PRESIDENTIAL MALI: Mali: IBK named the winner of the presidential election by his rival Soumaila Cisse

 

Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, known as IBK, should soon be officially proclaimed president of Mali after being congratulated by his opponent, Soumaila Cisse, who recognized Monday, August 12 defeat after the second round of the presidential election. "My family and I went to Mr. Keita, future president of Mali, congratulate him on his victory. God bless Mali ", wrote Monday unsuccessful candidate on his Twitter account.

Soumaila Cisse made the announcement even before the publication of the results of the second round. The former Minister of Finance decided to concede defeat when it became clear qu'IBK was head Gao even the most largest city in the north of Mali. Estimates for two-thirds of the ballots gave, indeed, a very large advance IBK.

After the first round of 28 July, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita had obtained 39.79% of the vote against 19.70% for his rival, and went heavily favored in the second round. He had obtained the rallying 22 25 candidates eliminated.

A daunting task for the winner

Despite some marginal irregularities, Malian and international observers praised the conduct of the election. "This election, in terms of democratic norms, is a follow one another s ", told Louis Michel, head of the observation mission of the European Union. "This is an election that now allows Mali to start the conclusion of an ongoing process: the return to a normal democracy," he added.

"This was an important step in the transition to Mali to peace and reconciliation, said the Special Representative of the UN, Bert Koenders. There were small imperfections […] but no violence was impressive in a country emerging from conflict only. "

After the victory of IBK will be officially confirmed, the cacique of the Malian political life of 68 years will prioritize to open negotiations with the Tuareg in the north, whose uprising in early 2012 led Mali to the brink of collapse.

The lack of protest from Soumaila Cisse should give the former prime minister the authority to also engage in discussions on the preservation of the unity of Mali, to reform the army and to tackle endemic corruption found in the circles of power. 

This presidential election is expected to close open in March 2012 by a coup of junior officers unhappy with the failure of the then President parenthesis Amadou Toumani Toure, to quell a rebellion Touareg.

The Movement for the uniqueness and Jihad in West Africa (Mujao), one of three major Islamic groups at work in 2012 in the north of Mali, had threatened to disrupt the dice , bearing the presidential election, but it has not happened while the UN is currently deploying a peacekeeping of 12,600 peacekeepers, known Minusma.

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RAILWAY ACCIDENT: Derailment in Spain: the train driver refuses to answer police

 

Francisco José Garzón Amo, the driver of the train that derailed Wednesday, July 25 at the entrance to the station of Saint-Jacques de Compostela, has not spoken. Placed in custody at the hospital where he was treated for 20 hours on Thursday night, he refused to answer police questions.

Investigators suspect him of having driven too fast: he had himself acknowledged when he radioed the station from his cabin where he got stuck after derailment, having driven 190 km / h instead of 80 km / h at the entrance to the corner before the station, twice the speed limit.

The final toll of this disaster always seems a little fuzzy. During the press conference the head of the police, the number of 78 retrouvésa body was raised, while the official death toll rose to 80 so far dead. Of the 72 bodies identified, there are several foreigners: one French, one Algerian, a Mexican and an American.

52 years old, the prime suspect for 30 years working on the Renfe, the public company of the Spanish railways, and since 2000 as a driver. Friday, many Spanish media showed screen captures his Facebook page, which has since been deleted, where the man boasted of up to 200 km / h.

But human error can not be the only cause. The investigation focuses also on possible gaps in the braking system. As evidenced by a video of webcast Thursday monitoring the train going at breakneck speed in a very dangerous curve. train "braked too late," headlined the Friday newspaper "El Pais".

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FOOTBALL: The Argentine "Tata" Martino, new coach of FC Barcelona

 

Less than a week after the announcement of the departure of Tito Vilanova, who must undergo a new operation of his cancer, FC Barcelona has already hired a new coach.

The Catalan club officially announced Tuesday, July 23, have offered the services of Argentine Gerardo Martino.

"FC Barcelona reached an agreement with Gerardo Martino to become the first coach of the football team for the next two seasons. The drafting and signing of the contract are pending, "reads the official website of the Spanish Champion team.

Since the beginning of the week, the Spanish press was already echoing the arrival of Argentine coach, who should bring in his luggage his current deputy Jorge Pautasso and its pre physical separator, Elvio Paolorroso.

