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.

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.

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.

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.

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.