved parliament

Reuters - The Supreme Council of the armed forces to power in Egypt, on Sunday announced the suspension of the Constitution and the dissolution of parliament and outlined a transition timetable in the next six months.

In a statement read on state television, the military, which Hosni Mubarak has entrusted the reins of the country by resigning Friday, also announced the formation
a commission to amend the constitution and whose conclusions will be submitted to a referendum.

They say they will remain in power for a period of six months or until the next legislative and presidential elections."The supreme council of the armed forces manage the affairs of the country for a temporary period of six months or until after elections to upper and lower houses of parliament and a presidential election," say the military in their
statement.

Other decisions announced two days after the start of Hosni Mubarak, the two Houses of Parliament is dissolved and a commission is created to amend certain clauses of the constitution.

The opposition demands include the repeal of Article 76 which regulates drastically candidates in the presidential elections which Hosni Mubarak himself had proposed the cancellation in his final address to the nation on Thursday night.

It would also restrict the number of presidential terms, currently unlimited.

"A victory for the revolution"

The council adds that his military chief, Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, will represent Egypt abroad and reaffirmed that Egypt is bound by its international treaties and obligations.

The college emphasizes military organization authorizing it to enact legislation during the transition period.He said that Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik, appointed by Hosni
Mubarak in the first days of the dispute, will remain in office until the formation of a new government.

The latter said that the Egyptian military would define the role of Omar Suleiman, who was appointed vice-president Mubarak but whose functions have become uncertain.

In resigning, Friday, Rais has indeed given the power to the supreme council of the armed forces, and the largest entirely clear what the current powers of Suleiman.

For the opponent Ayman Nour, who had dared defy Hosni Mubarak in the presidential election of 2005, these measures should meet the challenge.

"This is a victory for the revolution," he told Reuters after the announcement of the military council.
 

JORDAN: "These accusations against the Queen Rania is also a disavowal of the political class"

"I am closely monitoring developments in Tunisia and pray for stability and peace for his people," twitter January 15 Queen Rania of Jordan. His country has not yet been saved by the protest movement that shook the Arab world, and Queen now finds itself on the frontline. In a statement released earlier this week, 36 individuals belonging to the great Bedouin tribes accuse him of "corruption".They argue, among other things, Rania al-Abdullah, herself of Palestinian origin, have facilitated the granting Jordanian citizenship to 78,000 Palestinians since 2005.

Jordan "will sooner or later the target of an uprising similar to Tunisia and Egypt," say those tribal leaders who want a "trial of the corrupt who have looted the country, whoever they are and whatever are their rank and importance. " "We continue to be loyal to the Hashemite throne, but we believe that King Abdullah II must end the abuse of his wife and family, they continue.Otherwise, the throne will be in danger. "

According Hasni Abidi, specialist and director of the Arab Centre for Studies and Research of the Arab and Mediterranean (CERMAM) in Geneva, Switzerland, these charges reflect, as in other Arab countries, a severe denial of class policy.

FRANCE 24: Tribal leaders are directly Queen Rania of Jordan in their release, accusing him of "corruption". Why is this a turning point in the criticism of the regime?

Hasni Abidi, That queen is referred namely a first in Jordan. So far, no one dared make the slightest criticism or reservation about the conduct of King Abdullah II and his family [the criticism of the royal family can be punished by a sentence of three years in prison, Ed].Recent events in Egypt and Tunisia, where we talked about leaders, their families and the wife of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, have undoubtedly contributed to this red line is crossed into Jordan.

The wife of King Hussein [Queen Noor, Ed], father of Abdallah II, was far behind, while Queen Rania has an important role. It is also visible than was Leila Trabelsi Tunisia, although it is mainly involved in issues related to education or literacy. King Abdullah II wanted to use it to modernize the country's image, and it has worked elsewhere in Europe or the United States. But this has had adverse effects on the domestic scene.There have been many articles on the expensive wardrobe of Queen Rania, its designers, it is part of the Board of the Economic Forum in Davos ... It began to grate on people.

FRANCE 24: The corruption charges against the Queen Rania are credible?

