CENTRAL: Bangui has a new government formed by rebels and opponents

 

Djotodia Michel, who took office on March 24 after the Central blitzkrieg rebels Seleka, announced Sunday the composition of the new interim government in which he assumes five ministries, including defense.

According to an official statement, the new team to prepare for elections within three years will be led by outgoing Prime Minister, Nicolas Tiangaye.

Saturday, the new strong man of Bangui had excluded any act of reprisal against his opponents and urged his compatriots who fled abroad to return home.

"I appeal to patriotic and fraternal our compatriots who chose exile, to return", said the former diplomat trained in the Soviet Union. 

"There will be no witch hunt because we need to promote tolerance, dialogue and forgiveness," he shouted to a crowd of thousands of enthusiastic supporters gathered near the palace Presidential.

He also requested assistance from the international community, including France, the former colonial power which has a small military contingent RCA responsible for the protection of the French community.

The coup d'état against President François Bozizé was condemned by the international community. The African Union has suspended its ranks Central and sanctions taken against their new leaders, including Michel Djotodia.

REUTERS

FRANCE: French alleged jihadist arrested in Mali, another deported to France

 

They are now number two. French jihadist was recently captured in northern Mali, while another man with dual nationality, arrested in November in the center of the country was expelled on 5 March to France and placed in custody on Thursday.

The arrest is the latest result of taking a "half-dozen" jihadists after fierce fighting that pitted these days the French forces and Chadian Islamists in the massif of Adra Ifoghas in northern Mali, officials said Thursday night a source close to the case, confirming a report given by the French daily Liberation. 

The other jihadist alleged Franco-Malian nationality, was arrested on November 3 at Sévaré in the center of the country, the authorities in Bamako. Aziz Ibrahim Ouattara, 25, is suspected of trying to join jihadist groups operating in the region. At the time of his arrest, he traveled with the identification of a certain Dramé Khalifa. This has also been placed in custody Tuesday in the premises of the Central Directorate of Internal Intelligence (DCRI) in Levallois (Hauts-de-Seine), according to the ME I source.

The French Minister of Defence, who makes a surprise visit Thursday from Mali, confirmed Tuesday the expulsion of the latter to France. "We made a French prisoner who will be extradited to France in times to come," said Defence Minister on Europe 1. "This shows that there was the creation of a kind of chain terrorist war that could accommodate some young people in search of a destiny radical as some have to go before Afghanistan or Syria, "said Jean-Yves Le Drian.

Already indicted in 2010

The man was already known to the French police. In November 2010, he was indicted under suspicion of planned attack against the rector of the Paris Mosque, Boubakeur. During this investigation, nine people have been indicted.

The case of Aziz Ibrahim Ouattara was particularly interested investigators, because of stays abroad, particularly in Yemen and Pakistan, where apprentice terrorist sought to rally combat zones. Arrested in Egypt in the fall of 2010, he was sent to France and then remanded in custody before being released in July 2012 and placed under controlled and the judiciary.

Forbidden to leave the country, however, man is able to obtain a false identity and join the Mali through Portugal.

With despatches

EUROZONE: Eurozone suspended announcements of the ECB

 

Financial Markets and European politicians hold their breath. This Thursday, Sept. 6, the European Central Bank (ECB) should reveal the decisions it will take to help countries in the euro zone hit by the crisis and save the monetary union. The political and economic actors expect particularly whether the ECB will buy the sovereign debt of countries in the euro area.

"The ECB is willing to do whatever it takes to preserve the euro. And believe me, it will be enough, "said in July, in a speech scrutinized, the president of the institution, Mario Draghi, suggesting a se , series of strong measures.

This strength from a highly respected financial community had the immediate effect of calming the markets, at the same time borrowing rates in Spain and the & rsquo , Italy reached critical levels. The month of August, according to the predictions of many economic analysts, promised catastrophic market, finally took place without too much addicted.

Reassure the banks

Today, the Frankfurt institution should revise downward its growth forecasts for the euro area, there are many who wonder if the decisions of the ECB will be as strong as this that & rsquo , hope the markets. Among the measures foreshadowed: the acquisition of a number of debts incurred by the states in trouble, like what was done in May 2010 for Greece. The goal is to give banks assurance that their loans will be repaid and thus encourage them to lower borrowing rates they impose on states (more risky the loan is, the more expensive).

A quick fix? Not quite. Some countries, especially Germany, are strongly opposed to any buyback program sovereign bonds. She fears one hand, some countries in difficulty loosen fiscal and economic forces – although the ECB requires increased consolidation of public finances, in consideration for the redemption of debt – and, Moreover, this commitment causes of inflation across the euro area. The topic is so sensitive in Germany believe that the German newspaper "Bild", he almost caused the resignation of Jens Weidmann, the president of the very orthodox Bundesbank, the German central bank . Chancellor Angela Merkel was dissuaded, but tension remains high.

