JUSTICE: Extradited to Lomé, Le Floch-Prigent revives the legal troubles

 

"Stubborn as a Breton," says the proverb. Again, Camp Le Floch-Prigent, a native of Brest (Finistère), shouts to the plot at a time when the former leader of the former oil company franç , ais Elf finds himself in the hands of justice in Lome Togo. If you believe his lawyer Patrick Klugman, told FRANCE 24, the fraud case in which it is pursued in Togo "do [him] not apply."

"Whether we return to Mr. Le Floch-Prigent its rightful place in this case is probably that of a witness. Definitely not the place of a person subject to a warrant, "he says about his client's extradition to Lomé, 24 hours after his arrest on Friday 14 September, , Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

Le Floch-Prigent is indeed the subject of an international arrest warrant issued by the Togolese authorities. This mandate follows a complaint by a businessman from the United Arab Emirates, Abass al-Youssef, who said that the former CEO and two Togolese have mounted a scam that would have cost more than $ 36 million. The French businessman says about the UAE but denies attempted to defraud.

Several stays in jail

A conspiracy, that's what Le Floch-Prigent had already denounced in 2003. At that time, he was sentenced to five years in prison for embezzlement in the Elf affair, a corruption scandal in which the investigation was entrusted to a some Eva Joly, then judge. It offended then the only oil company boss prosecuted in this case.

After 19 months of detention, Le Floch-Prigent regained his freedom, but claimed ruined and regretted that all his friends have turned their backs. "I live mostly on income from my wife. What little I had was seized and officers scrutinize accounts permanently empty. It will not let me live, "he said in 2006 the weekly" Le Nouvel Observateur ".

The following years have not been so much brighter. In 2010, an engineer by training performs additional six months in prison for failing to comply with the terms of his parole. Who could have imagined such troubles 25 years ago?

CEO, Consultant … and writer

In the 1980s, under the presidency of François Mitterrand, Le Floch-Prigent was a leader of the leading companies who occupied the head of several large hexagonal. During the wave of nationalization, officer near the left becomes number one Rhone-Poulenc (1982-1986), he recovers accounts, Elf-Aquitaine (1989-1993), GDF (1993 -1995) and SNCF (1995-1996) before being caught by the Elf affair.

Today, he claims to have turned the page. "I no longer think it is completely behind me," he said in an interview with AFP late August. At 69 years old soon, however, he returned to the energy sector as done today consultancies in oil. "Fifteen days per month in Brazzaville, Abidjan, Addis Ababa and Dubai, the other 15 days in Paris with trips to Italy and in the countries of Eastern Europe," he explained.

But especially fishing enthusiast tries to spend most of his free time Trébeurden in his native Brittany. There he devoted himself to pleasure found in prison writing. The action of his fourth book, the novel "Granite rosse" (ed. Coop Breizh), is also on its cherished land.

In this detective story, the PDG-novelist depicts a Parisian who does not understand the intricacies of local life and stick to the designated culprit … As a nod to his own legal problems. Today, Le Floch-Prigent seems to be trying to clear his name in the Elf affair. Stubborn as a Breton, say …

(FRANCE 24 with dispatches)

FRANCE: Holland, heckled in the polls, made his return to the newspaper media 20 h

 

AFP – François Hollande, who beats records of popularity just four months after his election, will attempt Sunday night on TF1 to regain the French won by anxiety and doubt to the acceleration of the crisis.

The Head of State, who will answer questions from Claire Chazal have 25 minutes to convince his countrymen that he is the man of the situation, a leader, not this evil personality and hesitant to authority described by many critics and columnists.

Especially in the polls, all the lights turn red.

Poll after poll French morale plunges while their disillusionment with the ability of the head of state to keep its promises is growing. 

According to a survey published in Ifop in Le Journal du Dimanche, they are more than 48% believe it is his campaign pledges against 57% in August. According to another survey, BVA to Le Parisien, nearly six in ten French (59%) say they are "somewhat dissatisfied" with the beginnings of five years, while 40% consider themselves " , somewhat satisfied. " On May 31, the rate of satisfaction of François Hollande was 62%, 34% dissatisfaction.

So much anticipated tax measures and drastic budget that will inevitably be taken to ensure that France meets its European commitments, François Hollande, the last television interview e back to July 14, should "set the course without going into the details," said a relative.

"It is not for him to do, he is not to have a technician speech but for a speech strategist, is the government members that belong to do, "insists the same source.

