ICELAND: The ashes of the volcano eruption threatens Scotland

Icelandic volcanic ash Grímsvötn could reach the north of Scotland on Tuesday mid-day and part of Great Britain, France and Spain by Thursday or Friday if the eruption continues at the same rate, according to a notice sent Sunday to the airlines.

This warning is based on weather forecasts to five days should be viewed with caution because of changes which might occur between now and then on air currents, officials said European Meteorology.

Sunday, the air traffic control agency Eurocontrol reported in mid-day it did not anticipate any impact on European and transatlantic flights for the next 24 hours at least.

The Grímsvötn, beneath a glacier in southeast Iceland, erupted on Saturday, leaving out a huge plume of white smoke reached an altitude of 20,000 meters.

Its eruption has forced the management of the Icelandic Civil Aviation to order the closure of the main island's airport, Keflavik, located about forty miles from the capital,
Reykjavik.

COTE D'IVOIRE: President Ouattara request an investigation by the ICC

The Ivorian president Alassane Ouattara has asked the prosecutor to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate "the most serious crimes" committed in Côte d'Ivoire since November 28, 2010, in a letter dated May 3, published on Wednesday the site of the Court.

"By this I mean I wish to confirm that your office leads in Côte d'Ivoire independent and impartial investigations on the most serious crimes committed since 28 November 2010 on the entire Ivorian territory," saysOuattara's letter.

He wants the prosecutor's office "should ensure that those who bear the greatest criminal responsibility for serious crimes are identified, prosecuted and brought before the International Criminal Court."

The Ivorian Minister of Justice has already "taken steps to shed light on a number of offenses," saysOuattara, but he adds, "the Ivorian justice is, to date, not best placed to handle the most serious crimes committed in recent months."

The Ivorian president Alassane Ouattara, in power since the April 11 arrest of Laurent Gbagbo, had said in mid-April that he would ask the ICC to "initiate investigations" into the massacres that occurred in Western countries.

The ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo for his part said on May 3 in New York that his services were preparing an application to open a judicial investigation in Côte d'Ivoire on the massacres.

Egypt: The Egyptian al-Arabi replaces Nabil Amr Moussa at the head of the Arab League

AFP - Egyptian Foreign Minister, Nabil al-Arabi, called Sunday at the head of the Arab League, has emerged since the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak as the architect of the new Egyptian diplomacy.

Appointed March 6, in a few weeks he felt his mark in the Israeli-Palestinian relations with Iran or the thorny issue of sharing the Nile waters.

Aged 75, he took over from Ahmad Aboul Gheit, a baron of the team's deposed president.

Familiar arcane diplomatic, he is shortly to take the records in hand, to the point that commentators in the media have hailed the new diplomacy acquired one of the safest in the regime change, in contrast to political uncertainties and economic stagnation.

Unknown to the general public, but his name was on a list of people deemed able to lead the transition, proposed by a coalition of youth groups that launched the uprising in January and February.

Former UN ambassador, a respected diplomat and international lawyer, he worked in 2001 to the International Court of Justice.

Nabil al-Arabi was also part of the Egyptian team that negotiated peace with Israel in 1978-1979.Egypt and Jordan are the only Arab country to sign peace with Israel.

Supporter of maintaining the peace treaty with Israel in 1979, he believes this should not prevent Cairo to take more distance with the Jewish state that under Mr.Mubarak, including the controversial blockade of the Gaza Strip.

He was also involved in the recent reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas Palestinian side of the Egyptian intelligence chief Murad Mouafi.

The Minister has also repeatedly expressed a desire for rapprochement with Iran, but did not reveal to this day a formal restoration of diplomatic relations.

He also worked for a more open and active vis-à-vis the African upstream Nile Basin, in rivalry with Egypt for use quotas of the river water.

At his retirement, Mr.Arabi was established in Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration, a nonprofit organization that operates nationally and internationally.

.

TERRORISM: Pakistan opened an investigation into the presence of bin Laden in Abbottabad

AFP - Prime Minister of Pakistan announced on Monday an investigation into how Osama bin Laden has been able to live with impunity in its garrison towns, Abbottabad, but he hammered that Pakistan could not be the only country to blame for the existence and acts of Al Qaeda.

"We are determined to find every way how, when and why Osama bin Laden was present in Abbottabad.An investigation was ordered, "said Yousuf Raza Gilani to the deputies of the National Assembly.

But Al Qaeda was not born in Pakistan, "he said in response to charges including Washington, on possible complicity in the army or the Pakistani intelligence.

"Who is responsible for the birth of Al-Qaeda" in the 1990s? Who is responsible for having built the myth of Bin Laden? ", He stressed, in a thinly veiled reference to the United States.

"It is necessary to remind the international community the decade of the 1990s which saw the Arab volunteers to join the jihad (the Afghan mujahedeen against the Soviet occupation, ed) that turned into Al-Qaeda," he added Prime Minister.

Afghan jihadists fighting the Red Army in the 1980s thanks to financial aid and weapons from the CIA, through Pakistan's intelligence services.

JAPAN - FUKUSHIMA: The building of a reactor explored for the first time since the accident

Workers entered Thursday in the reactor building number 1 on the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (northeast) for the first time since the explosion occurred in the aftermath of the tsunami of March 11, announced the Japanese operator of the plant .

Two workers, equipped with protective suits and oxygen tanks, entered the building, as part of an operation to set up a ventilation system to reduce the level of radioactivity.

"This is the first time that our employees enter the reactor building since the explosion," said Satoshi Watanabe, a spokesman for Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO).

Japanese power company said it intended to send at least 12 workers in the day to start up the ventilation system which should facilitate subsequent repairs to the cooling.

"We send the workers in small groups for a maximum of ten minutes to limit the duration of radiation exposure," added the spokesman.

The legal limit of radiation allowed for men working in the nuclear crisis time was increased to 250 mSv per year since the accident in Fukushima, as against 100 before.

TEPCO has been trying for nearly two months to restore the cooling circuits of the four engines damaged by the tsunami.

The operator estimates that it will take three months to begin to reduce the radioactivity and nine months for cooling the reactors.

Located along the Pacific Ocean, Fukushima Daiichi is one of the oldest plants in Japan, its first reactor was built in the early 1970s.

The earthquake and tsunami of March 11 devastated the Pacific coast north-east of Tokyo, killing nearly 26,000 people dead or missing, according to the latest official toll.

John Paul II beatified before 1 million faithful gathered in Rome

Follow live the Mass of beatification of John Paul II here.

More than a million pilgrims gathered in Rome to attend the ceremony. Throughout the city, are displayed portraits of John Paul II. This Sunday, the charismatic leader of the Catholic Church between 1978 and 2005, was beatified at the Vatican. The Mass was presided by Benedict XVI on the Place Saint-Pierre. A tapestry bearing an effigy of Pope John Paul II was held on the facade of the basilica and a reliquary containing a vial of his blood presented to the faithful.After Mass, the faithful will file past the coffin containing the remains of the former pope, placed before the main altar of the basilica.

"We welcome the desire of our brother, many other brothers in the episcopate and many faithful, after receiving notice of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints (...), accept that the venerable servant of God John Paul II, pope, to be declared blessed, "said Benedict XVI.

For the occasion, giant screens were erected on the main square in the Vatican as well as several surrounding plazas - so that the faithful could follow the ceremony.Some 86 official delegations, including 22 Heads of State and Government attending the event. The head of the French government, Francois Fillon, as Interior Minister, Claude Gueant, also made the trip.

