Blog for news

The Commander Tomas Borge, cofounder of the guerrilla National Liberation Sandinista Front (FSLN), now back in power in Nicaragua, died Monday at age 81, and the government declared ; a three-day national mourning.

He had been hospitalized for nearly a month because of postoperative pulmonary complications.

"The Commander Tomas Borge arrived at the end of his earthly life, his fertile revolutionary life," announced "with deep sorrow" the wife of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, Rosario Murillo, who is spokesman for the government, Radio Ya (official).

President Ortega declared three days of national mourning. A wake was to be held Tuesday at the National Palace, a historic building overlooking the Place de la Revolution, in Managua, Ms. Murillo said without specifying the date of funeral.

Borge died at the military hospital Davila Bolanos of Managua, where he underwent April 6 surgery of the thorax after a lung condition which worsened after the operation because of his age and complications from diabetes.

The Commander Borge was the only founder of the Sandinista Front - created in 1961 - to have survived the uprising launched by the guerrilla movement in 1979 against the dictatorial dynasty Somoza, who ruled Nicaragua for 45 years. 

Member of the national leadership of the FSLN who chaired the revolutionary process after the fall of Somoza, he was a feared interior minister during the first 10 years of Sandinista government (1979-1990 ).

"Tomas is one of those dead who will never die", because it will be remembered revolutionary, one of the Sandinista Front, and "in the heart of Nicaragua happy and free," said Ms. Murillo the voice breaking with emotion.

Borge was one of the few guerrilla commanders who supported Ortega, when the Front - very divided - found himself in opposition before returning to power in 2007. 

At the time of his death Borge, considered the most dogmatic and the most radical Sandinista leaders held the position of Deputy National Secretary of the FSLN and ambassador to Peru and Ecuador. Elections of 2011, he had been elected.  

Born August 12, 1930 in Matagalpa (north), in his youth he joined the struggle against the Somoza dictatorship and created the FSLN in 1961 with Carlos Fonseca Amador, taking inspiration from the patriotism of the peasant leader Augusto Cesar Sandino was assassinated in 1934 on the orders of Anastasio Somoza.

Having received military training in Cuba when he participated in the guerrilla, once the Sandinistas to power, he organized the Interior Ministry building on an intelligence and elite troops, who had the support of Cuban advisers.

Married to the Peruvian Marcela Perez, he was with her three of her six children, one adopted after the death of his father in combat, a guerrilla leader.  

Borge will be buried alongside Carlos Fonseca, who is based in a small mausoleum, in a corner of the Revolution Square, Ms. Murillo said.

REUTERS - The leader of the Greek radical left, Alexis Tsipras, Monday refused to participate in negotiations of the last chance to form a national unity government in Greece, paving the way for the & rsquo ; probable organization of new elections in June.

After a failed first round of talks with leaders of seven parties with representatives in parliament in parliamentary elections on May 6, Greek President Karolos Papoulias had pre seen to meet again Monday night (1630 GMT) the leaders of four political parties.

But one of the formations, the Coalition of the Radical Left Syriza, the second election of May 6 and favorite for first place in parliament when new elections, refused. "Alexis Tsipras not participate in the meeting tomorrow," said Nikos Pappas, head of the party.

In his absence, it will be the leader of New Democracy (right), Antonis Samaras, PASOK (Socialist) Evangelos Venizelos and the party of the Democratic Left Fotis Kouvelis, which normally will be received by the Chief State.

It's the President to call new elections if it finds no solution to form a government. The hypothesis of a new early voting is voiced by the press for several days, as of June 17

New Democracy (ND), topped the list of legislative and PASOK, third, signed the memorandum establishing the conditions for using the European Union, the European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund, while Syriza opposed it. "Russian Roulette"

The Democratic Left says ready to join a coalition government but only in Syriza either. 

The party of Alexis Tsipras winner is given a new vote by all the polls with a score increase of nearly 10%, which would allow him to pocket also the "premium" 50 elected to the party that promised tops.