Just his entourage he promises "probably an indication" on the government's fiscal intentions gnawing at the French. For the rest, it will be "clear roadmap of the government, the political agenda, with all measurements."

The president should not, however, escape to a question about the tax of 75% on income above 1 million, campaign promise that allowed him to bounce then Nicolas Sarkozy regained ground but, these days, seemed to be stuck in the maze tax.

The debate was revived Saturday by the revelation of a naturalization application filed in Brussels by the richest of the French, the head of the empire of luxury LVMH, Bernard Arnault. 

He can not escape an explanation on how to avoid rising "general and indiscriminate" tax, as it is committed Friday, while achieving the deficit reduction effort public "largest in 30 years."

Since 5 to 10 billion euros in taxes already voted and 10 billion in savings that the State intends to make its expenses, it remains to find 15-20000000000 tax increases in 2013.

Not a "cap over water"

François Hollande must also impose his style and readily acknowledges. "A style that is printed at the As," he observed in the confidences World published Saturday. President "normal" is looking for a balance between the "presidency haughty and rare" one, and François Mitterrand "maximum reactivity" of Nicolas Sarkozy.

"I do not want to be like the cap over the water," he said, claiming the right to "consistency" in action.

"In this period of rising prices, the social and rising unemployment, the chronology of French does not match that of the government action" recog he however.

Face "social suffering of the French" and "rising unemployment, it must redefine the course," he said Friday on Canal + one near the head of the state, Labour Minister Michel Sapin.

Mr. Holland will also whistle the end of recess after several government ministers between outbursts. According to a government official, "we can understand hiccups government on substantive issues, but not the quack of ego which is the mark of inexperience."

IRAN: Ban Ki-moon urges Iran progress "concrete" on nuclear

 

AFP – The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday urged Iran's leaders to take swift "concrete measures" to ease international concerns about their nuclear program and contribute to a peaceful resolution to the Syrian crisis.

Mr. Ban was received including the Guide of the Islamic Republic Ali Khamenei, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalil, on the eve of the opening of the 16th summit in Tehran Non-Aligned countries which he must attend.

According to his spokesman Martin Nesirky, M. Ban asked his interlocutors to "take concrete steps to address the concerns of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy) and prove that its nuclear program is peaceful purposes. "

The Secretary-General, however, that this issue could be settled that "a diplomatic and peaceful solution", then qu'Israëla threatened to conduct strikes against Iran.

Mr. Ban also stressed that "human rights in Iran remained a concern" and that "civil and political rights (the Iranians) must be respected" reported Mr. Nesirky.

He also condemned the remarks "offensive", "provocative" and "unacceptable" that Iranian leaders regularly call for the destruction of Israel.

Secretary General of the UN has finally asked Tehran to "use his influence" to convince the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad to "stop Emergency violence "in this country plagued for more than 17 months of conflict and create" conditions.

According to his spokesperson, Mr. Ban "believes that Iran, given its regional influence and its influence on Syria, may play an important role in regulation" of the Syrian crisis.

The U.S. State Department, which had expressed strong reservations about the trip Mr. Ban in Iran, once joked about this statement by claiming to be "agreement (…) to say that Iran has a role to play" if "it ro , is the break with the Assad regime to stop and to provide material aid, weapons and advisors. "

The United States and Israel have found that the presence of the Secretary General of the UN summit of Non-Aligned gave extra weight to a bishop ment widely exploited by Tehran to try to break its international isolation.

Mr. Ban said he wanted to go to Tehran to "convey the concerns and expectations of the international community."

But faced with critical calls and Secretary General of the UN, Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated that Tehran had no intention to acquire the weapon NUCLEAR , area, according to its official website. And accused the IAEA of trying to "sabotage" Iran's nuclear program at the instigation of the United States.

Reports UN agency does not exclude that Iran's nuclear activities have a military objective are the original six resolutions of the Security Council of the UN condemning tehe , ran, who do never considered.  

Ayatollah Khamenei also criticized the "domination" of the major nuclear powers, the United States in mind, the Security Council, and accused the UN of being "ineffective" to promote disarmament.

The Middle East, "the Zionist regime which Americans gave nuclear weapons is a serious threat to the region and the United Nations should take steps to address them" ,, he said.

Holland receives Samaras and aligns with the position of Merkel

 

REUTERS – François Hollande Saturday confirmed the Greek Prime Minister's desire to see Greece keep the single currency, urging Athens to the "credibility" and European Union to "it must" maintain the integrity of the euro area. After a one-hour interview with the Head of State at the Elysee Palace, Antonis Samaras made the maintenance of the single currency a matter of "pride" for his country, where hope should return, he said, otherwise threaten social cohesion.