The miracle of Sister Marie Simon-Pierre

To recap, the process of beatification of John Paul II was opened by his successor, Pope Benedict XVI in June 2005, two months after his death. It ended in January 2011. This procedure did not place too quickly. Her beatification - not to be confused with canonization (see box) - was made possible through the recognition of a miracle.This miracle was experienced by a French nun, Sister Marie Simon-Pierre, two months after the death of the pontiff.

Severely affected Parkinson's disease - also suffered by the deceased pope - for several years, the religious of the Congregation of Little Sisters of Catholic motherhood was miraculously healed after praying to John Paul II. The night after the prayer, the nun got up. His steps are then more confident, she feels no more pain, for the first time in several months. "I felt completely transformed.I was not the same inside, "she confided in 2007.

On the eve of the beatification, Sister Marie Simon-Pierre gave his testimony during a vigil in the Circus Maximus, a vast green area located in central Rome. Some 200,000 people attended. "Thanks to all young people, John Paul II, who sees you from up there is happy," said the French sister, who told how she was miraculously cured of Parkinson's disease through the intercession of Pope died ."A pastor after God's heart, near the lowest of the patient, the smallest," she said. "A political act"

Marco Tosatti, Vatican expert for the processions of the faithful who flocked to Rome for the beatification are an expression of the exceptional popularity of John Paul II. Polish origin, he was in turn actor, poet, laborer. "John Paul II was a secular priest now. Under his pontificate, the laity were finally recognized," says the Vatican.

But his ideology was far removed from the concerns of society and religious views (more liberal) many Catholics - especially on the issue of divorce and homosexuality.On the merits, not much has changed in the Church post-John Paul II. The beatification of Pope so popular is an opportunity for the Catholic Church, to say the same inflexibility. "This is a political act", says Frederic Lenoir, philosopher, sociologist and historian of religions, in "The World of Religions".

CINEMA: Fifty cult films from the Soviet era to (re) watch on YouTube

AFP - The Russian film studios Mosfilm and Google, through its YouTube video platform, announced Wednesday it posted a free fifty of the greatest Soviet films in original version with subtitles.

Mosfilm said in a statement that every week five additional films will be made available on its channel www.youtube.com / Mosfilm.

Many cult films are already available: "The White Sun of the Desert", a western transposed in Central Asia on the adventures of a Soviet soldier, "Ivan Vasilyevich changing profession," a comedy about a scientist inventing a machine to travel back in time , or "The irony of fate" a romantic comedy about the trials of a man drunk on the evening of New Year.

"The goal of this project is to give the public an opportunity to legally watch quality videos and block illegal use of our films," said the director general of Mosfilm, Karen CHAKHNAZAROV.

"Most movies are online with subtitles in foreign language for the public to other countries can also watch movies of Mosfilm," he said in a statement.

At the time of the USSR, Mosfilm was one of the largest film studios in the world, whereas the Soviet cinema as a vital tool for propaganda in the country and abroad.

Image: YouTube screenshot.

LIBYA: NATO bombs a residential Muammar Gaddafi in Tripoli

AFP - The office of Colonel Gaddafi, in his huge residence located in Tripoli, was totally destroyed by a NATO airstrike early Monday, while heavy explosions were felt in several areas of the city overflown by aircraft, noted journalists from AFP.

45 people were injured, 15 seriously, in the bombing of Muammar Qaddafi's office, said a Libyan official accompanying reporters on the spot, saying ignore if there were other victims in the rubble.

"This is an attempt to assassinate Colonel Gaddafi," he said. Seif Al-Islam, son of Colonel Gaddafi has described the bombing of the office of his father "a coward"."This cowardly attack on Muammar Qaddafi's office can frighten or terrorize the children but we do not abandon the battle and we are not afraid," he said in a brief statement on its television Allibiya. "Millions (of people) are with Muammar Gaddafi. People who are not afraid," he said, asserting that the battle waged by Nato was "unwinnable." "Do you see all these people who are at Bab Al-Aziziyah despite raids? How will you overcome this people?" He said.

Radio Television of State referred to NATO?

Around 3:00 local time (0100 GMT), smoke poured always a part of the destroyed building, where dozens of curious onlookers and supporters of the plan gathered, chanting slogans in praise of the Guide.A meeting room, opposite the office of Colonel Gaddafi, was hit by the blast and partially destroyed, according to an AFP journalist. African leaders gathered in this room with Colonel Gaddafi two weeks ago to propose a peace plan accepted by the regime, but ultimately rejected by the rebels.

NATO had targeted Friday night the area of ​​Bab Al-Aziziya, where the residence of the Libyan leader. The international coalition had already destroyed a building in this residence, saying it was a command center.

Heavy explosions were felt Monday around 0:10 local (10:10 p.m. GMT Sunday) in several areas of the Libyan capital, since Friday raids target of intensive NATO.The explosions, with the largest shook the capital so far, have shaken the hotel hosting the foreign press correspondents in Tripoli, not far from downtown. The retransmission of the Libyan state television was temporarily cut immediately after the explosions, before returning a few minutes later, found the AFP journalists.

Quoting a military source, the official Libyan agency Jana said on his part that "many military and civilian sites in the city of Tripoli has been the target of raids assailant colonialist crusader (NATO), which resulted in damage human and material. "The agency also confirmed the break signal of television and state radio, saying the broadcast was restored "after a few minutes with national expertise. Jana did not specify whether television transmission sites have been targeted by the raids.

An international coalition intervened in Libya on March 19 on a UN mandate, to put an end to the bloody suppression of the revolt began in mid-February against the regime of Muammar Gaddafi, in power for 41 years. NATO took command of the military action on March 31.

Football - COUPE DE FRANCE: PSG, who won at Los Angeles, will defend his title against Lille

AFP - Paris SG, defending champion and leading scholar of the event, qualified without opposition for another Cup final in France, breaking with the dream of authority Wednesday Angers (3-1), never tremble at the last resident of League 2.

Seriously and implemented, the specialist has struck again and Paris St Germain has offered the right to contest its sixth final on the last nine editions and join Lille at the Stade de France for the big event of May 14

Incidentally, Parisians have probably ensured at the same time a European qualification, the Europa League a minimum account the classification of Lille in the league.And their place in the finals is far from being misused.

Antoine Kombouare had yet clearly displayed color, by deciding to rest Ludovic Giuly and Claude Makelele, to the point of not even to appear on the scoresheet.

Dominating the early minutes of the game, his players have benefited the most from lack of aggressiveness and inhibition of Angevin players to establish their dominance.

Because the passion and commitment Scoïstes + + were not the same as those displayed during their remarkable skills against Valenciennes (2-1 aet) and Bordeaux (1-0), both residents of the elite fell to stadium Jean-Bouin in previous rounds.

Mathieu Bodmer has come from the show the 22nd minute with a subtle exterior of the right beyond the reach of Malicki (1-0, 22).And while many thought Charbonnier had put both teams tied after the break, it's Nene who drove the nail in the best time (2-0, 51).

The energy of despair, the SCO has led a moment, allowing him to save the honor by Renouard (2-1, 56), Hoarau put out the incipient fire five minutes later (3-1, 62).

Powerful and inspired, Paris SG has benefited mainly from the semi-finals of the Coupe de France to confirm his return to form net.After the success against Caen and Lyon who were placed back in the race for Champions League, the capital club looks up at the right time.

And with eight victories in eleven finals played since 1982 (date of first success), the capital club will discuss new confidence in the next final against Lille.

In Angers, the newspaper of the L2 will now resume his duties. "Our Cup France is already successful, and we have nice things to play in the league," recalled his coach Jean-Louis Garcia this week. Seventh five-point L2 of the podium, he will soon forget, however this disillusionment if he hoped to play the rise until the end.

