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: 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.

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: 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.

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.

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.