François Hollande has reiterated that Greece should remain in the euro area while focusing on the efforts that the country must make to consolidate its fiscal position.  "We must ensure that the issue of Greece in the euro area does not arise because for me, it does not arise: Greece is in the eurozone and Greece must remain in the euro zone, "said the French president in the courtyard of the Elysee. "It must demonstrate the credibility of the program and the commitment of its leaders to go through while making sure that it is bearable for its people," said François Hollande, scoring his concern for social risk in Greece.  Eve in Berlin, Chancellor Angela Merkel had also pleaded alongside Antonis Samaras for Greece in the euro, despite the doubts expressed by some of its citizens a year of elections in Germany. Facing its fifth year of recession, Greece would receive a reprieve to meet its budgetary commitments agreed under a second plan international aid of 130 billion euros. The eyes of François Hollande, the clock is ticking and Europe must move quickly after receiving the report on Greece by the troika – the European Union, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund – expected in mid-September.  Athens creditors will then decide if they unlock new aid tranche in October and they give more time to Greece for its re ; forms. "GREECE Y HAPPEN" DIT SAMARAS called Questions to be discussed at the Eurogroup meeting on 8 October and Luxembourg, before the EU summit on 18 and 19 October in Brussels. Once the report is submitted and confirmed commitments Greek, "Europe will do what it needs," stressed François Hollande. "It's been two and a half years that the question is asked. There are no more time to lose. There are commitments to reaffirm both sides, to make decisions and the sooner the better. "

French Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Finance Laurent Fabius and Pierre Moscovici, attended the meeting between Francois Hollande and Antonis Samaras, who saw for the first time. In his statement, the new Greek Prime Minister, elected on June 17, said the European Union had everything to gain by keeping his country in the euro. "Greece will succeed, it will remain in the euro area," he said. "And that Greece will be successful European success. We will show that Europe is able to overcome its difficulties and problems, united. "  "We will fulfill our goals and commitments," he said while emphasizing growth, "if all these efforts will lead to a race to the bottom". "Greece, the Greek people are a proud nation: we do not like to depend on others and take," he said. "We must restore hope because without hope we will lose social cohesion." After a relative lull in the markets this summer, the crisis in the euro zone back on front of the stage with renewed concern Greece but also in Spain, Italy and Portugal.  François Hollande will be next Thursday in Madrid to meet with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and Italy in early September for a meeting with the chairman, Mario Monti. Agitated in Germany and in other countries such as Finland and the Netherlands, the possibility of an outflow of Athens remains outside the euro in Paris. The French authorities consider that it would be a disaster for the Greeks, not to mention the risk of lead others along this path. "The integrity of the euro zone is the basis of the action that we must lead," said a source in Paris

.

SPACE: The robot Curiosity passes his first laps on Mars

 

AFP – Wednesday robot Curiosity has made his first trip to Mars, the perimeter of the area where it landed early August, named by NASA "Bradbury Landing "in tribute to the legendary American author of science fiction Ray Bradbury, who died last June.

"In his honor, we named the place Curiosity landed + + Landing Bradbury (Bradbury The landing zone)," said Michael Meyer, chief scientist of the Mars Exploration Program at , NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory since (JPL) in Pasadena, near Los Angeles. 

The announcement coincided with the first movement – a few meters – Curiosity on Mars, Wednesday successfully conducted as a prelude to his departure for the area Glenelg in the coming days.

Ray Bradbury, who would have turned 92 years old on Wednesday, "had already achieved immortality with hundreds of new and nearly 50 novels. His books have inspired us, the Martian Chronicles + + inspired Curiosity and open our minds to the possibility of a form of life on Mars, "he said.

Prior to the announcement, the JPL has released a video of Ray Bradbury among NASA scientists gathered at the occasion of the arrival in orbit around Mars probe Mariner 9 in November 1971.

The author of "Fahrenheit 451" it says, before an audience laughing: "I was hoping that these days, as we neared Mars and the dust cleared, we would open Martians standing with large signs that could be read: + Bradubury was right! + ". 

Away from the full potential of the mission

Profilique The author died in Los Angeles in early June, helped to popularize science fiction to the general public, and invented a life on Mars has captured the imagination many researchers and scientists.