The Conservatives narrowly won the Nationalists are making inroads

AFP - The Conservative members of the alliance outgoing government won a narrow victory in Sunday's parliamentary Finland, where nationalists have achieved a historic breakthrough by becoming the third political force.

Of the 200 parliamentary seats, the Election Commission has granted 44 to the National Coalition (Conservative), 42 Social Democratic party (SDP) which was in opposition and 39 to right-wing nationalist True Finns who are much better though what they had been led to expect the polls.

In terms of votes, the National Coalition won 20.4%, 19.1% before the SDP and the True Finns 19.0%, according to the electoral commission has registered a high turnout of 70.4% against 67.9 % during the 2007 legislative elections.

The fourth largest party, the Center led by outgoing Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi, won 35 seats with 15.8% of votes.

"My dear friends, we wrote the story!" Ignited the head of the National Coalition Jyrki Katainen, which should become the next prime minister.

The True Finns won them 34 seats compared to the outgoing Parliament. From the smallest parliamentary party, they become the third largest.

This result is a personal victory for their charismatic leader Timo Soini has proposed a populist, eurosceptic who has managed the controversial debate on immigration.

"Sometimes it pays to keep his conviction, even if it runs into an obstacle and if it is mocked," he told Mr.Soini his supporters.

"The True Finns have now a deputy in every riding!", He was welcomed.

The True Finns are the only party to have improved over the last legislative elections.

The decline most cooking is the center becomes the fourth political force in the new Parliament, losing 16 seats.

"Of course it's a disappointment, but people have told us what they wanted and we must listen," said Ms Kiviniemi."The conclusion is obvious, with such results, we find ourselves in the opposition," she lamented on air on national television YLE.

She will probably leave the head of government to his Minister of Finance Jyrki Katainen because "traditionally, training agree that the leader of the party best represented in terms of seats forms the government," he told AFP political analyst Ilkka Ruostetsaari , University of Tampere.

The National Coalition has been at the helm of several governments in Finland, but until then she has never represented the first force in Parliament.

Mr.Katainen focused during the campaign a very pro-European, particularly on financial aid to members of the EU hit by the crisis. However, the True Finns have made this topic an impassable barrier, insisting that "everything else was negotiable," but not this.

If he becomes Prime Minister, Mr Katainen must therefore be a coalition government, including the SDP would be for business.

For the Socialist leader Jutta Urpilainen, which was so disparaged because of a lack of image and difficulty to appear natural and sincere in public, this result also constitutes a victory.She had been instructed to straighten a party losing ground after he slipped into opposition in 2007.

"I am pleased that our message on employment and justice has been heard by the voters," she said.

"Let's all have fun tonight because tomorrow we go back to work, Finland needs of the Social Democrats!", She proposed to his followers.

The new government should be formed before the end of May.

At least 126 bodies found in mass graves in the north-east

AFP - Ten more corpses arrived Wednesday at the mortuary of Matamoros from mass graves in the town of San Fernando, north-eastern Mexico, bringing the total to 126 temporary body unearthed since April 1, announced the Justice the State of Tamaulipas.

According to Pedro Efrain Gonzalez, Tamaulipas prosecutors, some of the bodies found were buried for over a year.

The Mexican government awarded Tuesday the responsibility for the crimes and mass graves discovered Zetas cartel.

Another source of prosecutors who requested anonymity, it is likely that the number of bodies found continues to increase as and when research.

"Do not be surprised, we can come to exceed the figure of 180 bodies as research continues and new discoveries are possible," said the source told AFP.

According to the same charge, mass graves, often located several kilometers from each other in the large town of San Fernando, correspond to different cases of violence, not one.

AUTOMOTIVE: The audit report reveals a "serious failings" in Renault

AFP - The audit report made by Renault after the incredible false espionage case that shook the band edge of "serious failings" in the management and appoints officials, said Monday the ministers of Economy and Industry waiting for "lessons" are drawn.

"The reports show there were obvious shortcomings, which include two things: the review of governance rules and sanctions," said Christine Lagarde on France Inter.

"I have instructed state officials to the Board of Directors of Renault support the recommendations of the audit committee," she said.

The French manufacturer, 15% of capital in the hands of the state is holding on Monday its board of governors who must review the audit report on the genesis of this false espionage.

According to the Minister of Industry, Eric Besson, "the audit report said 'there were serious shortcomings that must learn +, and we actually believe that we must learn from these serious malfunctions".

He said on LCI that those responsible for this fiasco in the group "are listed in the audit report," while refusing to reveal their identity.

About the possible resignation of CEO of Renault, Carlos Ghosn, Mr. Besson said he was returning to the board of directors of the group "to learn".For its part, the group's number two Patrick Pelata had offered his resignation which was refused by Mr. Ghosn.

"There will be a board, and I understand that the president of Renault wants to learn from this case by proposing a number of initiatives and reorganizations within its management," he said.

The case "shows a management system and a way to govern who can no longer be perpetuated," he firmly told.

According to the Journal du Dimanche, two other officials of Renault, Christian Husson, legal director, Jean-Yves Coudriou, Chief executives are also on trial.

Mr.Besson, however, refused to comment on the amount of compensation claimed by the three group executives falsely accused of espionage before being dismissed, and according to the weekly Marianne totaled over 11 million euros in total .

"I do not know. It is the Board of Directors today I think the talk", said only Mr. Besson.

He however felt that it was the company to pay these claims, even if "it would be logical" that its leaders are contributing, "he added, recalling that Mr.Ghosn pledged to give up a part of his remuneration as a result of this case.

But according to Minister of Industry, "it can not be astronomical sums that are damaging to the company itself," even if we consider the "moral damage" in this case.

According to Marianne, Michel Balthazar, Rochette and Bertrand Matthieu Tenenbaum demand respectively 3.2 million, 3.4 million and 2.4 million euros in damages for pain and suffering.

These amounts, together with the various redundancy, would climb the addition of over 11 million euros, according to calculations of the weekly.

The Parliament elects a young policewoman at the head of the country

AFP - The Kosovo parliament has elected a woman Thursday, police general, Atifete Jahjaga, as President of Kosovo, thus ending a political crisis.

"Based on voting (...) I see qu'Atifete Jahjaga was elected president of Kosovo," said the president before members of the Electoral Commission, Berat Buzhala during an emergency session of the parliament.

A week ago, the Constitutional Court had declared unconstitutional the election of construction magnate Behgjet Pacolli as president, which sparked a political crisis in Kosovo.

The ruling coalition and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), the main opposition party, had reached agreement Wednesday on the nomination of Ms. Jahjaga, who was until recently an unknown on the political scene of Kosovo.

Ms. Jahjaga, 36, was elected with 80 votes of 100 deputies present. The other candidate, Suzana Novoberdaliu Alliance for New Kosovo (AKR) Mr. Pacolli, received 10 votes.The Kosovo parliament has 120 seats.

The 16 members of the opposition party boycotted the vote self-determination, accusing the authorities have rushed to organize in order to retain power.

"Until yesterday, I do not even think of taking a high political position, but I was ready to serve my country," said the new president of Kosovo after being sworn in by members.

"The ideal of all Kosovo's accession to the European Union (EU) and a permanent friendship with the United States.I am sure that our dreams will come true, "she added.

The new president of Kosovo is a member of any political party, as his responsibilities within the police forbade it.