"A game-oriented offensive"

Known as the "Tata" (grandfather in Spanish), the new coach of the Blaugrana, aged 50, has directed several clubs in South America. This was made known in 2007 as coach of the Paraguay he had conducted in 2010 in the quarterfinals of the World Cup.

Since 2011 he was the head of the Argentine team of Rosario, Newell's Old Boys, where he played as a midfielder in the 80s. Last month, he led his players to victory in the final tournament of the Argentine championship.

Hailing from Rosario as Lionel Messi, Gerardo Martino has already favored by the star of FC Barcelona. "I love Gerardo Martino. It is a great coach," said last year was the star striker to the newspaper Ole.

His brother, Matias Messi, has also welcomed his arrival on his Twitter account saying: "Welcome to Tata! Everything goes well, and continues on track. "

According to the Catalan daily Sport, the new coach of Barça supporter "of a game vocation clearly offensive." He became the fourth coach of Argentine club history after Helenio Herrera (1958-1960), Roque Olsen (1965-1967) and César Luis Menotti (1983-1984).

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Egypt: The army launched a 48-hour ultimatum to Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi

 

Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the chief of staff of the Egyptian army, gave Monday a "last chance" for political leaders to "take their responsibilities to historical circumstances in which the country faces. " In a message read on television message, the military command said that within 48 hours, the people's demands to be satisfied, saying the country could not afford to lose time.

The army could announce his own road

If this deadline is not met, the armed forces announce their own roadmap and measures to overcome the crisis, said Al-Sissi. He also said that the army, which has managed the transition from the fall of Hosni Mubarak in February 2011 and the election of Mohamed Morsi summer , last, no longer wished to be involved in politics or government.

This statement was greeted by an explosion of joy on the part of anti-Morsi gathered in Tahrir Square, the nerve center of the dispute. "Morsi is not our President, Sissi with us," chanted the demonstrators.

General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, however, did not explicitly ask for the resignation of President Mohamed Morsi, main claim millions of opponents who showed Sunday, June 30

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TENNIS: Rafael Nadal's surprise elimination in the first round of Wimbledon

 

Rafael Nadal was eliminated in the first round of Wimbledon by Belgian Steve Darcis, world 135th, author of a huge surprise by winning in straight sets 7-6 (7/4 ), 7-6 (10/8), 6-4 on Monday.

This is the first time in his career that Nadal, winner of the London grass in 2008 and 2010, losing in the first round of a Grand Slam tournament.

Further evidence of the immense sensation that rocked Wimbledon since its opening day, the Spaniard was never inclined Grand Slam against a player ranked as badly as Darcis, 135th in World , 29 years.

Already last year, Nadal had left the tournament early with a defeat in the second round against the Czech Lucas Rosol. 

He suffered martyrdom because of his left knee, which was then forced to leave the circuit for seven months.

Revenue in February, he managed an amazing return by reaching the final of the nine tournaments he has played for seven titles in total, including two weeks ago won at Roland Garros.

But on Monday, knee pain, bandaged as usual, seems to have caught since Nadal became increasingly diminished over the game, though, as usual, n ' did not want to dwell on the subject.

"I do not want to talk about my knee this afternoon. All I could say would sound like an excuse. And I do not want that. This is not a good day to talk about it. This is sport, sometimes you play well, sometimes you play bad today not much has worked for me, "he said, refusing to validate the comparison with the defeat of the last year against Rosol.

"It is difficult to adapt to grass, this is probably the most demanding surface for me. I have not found my rhythm, "he added.

Before the tournament, he spoke without any preparation tournament on grass in the legs, he had confided his fear to find a very challenging area for the joints.

Struggling to his backhand from the start, he had more and more difficult to move stop to see his series of 22 consecutive victories since his dice faced Novak Djokovic in the final of Monte Carlo in mid-April.

Thus Darcis, unlikely hero with his 12 disposals in the first round of a Grand Slam in 18 occasions, created the event on the first day of the short N.1 Wimbledon with an ace on match point.

"Nobody expected my victory today. In agreement Nadal did not play his best tennis and I knew that the first match on grass is always difficult. But this is a great victory for me, "said the Belgian, 44th World in 2008 that had won a match so far at Wimbledon.

"Yes, but I've always played on grass, even if it has not necessarily been the case in this tournament. I had already beaten a Top 10 here on the Central with Berdych last year at the Olympics, "said Darcis.