"It was also a friend of JPL," said Pete Theisinger responsible for Curiosity mission, stating that the writer had visited last time the premises of JPL in 2009.

The Curiosity mission team also confirmed that the robot had turned its wheels for the first time Wednesday.

"Curiosity drove for the first time on Mars today, with success. We have a mobility system in perfect working on our robot, "said Matt Heverly, head of displacement Curiosity.

The robot, which had not changed since his arrival in the Gale Crater on the night of 5 to 6 August, advanced about four meters forward before Rotate to the right 90 degrees, then backtrack a few meters.

"This places the robot at about 6 meters from the place where it landed 16 days ago," said NASA.  

A photo taken by Curiosity from its new position clearly shows the traces of its wheels on the Martian soil, and the circular marks left by the retros "overhead crane" who die placed on the Red Planet.

Pete Theisinger welcomed the success of the mission jsuqu'ici, while remaining cautious thereafter. "We are in the 16th day of a two-year mission, we have not yet put our arms (articulated) on the ground and we have not tested our ability to recover samples, which is a key element of the scientific mission, "he said.

"So even if everything went well so far, we have checked two boxes of our minimum requirements: take off time (the Earth) and land on Mars . We are still far from reaching the full potential of this mission, "he concluded.

SOUTH AFRICA: sum Lonmin employees strikers to resume work on Monday

 

The mining company Lonmin summoned Sunday Marikana strikers back to work Monday morning, under penalty of "possible layoffs," three days after the shooting that killed 34 people on this site extraction of platinum from northern South Africa.

"The final ultimatum was postponed to Monday 20 following the events of Thursday," said Gillian Findlay, Lonmin spokesperson in an email to AFP, "final ultimatum gives employees a last chance to return to work or face a possible firing."

"The employees could be fired if they did not comply with the ultimatum," insists spokesman. 

Interviewed in the morning by AFP, striking miners said they would refuse to return to work out of respect for their 34 comrades killed by the police and if management re , was laying not their wage demands.

"Expect us to return to work, this is an insult. Many of our friends and colleagues are dead and we expect that return to work, ever, "said a worker, Zachariah Mbewu, ensuring that none of his friends would not be present at his post Monday .

"There are people in prison and the hospital. Tomorrow, we return to the mountain but does not descend into the mine unless the owners give us what we demanded, "he added.

The hill was held Thursday repression remained deserted Sunday.

The police were discreet about housing miners going about their daily lives but the anger remained high.

"We expect that management expressed. Tomorrow we will not work if they do not listen to our demands for wage increases, "said Fezile Magxaba a foreman Marikana.

"People are dead. We are angry. If they resumed work, it would be like if they had died for nothing, "he said while her laundry at a communal tap.

The police response was 34 dead and 78 wounded by the police also arrested 259 people. An investigation must determine the exact circumstances of the outbreak of the shooting. Police said they acted in self-defense against miners armed with knives who loaded.

SYRIA: A shooting broke out near the offices of the Prime Minister in Damascus

 

AFP – A shootout erupted Wednesday afternoon behind the building housing the offices of the Prime Minister in Damascus, according to an AFP correspondent on the spot.

Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (OSDH) said for his part that "an exchange of fire is underway between the military and rebels in the area of ​​Mazze, around the Prime Minister's office and the new building under construction at the Embassy of Iran ".

The president of the OSDH, Rami Abderhamane, told AFP that the clash occurred after the firing of rockets into the two buildings, without being able to tell if the rocket had reached their target. 

According to state television, "specialized services raided a hideout of terrorist-mercenaries in the gardens behind al-Razi, killing an undetermined number of and capturing them other ".

An AFP reporter who visited the site heard a shooting near the offices of the Prime Minister. The shots came from a land separating these offices and that of the Iranian embassy.

The AFP could see black smoke and a van of the army equipped with Russian-made machine gun Douchka. The soldiers were also out identity checks.

The attack came hours after a bomb attack claimed by the rebels, for a building of the headquarters located near the hotel that houses the UN delegation in central Damascus.

The bombing, which injured five at a military site, occurred in the parking lot of the staff.

An officer explained that the explosion occurred at O8H00 (O5H00 GMT) when "recruits did their physical exercises and received their instructions, as every day."

According to an AFP journalist, the bomb was placed at the back of a tanker, whose tank was ripped open. Several military vehicles were burned and the walls of the building adjoining the Union of Workers. Windows were also broken.