PAKISTAN: Taliban claim deadly attack twice in a Sufi shrine

AFP - Two suicide bombers killed Sunday at least 41 people by detonating bombs at the entrance of a Sufi shrine in central Pakistan, a country gripped by a wave of deadly attacks extremely Taliban allied with al-Qaeda police said.

The attack targeted the pilgrims who came to pray at the tomb of Sultan Ahmed, a Sufi saint of the 13th century, more known as Sakhi Sarwar in Dera Ghazi Khan district where the Taliban and other groups their allies are relatively active.

"Two suicide bombers blew up the bombs they were carrying when police tried to prevent them from entering," he told AFP Zahid Hussain Shah, a police officer contacted by phone on the scene.

"For now, we counted 41 dead," he said, adding that more than 70 people were injured.The victims are mostly pilgrims and people from, like every Sunday in many holy shrines of Islam in Pakistan, spend a day with family.

It was the fifth suicide attack in five days in Pakistan.

"Holy War" against Islamabad and Washington

Nearly 4,200 people were killed in three and a half years throughout Pakistan by a wave of more than 450 attacks - suicide for the most part - mostly perpetrated by the Taliban allied with al-Qaeda.

In the summer of 2007, they said - in unison with Osama bin Laden himself - jihad, "holy war" to Islamabad for its support since 2001 to end the "war against terrorism" in Washington .

Their targets are the institutions and security forces but Sunni insurgents multiplied in recent times, attacks against civilians, especially minorities, including Shiites (20% of the population), and symbols of Sufism, two schools of thought in Islam they see as impious and heretical.

Many attacks that targeted Shiites and Sufis (a mystical doctrine which are both followers of Sunni and Shia) have been in recent months by the Taliban or allied groups.

Sunday, two suicide bombers failed to enter the mausoleum, where the crowd is usually very compact every Sunday, prevented by the police now keep all places Sufi saints in the country, confirmed Ahmed Mubarak The police chief in the region.

A senior local official of the security forces told AFP on condition of anonymity, that those responsible for the sanctuary had received threats from militant fundamentalists.

Dera Ghazi Khan in Punjab province, is located not far from some tribal areas of north-west frontier with Afghanistan, a stronghold of Pakistani Taliban, the main sanctuary of Al Qaeda worldwide and a rear base for Afghan Taliban .

Pakistani Taliban and their allies claim generally those attacks that target security forces in retaliation, they say, the Pakistani army offensives and the regular shooting of missiles from unmanned drones American CIA to executives of Al-Qaeda and Taliban Pakistani and Afghan tribal areas.

AUTOMOTIVE: The scrapping benefits still to French carmakers

AFP - New car registrations in France jumped 8.9% in the first quarter, taking advantage of the latest effects of scrapping, but new orders began to decline in March, said Friday the Committee of French Automobile (CCFA).

"We have generally done better than expected first quarter, welcomed the President of the CCFA Patrick Blain at a press conference.

In the single month of March, new car registrations rose 6.1% unadjusted.

French carmakers have seen this month on very different trajectories.PSA Peugeot Citroen has reported a 13.5% jump in registrations, especially from his Citroen, while the Renault group fell 12.4% due to supply problems on models of its brand low-cost Dacia.

In the first quarter, registrations yet benefited from the boost from the scrapping. Initially set at 1,000 euros and then gradually reduced to 500 euros last July, this premium ended December 31, but manufacturers had until March to deliver the ordered vehicles.

The market has also benefited from "the good performance of orders" in January and February, "said Blain, but started to weaken in March.

Silvio Berlusconi appears in court for the first time in 8 years

The Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi appeared Monday in court in Milan for the first time in eight years, for a preliminary hearing for a possible trial, according to an AFP journalist.

He went directly to car inside the courthouse with his escort to visit the offices of a judge for preliminary hearings on the seventh floor of the imposing Palace of Justice in Milan.

This preliminary hearing, the first of a series of four or five, must be used to decide whether to be tried or not to tax evasion and breach of trust on the alleged overbilling of TV rights bought by Mediatrade-RTI, a company his empire, the Paramount and other U.S. majors.

Mr. Berlusconi made a hand sign to the many cameras waiting outside the entrance.Thirty activists from his party, the People of Freedom (PDL), also were waiting outside with banners proclaiming: "politics at the ballot box not in the courts," "Justice does not exist where there is no freedom "or" Silvio you must resist, resist, resist. "

The hearing scheduled at 08:00 GMT will be held in camera. However, Mr.Berlusconi might make a statement at its output.

Before going into court, the chief government complained in a telephone call to one of its private channels, the charges are "ridiculous and baseless."

He also lashed out at opponents of the leftist opposition, saying that "Italy, communism has never changed, there are still people who use the penal code as an instrument of ideological struggle."

Liveblogging: Follow live events in Libya and Syria

LIBYA

- On the sixth day of his speech, the international coalition has maintained Thursday the pressure on Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, with new air strikes in and around Tripoli and intensive raids over Sabha (South), the stronghold of the tribe of Libyan leader. State television confirmed that "military and civilian sites in the region Tajoura near Tripoli, continue to be the target of raids" of the cross and colonialist aggressor. "

- A French fighter shot down a Libyan military plane do not respect the exclusion zone over Misrata third Libyan city, reports the U.S. military.The French General Staff did not confirm this information. Moreover, the French Air Force has led an attack against an "air base" Jamahiriya "250 kilometers south of Odds" on the night of Wednesday to Thursday.

- Side diplomacy, ambassadors of NATO countries were to continue on Thursday, negotiations have been ongoing for several days to try to finalize the role of the Atlantic Alliance in the operation in Libya.

SYRIA

- Thousands of Syrians were again demonstrated on Thursday at Deraa, home to protest in the south. Wednesday, at least one hundred people fell under the bullets of police in Dera, witnesses and activists of human rights cited by AFP.The scheme will make "important decisions" to meet the aspirations of the people, told the press Boussaïna Shaaban, Advisor to President Bashar al-Assad.

YEMEN

- In Yemen, new clashes erupted between the presidential guard and soldiers who joined the insurgency.

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

LIBYA: Tripoli regime announced a new cease-fire

AFP - The regime of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has announced a cease-fire from 1900 GMT on Sunday in response to the call Saturday by the African Union to "the immediate cessation of hostilities," said a door- Word of the army.

"In respect of the statement issued by the Committee of the African Union on Saturday in Nouakchott and resolutions 1970 and 1973 of the UN military command has given orders for a cease-fire on Sunday from 9:00 p.m." local (1900 GMT), said the spokesman, Milad Fokehi reading a brief statement.

Tripoli had already announced on Friday a cease-fire it did not comply, according to the international community which launched Saturday night's first military operation in Libya.

Libya has also seen Saturday night like no resolution 1973 imposing a no-fly zone after the military operation in western and requested an emergency meeting of the Security Council of the UN.

Resolution 1970 adopted in February provides an arms embargo, a ban on travel to Muammar Gaddafi and 15 of his relatives and the freezing of assets of Colonel Qaddafi and his family.

The committee of the AU on Sunday called on Libya to Nouakchott to "the immediate cessation of all hostilities" in Libya.

The committee, composed of African heads of state, issued a statement in which they also call "the cooperation of the Libyan authorities concerned to facilitate the delivery of diligent humanitarian assistance to populations in need."

They also seek "protection of foreigners including African migrant workers living in Libya" and that "the adoption and implementation of political reforms needed to eliminate the causes of the current crisis."

INTERNET: An online magazine published in Arabic, trying to blend foundation and Jihad ...