Syriza expressed support for the continuation of Greece in the euro area while rejecting the memorandum and accompanying austerity, which is untenable according to the European partners of Athens.

"Acropolis Adieu! Why Greece should leave the euro, "claims this week the" one "of the respected German magazine Der Spiegel, joining the chorus of German economic and political personalities who wonder if the output of Greece in the euro area is not the best solution. 

The Constitution sets no deadline to President Karolos Papoulias to try to reach an agreement

.

He himself gave no indication how long it will take before asking for new elections, which could complete the sinking of conservative New Democracy and PASOK socialist.

The two parties that have dominated Greek politics for decades as to expect them on a surge of voters in their favor in the event of new elections, in order to save instead of new exhibitions ties within the euro area.

According to a survey published by the daily To Vima, 78% of Greeks want their government to do anything to keep the single currency.

The center-left newspaper Ethnos estimated that with its economy to the brink, Greece is now playing the "Russian roulette".

AFP-Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Friday in granting the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Beijing that "respect" each other was the "secret" of good bilateral relations improve Rican, tested by a dissident seeking protection from Washington.

Wen welcomed Clinton and his Treasury counterpart, Timothy Geithner, the Purple Light Pavilion of Zhongnanhai, the headquarters of the Chinese government in the heart of Beijing. Prime Minister, considered a reformist forces within the Communist regime, has estimated ; that the "strategic and economic dialogue" Sino-US open Thursday and scheduled to end on Friday, had been "very productive". "What is the secret behind the sustained development and regular strategic dialogue and Economic? I think the most important is that we respect in reciprocity, we treat as an equal, and we consider the main concerns of one and the other, "he said at the beginning of the meeting. Hillary Clinton and Timothy Geithner had earlier met with Chinese President Hu Jintao the day before had expressed views similar, calling for "respect" and "mutual understanding". The Sino-American meeting was overshadowed by an imbroglio surrounding the fate of dissident Chen Guangcheng. Champion the fight against forced abortions, the self-taught lawyer had refuge in the embassy of the United States last week after escaping of house arrest. He had confirmed his own escape a week ago in a message broadcast on Internet at Wen Jiabao. Chen had left the embassy Wednesday after getting assurances for his safety and those of his relatives in China. But after his reunion with his wife and friends, he said he wanted to leave his country.

AFP - The team of Francois Hollande on Wednesday unveiled the "roadmap" for the first year of the quinquennium, if elected, the candidate with the PS Elysé e, a way to launch the "third phase" of his campaign after steps Bourget and costed end of January.

The candidate himself should address these measures Wednesday night during the big rally (10,000 to 15,000 people expected) provided with Segolene Royal in Rennes.

"This is the roadmap of the president and his government for the first year, produced by Laurent Fabius and the campaign team," said the entourage of Mr. Holland.

"After the speech, Le Bourget, 22 January which gave meaning and direction of the project and the presentation of its 60 commitments totaled 26, the third phase of the campaign, even more accurate, showing how the project is reflected in the actions, "observes Does the same source.

On the eve of presenting the project of Nicolas Sarkozy, the four dense pages sent to AFP by the Dutch team are entitled "The first year of change for French - key measures ".

Schedule is presented in three periods: the first weeks after the election (May 6-June 29), the special session of Parliament (July 3 to August 2) and ten months following (August 2012-June 2013). 

A total of 35 very concrete and specific measures already announced, from locking in fuel prices in the pension reform, through the school year, the tax reform with tax bracket to 75% for incomes above 1 million euros.

Very symbolic, the first is "another way to govern and to govern" and stipulates the "reduction of the remuneration of the Head of State and members of 30% of government ". The "key word remains Bourget: justice," according to the entourage of the socialist candidate.

During this first year, "all the forces will be mobilized to redress France" with "major structural reforms financial, budgetary, social and democratization" and parallel ; lement, "the answer to a number of emergencies: purchasing power, employment, youth, housing," say his relatives.

