SYRIA: Damascus regime predicted the imminent end of the revolt

It is a media outlet even more remarkable that Syrian officials were not usually speak in Western media. Boutheina Shaaban, Special Advisor to President Bashar al-Assad - who often takes on the role of spokesperson - awarded the "New York Times an interview in which she displays confidence regime against the protests that rocked the country for two months.

"I hope we are going through the end of this story. I think the most dangerous moment is behind us.I hope, I think, "said Councillor journalists from U.S. daily, which had special permission to enter a couple of hours in the country to meet briefly with their interlocutor.

Since the beginning of the protest movement, Syria is in effect closed to journalists and the few reports emerging about the violence between security forces and opponents of the regime come from witnesses and activists of human rights.

On Monday, the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (OSDH) has reported that authorities have made further arrests in the capital, Damascus and Banias, a town on the Mediterranean coast.Since the beginning of the revolt in mid-March, between 600 and 700 people were killed and at least 8,000 arrested, according to NGOs.

In this regard, Boutheina Shaaban justified in the New York Times "the repressive regime, which" may not be sympathetic with people who lead an armed rebellion. "

Sanctions "manageable"

The international community does not share this analysis. The sanctions against 13 officials and Syrian arms embargo adopted by the European Union (EU) to halt "repression against the people" came into force on Tuesday.

Among these leaders face particular Maher al-Assad, younger brother of Syrian president and head of the Republican Guard, officials said Tuesday morning.The Head of State, himself, is currently not covered by the EU sanctions.

The United States has in turn imposed economic sanctions on officials of the country and warned Friday that they could adopt new measures if Damascus did not put an end to repression.

But these retaliatory measures do not undermine the optimism of the plan. In the interview with U.S. newspaper, Councillor Bashar al-Assad believes that these sanctions are manageable. "This is a form of pressure that has often been used against us. Just arrange a time that our country will be safe again. We're not going to live forever this crisis," says she.

TERRORISM: The U.S. squad had prepared to kill Osama bin Laden

REUTERS - The U.S. special forces involved in the attack against the residence where Osama bin Laden was hiding were prepared to kill the leader of Al Qaeda, officials said Monday U.S. national security.

"It was an operation to kill. If he released the white flag to surrender, he was captured alive," said one official.But during the preparation of
the operation, the working hypothesis was that bin Laden and fought, what actually happened.

The Islamist leader has "participated" in exchange of gunfire between U.S. commandos and the occupants of the fortified residence in which he entrenched himself in Abbottabad, north of Islamabad, the official said.

Other officials said the clash lasted 40 minutes and that the al Qaeda leader had been shot in the head and chest and did not return fire.

Three other men and a woman were killed in the assault of American forces that have no loss in their ranks. A wife of Bin Laden, believed to be dead at first, is in fact injured.The woman killed in the raid was not used as human shields, an official said, correcting earlier statements.

Navy Seals

A senior U.S. administration has confirmed that the soldiers involved in the transaction knew that bin Laden would prefer to die rather than be captured alive.

"The U.S. troops do not seek to kill if there is a way to get a surrender in accordance with military rules of engagement.That said, I think the idea was widely shared that it would end with a death, "the official said.

The operation involved 15 members of special forces, mostly U.S. Navy Seals (elite unit of the Navy), who were based in Afghanistan, said an official familiar with the details of the attack.

Specialists in forensic medicine have also participated in the raid to recover evidence to prove the identity of bin Laden and hunt down information which other leaders of Al Qaeda or to foil the conspiracies being prepared.

According to the National Journal, U.S. authorities had used the information collected on the complex of Abbottabad to build a replica and conduct training sessions in early April.

In the hours that followed the death of Osama bin Laden by President Barack Obama, the commandos have surrounded the remains of Bin Laden at sea

This measure was taken so that the body of the leader of Al Qaeda does not become the object of a cult and it does not appear as a martyr for future activists.

The trail of a "mail"

The crucial information that helped track down bin Laden was provided during interrogations of activists detained by U.S. troops after the attacks of Sept. 11.

Some activists, many of which are held in military prison at Guantanamo, have informed U.S. intelligence on the existence of an "e" close to the Islamist leader.

Initially, U.S. officials did not know the names and activities of this messenger. His identity was discovered four years ago. Two years ago, another reliable information was obtained about the fact that this letter and his brother operated near Islamabad.

In August 2010, the United States end up unable to locate a residence in Abbottabad in which live two brothers, their families and a third larger family.

The residence is at the end of an unpaved road, not far from a military academy in Pakistan.Some residents are retired Pakistani officers.

Using photographs provided by the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) from spy satellites and aircraft as well as plays the NSA, the CIA has concluded that the residence was equipped with safety means unusual. It also appeared that its occupants were taking precautions also unusual.

In early 2011, the CIA became convinced that a target "important" was in the residence of Abbottabad and the probability was high whether bin Laden. The CIA, however, has never had the "absolute certainty" that the leader of Al Qaeda was actually in residence, said an official.

SYRIA: The Council for Human Rights convened at the request of Washington

The Commission on Human Rights UN meets on Friday for a special session on Syria at the request of the United States who want a resolution on violence committed during the repression is adopted.

This special meeting of the 47 member states of the Geneva-based organization was convened on Wednesday by the United States.Fifteen countries have signed the application session, including France, Britain, Spain, Japan, Poland, Switzerland, Mexico, Zambia and Senegal.

This session comes as the Security Council failed Wednesday to agree on a statement condemning the repression in Syria and that representatives of 27 countries of the European Union (EU) are to meet Friday Brussels to discuss possible sanctions against Damascus.

The Council meeting should start at 11:00 (0900).

"We expect members of the Council of Human Rights they call the government of Syria to fulfill its responsibility to protect its people and stop these attacks," noted the U.S. ambassador to the Council, Eileen Donahoe.

"The international community has been shocked by the hundreds of civilians killed in peaceful political demonstrations last week," she added.

The crackdown on protests against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Syria killed at least 107 dead between Friday and Sunday, as the High Commission of the United Nations for Human Rights, which requested the initiation of an investigation into these events.

The UN media release a first draft resolution prepared by the countries that have requested the holding of the session, asking "urgent dispatch of an independent commission of inquiry and internationally to investigate alleged human rights violations rights in Syria. "

The Commission on Human Rights meets in special sessions rarely but they generally lead to the adoption of a joint resolution, as on February 25 concerning Libya.

For NGOs, this attention on Syria could jeopardize the recent nomination to the Council of Syrian human rights.

In early March, Damascus has in fact formally launched his candidacy for one of the available seats in the Council of Human Rights, based in Geneva and consists of 47 members.

TECHNOLOGY: Samsung cons-attack and in turn drags Apple to court for plagiarism

Reuters - Samsung Electronics has filed several complaints against Apple accusing it of plagiarism in the design of the iPhone and iPad, making shot after shot for a similar procedure against him by the firm at the apple.

The California group was asked last week the opening of proceedings against its South Korean rival, whom he accuses of having "slavishly" copy successful models in its range of phones and tablets Galaxy.

In a statement, Samsung said Friday that the iPhone and iPad violating 10 patents owned by itself and requires its U.S. rival put an end to plagiarism and he compensates.

"Samsung strongly responds to the legal proceedings launched against us to protect our intellectual property and ensure the continuation of our innovation and our growth in the area of ​​mobile communication," can you read.

This escalation could jeopardize relations between the two companies, providing Samsung Group Cupertino, fleas and other LCDs.

Last year, Apple was the second South Korean client behind Japan's Sony with about 6,200 billion won of sales (3.9 billion euros), and looks set to become its first customer this year.

Ten complaints were filed before the justices South Korean, Japanese and German concerns a system for reducing energy consumption during data transmission or 3G technology to reduce errors during the transmission.

FRANCE: "Immersion, Piss Christ," a controversial art photography, vandalized in Avignon

A photographic work by American artist Andres Serrano depicting a crucifix dipped in urine, and has provoked strong protests from Catholic movements who considered blasphemous, was vandalized Sunday in the premises of the contemporary art collection Yvon Lambert in Avignon (Vaucluse).

The work entitled "Piss Christ Immersion", and another snapshot of the New York artist whose subtitle, "Sister Miriam Jane" were destroyed Sunday around 11:30, shortly after the museum opened, two visitors equipped with a "hammer and a blunt object, such ice pick or screwdriver.

Three guards who tried to intervene were threatened and beaten, while the assailants managed to escape the museum, said the leadership of the collection that has filed a complaint and said that the museum would reopen its doors on Tuesday morning with "works shown as they are destroyed."

Sunday evening, the Minister of Culture Frederic Mitterrand condemned an "attack on a fundamental principle, the presentation of these works squarely within the creative freedom and expression which is part of the law," while recognizing that "one of the two works could offend some audiences.

Conducted in 1987 by Serrano said to be a Christian, "Disposal Piss Christ" display as part of an exhibition entitled "I believe in miracles", celebrating ten years of the collection was the subject since early April of strong protests from many Catholic movements, especially fundamentalists.

The Civitas Institute, which presents on its website as "a work of regaining political and social re-Christianize France to" activist "establishment of the Social Kingship of Christ over the nations and peoples", launched a petition against the work.

The series editor, Eric Mézil, had already reported several hundred phone calls and emails "offensive" after the launch of the petition. Saturday, a demonstration involving some "800 ultra-conservatives and fundamentalist youth," according to management, was forced to close the museum.

The bishop of Avignon, Archbishop Jean-Pierre Cattenoz, had also demanded the withdrawal of the work, denouncing a cliche "abhorrent" that "violates the image of Christ on the cross, the heart of our Christian faith."

"I am persecuted by telephone. I received 30,000 emails, I am not exaggerating, 30,000 emails fundamentalists (...) This ignorance, such intolerance.It's the Middle Ages who returns to big-step ", has outraged Yvon Lambert, who lent his collection for twenty years to a future donation to the state, with deposit works in Avignon.

The Observatory for the freedom of creation, from the League of Human Rights, denounced in a statement "these acts of vandalism" and reiterated: "That the public to judge the works, not self-appointed censors" .

The work, which was the subject of controversy in the U.S. media "extremists" at the time of its creation, had elicited no response in a retrospective in 2007 at Avignon, at no more than National Campaign to display the exhibition, which included the work.

Boasting approximately 350 works, the collection is allowed Lambert in the eighteenth century mansion owned by the city of Avignon. The municipality, region and state are subsidizing the arts center. The exhibition "I believe in miracles" opened Dec. 12, 2010 must be completed on May 8

BURKINA FASO: Mutiny on the presidential guard of disorder in Ouagadougou

AFP - The head of state of Burkina Faso Blaise Compaore left Ouagadougou facing a mutiny by soldiers of his presidential guard to his hometown, located about thirty miles north of the capital, officials said Friday, a military source .

President Compaore, in power for 24 years, who usually resides at the presidential palace in Ouagadougou which is a party mutiny, has left on the night of Thursday to Friday to visit Ziniaré, the city where he was born, the source said.

Dozens of soldiers from the presidential regiment divided two barracks in the capital, including one inside the walls of the residence of Mr.Compaore, mutinied on Thursday evening to protest against non-payment of premium housing that was promised to them.

They took to the streets, firing into the air, looted many shops in the city center and torched the home of General Diendiéré Gilbert, Chief of Staff of Blaise Compaore as well as that of two other officers , said a journalist from AFP.

Several people, civilians, have been "slightly injured" when looting the home of one of those officers, according to a military source.

The mutiny was then extended to three other barracks in Ouagadougou.

"Discussions were held with the rebels and they are trying to lay down their weapons," a military source said an AFP reporter who did hear gunfire in the morning near the three barracks.

Late March, soldiers angry protesting against the conviction and imprisonment of some of their comrades charged in sex cases and rape, had seized weapons in war garrisons in several cities, including Ouagadougou.

They had already fired in the air in the streets, looted shops and released some of their imprisoned comrades.

After these incidents, President Compaore had met all the components of its army, privates to generals, and announced the "end of the crisis" after these meetings.

RENAULT RE: "Patrick Pelata was the only one to head to Carlos Ghosn"

It is no longer CEO of Renault. Patrick Pelata, emblematic of the French automotive group, presented Monday his resignation to the board's special company, which accepted it. The right arm of Carlos Ghosn is the most senior of the company to make false charges of espionage affair that rocked the automaker

This former home of the Renault was the current office of the company. So much so that some, like Peter Alanche, a former employee and author of "Renault, side yard" (ed.Workshop, 2007) believes that his departure is bad news for the group.

FRANCE 24: The resignation of Patrick Pelata the post of director general is it bad news for Renault?
Alanche Peter: Yes, Patrick Pelata had managed to make the connection between the base of the group and management. Near Carlos Ghosn - they were classmates at the Polytechnic, he is considered one of the principal architects of social dialogue at Renault. He was also responsible for all operational and has personally overseen the implementation of the strategy of the electric car of Renault.

His resignation also marks the withdrawal of a leading critic of the social tradition of the group.Patrick Pelata has worked 30 years for Renault. He went through all services prior to accessing the highest offices. Do not forget that he is the author of a thesis on the social dimension of any industrial strategy and has been a time fellow traveler of the French Communist Party.

F24: How was he regarded by employees of Renault?
Alanche stone: He was clearly regarded as one of the leaders most open to dialogue.The company is not just for him at an industrial strategy. Instead, Patrick Pelata has always highlighted the social dimension in the company, which was for years the specificity of Renault.

Most importantly, everyone agrees that Patrick Pelata was the only dare stand up to Carlos Ghosn. He was never afraid to contradict the boss and discuss his choices. However, we should not kid ourselves, the two men had the same strategic vision for the group.

F24: Under these conditions, why the board did accept the resignation of Patrick Pelata?
Pierre Alanche: Carlos Ghosn did not want to part with his No. 2. He had already once refused his resignation in early March.He is convinced that Patrick Pelata committed no errors. So here it is not a power struggle. But public opinion and the state wanted to cut off heads, and only Patrick Pelata has sufficient stature to play the sacrificial victims. The other option was to sacrifice Carlos Ghosn as CEO but is the glue of the entire Renault-Nissan, it was impossible to drop it.

Patrick Pelata still remains within the group, which is still a strong signal. Now it is still necessary to know what role he will be awarded?

SYRIA: Authorities in the blood repress a demonstration in Deraa

Thirteen demonstrators were killed and dozens wounded Friday by gunfire from security forces in Dera (100 km south of Damascus), where several thousand people demonstrated after prayers, according to revised figures provided to AFP by activist for human rights.

A previous report from the same source reported the deaths of seven people in this city, the epicenter of protest against the regime.

"Members of the security services in civilian clothes opened fire to disperse the protesters after the prayer," said the activist reached by telephone.

According to him, thirteen identified protesters were killed and dozens wounded by fire from security forces.

The demonstrators then set fire to a seat of the ruling party, the Baath in the city.

The official media have referred two deaths, a member of the security services and an ambulance, and dozens of wounded civilians, police and security services hit by gunfire attributed to "armed men opened fire on the crowd ".

Syria was the scene since mid-March of a protest movement unprecedented regime of Bashar al-Assad.

PAKISTAN: At least 24 dead in suicide bombing at a funeral

AFP - At least 24 people were killed Wednesday by a suicide bomber who detonated his bomb at a funeral in Peshawar in northwestern Pakistan, a country gripped by a deadly wave of bombings Taliban allied with al-Qaeda , police said.

The tragedy occurred at the funeral of the wife of a man fighting in an anti-Taliban militia, in the hamlet of Adeza, on the outskirts of large metropolitan France's northwest, located at the gateway areas tribal stronghold of Islamist insurgents.

"The bomber came on foot, his goal was the anti-Taliban militia members" who attended the funeral of the wife of one of them, told AFP by telephone Ijaz Mohammad Khan, an officer Peshawar police.

"At least 24 people were killed and more than 40 were injured," he added.

This new attack comes a day after a devastating attack at a service station near the offices of the powerful intelligence services in Faisalabad in central Pakistan, which killed 25 people and injured over 150.

Pakistan is experiencing an unprecedented wave of attacks (over 450), mostly perpetrated by Taliban allied with al-Qaeda that killed more than 4,100 dead in three and a half years.

These insurgent groups and fundamentalist allies have ruled in the summer of 2007 and in unison with Osama bin Laden himself, jihad Pakistani government for its support for Washington since late 2001.

The attacks are mostly security forces - army, police, intelligence services - but also increasingly on civilian targets.

TUNISIA: Hospitalized in Jeddah, the former deposed President Ben Ali would be "in a coma"

AFP - Former Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, 74, who fled his country on 14 January under pressure from the street after 23 years of unchallenged power, is "comatose" for two days in a Jeddah hospital following a stroke, said Thursday AFP close to his family.

"He went into a coma two days ago. He is in hospital in Jeddah," said this source contacted by telephone by the AFP in a Gulf country. "He had a stroke (cerebrovascular accident), it is in a serious condition," she added.

"If he dies, a dictator is gone and I say good riddance. You turn the page, we have other things to do in this country," Adel responded, teacher of 50 years."If her death is confirmed, however, that I say this without divine punishment fell immediately," said a student of 25 years, Amin, interviewed in downtown Tunis. "I object to his burial in our country," he added.

Asked about the hospitalization of Ben Ali, spokesman for the Tunisian government, Taieb Baccouch, has not been able to confirm.He said that "his health will be discussed on Friday by the Cabinet."

The ousted president, who suffers from prostate cancer, and his family fled to Saudi Arabia on January 14 after nearly a month of unprecedented popular protest quelled in blood with dozens of deaths.

The Tunisian newspaper The Daily had published an article Thursday titled "Ben Ali suffered a stroke," citing the blog of a French journalist Nicolas Beau, expert from Tunisia, where he stated that Ben Ali is in serious condition and that for safety reasons, it "would be treated under the identity of a Saudi Emir.

Touafik Ben Brik, the Tunisian dissident journalist who has experienced the jails of the regime of Ben Ali for his critical articles, told AFP he felt "almost in mourning:" I could not forget it is still in us, it's part of our past and it will live long in us. "

One of the most famous Tunisian opposition, the Communist Hama Hammami, said that "it is the fate of all dictators in the world."

Tunisian lawyer for Yadh Ben Achour, president of the national commission of political, hospitalization Ben Ali proves that "there is justice on earth."

Ben Ali has ruled the country by building his regime on a balance between iron fist based on a policy now disgraced and prosperity, which eventually failed, causing his fall.

Father of six children, three from his first marriage, it appeared the last time often accompanied by his wife Leila Trabelsi.According to observers, he seemed fragile and under the influence of her husband's family accused of grip on the economy.

The revolt against the government began in Sidi Bouzid (West Central) after the suicide in mid-December Bouazizi Mohammed, an unemployed youth of 26 years unable to perform as a peddler by police and became the symbol of the frustration of young people in this country where unemployment is nearly 30% of young people.

The riots had gradually taken a political turn, had spread throughout the country and had won the capital affecting the bourgeois elites.The army played a vital role by refusing to fire on demonstrators at the height of the controversy.

Since his departure, the assets of the deposed president were frozen in several countries, many family members were arrested and international arrest warrant was issued against him and his wife.

Since then, a transitional government led by former Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi and comprising members of the former opposition, promised to devote pluralism and democracy. The first free elections - presidential and legislative-are planned in 6 months.An amnesty law is foreseen and the legalization of former opposition parties banned.

The new authorities, who continue to face social instability and a strong political protest, fear a "conspiracy" of the former regime loyalists.

OIL: Why financial markets fear the unrest in Egypt

The unrest in Egypt began seriously to worry the markets. Monday morning, the Tokyo Stock Exchange lost 1.2% and Paris lost 1.12% at the opening. However, as recalled by the New York Times Monday, the healthy financial market in New York had been affected either by the crisis in the eurozone, either by trade squabbles between the U.S. and China. So why Egypt?

It's the return of the specter of an outbreak of black gold. Monday morning, the price of a barrel of crude in London was close to the symbolic $ 100 (99.33), a level it had not met since October 2008. Yet Egypt is only the 30th largest oil producer. But the Suez Canal is an important regional role in transportation."A cargo of oil on six carries," said FRANCE 24 Cécile Antonin, a specialist in energy markets at OFCE-Sciences Po

Every day, nearly 2 million barrels of crude oil pass through this channel. Admittedly, this represents only 2% of world production, but "prices are calculated according to supply more or less compared to the previous situation," said Cecile Antonin. Above all, the oil passing through the Suez Canal is mainly destined for Europe and the United States. The Egyptian authorities have sought to reassure Monday.They stated that the traffic was for the time absolutely unaffected by the protests.

The risk of Algeria

The risk of contagion to other countries in the region most important oil markets, like Saudi Arabia or Iran, also gives a cold sweat to financial analysts. "To avoid social unrest, these countries might be tempted to increase social spending and then to pass on the price of oil," and fears a specialist oil at Goldman Sachs in the Wall Street Journal.

"Do not forget the countries of North Africa such as Algeria in the equation," recalls Cecilia Antonin.If the regime of Abdelaziz Bouteflika was also shaken, soaring prices could accelerate. Algeria is producing more oil than Egypt, and especially this country is a member of OPEC and thus a strategic player in this sector.

There are no worries that oil. Egypt is also the largest importer of wheat. Some fear that to make reservations, the Mubarak regime is still increasing its demand. "Currently, the commodity markets are so tight that the slightest change will raise prices," says Cécile Antonin. A situation particularly disturbing that the spectrum of riots in 2008 is increasingly present.