While the Belgian find Polish Lucasz Kubot in the second round defeat Nadal releases a little the way Roger Federer, placed in the same part of the Spanish table and easy winner Romanian Victor Hanescu of Monday in the opening match on Centre.

AFP

FOOTBALL: Jose Mourinho returns to Chelsea for four years

 

Portuguese Jose Mourinho, who had led the club between 2004 and 2007, will be the next coach of Chelsea for the next four seasons, announced Monday the English club to win the Europa League.

"I am delighted to wish a return to Chelsea Jose. His ambition, his continued success and will make a perfect candidate, "said Ron Gourlay in a statement posted on the club website, the last third of England Championship.

"Our goal is to always move forward to achieve greater success in the future and José is our No.1 choice because we believe he is the right manager to do this work, "said Ron Gourlay.

Jose Mourinho, 50, was at the head of Real Madrid until Saturday. During his first visit, he had won two championships (2005, 06), one FA Cup (2007) and two English League Cups.

With the Real, in the last three seasons, Jose Mourinho has taken a particular Spanish League and King's Cup.

AFP

The Brazil-England match will take place Sunday at the Maracana stadium

 

A "bureaucratic error" has failed to prevent the holding Sunday friendly football match Brazil-England at the Maracana, the legendary stadium in Rio de Janeiro, for safety reasons, officials of the State of Rio.

Two weeks before the start of the Confederations Cup, which should serve as a test for the World Cup-2014 in Brazil, a court in Rio took Thursday night the decision to ban the meeting. But this decision was canceled a few hours later, when the authorities of Rio showed that all the facilities were in good standing, said Friday the government of State in a statement. "The duty judge of the court of Rio de Janeiro has revoked the decision suspending the game," it is said.

The government has appealed the ban and presented documents "inspection miliary police proved that all safety conditions are in good standing at the Maracana," the statement which refers to "a bureaucratic error" to explain the confusion. At first, the judge had no evidence that the stage had taken the necessary steps to allow the holding of games or events in the stadium, explains the government. Selections from Brazil and England are already in Rio, where they train for the meeting to be held before 74,000 spectators.  

Missing technical reports

In announcing the ban on friendly, Gary Neville, assistant England coach Roy Hodgson, reacted with surprise and a very British sense of humor: "This match there? This Sunday? We will play on the beach, "is he laughed at a press conference.

The judge, who has decided to ban the stadium gave the right to the public prosecutor who said that "he could not be checked for the moment the stadium meets the minimum safety conditions necessary for holding matches and events. " The judgment required the submission of technical reports demonstrating that the stadium has the necessary security conditions to accommodate spectators. "Despite numerous requests from prosecutors, expert reports were not presented in their entirety and it is not for checking the time that the pre stage , presents the security requirements, "wrote the judge.

The ban on stage "does not make sense," believed to share the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). "The legal department said that all the expertise necessary have been made and they will be forwarded to the judge," the statement said CBF. "The stadium is 100% ready to host the Brazilian and ready fans for the Confederations Cup," said his part said the Secretary of S , State for Sport of the State of Rio Andre Lazaroni the Tupi radio. The first match of the Confederations Cup under Maracana would normally oppose Mexico to Italy on June 16

A legendary stage

The friendly match Brazil-England should mark the official opening of the Maracana stadium completely renovated Rio, which has already been placed under the supervision of the International Federation Football Association (FIFA) for the Confederations Cup.

Built for the World Cup in 1950, lost in the final by Brazil against Uruguay, it could hold 200,000 people, most standing in very precarious conditions. Its capacity was reduced to 78,639 seats, all seats, for reasons of comfort and safety.

The Maracana has been a first test at a third of capacity on April 28, after a total renovation which lasted two and a half years and cost almost $ 600 million , double the original estimate. It was expected to be completed in December, but the work has been much delayed. The vicinity of the stadium still offered Thursday in some places the spectacle of a site: dozens of workers wearing helmets, Concrete, metal fence … Inside the temple of Brazilian soccer, everything has been completely redone: lawn, stands, dressing rooms, sound system and giant screens.

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NIGER: According to the president of Niger, Chad is a target of Islamist

 

After Niger, Chad. According to the Nigerian President Mahamadou Issoufou, the Islamists that struck Niger twice on May 23 at Arlit and Agadez, fomented a parallel attack against Chad.