Breakthrough in the middle of Jean-Luc Melenchon (Left Front) in the polls, Mr. Holland, "carrying a response to outrage," according to his family, aims to be a "candidate the left and change of government "," only "capable of winning the presidency against Nicolas Sarkozy.

The message: "We are ready to decide, to act". We must "show that the change is immediately" from May 7, after the second round, said the entourage amplifying the campaign slogan "Change is Now", and making argues that "the left has never been so ready to move as quickly in case of victory."

"The French want a cape, coherence, consistency, not zig-zag" like 5 years ", assures me there again.

The musical setting is perfectly orchestrated: Mr. Holland is the guest of RTL Wednesday morning, while two tenors SP using figure of possible prime ministers, Martine Aubry and Jean-Marc Ayrault, will be interviewed, the first on France Info, the second by a newspaper. Laurent Fabius will then "work of explanation."

Thursday is launched "Spring territories abandoned" when the polls discussed abstention may exceed 30% and Francois Hollande saw "the risk" of that pre ; Presidential 2012.

The Socialist will carry a three-day marathon in deprived neighborhoods: Narbonne, Nimes, Vaulx-en-Velin, Creil, outside Paris and Trappes, Les Ulis, Clichy-sous-Bois, Aulnay and Aubervilliers -glades.

The Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu, accompanying Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in China, decided to interrupt his visit and returned Tuesday to Turkey due to a sudden rise in tension in ; the Turkish-Syrian news agency reported Anatolia.

Mr. Davutoglu will not participate in the Shanghai stage of the Turkish delegation will return to Turkey and to monitor developments of the situation after the fire from Syria on a camp re ; fugiés Syrian located in Turkey Monday, the agency said.

The minister also had talks on the phone about this incident with colleagues from four of the five permanent members of UN Security, the agency said. This is the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Russia.  

Syrian fire, which injured four Syrian refugees and two Turks, constitute a "clear violation" of the border between the two countries, had previously said the Prime Minister in Beijing Turkish, promising to act.

"We came, we missed a beat," they proudly proclaimed their arrival in Paris, all wearing the same orange windbreaker, the colors & rsquo ; Arcelor.

The journey of French employees of the world's number one steel was completed this Friday, April 6, place du Trocadero in Paris. Tired, crying for some, they were only nine "walkers of steel" - the source of 18 - at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, proud of the 300 km traveled on foot since March 28, the day of their departure from Florange site in Moselle. A symbolic action that aims to defend their jobs, precarious by the abeyance of the two blast furnaces at the steelworks.

During an election campaign, employees have decided to be heard while with the president-candidate Nicolas Sarkozy, the man who "insult" as they say, the break is consumed e.

In mid-March, the unions held a demonstration near the campaign headquarters of the outgoing Head of State, after having promised to make Florange the "nightmare of government" ;. Some 150 protesters were then confronted by a heavy security and had been the target of tear gas.

The CFDT in the sights of Sarkozy

Reacting to the incident, Nicolas Sarkozy said April 2 that the permanent of the CFDT - the majority among the unions in the steel mill - betrayed the trust of employees, accusing them of playing politics instead of defending them. Asked a few days later at the Elysee to discuss the issue, unions had mostly declined the proposal of the Head of State.

Fearing a programmed death of their factory, workers have begun in recent months a struggle for the re-commissioning of their plant's blast furnaces. February 20, they invested the premises of ArcelorMittal's management. In total, some 2,500 permanent positions are threatened by the closure of the Moselle. A social catastrophe which would add to the closure of Gandrange industrial site nearby in 2009, despite promises made by Nicolas Sarkozy. Nearly 600 jobs were then removed.

While President-declared candidate, e 2 April, having "got 17 million investment" for the site Moselle, the announcement was denied by management site, stating that this amount corresponded to maintenance investments and was already scheduled.

"Proud"

Arrived in the capital, men savor their victory. "We are proud of our progress, our efforts, even if it hurts everywhere," exclaims Edward Martin, delegate of the CFDT union, delighted with the "fireworks" , which takes place in his head.