"Irrational Fears"

The outcry of Germany has also pushed Mario Draghi to leap to defend its policy through the press, which is unusual for him. Monetary policy "sometimes requires extraordinary measures," including "when markets are fragmented and influenced by irrational fears," he said in an article published August 29 in the German weekly "Die Zelt".

For now, markets and policy makers are forced to wait anxiously statements of the ECB. If they are below expectations, the most fragile countries in the euro zone could pay a high price. Italy and Spain, which has requested assistance from 100 billion euros to recapitalize its banks, are particularly vulnerable.

"Those who expect explicit details will be disappointed," said already Marco Valli, chief economist at UniCredit euro zone. The ECB may indeed not reveal the outline of a plan to buy back debt. She could wait before going into details, the German Constitutional Court to make its decisions on six complaints from members opposed to the ratification of the mechanism European stability (MES), two new European instruments to fight against the crisis. Its findings should be made public on September 12.

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: 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".

UNITED STATES: Slaughter of Denver police attempts to enter the apartment of the shooter trapped

 

Artificers will try again Saturday to penetrate inside the apartment's lone gunman arrested after opening fire in a crowded theater in Aurora , a suburb of Denver (USA), killing 12 people and wounded 58 at a first of the new Batman.

Bomb experts had tried Friday until nightfall to enter the apartment of the alleged gunman, found trapped with an arsenal of products chemicals and flammable Friday.

"There is a mass of electric son, son of relaxation, jars filled with ammunition, liquid. Several things that look like mortar ammunition. Entering the apartment safely is a challenge, "said Chief of Police Dan Oates of Aurora during a press conference, adding that operations would resume Saturday.

Inside, police hope to gather clues to help them understand the motive for the alleged gunman, a common inhabitant of the age of 24, James Holmes who was arrested without resistance.

Friday night, residents of Aurora gathered for two evenings, including one at midnight. Hundreds of mourners held candles and expressed their grief, in memory of the dead and wounded.

"Many patients are in critical condition," continued the chief of police. Nearly all the wounded were hit by gunfire, he said, adding that a "handful" of people treated in hospital showed no injury ball, but had suffered other injuries during the panic caused by the firing.

The police gave no indication of the identity of victims, but the Batman series, whose last component is not recommended at least 13 years, attracts an audience made up mostly of teenagers and young adults.

A children's hospital in the region has reported six young victims, the youngest of whom was only six years old. According to the Pentagon, at least three of the injured belong to the U.S. Army.

James Holmes, the alleged gunman is a student from San Diego, California, which was previously not known to police, except for a speeding ticket last October.

He had however bought more than 6,000 cartridges on the internet these last two months, according to the police chief. His services have seized an assault rifle, a shotgun and a pistol in his car, while another gun was found in the cinema.  

The weapons were acquired legally, according to the store that sold them, Bass Pro Shops.

The attack caused panic among the hundreds of spectators for the first session at midnight "The Dark Knight rises", last Batman trilogy whose output was expected by millions of fans.

According to Dan Oates, witnesses said the gunman, dressed in protective gear and gas mask, had dropped a tear gas bomb or smoke to ; his arrival in the room of the multiplex "Century 16 Movie Theater": "They heard a whistle, then a kind of gas occurred and the gunman opened fire."

The shooting sparked anxious reactions from several political leaders, particularly President Barack Obama, and has reignited the debate on the Control of Firearms in the U.S. States.

The U.S. president, campaigning in Florida since Thursday (southeast), has suspended its tour to return to Washington. His Republican rival Mitt Romney suspended his campaign also.

The White House said that there was a priori "no connection with terrorism". Obama, however, denounced violence "senseless" and called on his countrymen to "a day of prayer and reflection". He ordered flags to half-mast on all public buildings for six days.

French President Francois Hollande expressed "very strong feelings" and condolences to Americans. In Paris, the premiere of the film, to be held in the presence of players Friday night on the Champs-Elysées, has been canceled.

The NYPD announced that it would strengthen security measures in cinemas broadcasting Batman "as a precaution against possible imitators and to improve feelings of safety ; spectators ".

LEGISLATIVE FRENCH: The French press derides the tweet Valérie Trierweiler

 

Support of Valérie Trierweiler the dissident socialist opponent Segolene Royal in La Rochelle is regarded by newspaper editors Wednesday as a "settling of accounts" between Women and "the first quack of the Presidency normal" Francois Hollande.

"With Cecilia and Carla Sarkozy, the Elysee we had known bling. With Valérie Trierweiler, that fill the Elysee-pif, "writes Patrick Fluckiger in Alsace.  

He said the skirmish between the new president and partner of its predecessor "destroyed in a few lines, months of effort by Francois Hollande to appear strong, calm and reassuring" ;.