What's in common between beauty tips and a Kalashnikov? Not much a priori, but the first issue of Al-Shamika (Woman majestic). This new magazine from the radical Islamist movement, presents itself as a kind of "Cosmopolitan" or "She" for aspiring jihadist wife. Al-Shamika and tries to make jihad a lifestyle.

Released these days, and discovered on Monday by the British daily The Independent, he suggested, in Arabic, an explosive mix between practical advice for the modern Muslim woman and more traditional calls for jihad.The term "jihad", with multiple definitions through the ages, has been hijacked by radical movements to legitimize the armed struggle against fellow Muslims or non-Muslims.

On its front, Al-Shamika shows a submachine gun on purple background with two pictures of women covered by a niqab. The magazine mentions and, throughout its 31 pages, cosmetics (foundation ...) and practical advice (interior design ...).

"Good" raising children

In addition to these subjects "light", the magazine is very clear on his message: "The Nation of Islam requires women who know the truth about their religion and who understand what we expect of them," Can reads the editorial in the first issue.They are asked "to raise children in the tradition of jihad" or develop "a stable home for their husbands can devote itself fully to the Jihad."

"The message of Al-Shamika nothing innovative in the sense that Islamist radicals have always given a very important role to support women as men engaged in jihad," said Gilbert Ramsay, an expert on Islamist networks and Internet Center for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence at the University of St. Andrews (England).Al-Shamika also does not call for violent action.

The magazine follows the example of the ephemeral "Little Girls Khansa" newspaper also for Muslim women who disappeared after two issues.

Jihad everywhere

In terms of women's magazines of this type, the true reference would rather "Inspire", which caused a sensation in 2010. This magazine, promoted by the American preacher of Yemeni origin, Anwar al-Awlaki, became the first online publication written entirely in English, hoping to attract potential recruits in Western countries. He is currently in its fourth edition.Unlike "Inspire", Al-Shamika has not been formally identified as a publication from Al-Qaeda nebula.

"These two magazines convey the same idea: that the precepts of jihad can be applied even in occupations most routine of daily life," Gilbert Ramsay analysis.

He said jihad has led, over the Internet, the emergence of a genuine subculture that is not dominated by calls to violence. "The movements that advocate jihad will give trouble on forums and blogs to explain that support the jihad by small daily gestures, but also to participate," he says.In order to open the mind to these new converts to the next opportunity to participate in violent acts?

Libya: The leader of the Arab League supports the no-fly zone

AFP - UN Secretary-General of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, called for a no-fly zone in Libya and the Arab League hopes that "role" in its implementation, in an interview with German weekly Der Spiegel released before publication on Saturday.

"I do not know how or will impose this area, we will see that. The Arab League may also play a role, that's what I would advocate," said Amr Moussa in the interview to be published Monday.

"I speak of humanitarian action. It is with a no-fly zone, to support the Libyan people in their struggle for freedom and against a regime increasingly disdainful," Moussa said.

As to who should assume the leadership of such a zone, Mr.Moussa believes that "it depends on the decision of the Security Council (UN).The UN, the Arab League, African Union, Europeans - everybody should participate. "

The Arab foreign ministers would hold an emergency meeting in Cairo on Saturday on the subject.

The Arab League said it was opposed to military action against Libya but could support the establishment of a no-fly zone.

Establishing an air exclusion zone amounts to a ban on aerial survey of a specific area in order to prevent the Libyan planes to suppress civilians.

Friday, EU leaders have increased the pressure on the Libyan regime by agreeing to talk with the opposition and the military option cautiously referring to protect civilians, which does however not unanimous.

They decided at a meeting in Brussels that "security of the population (Libya) must be guaranteed by all means necessary" and that we must 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" - which means primarily the Arab League.

Germany, in particular, fears that Europe embarks on "a war" interminable.France and Britain pushing it the other way and try to obtain the agreement of the Security Council of the UN.

Amr Moussa, "Gaddafi lacks awareness that President Ben Ali in Tunisia and Egyptian ruler Mubarak demonstrated by resigning."

Moussa believes in a "domino effect" in the Arab world and the fall of other autocratic rulers: "It is only the beginning," he said, including finding "extremely tense" situation in Yemen.

"The region (Middle East) is about to change radically in a short time. What we live is the discovery by the Arab world of true democracy," Mr. Moussa held, "c is a unique opportunity. "

UNITED KINGDOM: A suspected accomplice of the terrorist attacks of Stockholm arrested in Scotland

Reuters - The Scottish police announced Tuesday the arrest in Glasgow of a foreign national aged 30, in connection with the investigation into the suicide bombing last December 11 in Stockholm.

Taymour Abdoulwahab, a Swede of Middle Eastern background, had been killed by the explosion of the explosive belt he was wearing. The man apparently tried to commit an attack in a busy public place - the central station or department store Ahlens - but his bomb exploded prematurely.

The man arrested in Glasgow is suspected of having provided assistance to terrorist activities outside of Scotland, said a spokesman for the police.His identity was not revealed, nor his nationality.

In January, the director of Iraqi terrorism had claimed qu'Abdoulwahab, which was installed in Sweden in the 1990s before going to study some time in Britain, had received explosives training in Mosul, in northern Iraq.

December 11, a first explosion occurred in a car at 17:00 (16:00 GMT), while the crowd was at its height in central Stockholm. A second explosion took place a quarter of an hour later, 300 meters from the first.This is where the body of the suicide bomber was discovered and two wounded slightly affected.

These explosions were preceded by sending a threatening letter about the Swedish presence in Afghanistan and a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad in a Swedish designer.

Taymour Abdoulwahab had settled in Sweden in 1992 and had acquired Swedish citizenship six years later.

The University of Bedfordshire, Luton, said it had registered in 2001 and had won three years later a diploma in sports therapy. The English university is attended by many Muslims, according to the American organization that tracks SITE Islamist activists on the Internet.

SUDAN: Thousands of people fled Abyei town after deadly fighting

AFP - Tens of thousands of people fled Thursday the Sudanese town of Abyei, which is now "almost empty" after deadly clashes in the disputed region rich in oil, has alarmed Friday the humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders ( MSF).

"Since yesterday, tens of thousands of people fled the city, leaving it almost empty," the NGO said in a statement.

"The biggest concern of MSF is to be able to reach and treat all patients in an impartial manner," said the organization.

Phil Humphris, MSF program manager for Sudan, told AFP that most of those displaced by the fighting appeared to be heading south.

"I talked to the coordinator on the ground when he left town and he told me that she looked completely empty," he said.

"We have not found anyone (internally displaced persons, ie), but most people seem to have gone south," he said, adding that it was mainly women and children .

Mr.Humpris also stressed he did not know whether the displaced had fled to the north because of the fighting taking place.

The UN said Thursday sending more peacekeepers in the disputed enclave of Abyei, on the border between North and South Sudan, after clashes that killed at least 70 dead in three days.

North and South mutually accuse the army of the other side of supporting attacks in Abyei.

MSF also said that his hospital in Agok, 40 km south of Abyei, received 21 injured in the afternoon and evening of March 3."All patients had gunshot wounds and three required surgery," says the NGO.

To help authorities, the MSF team has donated medicines and supplies to Abyei hospital run by the Ministry of Health.

On Friday, the situation was "relatively calm" but MSF teams on the ground reported that tensions remained "strong in Abyei town and surrounding area," said the organization.

Staff on site conducting a needs assessment of medical displaced in the region of Abyei to try to answer them.

In addition, the delegation of MSF Agok stands ready to welcome and care of potential casualties in case of continued fighting in the region.

Tensions continue to mount in Abyei since the southern Sudanese have voted in favor of independence for the south during a referendum in January. Southern Sudan will therefore secede from the North in July.

In Abyei, a referendum on membership of the city and its oil-producing region in North or South was postponed indefinitely after a disagreement over the participation of Misseriya vote.These nomadic Arabs insist participate because they fear losing access to the region in case of attachment in Southern Sudan.

Officials from North and South America are currently meeting in Addis Ababa to resolve several outstanding issues before the independence of the South in July, and Abyei is the focus of discussions.

Fighting erupted Tuesday in Abyei between armed men of the tribe northerner Arab Misseriya backed by Khartoum, and Dinka Ngok tribe southerner.

About 10,500 peacekeepers are currently deployed to Sudan for police missions and peacekeeping.

COTE D'IVOIRE: UN concerned about the alleged supply of weapons from Belarus

AFP - The tension rose Monday between the camp of Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo and the outgoing United Nations about an alleged case of delivery of weapons, while the humanitarian situation was deteriorating in Abidjan after fighting between government forces and pro-Gbagbo insurgents.

At the request of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the Security Council of the UN was discussing a possible meeting after information on the current delivery of three attack helicopters from Belarus and support material in Yamoussoukro (center) for the forces loyal to Mr.Gbagbo.

But Belarus has denied any violation of the arms embargo imposed in 2004 and denounced a "possible destructive campaign" against him.

The Gbagbo government has condemned a "conspiracy" and a "lie to justify an attack" from the UN.

He accused the UN mission in the country, UNOCI, which he calls the start of being complicit in the 'rebel' Forces Nouvelles (FN), combined with Alassane Ouattara - head of state recognized by the international community - which he believed to have infiltrated Abidjan.

The climate was still heavy in the economic capital with sporadic gunfire reported in several districts since Sunday, including in areas hitherto preserved as the plush Cocody district (east).

Fief of Mr.Gbagbo, the popular Yopougon (west) is now dotted with checkpoints "young patriots", his ardent supporters.Sometimes armed with machetes and clubs, they demand to search vehicles.

Their leader Charles Ble Goude called last week young people to "organize themselves into committees" to prevent "by all means" to move UNOCI.

Gbagbo's camp is over "harassment" against the UN "the act of direct hostility," he said Monday in Dakar Choi Young-jin, the head of UNOCI.

He said that three peacekeepers were injured by pro-Gbagbo forces this weekend in Abobo, a district pro-Ouattara in the north of Abidjan.

Abobo last week became the scene of clashes involving heavy weaponry between the pro-Gbagbo and rebels.

At Abobo, but also in the neighboring Anyama, the humanitarian situation was becoming increasingly worrisome background of the population exodus.

Some 3,000 people have already sought refuge in two Catholic missions, "in a crowded indescribable," he told AFP Abbe Augustin Obrou, spokesman for the archdiocese of Abidjan.

UNITED STATES: Boeing wins the tanker contract from U.S. Army

AFP - Boeing won Thursday for the second time the mega-tanker contract from the U.S. Air Force, crushing rival Airbus, which was nevertheless given favorite after years of political and legal twists.

"Today, on the basis of criteria evaluated (...) we announce that the Air Force has selected a proposal by the Boeing Company," said Secretary of the Army of the Air, Michael Donley, during a press briefing at the Pentagon.

Mr. Donley said the contract on 179 units, was valued at "more than 30 billion dollars."Eighteen aircraft will be delivered by 2017.

"Boeing wins hands down," noted Assistant Secretary of Defense William Lynn, when asked if it was difficult to decide between the two aircraft manufacturers for the contract, one of the most disputed of history of aviation.

Mr. Donley has ensured that the order was issued after a selection process "fair, open and transparent". He hoped that "both parties will respect this decision and allow this important acquisition to proceed without hindrance."

Industry experts expect indeed to make this call that EADS, which would block the contract.Before the announcement, Michael Boyd, president of a consulting firm specializing in aviation, had predicted that, regardless of the Pentagon's decision, one of the two groups would appeal, as the American states who would feel aggrieved.

Noting that the aircraft never flew Boeing, EADS said he was "disappointed" and "worried" the U.S. decision, without indicating whether he planned to appeal, as he has the chance.

Boeing said he was "honored" by the Pentagon's decision and "ready" to produce devices that will allow the U.S. Air Force to continue to deploy worldwide.

The contract is intended to replace the aging fleet of KC-135 dating from the '50s.

The story of the tender is peppered with twists, including a conflict of interest scandal. The contract was canceled twice, having been awarded to Boeing for the first time in 2003 and a second in 2008 to Airbus and its American ally Northrop Grumman.

EADS, Airbus' parent company, was launched this time without a major trading partner, but with the support of hundreds of U.S. equipment.

EADS praised the military version of its Airbus A330, the KC-45, as "the only real-tanker aircraft already in operation.The European, who had reviewed last week's price decline, suggested that its production in the United States would generate 48,000 jobs in the country.

Boeing said on his part that his aircraft was offering "a fuel consumption 24% lower than the unit proposed by EADS," and he would support 50,000 jobs in the United States.

The battle between the two giant aircraft was dubbed a political fight in Washington.

Patty Murray, Senator for the State of Washington (northwest), where Boeing planned to build the tankers at its plant in Everett, hailed "a major victory for American workers, the aerospace industry and the U.S. U.S. Army. "

However, elected officials in Alabama (south), where the tanker would have been assembled at Airbus, the European supporters.

The president of the AFL-CIO, Richard Trumka, hailed "a tremendous boost to American workers and the goal of President Obama create jobs in the country"

The Defence Committee of the House of Representatives has announced it will hold a hearing to ensure that assessments made by the Pentagon has been "transparent and fair for each competitor."

Tunisia: Tunis to demand the extradition of Saudi Arabia ousted President Ben Ali

AFP - Tunis on Sunday asked in Riyadh for the extradition of deposed President Ben Ali, accused of being involved "in several serious crimes" and of inciting Tunisians to "kill each other," while demanding information about his condition health and "his eventual death.

In a statement quoted by official news agency TAP, the Foreign Ministry said it has requested in Riyadh to provide "all information available concerning the health of the deposed president, in light of contradictory information conveyed about the deterioration of his health and his eventual death.

The former president, aged 74, who fled to Saudi Arabia on January 14 under the pressure of the street is in a Jeddah hospital in a coma following a stroke, had AFP reported on Thursday near his family.

In the same statement, the ministry announced that it "sent through diplomatic channels a formal request to the Saudi authorities" who "seeks to extradite the deposed president" Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

"Following a series of new criminal charges against the ousted president, on charges related to his involvement in several serious crimes that involve and encourage them to commit the murder and to sow discord among the citizens of the same countries pushing to kill each other, "Tunisia has requested his extradition, the statement said.

The new series of charges "is added to the letters rogatory issued by the Tunisian authorities and addressed before Saudi judicial authorities, as part of an action brought inquisitorial, currently, against the ousted president and his clan."

This commission relates to "charges on the grounds that the possession of bank accounts and property in several countries as part of laundering money acquired through illegal and that the holding and illegal export of foreign currencies , "the statement said.

The ousted president, who suffers from prostate cancer, and his family fled to Saudi Arabia on January 14 after nearly a month of unprecedented popular protest, suppressed at the cost of dozens of deaths.

Ben Ali has ruled the country by building his regime on a balance between iron fist based on a policy now disgraced and prosperity, which eventually failed, causing his fall.

Father of six children, he often appeared the last time accompanied by his wife Leila Trabelsi.According to observers, he seemed fragile and under the influence of his wife's family accused of grip on the economy.

The revolt against the government began in Sidi Bouzid (West Central) after the suicide in mid-December Bouazizi Mohammed, an unemployed youth of 26 years unable to perform as a peddler by police and became the symbol of the frustration of young people in this country where unemployment is nearly 30% of young people.

Since his departure, the assets of the deposed president were frozen in several countries, many family members were arrested and international arrest warrant was issued against him and his wife.

Since then, a transitional government, led by former Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi and comprising members of the former opposition, promised democracy and pluralism.

BAHRAIN: Important deployment of security forces in the capital Manama

The Bahrain Police dismantled by force during the night of Wednesday to Thursday, a camp of protesters demanding political change in the kingdom, during an operation that killed two people, witnesses and opposition.

The Ministry of Interior wrote on Twitter that security forces had "emptied the place of the Pearl" in Manama and a grand avenue of the capital was partially closed.

Fifty armored vehicles were sighted Thursday morning trying to move towards the Place de la Perle.

More than a dozen tanks, military vehicles and army ambulances were seen in central Manama.

Inspired by revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, thousands of Bahrainis, mainly from the Shiite majority, protested since Monday to demand political and social reforms in the kingdom ruled by a Sunni family.

Hundreds of them had begun to camp on the Place de la Perle, hoping to transform it into a rallying point of protest to the image of what the Egyptians did on Tahrir Square in Cairo until the fall of "Hosni Mubarak.

"They are killing us"

"The police are to intervene, she launched tear gas," said one demonstrator reached by telephone in the night by Reuters.

Another said: "I am wounded, I bleed.They are killing us. "

One protester said he evacuated two wounded by car by rubber bullets.

"I was there (...) The men fled but women and children could not run as fast," said Ibrahim Mattar, a member of Wefaq, the main Shiite opposition.

"Two people are dead, it's confirmed," he added. "Others are in serious condition."

About 200 people gathered in a major city hospitals.

Place de la Perle, on which lay a strong smell of tear gas, seemed deserted in the early hours of Thursday.Abandoned tents, blankets and trash littered the ground.

Two ambulances were seen trying to leave suddenly in the night.

Poverty and unemployment

"There was no any warning. We had the impression of an offensive against the enemy. People were sleeping quietly, "said a protester who requested anonymity.

The Wefaq, which suspended its parliamentary activities, Wednesday called for adopting a new constitution more democratic.

"We do not want to establish a religious state.We want a civil democracy (...) in which the people are the source of power, and for this we need a new constitution, "said party secretary general, Sheikh Ali Salman, during a press conference.

The protesters' main demand is the resignation of Prime Minister, Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman al Khalifa, who ruled the country since its independence in 1971. Uncle of King Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa, he is seen as a symbol of wealth the ruling family.

The demonstrators also denounced poverty and unemployment.They were also concerned about the benefits accorded to foreign Sunni from settling in the small kingdom (citizenship, employment in the security forces, housing) that tend to alter the demographic balance.

In the 1990s, Bahrain has already been the scene of unrest.The adoption in 2002 of a new constitution and organize elections had helped restore calm, but the opposition considers these reforms now insufficient.

The angry demonstrators had been pronounced dead Wednesday by two of them on Monday and Tuesday in clashes with security forces.

"The people calling the fall of the regime," shouted protesters Wednesday, beating his chest, a gesture of mourning for Shiites.

PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY: The Fayyad government is about to be revamped

AFP - Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, presented Monday his government's resignation to the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, told AFP a minister under cover of anonymity.

"Fayyad told the Cabinet that the government had resigned. I will see President Abbas and give him a letter formalizing our resignation," said the minister.

A senior Palestinian official announced Sunday night that Mr. AFPFayyad would deliver his government's resignation to President Abbas to form a new cabinet.

The Prime Minister must promptly enter into consultations with the Palestinian parties and civil society, the source said.

President Abbas had announced at the end of last year its intention to overhaul the government headed by Fayyad, an independent economist. He then said that he, aged 58 years and prime minister since 2007, would be reappointed.

EGYPT: Washington believes that the Egyptian government's efforts are insufficient

The tone rose Wednesday between Washington and Cairo, the White House saying that the changes incurred by the Egyptian government remained inadequate, while the Egyptian foreign minister accused the Americans of wanting to "impose" their will on his country.

In the sixteenth day of unprecedented revolt against the regime of Hosni Mubarak's ally, Washington has had to defend itself from any interference in the affairs of Egypt, but again claiming the reforms that meet the protestors in Tahrir Square.

"Clearly, what the government has put on the table so far has not completed the minimum threshold of what is required by the Egyptians," he observed to the press spokesman of the White House Robert Gibbs.

Mr.Gibbs attacked particularly the Vice-President of Egypt Omar Suleiman, appointed by Mr. Mubarak to negotiate a political transition with the opposition.

"The transition process does not seem to expect the Egyptians," added the spokesperson for Barack Obama, warning against a new outbreak of protest in Egypt if the power does not give enough ground.

A senior State Department, Jake Sullivan, for his part stressed that "the United States has never said that Vice-President Suleiman was the appropriate person (to lead the transition) or delivered for trial who should be in control. "

"We are not interested persons (...) but concrete results," he said during a media teleconference.

The Egyptian regime has previously hinted his temper against pressure from Washington.

"When you talk about quick and immediate change to a great country like Egypt, with which you have always maintained the best relationships, you impose your will", denounced the Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, in a Service in the U.S. television network PBS.

"We are already changing," shouted Mr. Gheit, referring to discussions with the protesters.

Mr.Gheit also warned that "the army would intervene in case of chaos to take things in hand," according to comments reported by the official MENA news agency.

Asked about the statements, the spokesman for the State Department, Philip Crowley, urged the Egyptian army to "continue to exercise the same moderation that in recent days."

On Tuesday, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden called Mr. Suleiman for him to claim an immediate end to the state of emergency in force for nearly 30 years.

On PBS, Mr. Gheit said he was "truly astonished" by this request: "As we speak, there are 17,000 prisoners loose in the streets because the prisons were destroyed.How can you ask me to abolish the state of emergency while I'm in trouble? "

Mr. Gheit told he had been "often angry, angry" face to the American response in the initial events in Cairo, although the relationship has since subsided.

Asked about the Egyptian minister, Mr. Crowley has assured that Washington was not seeking "to dictate anything." He defended the call to immediately lift the state of emergency is an "interference" and stressed that the solution to the crisis should be found by the Egyptians themselves.

CAMBODIA: New clashes on the border between Thailand and Cambodia

AFP - New clashes erupted Sunday near a disputed temple on the border between Cambodia and Thailand, the day after a cease-fire between the two countries, said a Cambodian military commander at the AFP.

"We're beating us at this time, they started shooting at us," the official said, referring to the Thai soldiers.

The new clashes broke out around 6:35 p.m. local time (11:35 GMT).

After fighting with heavy weapons Friday for about two hours, firefights had occurred again at dawn on Saturday for about thirty minutes.Before the two neighbors herald a cease-fire.

During the fighting, the most violent since 2008, at least five people were killed: a soldier and a villager Thai and two Cambodian soldiers and one civilian.

The border between the two countries has never been fully demarcated.

HAITI: Mirlande Manigat and Michel Martelly the second round of presidential

Reuters - The second round of presidential elections in Haiti will oppose Mirlande Manigat Michel Martelly March 20, according to members of the Provisional Council election which partially reversed the provisional results of the first round.

Organized as the country is still recovering from the earthquake a year ago, the first round was held in the utmost confusion on Nov. 28 last. Charges of fraud and street protests following the consultation.