Reunited with their families at the foot of Iron Giant, the hikers emphasize the importance of the place: the Eiffel Tower was indeed built of steel French. But beyond the symbol of this adventure, one participant recalls "a great human story."

Have an impact on politicians

Almost two weeks before the first round of presidential elections, the unions have on the opportunity to politicize their demands and called on judicial candidates to act. "We, the people of Lorraine, we are determined that we want to keep our factory, we'll go to the end of the earth if necessary," assures Edward Martin, cap on head, warning that this action is only one among others. "The promises of each other, we judge them to action."

Believing that a president must "respect the unions," Francois Hollande accused April 2 Nicolas Sarkozy of attacking "the whole world employee" in s 'CFDT delegates taking the company ArcelorMittal Florange. The candidate of the New Anti-Capitalist Party (NPA), Philippe Poutou, has, meanwhile, described as "dirty tricks" the reaction of his opponent of the UMP. Side of the Left Front, Jean-Luc Melenchon, whose coming was originally scheduled, was ultimately not present on the Trocadero.

Resolved, the unions have already made an appointment to the next president on May 7, at the Elysee.

The ruling junta in Mali Sunday was more than ever under the threat of the Tuareg rebellion in the north, and suffered the wrath of a political class widely held and the international community, after the coup against Amadou Toumani Toure.

Four days after the coup against "ATT", all eyes were on Kidal, one of the largest cities in the northeast.

"Today we have repulsed an attack by Islamist rebels," said on condition of anonymity a military official in Kidal. "We are close to Kidal," retorted a part of the Islamist group Ansar Dine Tuareg, not confirm nor deny an assault.

Ansar Dine (defender of Islam), one of the branches of the rebellion, said Saturday he was preparing to take the city. This movement wants to implement sharia (Islamic law) by "armed struggle" and has already claimed control Aguelhok localities, and Tessalit Tinezawaten (northeast).

The fall of Kidal is a thunderbolt, while the coup led by Captain Amadou Sanogo accused the ousted president and leaders of incompetence on this issue.

The rebels launched their offensive in mid-January in the northeast, sometimes with the support of armed Islamic groups, particularly Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

The junta leader has called on Tuareg rebels in discussions without delay to a peace process. "The door is open," he said Saturday.

The head of a militia fighting alongside the army in the north, and eight of his companions were killed Sunday by Tuareg rebels in the region of Gao , sources said.

"The coup will heighten the drama of the Malian people", already facing a crisis of refugees and displaced because of the rebellion, has estimated Meanwhile the head of Nouakchott UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Antonio Guterres. Tens of thousands have fled areas of fighting, Mali and neighboring countries.

Outside, the front anti-junta is unwavering and France, former colonial power, has returned to the charge.

Paris has urged this weekend Captain Sanogo, through its ambassador in Bamako Christian Rouyer, "return to constitutional order" to get "into the electoral calendar" providing the first round of presidential elections on April 29 and open "borders quickly," said Sunday the Cooperation Minister, Henry Raincourt. 

In France, President Toure always

Amadou Toumani Toure remains "the president of Mali", he stressed, adding that neither France nor "other countries, including African", were still able to enter in contact with him.

The fate of "ATT" is unknown. It "is fine, it is safe", has confined itself to saying Friday Captain Sanogo, refusing to say where it is located, or if the hands the coup.

Fourteen personalities from the deposed regime arrested and detained at Camp Kati, the new government headquarters near Bamako, Sunday began a hunger strike, according to a close a prisoner. In a brief message sent to AFP, they believe their "basic rights violated."

On the political front, the National Committee for the recovery of democracy and the restoration of the rule (CNRDRE, junta) is also in a difficult position.

Sixty parties, including several major formations, and civil society organizations announced Sunday the creation of a "United Front for safeguarding democracy and the Republic" ; (FUDR).

The National Assembly (147 deputies) dissolved by the junta condemned "without reservation" the coup and demanded "restoration of normal constitutional order". 

However, African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence (Sadi), only opposition party in the Assembly (three members), created the "MP22" ;, the Popular Movement of 22 March, favorable to the mutineers.