The Syrian Army rebels free (ASL, composed of deserters and civilians who took up arms) have claimed responsibility, saying it was a "military meeting in an office of the General Staff which are decided the day's operations in Damascus. "

UNITED STATES: Paul Ryan of Wisconsin elected, touted as running mate Mitt Romney

 

AFP – Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in the White House Saturday morning would reveal the name of his running mate, according to which the media should be elected from Wisconsin (North) Paul Ryan , ending speculation about the identity of his potential vice president if he wins in November.

Mr. Romney must make the announcement to 9:00 (1300 GMT) in Norfolk, Virginia (east), aboard the USS Wisconsin, a ship disused World War II, said Friday evening his campaign in a statement.

Citing sources close to his entourage, television channels CNN and NBC, and the Huffington Post online media, ensure that Mr. Romney chose the representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, 42, who chaired the powerful Budget Committee in the House of Representatives.

Among the names most frequently mentioned in recent days were also the governor of Minnesota (North) Tim Pawlenty, 51, and Senator from Ohio (north) Rob Portman, 56.

One who hopes to unseat Barack Obama on Nov. 6 began Saturday in Virginia in a campaign tour bus in four key states, which led him to North Carolina (east), Florida (southeast) and Ohio (center).

This decision, most important he had to take since launching his presidential campaign, comes two weeks before the national convention of the Republican Party in Tampa, Florida.

This is where Mr. Romney and his running mate will be formally invested to tackle the outgoing Democratic president Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden in November.

If the selection of Mr. Ryan was confirmed, it would be bold. Paul Ryan has been a champion of fiscal conservatism to the risk of displeasing the voters undecided.

At 42, he became one of the most influential Republicans in the House of Representatives, by addressing the staggering debt of the State.

The serious face and emaciated, Paul Ryan is far from being a newcomer to politics: it was seven times elected to the House and worked on Capitol Hill, cen ge of the Congress of the United States for nearly half of his life.

It argues for a new branch of the economy, and proposed earlier this year a draft budget supposed to "offer the nation a better way for the future "and" show how we plan to save this country from future debts, doubts and decline ". 

The Conservatives had called Romney to make this bet.

"Choose Paul Ryan, the intellectual leader of the Republican Party, the man who laid the foundations of the political program of the post-Obama," the analyst wrote such neoconservative William Kristol in the Weekly Standard magazine.

The Wall Street Journal had also supported the selection of Mr. Ryan.

Experts stressed, however, that his tax plan and budget is the "political dynamite" that Romney would assume.

The announcement of the choice of running mate comes at a delicate time for Mitt Romney while polls give President Obama a clear lead over his Republican rival who finds himself under pressure at three months of pre Presidential November.

Mr. Obama distance his opponent both in national opinion surveys in most of the dozen states "undecided" that will determine the outcome of the election of November 6.

A national poll released Thursday put Fox News Obama leads with 49% of the vote against 40% for Mr. Romney. Another survey by CNN on the same day gave the outgoing Democratic president to 52% against 45% for M. Romney.

According to experts, Mitt Romney is adversely affected by the attack ads of muscular Democrats, who ridiculed for example her recent trip abroad, or against his tax plan deemed worthy of a "Robin Hood in reverse", taking the middle class to give to millionaires.

Conversely, the continuing economic difficulties the country represent a liability for Obama. And Mr. Romney has a formidable war chest, which could give a decisive advantage in the fall when the presidential campaign in full swing.

Syria: Aleppo insurgent neighborhoods plagued by relentless fighting

 

AFP-The Syrian army and the rebels delivered Wednesday a fierce battle for control of Aleppo, the second largest city and a crucial challenge for the rest of the rebellion that shook from Syria sixteen months.

Backed by tanks and armored forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad launched before dawn a major ground offensive and entered the main area of ​​dissent ' Aleppo Salaheddin.

The offensive came a day after the promise of President Bashar al-Assad to "purge" the country "terrorists", a term used to describe his regime rebels.

At midday, the arméea claimed to have taken control of this neighborhood landmark, that the insurgents were immediately denied. 

"Our armed forces have taken full control of Salaheddin, inflicting heavy losses on terrorist groups," said an official source quoted by SANA.

The source said "dozens of terrorists were arrested, others went into giving up their weapons" and "large quantities of weapons used by the terrorists to terrify the people and commit murder against the police were seized. "

Colonel Abdel Jabar dissenting Oqeïdi confirmed "a barbaric and savage attack of the neighborhood," adding "it is wrong to say that the military regime took full control of the district" . 

