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!

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.

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.

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.