For Bruno Bécard of The New Republic of the Midwest account Tweeter is not "the fresh and innocent light chirping of a sparrow in the spring. This is a Scud sent by Valerie Trierweiler for Royal ".

Scud has a "looks like a settling of accounts", said Daniel Ruiz in The Mountain, which is "an illustration of the zero level of politics and causes great harm to one who aspires to simplicity ".  

Patrice Chabanet the Journal de la Haute-Marne believes that the position of the companion of the president takes "the gall of personal enmity between women in the political cauldron", weakening " ; necessarily Francois Hollande on again a heavy doubt on its ability to control the situation. "

The tweet in support of dissident Olivier Falorni has this "depressing it gets back to some mistakes of Sarkozyism" says Paul Quinio in Libération for whom "the mix of genres between life private and public life comes through the window. "

Dive in for Bruno Southwest, this is "a vaudeville, first president of the normal quack". "We thought it had finished mixing between sulfur and privacy policy after the beginning of the Sarkozy presidency, and here we go again!" Exclaims it.

Rémi Godeau in eastern Holland Republican said that Francis claimed to "overcome the practices of his predecessor" and that are caught "red handed crossing public-private line ".

"A strange picture we are given a President sandwiched between two strong women," says Philippe Waucampt in The Republican Lorrain. A "public rivalry," according to the editorial, which appears to accredit "the reputation of blur" that Martine Aubry wanted to "pin on the lapel of Francois Hollande at of primary socialist ".

Describing this tweet of "venom", Hervé Chabaud in The Union / The Ardennes provides that the companion of François Hollande, by attacking the mother of the children of the head of the State guarantees "the dense buzz of cynicism and irony."

FOOTBALL: Euro-2012: against Estonia, the Blues wear their preparation

 

AFP – France team to offer a final trial run on the road to Euro-2012 against Estonia on Tuesday in a friendly at Le Mans, one last time to refine the automation and s' the next day fly to Ukraine army of some certainties.

The easy victory against Serbia (2-0), Thursday, assured the readiness of men of Laurent Blanc and endorsed the theory of a gradual rise in ; as we approach the deadline, and this clash against England on June 11 in Donetsk. It would be unfortunate to squander this beautiful building and ruin, just before the big trip to the European Championship Wednesday, a capital trust patiently built after 20 games without a loss of row.

Only Yann Mvila injury, suffered a sprained right ankle and a major doubt for the first match against England, came scrambling and jostling of the coach plans since the beginning of the course, 18 May But even this hazard has not had the gift to undermine morale, which are offered two days of rest (Friday to Sunday), to cut a little history with the football before plunge.

All that remains now but to freeze a hierarchy and to finalize the eleven who will start the heavy burden of the final phase.

Complete the puzzle

Estonia, that France has ever faced in its history, appears in this respect as an ideal sparring partner: a team located far from the global elite ( 54th in FIFA rankings) to avoid any unpleasant surprises, but a marked increase for several years (defeat in the Euro dam against Ireland), although saddle just suffered a heavy defeat in a friendly against Ukraine (4-0), the second opponent of France in Group D. 

White suggested that the team fielded Tuesday would be very close to that change in response to the English. Remains to complete the puzzle and put names in the boxes missing.

One thing is certain, the team will be built in France 4-3-3, the tactical scheme which offers more balance and is the reference from the Blues success in Bosnia in September 2010 (2-0).

The trio A. Diarra-Cabaye-Malouda scored points against Serbia in the middle just behind the attacking trident-Nasri Benzema, Ribery and should confirm good agreement while Nasri, benefits more obscure and not yet the unanimously to right, will also play very big.

The other question concerns the identity of the left side, Gael Clichy, fresh and excellent English champions Thursday, directly threatening the position of Patrice Evra.

As for Koscielny, his approval rating never ceases to rise in the eyes of the coach, his partnership with Mexes has worked perfectly against the Serbs. White will he shake up the hierarchy and to launch a new center hinge in less than a week of D-Day?

All these questions make this last game a go a bit peculiar.

IRAN: World powers put forward proposals "interesting" for Tehran

 

AFP – Iran and six world powers in Baghdad on Wednesday were trying to put a stop to the dangerous escalation around the Iranian nuclear program suspected military purposes, based on proposals as "interesting" for Tehran.

Talks between Iran and the group "5 +1" (the permanent members of the Security Council of the UN: U.S., Russia, China, France, and Britain, plus Germany ), began with a plenary session in an official residence of the green zone, ultraprotégé neighborhood in central Baghdad, and could continue Thursday if necessary. 

They aim to curb the escalation around this issue for years that poisons their relationships, making the threat of an armed conflict in this highly volatile region, with fears of a possible operational ; military operation of Israel who doubts the effectiveness of sanctions against Tehran.