Hasni Abidi: I do not think Rania of Jordan could be accused of corruption because it is not responsible for any economic issue. Within the Royal Palace, close to the king or counselors, who have a say on these topics can benefit. Corruption exists, but not at what took place in Tunisia and Egypt.When he came to power, Abdullah has also conducted an operation "clean hands" in some jurisdictions, to drive out the profiteers.

FRANCE 24: What explains these large tribes also speak today so virulent?

Hasni Abidi: The tribes have an important weight in Jordan, they are the traditional mainstay of the monarchy. The stability of the scheme is based on their loyalty and allegiance and it is very rare that they do act of political revenge. In criticizing the Queen Rania now they criticize the king.

Several factors explain this position. First, the economic and social situation is very bad, Jordan is more related to the global economic situation as Egypt.Political instability is also high, with repeated changes of government. But mostly it sounds like a repudiation of the political class in general, like what is happening in other Arab countries. The tribes expressed their discontent and demand a change.

They may also try to redeem themselves: they have long been taxed to the second column and supporting the royal palace against all odds ...

FRANCE 24: These allegations against the Queen they threaten the future of the scheme?

Hasni Abidi: The Jordanian army is very strong and the system too. Jordan operates a system of fuses, if the discontent is widespread, the king can make a jump, changing government ...There are also many fault lines within the Jordanian society, nearly half the population is of Palestinian origin.This affects the mobilization, the feeling of allegiance to the country is very important and nobody dares to yell too loudly for fear of being labeled a "traitor."

Since the beginning of the protest movement, there have been major changes: Abdullah II appointed a new prime minister, Marouf Bakhit, who was retired [the new government was sworn in on Wednesday, Ed], he announced lower prices of food and fuel while the finances of the state are not looking good [debt represents 60% of GDP and the credit rating agency Moody's has revised the rating of the country from stable to negative Tuesday , Ed]. This reflects the weakness of the regime, but also because it is sensitive to people's demands.This year, for example, neither the king nor the queen Rania not have gone to Davos. The Jordanian regime is more attentive to its population than other Arab regimes.

INDIA: The Indian Navy with 52 prisoners after a raid on a pirate ship

AFP - The Indian Navy and Coast Guard have arrested over 50 people on board a pirate ship, after a shootout Sunday in the Indian Ocean, said the Indian Ministry of Defence.

"There were 52 people in total," he told AFP a spokesman of the Ministry of Defence, MrNambiar, who did not specify the nationality of those arrested or the exact number of pirates among them.

The arrests took place on a Thai fishing boat, caught six months ago off the coast of Somalia, which is presumably the basis for hackers to launch attacks against ships, the ministry said.

Mumbai police will interrogate persons arrested upon arrival in this port city.

Navy and Indian Coast Guard were sent in pursuit of pirates after a Greek-flagged ship had reported being attacked about 100 nautical miles west of Kavaratti, off the Indian state of Kerala ( south-west).

Indian boats chased two boats lighter and faster, which led them to the ship for a base for pirates, the statement said.

"Exchanges of gunfire were brief but decisive. The pirates quickly lost the urge to fight and hoisted the white flag to surrender," the ministry said.

"A group of pirates and crew members held hostage on board the boat were," he said.

Somalia is known to be a base for pirates who roam the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, more and more away from their coasts, seizing ships they hold with their crews for ransom.

THEATER: "MIDInight in Paris" by Woody Allen opening the next Cannes Film Festival

AFP - The latest Woody Allen movie "Midnight in Paris" including the First Lady of France Carla Bruni-Sarkozy will be screened on opening the 64th Cannes Film Festival May 11, organizers announced Wednesday.

"It's Midnight In Paris + +, the new film by Woody Allen will open the Cannes Film Festival May 11 next in the great room light in the presence of the jury chaired by Robert De Niro" the statement said.

The film will be released the same day in theaters in France.

It will be "a priori out of competition, Woody Allen refusing on principle to be included," he told AFP the general delegate Thierry Fremaux Festival, which has still trying to convince him "until the last moment."

The official selection will be announced in mid-April, he said.

"Midnight in Paris + + is a wonderful love letter to Paris," Mr Fremaux said in a statement.

