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.

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

.

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. "

AFGHANISTAN: Twenty-three people killed in a suicide bombing at a wedding Afghanistan

 

AFP – Some 23 people died and about 60 were injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a wedding Saturday in Samangan province in northern Afghanistan , the presidency announced in a statement.

President Hamid Karzai, in this text has "strongly condemned" the suicide attack, committed at the beginning of the wedding of a daughter of an influential congressman, Ahmad Khan, who has himself been killed in the incident. The intelligence chief of Samangan was also killed in the facts.

The previous record, which came from Dr. samid Ahmad, Head of the Department of Public Health of Samangan Province, reported 15 killed and 60 wounded.

"Once again, the enemies of Afghanistan have killed innocent people and a member of the Jihad (against the Soviets, Ed), who by his efforts would bring unity in the country," continued President Karzai in a statement.

Uzbek in an ethnically divided state, Ahmad Khan was a warlord during the decades of conflict have devastated Afghanistan, before entering parliament last year. 

According to Lal Mohammad Ahmadzai, spokesman for the Afghan security forces in northern Afghanistan for the attack that left 22 dead and more than a hundred wounded, the bomber would have initiated ; his office when he gave a hug to Ahmad Khan.

The explosion occurred in the entrance of a palace wedding, where most Afghans organizing wedding celebrations, traditionally involving hundreds or thousands of people.

Turbans, shoes or clothes stained with blood could be seen from the entrance of this two-story building, with broken windows, a noted photographer of the AFP.

No group has claimed responsibility. Zabiullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman contacted by AFP, said "not aware" of an attack of its members in the north.

In Moscow, Tehran and the major powers struggle to reconcile their views

 

AFP – The major powers and Iran have failed Monday to reconcile their positions on the Iranian nuclear issue during talks tough in Moscow, as part of a new round of negotiations considered as the last chance to resolve the crisis through diplomatic channels.

"The main stumbling block is that the parties' positions are quite complex and difficult to reconcile," said Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Ryabkov after the first day of discussions. 

The great powers of the Group of "5 +1" (USA, Russia, China, France, UK, plus Germany) have resumed Monday in crucial negotiations with Iran two days in the hope that an impending oil embargo and pressure from Russia to convince Tehran to surrender its nuclear program.

The Iranian delegation headed by Saeed Jalili and the major powers led by Catherine Ashton, head of European diplomacy, ended up in the morning in a big ho as the Russian capital.

Ali Bagheri, deputy Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili, stressed during a press briefing on "the absolute right of the Islamic Republic of Iran's uranium enrichment" . 

"The talks were very serious and constructive," said Mr. Bagheri, noting that Ashton had promised to meet Tuesday with Iranian proposals during the negotiations to resume in ; 0800 GMT.

"We promised each other to discuss our mutual positions. Much will depend on assessments to be made "by Tuesday, said the spokesman of the European delegation, Michael Mann.

The United States noted that the day was marked by an "exchange of views very clear and very direct about the fundamental issues at stake."

"The Iranians have come back today (to the negotiating table) with a number of answers to these concerns. The 5 +1 group has given them a unified response by saying that it is Iran's responsibility to meet its obligations, "said a door to the press Speaking for the White House, Ben Rhodes, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Los Cabos (Mexico).

On the sidelines of the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama has called on Tehran in a joint statement, to comply "fully" its obligations and to "make proof of the peaceful nature "of its nuclear program.

Even before the start of discussions, Mr. Jalili described them as "big test to see if the West" is against that Iran make "progress" or not.

According to the EU delegation, the great powers maintain their requirements with respect to Iran: stop enriching uranium to 20% and the stock exchange of uranium enriched to 20% against the nuclear fuel that Tehran needs.

"Our priority is that the Iranians are addressing the 20%", which brings Iran's enrichment level required to manufacture the atomic bomb (90%), has de said Mr Mann.

In return, the 5 +1 offer relief from international sanctions – six resolutions of the Security Council including four of the UN economic sanctions are attached – as well as cooperation in several areas civilian nuclear.

In the two previous rounds of negotiations in Istanbul in April and May in Baghdad, the parties had separated on the observation of their differences, including the enrichment of uranium to 20%.

This activity dear to Iran, suspected by the great powers and Israel of wanting to develop atomic weapons, is the focus of discussions. 

A failure of the negotiations could have serious consequences since the United States and the Jewish state have begun to evoke the possibility of a military option to stop Iran's nuclear program, amid threats of new sanctions.

The Moscow talks take place before the coming into force on 1 July of an oil embargo of the European Union against Iran, and the strengthening of sanctions the United States, with restrictions imposed countries are buying Iranian oil.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that Iran cease uranium enrichment if it received 20% of the major powers "guarantee" they would provide him with the nuclear fuel he needs. 

To believe the Russian daily Kommersant on Monday, citing diplomatic sources, the major powers will offer Iran a compromise whereby Tehran reduce the level of uranium enrichment in its Natanz plant to 3.5% or 5%, against 20% today.