According to preliminary results, the second round should oppose the government candidate, Jude Celestin, the former first lady, Mirlande Manigat.

But these results were criticized by the international community, and an expert mission of the Organization of American States (OAS) had held that Jude Celestin had to be discarded in favor of the second round of Michel Martelly, popular singer originally given in third place with less than 7,000 votes behind the candidate backed by outgoing President, Rene Preval.

TUNISIA: Opposition Islamist Ghannouchi in Tunis after 20 years of exile

AFP - The Tunisian Islamist opposition Ghannouchi was scheduled to return Sunday afternoon in London after his country for over 20 years of exile, through the fall of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who had harshly mate Islamists in the early 90s.

A spokesman for the old opponent, aged 69, said that this return, feared by some sectors of Tunisian society, including feminists and secular circles, will not be "triumphant" and on the contrary Rached Ghannouchi who wants to hand over to young people in the lead, simply wants to return as a "free man".

During a demonstration, hundreds of women screamed Saturday at Tunis their determination to defend the emancipation gained over half a century on the eve of the return of Rached Ghannouchi.

"We are here to affirm the rights acquired by women and prevent any backsliding, to say that we are not prepared to negotiate our freedom with the Islamists," said Amel Betaib, a lawyer.

Rached Ghannouchi founded in 1981 Nahda (Renaissance), with intellectuals inspired by the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, and said today represent a moderate form of Islam close to the AKP in Turkey.

Tolerated, including the coming to power of Ben Ali in 1987, the party was suppressed after the 1989 elections, which he claimed the list had received at least 17% of the vote.

Mr. Ghannouchi had then left Tunisia to Algeria, then to London. In 1992 he was sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment with other religious leaders for a plot against the president.

The Tunisian government transition, set up after the fall of Ben Ali on January 14, adopted a draft amnesty law that will concern the Islamists, and must be voted by Parliament.What is not yet done but should not however be an obstacle to his return.

Ghannouchi, who no longer president of the Islamist movement, says he also will not be a presidential candidate in the forthcoming elections and wants to transform his movement into a legal political party to participate in upcoming legislative transition team in power since the fall of Ben Ali's task was to organize.

A law still in effect prohibited from forming a political party on a strictly religious.

BELGIUM: 30,000 demonstrators to Brussels to demand a government

AFP - More than 30,000 Belgians took part Sunday in Brussels in a march of "shame" to expose the unprecedented political crisis lasting record that threatens the unity of the country, due to differences between Flemish and Francophone, and ask formation of a government.

This is the first time since the Belgian parliamentary elections of 13 June 2010, ordinary citizens are expressing their exasperation with massively to the current impasse.

They were responding to a call via the Internet popularized five young Flanders and Brussels, three students and two employees, claiming no political affiliation even if one of them is the son of Minister of Justice, a Flemish Christian Democrat .Their motto: a march of "shame" for the kingdom.

"A beard for Belgium"

"What we want? We want a government," chanted the protesters, often young, the 224th day of the crisis which saw the country deprived of effective government, a record in Europe.

Many demonstrators wore also on Sunday a placard with the slogan "Divide? Not in our name!" Slogan of a meeting of artists and intellectuals held in Brussels on Friday evening, which caused a stir.

The participants, mixed Flemish and Francophone, have denounced the line defended by the Nationalist party emerged as the winner of legislative independence, the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), which contributes to the current political stalemate.

The tone of humor, speaking Geluck Philippe, the famous designer of the "Cat", is called a "revolution of mussels and fries," the Belgian national dish, along the lines of "jasmine revolution" Tunisian .

Other successful slogan, "A beard for Belgium" could be read on stickers flown Sunday some 34,000 demonstrators (by police), following a call from the Belgian actor Benoît Poelvoorde no longer to shave until the denouement of the crisis.

A text divides the Flemish majority

"We want a solution.Not this trench warfare between political parties, "said one protester Flemish, Christopher, 27, researcher in sociology from the University of Antwerp (Flanders, north).

For him, Sunday's protest reflects "the beginning of a rift between Flemings," since the right Flemish - N-VA and the Christian Democrats VCT - dismissed on January 6 a draft agreement prepared by a socialist Flemish with a mission of conciliation.

This text was instead supported by the Flemish and Francophone left participant for more than seven months in the endless negotiations in September

Single incident of the gathering on Sunday, five Flemish extremists were detained by police when they tried to destroy tracts for demonstrators.

One of the organizers of the march, Vandereecken Simon, a graphic designer for 23 years, welcomed a success "has exceeded our expectations."

"Our politicians will have to react after such a mobilization. Otherwise, we'll see what steps to take," he told AFP.

Belgium has been administered since 2010 by a firm responsible for caretaker absence of agreement on a new reform of its institutions.

The Francophone Wallonia and Brussels want to limit the autonomy demanded by the Flemish reinforced (60% of the estimated 11 million Belgians), particularly in tax matters, lest it be the beginning of the end for the country.

Tony Blair believes it was right to topple Saddam Hussein

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has delivered Friday to a new exercise of self-justification for its second appearance in a year before the commission to shed light on British entry into the war in Iraq in 2003, alongside the Americans.

The chairman of the inquiry, Sir John Chilcot, had sent more than a hundred additional written questions to the former Labour leader. It opened in early morning discussions expected to last 4 to 5 hours, explaining that the second call was to "clarify" the answers provided so far by Mr.Blair.

Midway through the hearing broadcast by news channels continuously, the tone of the five investigators appeared a little less polished and the responses of Mr Blair were a little less abrasive, compared to the controversial meeting in January 2010.

However, the British prime minister from 1997 to 2007 did not change his argument on the merits, convinced of the rightness of his decision to go to war, and did not immediately brought new elements.

And so much that he refused - to the dismay of Sir Chilcot - to authorize the publication of his correspondence "very private" with former U.S. President George W.Bush, on the period when the two leaders have decided to "regime change" in Iraq during a meeting in Mr. Bush's Texas ranch in April 2002, eleven months before the invasion.

As in January 2010, Friday's debate revolved around three key issues: the war was legal in the absence of explicit UN resolution? Mr Blair said he deliberately manipulated public opinion to never proved the presence of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), Iraq, which justified going to war? What was the reality of the alignment of Tony Blair - then called "Bush's poodle" by its detractors - the American neoconservatives?

A year ago, Mr.Blair had defended "no regrets" his "right decision" to overthrow "the monster Saddam." "Saddam's regime was brutal, it was a repressive military dictatorship. It was a source of instability and danger to the region," he said Friday.

The war was legal? The Attorney General, Senior Counsel for the Government, which this week again said he was "uncomfortable" about the absence of a UN resolution, has finally sided with the supporters of the invasion, assured Mr Blair."Otherwise, the United Kingdom could not, and did not participate in the decision to oust Saddam."

The reason for maintaining the secrecy of his correspondence with U.S. President? "Notes (addressed) to President Bush were very private. They were written when I wanted to get a change or adjustment of policy. It should be confidential," said Tony Blair. And these notes "are essentially in agreement with what I have expressed in public".

Asked about the front that were loaned, M.Blair has denied having said or written "George, whatever your decision, I will follow you."

In January 2010, a lawyer by profession and outstanding speaker had borrowed a backdoor to escape protesters and journalists. This time he entered through the main issue by asking a few seconds for photographers, while a score of demonstrators coalition Stop the War "chanted" Bliar ", a pun combining" Liar (liar) the surname of the former leader.

Among the demonstrators, Peter Brierley, whose son was killed in Iraq, called the trial of Tony Blair "war criminal".