"This is a work in which Woody Allen deepens the questions in his latest film: our relationship to history, art, pleasure and life.For his 41st feature film, he again showed a great inspiration, "he adds.

Furthermore Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, who holds is his first movie role, this "romantic comedy," shot last summer in the French capital, met the French actor Marion Cotillard, Lea Seydoux and Gad Elmaleh, and an important distribution International starring Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates and Adrien Brody.

AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS: Morocco to host CAN 2015

AFP - The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has awarded Saturday at Lubumbashi (DR Congo) organization of the African Cup of Nations (CAN) in 2015 in Morocco and that of 2017 to South Africa, host of last World Cup.

Morocco, which has organized most of the continent's premier competition since 1988, is thus designated by the CAF, after several unsuccessful bids.

South Africa, hosts of the 1996 edition won by his Bafana Bafana-(nickname of the national soccer team of South Africa), will once again host the tournament in six years, having successfully organized the first World on the continent in the summer of 2010.

Both countries were the only ones vying for the C-2015 and 2017.

The FCA was appointed Angola as host of the CAN-2010, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon in 2012 and Libya in 2013.

MIDDLE EAST: The Palestinian Authority was ready for major concessions in 2008

They are presented as "the most important leaked documents in the history of Israeli-Palestinian conflict." The few papers published since 1600 on Sunday night by the pan-Arab channel Al-Jazeera and the British daily "The Guardian" bring a new light on the peace negotiations in the Middle East between 1999 and 2010. They reveal the extent of such concessions that the Palestinian Authority was ready to go, especially on the crucial issues of the status of Jerusalem and the return of refugees.

These revelations "concerning bids Palestinian, all the more explosive than the other for the street," says Gallagher Fenwick, FRANCE 24's correspondent in Jerusalem.They have something seriously damage the credibility of the already weakened Palestinian Authority to the Palestinian population. They portray leaders almost desperate face confident Israeli negotiators, backed by the Americans. "

From Monday morning, the Islamist party Hamas has denounced the "implication" of the Palestinian Authority "in attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause."

Asked about Al-Jazeera on Sunday, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told him that these documents were a "tissue of lies.""What was broadcast was distorted and taken out of context, and contains lies," he said Monday.

"The biggest Yourshalayem of history"

According to these confidential documents, mainly reports of meetings, and contrary to the positions shown in public, the Palestinian Authority would have done behind the scenes of major concessions to the Jewish state over the past two decades. For example:

Jerusalem: In 2008, a leading Palestinian negotiator, Ahmed Qureia, proposed that Israel annex the Jewish settlements built in and around East Jerusalem since 1967 with the exception of Abu Ghneim - called Har Homa by the Israelis.

"This is the first time in history that we do such a proposal, we had refused during the discussions at Camp David, in 2000, said Ahmed Qureia on this occasion. "It's no secret that we have proposed the largest Yourshalayem - Jerusalem in Hebrew - of history," said his side the chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat to the former Israeli foreign minister, Tzipi Livni.

Proposals completely contrary to the official position: "From our perspective, there are no negotiations over Jerusalem.Jerusalem is ours ", repeated Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president, there is another week.

The Israeli authorities did nothing at the time proposed in exchange for these concessions the Palestinian ruling that they "did not go far enough."

Esplanade of the Mosques: Regarding the Temple Mount, Saeb Erekat has proposed an "innovative solution" which is that an international committee monitoring this area in the old city of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount houses the third holiest of Islam.Refugees: On the thorny issue of right of return for Palestinian refugees, Saeb Erekat said he was ready to accept "the return of 10,000 of them per year over 10 years, a total of 100 000. Yet it is estimated about five million people the number of refugees. Safety: These documents also reveal a high level of security cooperation between Israeli security forces and the Israel, and prove that President Mahmoud Abbas was informed of an imminent Israeli attack against Gaza - Operation Lead Cast - in late 2008.

A senior Israeli official denied Monday that information. "This is an example of inaccuracy.No specific warning about an attack has been sent to the Palestinian Authority, "said Maj. Gen. Amos Gilad Reserve, Director of Political-Military Affairs at the Ministry of Defence.