Iran has been present in Baghdad a package of proposals "interesting," said the spokesman for the chief diplomat of the European Union Catherine Ashton, Michael Mann.

They in turn may require Iran to suspend uranium enrichment to 20%, a move that now appears central in resolving the crisis.

To believe the French daily Le Monde, the six were put on the table a package of "measures to build trust." In this context, Iran would stop enriching uranium to 20%, would transfer abroad his stock of 140 kg of uranium enriched to that percentage and give pledges of Cooperation with the International Atomic Energy (IAEA).

"We hope there will be a positive response from Iran to our proposals," said Mr. Mann, however, excluding a final agreement is obtained Wednesday and suggesting a process born ; Negotiations.

"We can make progress today (…) This is the second step in a series of negotiations. We were hoping to move forward, but these things can not be resolved overnight, "he added. "We may be able to decide the date for the next stage of discussions."

A member of the Iranian delegation refused to respond. "If they made a new proposal, it means that the preceding were not enough".

He added that the Iranian side insisted on the agreement reached in Istanbul in April which highlighted the fact that "the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was the basis for negotiations and that the process of discussions was based on a principle of stepper and reciprocity ".

The chief Iranian negotiator, Saeed Jalili, in Baghdad, had hoped that the negotiations "based on cooperation" would be "the starting point of a new era "between these countries, according to Iranian media. 

"We feel that the West has realized that it was time to use the strategy of pressure," he said in reference to sanctions on Iran. "We hope that the negotiations in Baghdad will be an opportunity for a 5 to give up some of their strategies sterile".

Russia, which participates in the negotiations, said that Iran was ready to move forward. "We feel clear, after preliminary contacts, the Iranian side is ready to agree to concrete measures," said its chief duiplomatie Sergei Lavrov.

The discussions between Mr. Jalili and senior officials of Foreign Affairs of the Group 5 +1 and the EU follow a Monday visit to Tehran by the Director General of IAEA, Yukiya Amano.

The latter then announced an "agreement" in principle on measures to resolve uncertainties about the nature of Iran's nuclear program, to be signed "soon".

The White House said that the announcement was "a step forward" but warned it would consider "the behavior of Iran on the basis of his actions."

The nationalist Tomislav Nikolic win the presidential election

 

The populist nationalist candidate Tomislav Nikolic is ahead of incumbent President Boris Tadic in the second round of presidential elections Sunday in Serbia, according to estimates released in the evening.

Nikolic won 49.4% against 47.4% for Mr Tadic, according to partial results on a nationally representative sample considered by the CESID, an independent body responsible for monitoring the poll.

"If this trend continues, Mr. Nikolic wins the presidential election," said an official of CESID.

Shortly before the announcement of these results, the Progress Party of Serbia (SNS) of M. Nikolic claimed that its candidate had won the election.

"Serbia has a new president, Tomislav Nikolic," he told reporters Aleksandar Vucic, the number two in the SNS.

Nikolic lost twice, in 2004 and 2008 presidential elections against Tadic.

More than 6.7 million voters were eligible to vote. Open at 0500 GMT,

polling stations closed at 1800 GMT. An hour before the vote, turnout was 41.5%, significantly lower than that recorded in the first round two weeks ago.

Fervent pro-European, M. Tadic, 54 – who led Serbia, politically and economically isolated in the 1990s, the EU threshold – called the vote "referendum for European Union ".

After voting, he called his countrymen to fulfill their electoral duty "large numbers" to "confirm once again the democratic nature of our society" ;. He did not hide his "optimistic" about his re-election.

In power for eight years, Mr. Tadic calls for an accelerated rapprochement with the EU and provides be able to complete the process of accession negotiations during its new mandate.

Serbia was granted candidate status in March to integration in the EU and expects to get a date for starting negotiations.

To do so, he delivered at the International Criminal Tribunal for former political and military leaders of the Bosnian Serbs, Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, indicted for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. He also improved relations with Kosovo in Belgrade, as demanded by Brussels, but did not recognize the independence proclaimed in 2008 by the Albanian majority in that territory.

Mr. Nikolic, 60, converted into a populist pro-European after long disputed such an option for his country, had relied in particular on the growing discontent of the population due to the poor economic situation in Serbia, where unemployment is 24% of the population.

Once allied to the former Serbian strongman, Slobodan Milosevic, he went up to promise to restore the economy by building "a canal linking the Danube to the sea Ege e ", without explaining how it intended to implement such a huge project about 600 km long and crossing, Serbia addition, two other countries. 

His alliance before the second round with a party hostile to the EU has been used by his opponents who have questioned the seriousness of his commitment to the accession sion of the block 27.

The election campaign was marked by accusations of fraud during the general elections of May 6, from the camp of Mr. Nikolic at Tadic , swept by a claims investigation and prosecution by the findings of international observers who monitored the ballot.