The attack "against Niger was prepared in conjunction with another attack, which was Chad. For now this attack does not happen but it was being prepared at the same time as that which took place against the Niger ", told Monday, May 27 Chief of the Nigerian state, speaking in Agadez after the ceremony commemorating the victims of the attacks.

Mahmadou Issoufou also reiterated that he believes "the home that is now destabilizing the Sahel is in Libya." He had said, Saturday, May 25, the attackers were "southern Libya." He said then fear "Somalisation of Libya."

Libyan Prime Minister denies

Contradicted by a Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zaidan version visiting Brussels. For the latter, all allegations that the attackers came from Libya are "baseless and do not correspond to reality," arguing that it was more the former leader Muammar Gaddafi "which exported terrorism"

.

"The new Libya will not tolerate it" and "is not a hotbed of terrorism," said the head of the Libyan government. He also revealed that the son of the former Libyan leader, Saadi Gaddafi, and former regime officials enjoyed the right of asylum in Niger. "I ask our Nigerian friends to take these facts into consideration and extradite these elements to be tried in Libya," said the Prime Minister.

Both attacks from May 23 to Niger were committed at dawn against a military base in Agadez, where twenty people died, mostly Nigerian military, and mine Arlit uranium where a Nigerian employee of Areva site was killed. The French special forces intervened in the morning and shot the last two Islamist fighters who resisted. In total, ten jihadists were killed, eight in Agadez and Arlit two.

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IVORY COAST – REPORT: The bodies of victims of the Ivorian crisis symbolically handed over to families

 

During the post-election crisis in Ivory Coast 2010-2011, which killed more than 3,000 deaths, according to the UN, many families have had no choice but to bury their dead in their yard or neighborhood, insecurity making travel impossible in a morgue or cemetery. On April 4, the government has launched a major campaign in Abidjan exhumations. Twenty graves have been opened, 40 bodies exhumed and identified 22.

Wednesday, May 22, almost two months after the beginning of the exhumation, the families of 22 victims identified were invited to a symbolic ceremony in the presence of body the Minister of Justice, Gnenema Mamadou Coulibaly. From across the country, and they want to start with their grief, like Gisele Detalbi. His son had been executed by militia; insecurity of the time had prevented from properly bury her child. "I spent two years with the body of my son buried behind my house. Today I had a relief but I am pained, really pained. My son died for nothing! "

Caused by the refusal of President Laurent Gbagbo to concede defeat in the presidential election of November 2010, the post-election crisis had ended with the arrest of former president in April 2011. On August 8, 2012, an Ivorian investigation demanded by his successor, Alassane Ouattara, had concluded that the armed forces that brought him to power have killed more than 700 people and those loyal to Laurent Gbagbo about twice.

Funeral too expensive

More than two years after the end of violence, slow justice is strongly criticized by human rights. But the exhumation campaign and the ceremony are a first concrete step for the relatives of victims. During a speech, Minister Mamadou Coulibaly Gnenema invited relatives of the victims to "dry [their] tears" and "assured them that everything will be to ensure that the truth appears and justice for those who have been so brutally torn from [their] condition. "

Most families are divided from the ceremony with flags, but without coffins, not having the means to pay for the funeral of their loved ones. This is a situation that is denounced Tatenda Diaby, president of the Collective of Victims of Côte d'Ivoire: "We absolutely must support measures to enable them to organize the funeral of their dignity missing relatives. "And to call a" major action of the government in their favor. "

EGYPT: Cairo foiled attacks against France and the United States

 

A source close to Al-Qaeda cell dismantled last weekend in Egypt, preparing for suicide car bomb against the embassies of France and United States in Cairo for "protest against the military intervention of France in Mali", reported Wednesday's national news agency MENA, quoting sources close to the investigation.

Saturday, Egyptian authorities announced the arrest of three Egyptian militants close to al-Qaeda. The defendants were in possession of 10 kg of aluminum nitrate, used to make bombs, had said the interior minister, Mohamed Ibrahim, during a press conference at Cairo without specifying the nationality of suspects. The official MENA news agency had in turn assured that the suspects were Egyptians.

According to the survey of the security services, the three members of the arrested cells are part of the prisoners who escaped detention in the early days of the revolt, in January 2011 , Egypt.

Two of them had been extradited to Algeria and Iran in 2009 and imprisoned in Egypt. The three members of the cell would be recognized in contact with Al-Qaeda but denied planning attacks, according to the findings of the survey cited by Mena.

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