Blockade: In 2008, Saeb Erekat also asked Livni to "strengthen the Israeli blockade" imposed on the Gaza Strip, controlled by Hamas.

"It takes political courage"

On Monday, former Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Haim Ramon, a member of Kadima, he has found that these documents prove that the Israeli government "has a true partner for peace"."It is further necessary that the search" sincerely, "he added.

For Ofer Bronchtein, president of the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation in the Middle East, these are the parameters of a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which, with these revelations publicly exposed: a recognition in principle of Israel's right to return for Palestinians and a sharing of Jerusalem, which would become the capital of two states. "The secret negotiations, that's enough! Says Ofer Bronchtein to FRANCE 24. There is nothing left to invent for peace between Israelis and Palestinians."

"Ehud Olmert [former Israeli Prime Minister, ed] and Mahmoud Abbas arrived in a millimeter of a peace agreement," he says.Unfortunately, the political situation in Israel has not allowed that agreement to be signed. Today we must strengthen the Palestinian Authority so it can get these decisions to public opinion, and Israel must show some political courage. It is political courage needed by the Middle East, "said Ofer Bronchtein finally.

IRELAND: Prime Minister Brian Cowen leaves the head of the ruling party

AFP - very pugnacious Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen has ended up giving his resignation Saturday of the head of his party, facing a rebellion by activists and ministers convinced of the need for a new leader to face elections at high risk of March.

This 51 year old wrestler, physically massive and legendary banter has battled to the end to remain leader of Fianna Fail (center), he led since May 2008.

But he had to give up after a week that saw political face a rebellion within the party, led by its Foreign Minister, then win a vote of confidence Tuesday at the origin of a short respite as not least six ministers resigned in the wake.

The Prime Minister announced Saturday it had decided to resign "from his own" to foster unity of the centrist party in the campaign for parliamentary elections due next March 11.

Four contenders for the office of Cowen

He leaves the formation in a sorry state: Fianna Fail, which has dominated political life in Ireland since independence, is credited with only 14% of the vote and will probably give way.

The choice of new leader could take place on Wednesday, said the Fianna Fail nomination race is already open.

Among the contenders are primarily former Foreign Minister Michael Martin, principal leader of the rebellion has been brewing for several weeks, and Finance Minister Brian Lenihan.

Mary Hanafin (Tourism, Trade, Innovation) and Eamon O Cuív (Protection and Welfare) may also engage in the race to succeed.

Brian Cowen is in any event the Prime Minister, but his government faces a no confidence motion filed by the Labour Party for the next sitting of Parliament on Tuesday.

"I think we'll win this vote," Mr Cowen said Saturday, just as combative.

An atmosphere of the end of reign

His position as head of government is nonetheless become very fragile.The Prime Minister, once very popular with his penchant for Guinness and jokes, is the lowest in the polls since the financial crisis and the Irish sacrifices imposed on the population decline of unemployment benefits, minimum wages, allowances Family, refunds of drugs etc. ..

Several opposition parties have called for the immediate organization of elections. "Maintaining M.Cowen as prime minister is simply untenable, whereas his colleagues in Fianna Fail are fighting the remnants of his party, "said the leader of Labour (left) Eamon Gilmore.

Gerry Adams, president of Sinn Fein (left nationalist) has also called for immediate elections, saying "the government and Fianna Fail in chaos."

Brian Cowen, however, reiterated Saturday that he intended to remain at his post as prime minister until elections in March next year and "focus on government work and the implementation of the reorganization plan."

The Irish budget for 2011 represents a rigorous effort of 6 billion euros, the highest in the country's history, and is the main consideration for the bailout of 85 billion dollars developed with the European Union and International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The Finance Bill, the final part of drastic budget was released Friday and must be passed by Parliament before the elections, a task difficult in this atmosphere of late reign.

The ruling coalition, which brings together the Fianna Fail (center) and the Greens, after the polls may be overwhelmingly defeated by the two main opposition parties, Fine Gael (also centrist orientation) and tillage (left), which should be allies to lead the country.