According to this compromise, Tehran should also freeze all its enrichment activities at its plant underground Fordo or close this unit located in central Iran.

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."

TECHNOLOGY: Listed on the Stock Exchange, Facebook promises to hit the jackpot

 

The largest IPO in recent years in the U.S. is imminent. The Nasdaq index of technology stocks on Wall Street, will host Facebook May 18 A newcomer to weight: The California company, which dominates the world of social networking with some 900 million subscribers worldwide, hopes to raise $ 16 billion on the market s.

To transform this trial stock, the group, its investors and partners in the first hour (employees, business angels and banks such as Goldman Sachs) will auction more than 400 million shares ; a minimum price of 34 dollars each. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO and founder of Facebook itself should sell tens of millions of its own shares, while retaining control of the company, with 57% participation.

If the site was founded in 2004 on the campus of American University of Harvard, reached its target, it will be worth $ 103 billion in stock. He will represent the highest value of the Nasdaq in its first trading day. With a goal of $ 16 million to raise, the star of Silicon Valley will be the third largest IPO in Wall Street after General Motors in November 2010 (the automaker was then lifted $ 20 billion) and Visa ($ 17.9 billion raised in March 2008).

Objective: To dethrone Google

For the group's market capitalization is an essential step to dethrone Google, now dominant in the web market, says Philippe Torres, director of the Workshop, the cell technological monitoring of BNP Paribas, in a phone interview with FRANCE 24. This specialist digital strategies, if the search engine Google reigns on the Internet since its IPO in 2004, Facebook has everything to take its place.  

According to the expert, the number one social network has in fact the hearing and growth needed to achieve this goal [60 million new subscribers per quarter according to figures provided by facebook]. The age 2.0 in fact goes in favor of the site of Mark Zuckerberg, which symbolizes like no other the social web, while Google looks more like a time when Internet was that of static sites .

To achieve this goal, nothing like a successful IPO. Once in the big leagues, Facebook should peep promising start-ups. The site has already embarked on this path by buying last April Instagram, photography service on smartphone, for a billion dollars. Such repurchases are expected to multiply, Facebook has reached a size where innovation is now more internally but through small acquired firms, said Philippe Torres. A typical strategy for the web giants, epitomized by Google, which acquired 24 companies in 2011.

For the specialist digital strategies, Facebook should also use its new nest egg to invest the labor market by recruiting new talent. These recruitments needed to strengthen its own teams now limited (Facebook has 3,000 employees, almost 10 times less than Google or Microsoft), will surely detriment of competitors, on whose land the Facebook will not hesitate to go hunting … The potential profits sufficient?

This new agenda seems likely to be less exciting than the work on site, but the resolution of these issues of industrial strategy is essential if the social network released a line of sufficient scope to continue to grow.

Because the IPO is also synonymous with new shareholders, very demanding in terms of profits. In an article entitled "Can not Touch Facebook actions," the U.S. business magazine Forbes is skeptical about the potential benefits of social networking giant, listing its major flaws: growth, smartphones and advertising. Facebook has increased only 45% of its turnover in 2011 against an increase of 145% of that of Google in the year before its IPO. In addition, half of users access their Facebook page on their smartphones, where the group does not make money.

According to Philippe Torres, Forbes critics are unfounded: it gives a simplistic analysis of the economic model. "The games or selling online on Facebook already provide 12% of company revenues," he says, noting that if advertising has been a market at 60 billion dollars worldwide, e-commerce has reported 680 billion. The challenge of this IPO will be whether Facebook will remain dependent upon advertising or evolve, to become a true platform for digital distribution.

MALI: The former junta claims to have foiled a coup against in Bamako

 

The former ruling junta in Mali said Tuesday at dawn "control the situation" in Bamako and its surroundings after several hours of clashes with forces loyal to former pre ; President Amadou Toumani Toure (ATT), reversed on March 22, which left several people dead.

Tuesday, shortly after 3:30 (GMT), a representative of the former junta, unidentified, appeared on television to "reassure" the public, saying that the situation was "secure" in Bamako after the "attacks" aimed, he says, to "destabilize the process of restoring constitutional order". 

Accusing him of "ill-intentioned people" supported by "foreign elements" of having "attacked the airport, ORTM (radio-TV ; vision Mali) and the barracks of Kati (headquarters of the former junta) ", he assured that these three strategic areas were now" secure " ;.

Surrounded by a handful of soldiers, the representative of the junta has reported "arrests", and promised that all those involved "will be actively sought and prosecuted ". 

Some time before this televised statement the head of the former junta, Captain Amadou Sanogo Haya, had said in a written message broadcast by television, "control the situation" in Bamako, which seemed extremely confused.

Corroborating sources and witnesses testified in the late evening that the Board of Radio and Television of Mali (ORTM), but also the Bamako airport, had passed under the control of the presidential guard, the "red berets", loyal to former President ATT. 

In the evening, a private radio station, Radio Kayira, had broadcast several times a statement attributed to Captain Sanogo, denouncing the presence of "mercenaries" and " ; foreign soldiers "alongside the" red berets ".

The intervention of the supporters of the former junta on television seems to confirm that the fighting against loyalist forces have turned in favor of former coup leaders.

By all accounts, the fighting seemed to have concentrated in the middle of the night around the military camp of the garrison town of Kati, headquarters of the former ruling junta located 15 km from the capital. 

The road between Bamako and Kati camp was closed to traffic by elements of the loyalist forces, which diplomatic sources said regional surrounded the city.

Disturbances erupted in Bamako when the "Red Berets" were opposed to the arrest of Abidine Guindo, former Chief of Staff of the President by ATT elements of the former junta.

Witnesses said the gunfire was then exchanged by the seat of ORTM, occupied by supporters of Captain Sanogo since the coup.

Employees of television told AFP he saw "dead" without being able to specify the number or the camp. 

These disorders occur on the eve of a meeting in Ouagadougou between former coup leaders and Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaoré, mediator in the crisis in Mali that was canceled.

Captain Sanogo, who had accepted April 6 to return power by signing an agreement with the ECOWAS (Economic Community of African States West), Saturday had finally rejected the decisions taken on April 26 in Abidjan during a summit of heads of state in West Africa, particularly the sending of troops to his country to secure the transition after the coup of March 22.

He also rejected the decision of ECOWAS to set the transition period to twelve months, until the holding of presidential and legislative elections. 

Analysts said the former coup leaders refuse to be marginalized by the organs of the transition, led by Dioncounda Traore and his prime minister, Cheick Modibo Diarra, who formed a government consisting of three soldiers near the former -junta.

March 22, the coup leaders had justified their coup by "incompetence" of the regime ATT in the fight against armed groups Toureg, Islamists and criminals in northern Mali.

These groups have used the coup to strengthen their positions in the north they now occupy completely.

GUINEA-BISSAU: Attempted coup in two weeks of the second round of presidential

 

REUTERS – Soldiers attacked Thursday night the residence of former Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Junior, topped the first round of presidential elections in Guinea-Bissau, in what the Foreign Ministers of ECOWAS have called a coup attempt.

Political and diplomatic sources have said that this attack occurred in the evening was to derail the electoral process currently underway in this small country in West Africa.

Gomes Junior, candidate of the ruling PAIGC, had almost obtained an absolute majority of votes in the first round of presidential elections last month in the former Portuguese colony. The second round is scheduled for April 29.

The situation was confused Thursday night in the capital Bissau while television and radio interrupted their national emissions.

According to rumors which could not be confirmed as prime minister was killed in the attack during which a house was burned. There was no news of him for now.

After the gunfire and explosions could be heard, soldiers prevented journalists from approaching the home of Gomes Junior who is in front of the Angolan Embassy.

According to a witness, the military blocked traffic in both directions on the main thoroughfare of the capital.

Gomes Junior had incurred the displeasure of some of the military because of its policy of reform and downsizing of the bloated military.

A political source who spoke on condition of anonymity said that soldiers had arrested the acting president, Raumundo Pereira, former parliament speaker and member of PAIGC.

"There are things happening. We do not know what it is. There are shootings, sporadic shootings with automatic weapons and there were three loud explosions, "said a diplomat in Bissau.

"We heard that it came from a place near the residence of Gomes Junior," he added.

Unacceptable Ecowas

Guinea Bissau, which became the beachhead of drug cartels in South America to transit their goods bound for Europe, vote to elect a successor to President Malam Bacai Sanha, who died in a Paris hospital in January following a long illness. 

In the second round of presidential Gomes Junior faces his opponent former president Kumba Yala, but the latter called for a boycott saying the first round was marred by fraud.

Hours before the start of the event, Kumba Yala, who claims to have close links with the military majority-owned Balanta ethnic group, has warned against the "consequences" of holding the second round of the election.

At a meeting of Foreign Ministers of ECOWAS in Abidjan, the representative of Guinea-Bissau, Mamadou Djalo Pires, called a "reaction energy "of the international community.

"The situation is serious. The soldiers took the streets, "said Pires told Reuters. "I spoke to the acting Prime Minister (Adiato Djalo Nandingna) and she told me she was covered," he said.

Reached by telephone by Reuters, the interior minister, Fernando Gomes, acknowledged being in a dangerous situation. "I can not speak," he added, his voice filled with tension.

"As was the case for Mali, ECOWAS formally and severely condemns such an attempted coup d'etat. This is unacceptable and will not be accepted by ECOWAS, "said Daniel Kablan Duncan, Ivorian Foreign Minister.

Senior officers of the Guinean army are considered by the United States as drug traffickers and diplomats said the army is aware of each plane loaded COCAI ; not landing in the territory.