The junta tried to dispel a persistent feeling of floating by multiplying the statements.

After looting by soldiers in the early hours of the coup, it has "invited all holders of uniform to join the barracks".

Bamako has regained some life Sunday, a day of traditional marriage. Unions have been celebrated in various neighborhoods, while residents would do their shopping in the shops open. The new authorities have called back to work Tuesday.

AFP-A week to the day after the suicide of a teenage girl forced to marry her rapist, several women in Morocco have organized Saturday a sit-in outside parliament to demand reform a law discriminates against women.

"We are Amina", "Stop violence against women", "Repeal the law" chanted the activists and sympathizers of these groups of women's rights, gathered at the call of Woman-Shoufouch , a social network group and anti-harassment.

Women, numbering two hundred in the early rally carried banners calling for the repeal or revision of an article of the penal code which punishes the rapist in prison if the victim is a minor, except in case of marriage. 

In case of marriage, made by the parents of the raped girl, the abuser is no longer pursued by justice.

"Amina martyrdom", "The law kill me", "Stop child marriage" could be read on the signs held by several women activists, gathered under the leadership Federation of the Democratic League of women's rights.

"Amina and other victims of Article 475 of the Penal Code," read one banner on one of Anaruz, Berber word meaning hope. Anaruz is a movement of listening to victims of sexual assault who works in coordination with the Women's Democratic Association of Morocco (ADFM).

"In 2008, the government had introduced a bill, which has remained a dead letter, calling for the overhaul of the penal code in order to end discrimination and violence," Houda told AFP Bouzil, president of Rabat office of ADFM.

Suicide on March 10 Amina Al Filali, 16, forced to marry the man who raped her, has the effect of a shock to Morocco where are multiplied s calls for reform of a law that benefits most often the rapist more than his victim.

"I did not go with them to the judge to marry them. But my wife has forced me. She told me he had to do to make people stop laughing at us, to silence the shame, "said a few days ago AFP the father of the victim, Lahcen Al Filali, present at a first sit-in in the town of Larach, near Tangier (north) from where the family originated.

"Is it conceivable that a man who forces a girl to follow him with a knife and that rapes may then want to marry her?" He asked.

This case highlights the contradictions of a society that is both traditionalist and aspiring to modernity, as evidenced by the new Constitution adopted in July, which provides e Galite equality and banish "discrimination". 

This drama continues to draw mixed reactions in the country, including within the government that promised a review of the law.

"It's the law, a social rule absurd, grotesque, as that will remedy an evil, rape, another even more repulsive, the marriage with the rapist (. ..) Who do we punish in the end, the victim or executioner? ", the newspaper Al-Sabah (Morning independent) in a long editorial.

An article in the Family Code provides that the judge's decision authorizing the marriage of a minor - as was the case here - is subject to appeal.

The husband of the girl was questioned by police after the suicide of his wife who has absorbed rat poison, and left at liberty.

AFP - Yannick Agnel, champion of France in 100 m freestyle, and Fabien Gilot, second, qualified for the Olympics, while Alain Bernard, 5th only, will not defend in London her Olympic title in that distance, Thursday at Dunkirk.

Agnel, who won the 200m, has succeeded in winning the double in 48 sec 02/100e, record and personal best French performance of the year to boot.

This is the third best world performance of the year, still far enough for now of two Australians, James Magnussen (47.10) and James Roberts (47.63).

Gilot, double outgoing titleholder, was second in 48.38.

Bernard, the Olympic champion in Beijing in 2008, has missed its subject, merely a poor time for him to 48.97. It is the fifth, tied with Grégory Mallet. It is not directly qualified for the 4×100m relay but could be integrated to the collective.

"I really fell for the end," said Alain Bernard on Eurosport. "Now there's an adventure to live with the Olympic relay," he added.

Third place went to Clement Lefert (48.64), teammate Agnel in Nice. Amaury Leveaux, second in the 200 who had managed the fastest time of the semifinals (48.48), is fourth in 48.69.

Lefert and take Leveaux behind Agnel and Gilot, two tickets for the 4×100m relay.

Greek Prime Minister was finalized Tuesday night in the final version of the new memorandum providing relevant reforms in Greece, which was negotiated throughout The Day e and finally offered Wednesday to the approval of party leaders in the government coalition.

Aftermath of a general strike against austerity while Greece and dance on the volcano of bankruptcy and out of the euro, Prime Minister Lucas Papademos has decided to postpone to Wednesday - "probably in mid-day" according to his office-one meeting with the Socialist George Papandreou, the Conservative leader Antonis Samaras and of extreme I right-Georges Karatzaferis. 

The downstream of the three politicians is explicitly requested by the public and private creditors of the country to unlock a second aid plan vital to the country, providing both financial bailout and de sendettement, and prepared in late October by the euro area.

This new report, while meeting with Mr. Papademos political trio was originally scheduled for Monday, "does not signal blocking, nothing dramatic has occurred, just a se series of highly technical points to loop that took more time than expected, "added the source in the Prime Minister.

In the evening, Mr. Papademos, appointed prime minister of a coalition government in November, met with key leaders of the global banking lobby IIF, Charles Dallara and Joseph Ackermann, loop the last outstanding issues of the comprehensive plan to erase debt Greece, the source said.

This frenzy of meetings concludes a general strike against the new package of measures demanded by the EU and the IMF in exchange for their support.

More than 20,000 people demonstrated in Athens and Thessaloniki to protest against the new austerity measures in preparation, including providing for a reduction in the minimum wage, pension cuts complementary ments and 15,000 job cuts in the public service.

"The situation has reached its limits. Either they're the ones that jump, it's either us, "said the procession, Yorgos, plumber in Athens. While Costas, bank clerk, lamented that the country "that sinks" as he is "ruled by thugs."

"No layoffs in the public service", "No to lowering the minimum wage" and "No to pension cuts complementary" banner summed up in the new sacrifices are hollow profiling, after already three sets of austerity measures in return for the first EU-IMF loan in May 2010.

"We're here because we will be in the first of the next batch of 15,000 to be fired," said Vasilis Bakalis, 34, curator at the Byzantine Museum of Athens and the his ; ties. Administrations, public services and transport were affected by the strike.

Unimpressed by the protests, the country's creditors whose patience runs out at the delays Greek to implement reforms, calling for an explicit commitment of the three government parties on this bleeding again to unlock the 130 billion in loans promised in late October, and give the green light to start restructuring the Greek debt held by private creditors.

With MM. Ackerman and Dallara, Mr. Papademos was to review the latest issues left over for this operation, after the near-completion of an agreement late January. This erasure of 100 billion debt held by banks and funds, the price for them to actual losses of about 70%, should bring the Greek debt around 120% of GDP in 2020.

The vacillations of political leaders, some voices in the creditor countries and partners in Greece have increased the pressure: the European Commissioner for New Technologies, the Dutch Neelie Kroes, said there would be "no loss of life" if Greece came out of the euro area.

The couple Merkel-Sarkozy himself has suggested the creation of an escrow account to ensure that the loans would go to Greece to debt servicing, a proposal supported by the Head of leading finance ministers of the eurozone, Jean-Claude Juncker. 

Suddenly, the president of the European Commission had to step into the breach on Tuesday to say that the place of Greece in the euro area remained.

"We want the rest of Greece into the euro," he told a press conference where he appeared alongside the French Jacques Delors, who was also President of the European Commission from 1985 to 1994.

Mr. Barroso stressed that "the costs of leaving Greece to the euro would be higher than the costs to continue to support Greece."

Despite the social unrest and nervousness of the markets, Greece managed Tuesday to raise 812.5 million euros in treasury bills six months, at a rate of interest down very slightly (4.86%) compared to the last show of the same type.

If the agreement of the parties involved as expected Wednesday, countersigned Greek politics would be formalized by the Cabinet on Wednesday or Thursday, then presented following the Eurogroup.