The fighting "focus primarily Salaheddine since the neighborhood is of great symbolic value for us and the army of the regime," said the head of the Military Council for the region of Aleppo .

By mid afternoon, the Syrian rebels said they recovered some lost ground a few hours earlier after having been reinforced by 700 fighters from Sukkari (south), al Bustane -Qasr (center), and Hanano Chaar (is).

Cons-offensive

"We launched an offensive against-back and lost three of five streets," said Wassel Ayoub, the brigade commander Nur al-Haq Army Syrian free (ASL rebels).

Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (OSDH), has said the army had destroyed two schools as the basis for the rebels. 

"These are the fiercest fighting around the neighborhood" since the conflict started in Aleppo on July 20, according to OSDH.

The arméea sent 20,000 troops to carry out this crucial battle for the regime, facing mid-March 2011 in a revolt that has militarized over time against repression brutal. Nearly 17 months of conflict were 21,000 dead according to OSDH.

Amnesty International has denounced the violence of the shelling of the last days based on satellite images that show more than 600 craters formed by the impact of shrapnel in Aleppo and in the nearby town of Anadane.

Elsewhere in the country, the army continues to bomb the province of Homs (center), the town of Deir Ezzor (is), and Kurdish villages in the province of Latakia (northwest), according to OSDH that counts at least 82 people killed Wednesday (41 civilians, 15 rebels and 26 soldiers), including 34 in Aleppo.

According to this NGO based in Britain, who works with a network of activists and witnesses through Syria, 225 people were killed Tuesday on the whole territory. 

Meeting Thursday in Tehran

"The Syrian people and its government are determined to purge the country of terrorists," promised Tuesday Bashar al-Assad receives a messenger from his Iranian ally.

The envoy, Saeed Jalili, told him that "Iran will never allow the destruction of the axis of resistance which Syria is a key pillar".

Iran hosts a meeting Thursday with a dozen countries have "a realistic" about the crisis, according to Tehran.

Lebanon has already said he would not participate in its observance of "neutrality" in the conflict. No more than Kofi Annan, the mediator has resigned from the UN and the Arab League.

On its 48 nationals abducted on Saturday by the Syrian Army free (ASL) in the region of Damascus, Tehran called "cooperation" of the Secretary General General of the UN Ban Ki-moon to secure their release.

While the kidnappers accused the Iranians of being Revolutionary Guards, the elite corps of the Islamic regime, Tehran, which in turn ensures they are pilgrims, nevertheless stated that a number of them were "retired Revolutionary Guards and the army".

SPACE: Curiosity on approach of Mars

 

After eight months of travel in space and 570 million kilometers – or 1,500 times the distance from Earth to the Moon – The robot Curiosity should land on Mars on Monday at 7:31 (5:31 GMT) in the Gale Crater, near Mount Sharp (5000 m). Launched November 26, 2011, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, the spacecraft exploration of NASA is the largest (900 kg) and the most advanced ever sent into space. Powered by a nuclear generator, it is supposed to work for two years (one Martian year) during which he will attempt to discover whether the Martian environment could be conducive to de ; development of life, even in microbial form that.

The mission of the robot is perilous. Between its entry into the Martian atmosphere and landing on the surface of the planet, seven minutes will pass. "Seven minutes of terror", according to NASA, because "if something does not work, it's game over!" Says one engineer in a video released by the agency U.S. space. Main challenge: slow the craft, very heavy, while the atmosphere of Mars opposes hundred times less resistance than that of Earth. After dropping the heat shield, supersonic parachute diameter of 21 meters will be deployed on time and to increase the speed of the module from 21 243 to 2.74 km / h.

Mild weather

Scientists will have to wait 14 minutes – the time that the signal travels the distance between Mars and Earth – to see if everything went well. But it could also take several days for bad positioning of the robot or three sensors (two American, one European) in orbit around the Red Planet.

"Every day that passes is more scary," admits Doug McCuistion, director of the Mars Exploration Program at NASA, noting that 40% of past attempts to send robots to Mars have been crowned are successful. The United States is the only country that has explored the Red Planet, and five of their probes have already reached the Martian soil.

For now, the weather looks pretty good near the crater Gale. "Mars is friendly to us, we will have good conditions for Sunday," said Saturday, one of the scientists in charge of the project, Ashwin Vasavada. A dust storm spotted a few days ago has dissipated, giving way to a "cloud […] Benin enough," he said.

Visit this page on Monday morning from 6:45 Paris time, to watch the landing live Curiosity: