News day

The victims of the Karachi attack came together Tuesday to Cherbourg for the 10th anniversary of the attack which killed eleven French, May 8, 2002 in Pakistan, with the hope that the election of Francois Hollande facilitates the manifestation of truth in this matter.

A hundred people, including families, survivors and elected officials, attended the laying of wreaths at the memorial plaques affixed to the arsenal of DCNS , the former Directorate of shipyards, who worked for the victims, and the Cité de la Mer in Cherbourg. 

Ten years after the fact, and while two criminal investigations continue chugging along, victims are still waiting established the causes of the attack, amid suspicions of kickbacks in the Pakistani campaign of Edouard Balladur in 1995.

"For five years the state has hidden the truth. Was aware of having been betrayed by our country, our company, our flag, "said a representative of the survivors, Gilles Sanson, in an interview with France Info.

"We just had with the five-year Nicolas Sarkozy obstacles standing on the back", he added, recalling that "the prosecution has made systematic use of all the measures we have taken" .

One speaker at the ceremony very sober, the Deputy Mayor of Cherbourg Bernard Cazeneuve (PS), also spokesman for Mr. Holland, noted that "the truth is for the state and its constituted powers which implies a moral duty that all institutions of the Republic are mobilizing to make it possible."

"These employees were doing on behalf of the State, particularly for Shipyards, which at the time were a central state, a mission that led to death, "he said.

In early April, the Supreme Court ruled that the families of the victims could bring a civil action in the financial section of suspected corruption and abuse of corporate assets in connection with a defense contract Franco-Pakistani Agreement of 1994. 

According to one hypothesis, the attack could have been caused by the interruption of payments commisssions in Pakistan on the sidelines of an arms deal signed in 1994.

The intermediate arms contracts Ziad Takieddine must again be interviewed Wednesday on this.

"The decision by Francois Hollande to remove the Court of Justice of the Republic can help facilitate the successful completion of the ongoing proceedings," said Mr. Cazeneuve, told AFP, while warning against "all forms of political manipulation", and all charges "outrageous".

According to him, "the independent judges who investigate" - Roger Le Loire and Renaud Van Ruymbeke to the financial side, Marc Trevidic for the attack - "must be able to go through with their investigations that prosecutors do not routinely call "their orders to broaden the investigation.

Furthermore, "it also means that the secret of National Defence is lifted on all documents relating to this matter," said Mr. Cazeneuve.

Friday, the Advisory Committee on secret national defense is declared for the declassification of 65 documents but said it was unfavorable to the declassification of two documents, and supports only a partial declassification of four others.

The victims' families Friday seized the European Court of Human Rights challenging the declassification of a secret document belongs to one defense executive, in France, according to their lawyer, Olivier Morice .

AFP - The discussions will continue Tuesday in Greece for the formation of a cabinet of technocrats backed by a majority of parliamentarians, proposed Monday by the head of state to avoid further elections in June, and a possible exit from the country of the euro.

A further meeting to be held Tuesday at 11:00 GMT at the head of state Karolos Papoulias, bringing together all the leaders of parliamentary parties except the neo-Nazi party Chryssi Avghi ( Golden Dawn), said the Socialist leader, Evangelos Venizelos. 

On leaving the presidential palace after a meeting time, the three party leaders who wish to avoid new elections next month had a serious face, marked by the difficulty of solve the imperatives of democracy and the challenges enormous burden on the euro area.

The Socialist Party leader Evangelos Venizelos, who unveiled the first proposal of the Head of State to establish a government of "non-political" supported by a majority parliamentarians are immediately supported. 

His rival conservative party of New Democracy, Antonis Samaras, has also expressed willingness to discuss the formula, while the leader of the small leftist party pro-European Dimar , Fotis Kouvelis, the rejected, however, while saying he would attend the meeting.

All three emphasized using different words that the government would aim to relax and to renegotiate the longer term the drastic conditions attached to Greece by the memorandum of agreement proposed by the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund meeting in a "troika".

AFP - Raymond Aubrac, one of the last frames of the Resistance, died Tuesday night at the age of 97 years at the military hospital of Val de Grace, said Wednesday morning his daughter told AFP.

Co-founder of the "Liberation South," Mr. Aubrac was one of the last figures of the Resistance have known Jean Moulin. He was the last surviving leaders of the Resistance met and arrested in June 1943 to Caluire (Rhône) with the head of the National Resistance Council (CNR).

His wife Lucie Aubrac, also heroine of the Resistance, died in 2007 at the age of 92.  

In 1947 and 1950, he was witness at the trial of two resistant René Hardy (died 1987), accused of having betrayed Jean Moulin the Gestapo and acquitted for lack of evidence.

Whose real name was Raymond Samuel, he remained an active citizen and had been especially cheered in February 2008 after a speech defending secularism, at the meeting campaign for municipal Bertrand Delanoe.

AFP - Senegalese singer Youssou Ndour was named Minister of Culture and Tourism in the new Senegalese government formed Wednesday night by Prime Minister Abdoul Mbaye, designated the day before by President Macky Sall, according to a decree read in the press.

Youssou Ndour is one of 25 government members, whose number was reduced by almost half compared to the previous government of President Abdoulaye Wade, defeated on March 25 by Macky Sall, which included forty ministers.

The singer, whose candidacy for president was rejected by the Constitutional Council, had been actively supported Macky Sall, traveling the country to persuade voters to vote for him in the second round of 25 March .  

This new team coalition nominally includes 25 ministers, according to a campaign pledge of President-Elect Macky Sall.

Relatives of President Sall occupy important ministries like the Interior, Justice, Foreign Affairs, Communication and Education.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance Amadou Kane returns to the banker, who was previously head of the Senegalese subsidiary of BNP Paris.

The famous Lebanese-born Senegalese ecologist, Haidar Ali, known for his defense of the marine environment, is named for Ecology and the environment.

Other allies of Mr. Sall who supported him in the second round were appointed to positions as Regional Planning, Education and Fisheries.

This team is led by ressérée Abdoul Mbaye, 59, first prime minister of the post-Wade, who led the country since 2000 and who was beaten to second round by his former prime minister and confidant Macky Sall.

Sall, 50, was elected Sunday, March 25 during a presidential election hailed as exemplary in Africa, a continent usually just sit in the de ; democracy.

The lawyer Cassez and the campaign team of Nicolas Sarkozy condemned Saturday's visit of an emissary from Francois Hollande Mexico, perceived as an intrusion on the folder Crack and qualified e "of electoral opportunism" in eight days of the first round of the presidential election.

In a statement, the PS denies a "parallel initiative" and said that the visit of Michel Vauzelle, former minister and deputy PS in the Bouches-du-Rhone, has the sole purpose of prepare the G20 summit to be held in Mexico in June.

But Frank Berton, counsel for the French, sentenced to 60 years in prison in Mexico, sees a partisan maneuver.

"Now try to retrieve the next record Cassez (…) And invite the French election campaign is something quite incomprehensible and totally surprising, "he said on France Info.

"I am neither right nor left, I'm just a lawyer, I defend a woman who was sentenced to 60 years in prison, and I mean not being used this woman for electoral purposes ", he said, adding that this could be" dangerous "for the defense of his client.

Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, spokesman for the president candidate, also condemned the move, whose sole objective is, she says, to "criticize the initiatives of President of the Republic "Break in Case. 

"By breaking a national consensus on this painful case, taking the risk of undermining five years of intense diplomatic efforts began to bear fruit, Francois Hollande legitimately shocked the lawyer and family Cassez that deserve more respect than partisan actions, "she writes.

"No Intitiative parallel"

In March, the Mexican Supreme Court has denied a release from the French, aged 37, but four of the five judges of the highest court acknowledged that his rights had e ; tee violated in the process, paving the way for a new trial. (See)

Nicolas Sarkozy has personally invested in his defense. He had tried, unsuccessfully, to obtain a transfer in a French prison during a visit to Mexico in 2009, and the case has strained relations between Paris and Mexico.

His will in 2011 to dedicate the Year of France in Mexico to Cassez had angered Mexican authorities and led to the cancellation of this cultural event.

Frédéric Cuvillier, co-chairman of the Parliamentary Committee to support and advise Cassez sea fishing and coastal Francois Hollande, rejects the idea of ​​a "re cupération "policy, and provides in a statement that this movement in Mexico has no connection with the matter Break. 

"Francois Hollande, who supports Cassez and his fight, has always maintained his respect and trust in Mexican institutions and independent judiciary. No parallel initiative, direct or indirect political or diplomatic has been committed, "he wrote.

Cassez was convicted in 2008 in Mexico to 60 years in prison for complicity in kidnapping, a charge she denies categorically from the detention center for women in southern Mexico where and is incarcerated.

AFP - The son of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Seif Al-Islam, suspected of crimes against humanity, will be transferred next week in Tripoli and has agreed to hire a lawyer , said Sunday the representative of Libya to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

"Seif al-Islam will be transferred from his prison to a prison official Zenten in the capital Tripoli before the end of the week" next Jehani said Ahmed told AFP, declining to give an exact date for security reasons.

"The revolutionaries of Zenten agreed to hand him over to authorities for trial under Libyan law," he said, adding that Mr. Qaddafi had "refused to take a lawyer at first but agreed last two days to hire a lawyer" who may be abroad or Libyan.

Seif al-Islam, 39, arrested Nov. 19 in southern Libya, is covered by a warrant from the ICC, including crimes against humanity committed during the repression of the popular revolt last year, which turned into civil war.

The Court asked Wednesday to Libya, for the second time, to hand over immediately Seif Al-Islam.

"No amount of pressure will push it back to Libya," said Mr. Jehani.

Salwa Dugheili, president of the Judicial Council of Libya, also told AFP that Tripoli "has repeatedly said that it was the right of Libyans and their judges to conduct the trial" .

"Many other dignitaries of the former regime are held in prisons run by revolutionary brigades across the country pending a transfer to state prisons" , she added.

Organizations defending human rights have reported numerous abuses in the prisons run by the former rebels, where inmates suffer from lack of qualified personnel. 

Xavier-Jean Keita, the Defence Office of the ICC, including uploaded to guarantee the rights of defense, told AFP Thursday that Seif al-Islam Gaddafi " was physically assaulted (…) has been fully put in isolation (…) and also suffers major toothache due to lack of dental care. "

Mr. Jehani called the accusations "outdated," saying he had received medical care since the visit of the ICC on March 3.

By seizing the top three cities in northern Mali in three days, the Tuareg rebellion has ensured control over the entire northern part of the country. At the head of the rebellion is the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), a group that aims to "liberate" the Azawad, the northern part of Mali. Composed of Touareg, dubbed the "blue men" because of the indigo color of their turban, the MNLA considers this region as the cradle of civilization Tuareg. Well organized - it has a website regularly updated - the movement claims no religious affiliation and fight to ensure the establishment of a secular republic.

These fighters have seen their numbers increase significantly in the summer of 2011, after the fall of the regime of Libya Muammar Gaddafi. "This was a decisive moment for the rebels, who have seen the return to northern Mali Tuareg heavily armed militiamen who fought before for the Libyan regime," said Pierre Boilley, Director Centre for the Study of African worlds (CEMAF). Once the Libyan dictator overthrown, these fighters have indeed returned to their home country with weapons.

Since the outbreak in January 2012 of the rebel offensive in northern Mali, the MNLA can also count on troops Tuareg Malian army defectors. Thus, the chief of command of the troops from the town of Kidal, Colonel General Staff Elhadj Ag Gamou, announced Saturday, March 31 his support for the rebellion. A reinforcement that shows that the moribund nature of the Malian army and explains the ease with which the rebellion has gripped northern Mali. Especially since the rebels took advantage of the chaos in the capital by the putsch from mid-March.

AQIM threat

But the MNLA is not the only armed group to fight in northern Mali. The international community and neighboring countries of Mali are most concerned about the presence of Islamist groups linked to al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Salafi ideology has made its nest in the region, where several Islamic militia now revolve.

Inhabitants of Gao and Kidal claim to have insight into the Salafist flags when the rebels took over their town. Flags assigned to the Tuareg faction Ansar Dine, an Islamist group that seems to have particularly illustrated by the recent success of the rebellion.

"Ansar Dine leader Iyad Ag Ghaly for a former leader of the rebellion of the 1990s become Salafi. He could not resist the urge to take part in the offensive conducted by the MNLA, "Pierre Boilley analysis. But he said despite an almost similar ideology, Ansar Dine is not linked to AQIM. "The two groups are close on the religious, but not the political" sure does. However some sources state of ties between Iyad Ag Ghaly and leaders of AQIM.

The enigma Ansar Dine

The MNLA recognizes that Ansar Dine fought alongside him in the offensive. The group sees the moment of a good eye ally who can allow him to join the Tuareg tempted by the ideology of AQIM. "But if they appear to cooperate in the field, the two groups disagree on many points," says Peter Boilley. "The MNLA emphasizes the secular side of the fight, while Ansar Dine aims the introduction of sharia, Islamic law," he says.

Both groups have tried to find common ground in March, but negotiations have overturned when the MNLA Ansar Dine asked to renounce the sharia and cut all ties with AQIM.

Now that the MNLA has achieved its territorial objectives, he will have to rub hard to exercise power and control of different militias who take advantage of chaos to expand their influence in northern Mali. A task that promises even more difficult by a new Islamist group, the Movement for the uniqueness and Jihad in West Africa (Mujao), was invited last weekend in circle of rebel fighters.

At 40 days before the election, a poll has revived the presidential campaign by placing first Nicolas Sarkozy in the lead in voting intentions in the first round before Francois Hollande, who remains given widely winner in the second round.

The survey Ifop Fiducial for Europe 1, Paris Match and Public forthcoming Senate Tuesday and made after the meeting Sunday of Villepinte, the president is credited with 28.5% (1.5%) against 27% (-1.5%) to his rival socialist. In the second round, Mr. Holland would win hands down with still 54.5% (-2) against 45.5% (2) to Mr. Sarkozy.

Behind them, the National Front candidate Marine Le Pen, who were still missing Monday a dozen sponsors, get 16% (-1) of the votes, ahead of Bayrou Modem with 13% (0 , 5) and the Left Front Jean-Luc Melenchon to 10% (1.5).

Achieved since May 2011, survey every two weeks has hitherto always placed Francois Hollande led the first round, with a gap that reached up to ten points (35% against 25%) in October. In late January, following its meeting in Le Bourget, the Socialist was still leading the race with 31% against 24.5%. The difference between the two rivals has steadily declined since, to the junction current.

"This is a turning point (…) but qualified as a turning point marks the end of what was an exception under the Fifth Republic, namely, a past president ahead of the first turn, "said Frederic Dabi for AFP (FIFG)," it's a bit back to normal ".

Although the opinion of specialists generally provide that an event is not reflected in the polls one week before, Mr. Dhabi has seen in the survey "clearly Villepinte effect ". "It marks the successful, for now, the strategy of rightward and drying of the electorate of the National Front followed by Nicolas Sarkozy," he thought, " Marine Le Pen never been so low in our survey. "

Taken the field on February 15, the candidate Nicolas Sarkozy had delivered his first major television appearance a week ago on France 2. In addition to a mea culpa on the differences noticed that sealed its popularity, there was unveiled a series of proposals, including the creation of a tax on the ben ; néfices major groups and the halving of the number of immigrants allowed to enter each year in France.

True to its strategy of collecting all the right in the first round, the head of state has multiplied since the proposals to attract FN voters, or more widely, "France's no" who voted against the EU constitution in 2005. Sunday at Villepinte, he demanded of Europe and a strengthening of border controls to prevent Europe from becoming a "sieve" against illegal immigration.

Despite the movement observed in the first round, Nicolas Sarkozy has not yet been able to resolve its "problem of the second round," said Frederic Dabi. "This illustrates the difficulty in getting good reports of voters who vote for Francois Bayrou and Le Pen in the first round," he analyzed.

Although it needs to be confirmed by other surveys, this survey has given balm to the heart to the president's entourage. "We clearly want to turn heads in the first round. This creates a dynamic, psychological shock, "said one responsible for his campaign staff," the second round will be another election. "

"This is the campaign about booking the biggest surprises for decades", he himself had predicted Nicolas Sarkozy on Friday in Nice.

Mali is he going through a coup as spectacular ephemeral? After the overthrow flash, Thursday, March 22, Malian President Amadou Toumani Toure (ATT) - accused of laxity in the fight against the Tuareg rebellion in the North - The thè is a "coup, gamble" is now on the lips of many specialists.

Because he was too quick in its execution, military coup led by soldiers

balternes, whose highest rank does not exceed that of captain, puzzled. For his first amateurish. Far from being able to impose a new country to legitimate authority, the coup leaders have, for now, especially shown in their inability to deal with vandalism that followed their takeover . "These rebels have failed to restore order in the capital, they are powerless to recurring looting of ministries and businesses. For now, they failed to emerge as a political entity capable and strong, "said Pierre Boilley, professor of history of contemporary Africa at the University of Paris I and Director of Centre & rsquo ; African worlds studies (CEMAF).

A view shared by his colleague Philippe Hugon, an Africa specialist at the Institute of International and Strategic Relations (IRIS).

"Once in power, they first tried to establish an open-fire, which is not really respected. It is also reported that some mutineers left the presidential palace with fridges and furniture. Let's be honest, they are overwhelmed by the situation, "the researcher develops the Iris.

Political isolation

At this blatant lack of authority - compounded by the lack of charisma of their leader, Captain Amadou Sanogo "an English teacher, not a great military strategist," says Pierre Boilley - s & rsquo ; add political uncertainty on the projects of the junta. In an interview with RFI, March 23, Captain Sanogo, chief of the military junta, has promised to restore order. It also was established as a man of negotiations. "But behind this reassuring speech, there was no concrete measures proposed. These military [grouped in the National Recovery Committee of democracy and the restoration of the rule (CNRDR), note] have no program, just promises. They do not support political parties in Mali. They are isolated in their own country, "the specialist CEMAF.

In addition to this internal political isolation, the junta, unanimously condemned by the African Union, European Union, Ecowas and the major Western powers, suffers from the lack of international recognition. "Unless we quickly find alliances here and there, they will not have enough political legitimacy to continue," said Philippe Hugon.

Two possible scenarios

In this context "chaotic", difficult, in fact, they predict a sustainable future. Their life at the head of the state may not even exceed a few days. "Obviously we are sure of nothing, but several reversals are possible so far," said Pierre Boilley. One of the plausible scenarios would be the return of power to more senior officers. "There is not unthinkable that these coup leaders realize they are in a deadlock. Recall that initially it was just a riot to protest not only the incompetence of President Toure in the fight against the Tuareg rebellion, but also corruption gangrene the ranks of the army and the deplorable living conditions of the foot. I do not think the goal was really to seize power in place. "

The most likely scenario would be the second-offensive against loyalist, a scenario taken seriously by scholars. Multiple sources have assured Le Monde as sponsors, loyal to the ousted president, expect "a good time to get out of the woods" and regain power. "The information circulating on the fate of President Toure are contradictory. If the coup ensure his arrest, there is no evidence that it is in their hands, "continued Philippe Hugon.

The instability of the Sahel into play

Remains in the background to this putsch, this is the future of the entire Sahara-Sahel region is at stake. Area, infested with trafficking in arms and drugs, where live the Tuareg rebellion of the MNLA and the Islamists of AQIM, is more than ever a high risk area.

The new strongman of Bamako will they be able to resolve these conflicts in the North? "For now, the coup did not change the dynamics of the MNLA which continues its attacks in the north," said Pierre Boilley. Worse, at this time of emptiness government, and in the absence of a unified army, the coup leaders offer - paradoxically - the opportunity to "blue men" to grow faster. Besides, the specialist added that "the MNLA not take the risk of opening negotiations with a recognized political entity as little as CNRDR."

Instead, exhilarated by the bankruptcy of the government of Mali, the MNLA might feel pushed

wings. It is therefore urgent to restore stability to Mali, said Philippe Hugon fearful circumstances of alliances with the Islamists in the region. "Even without ideological connivance, AQIM and the MNLA could agree to control arms trafficking and cocaine that dot the region. These movements have therefore a dimension beyond the simple issue of Mali today. "

AFP - The Paris court on Thursday condemned Jean-Paul Guerlain was fined 6,000 euros for racial insult, punish its October 2010 about the "niggers".

Asked about the creation of the perfume Samsara on France 2 October 15, 2010, the descendant of the founder of Guerlain had replied: "For once, I started working as a negro. I do not know if the negroes have always worked so hard, but finally … "

The court acquitted Mr. Guerlain on the first sentence, but was convicted on the second.

Besides his fine, he must pay 2,000 euros in damages to each of the three associations plaintiffs: MRAP, Licra and SOS Racism.

Counsel for the perfumer, Mr. Basile Ader, said he was "satisfied" with the first sentence but did not know whether his client, absent in the deliberations, or would not appeal his conviction.

At the material time, protests and calls for a boycott of Guerlain products had increased, despite an apology by the perfumer.

Descendant of the founder of Guerlain, Jean-Paul Guerlain is no longer with the perfumer since 2002. At the time of the controversy, the company had issued a statement condemning the remarks "unacceptable".

At the hearing on February 2, the "nose" confessed "imbecility". "I wanted to laugh journalist and I regret it," explained the perfumer of 75 years, wearing one of his unwavering complete three parts.

"I offer my apology to the black community for this stupidity," had repeatedly said that we knew far more for throwing forty unforgettable fragrances for perfumes, Vetiver to Redcoat, through or Samsara Jardins de Bagatelle.

"I am anything but racist", yet had hammered Mr. Guerlain, recounting his early encounters with African Americans who, at the Liberation, "showed me chewing gum and Coca-Cola".

"I have no reason to doubt the sincerity of this regret," he was told the prosecutor Alexander Auber. But it is undeniable that these remarks "offensive and racist", constituted a "disturbing public order".

It had required a fine against Mr. Guerlain "of at least 7,500 euros."

The plaintiffs in turn denounced an "everyday racism", steeped in colonial clichés.