World News Post: Feb 28, 2011

Monday, February 28, 2011

The EU adopted in "emergency" restrictive measures against Gaddafi

Brussels. .- The head of European diplomacy, Catherine Ashton, said today that the EU will take "urgent" measures against the regime of Muammar Gaddafi in Libya as the freezing of its funds, the travel ban and arms embargo on the same line of Security Council resolution from the UN. "The EU fully supports this resolution and to impose restrictive measures urgently," the High Representative said in a statement released this morning.

More than 20,000 aspiring doctor signed a letter of protest against Guttenberg

More than 20,000 applicants for the academic title of doctor has signed a letter of protest to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, by their attitude to the call 'cause Guttenberg' and his defense of the defense minister, Karl Theodor zu Guttenberg to charges of plagiarism. In the open letter submitted through the Internet and initiated by thousands of students who are currently working on his doctoral thesis in the meantime had become citizens with the academic title of Ph.D.

TURKEY - The whirlwind tour of Sarkozy displeased Ankara

Nicolas Sarkozy is expected in Ankara on Feb. 25 to talk primarily G20, chaired by France. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has not hidden his displeasure, saying that relations between both countries deserve better than a quick visit. He would have preferred Mr. Sarkozy comes as President of France and not the G20, and for longer.

On the eve of the visit, the Turkish Minister of European Affairs, Egemen Bagis, claimed the right for Turkey to participate in EU summits.

Ankara (geolocation) Ankara (homepage) Ankara (wikipedia) Nicolas Sarkozy (homepage) Nicolas Sarkozy (wikipedia)

Gaddafi harshly repressed in the West while losing control of the third-largest city

Rabat / Tripoli / Cairo. Ato .- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today amounted to 100,000 people the number of migrant workers in Libya who have fled in recent days of repression exerted by the Gaddafi regime against popular rebellion. UNHCR has set up emergency teams in the Tunisian and Egyptian borders to help local authorities and NGOs present in the field to address the humanitarian catastrophe.

Gaddafi tried to recover more than 1,000 million British banks has

The regime tried to regain Tripoli last week Libyan dinars for an amount equivalent to 900 million pounds ($ 1,053 million euros) which was deposited in the northeast of England, reported Monday the newspaper 'The Times'. According to 'The Times', the British finance minister, George Osborne, ordered to file a series of logistical obstacles to the output of that money while preparing for the freezing of assets of the Libyan dictator and his family in the UK.

Wikileaks - Assange can be extradited to Sweden

A London court has validated 24 February the extradition warrant issued by Sweden against the founder of Wikileaks, Julian Assange. Accused of sexual assault and rape of two Swedes, Assange is under house arrest and 200 miles from London since mid-December. The Stockholm daily welcomes the fact that "rape in Sweden is also a crime in Britain." Julian Assange will appeal this decision to the High Court in London.

The UN unanimously approves sanctions against Gaddafi

United Nations. .- The Security Council unanimously approved a UN resolution imposing sanctions against the regime of Muammar Gaddafi and his environment, as the freezing of assets abroad, the travel ban and arms embargo. The resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the highest UN body also authorizes the International Criminal Court (ICC), based in The Hague, an investigation into human rights violations incurred in the Libyan regime.

The Egyptian army in Facebook apologizes for shooting into the air

The Supreme Council of Egyptian Armed Forces apologized on his Facebook group by clashes of Saturday night against the demonstrators gathered in Tahrir Square in Cairo, blamed on "involuntary tensions between the Military Police and the Sons of revolution. " In the text, collected by Monsters and Critics website, entitled "An apology, and our credit allows us to broadcast it," the military command says it "will take all necessary precautions to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in future." According to information from the protesters themselves, the army fired into the air to disperse the crowd focused on the square, the focus of the protests that led to the fall of the regime of President Hosni Mubarak, to celebrate the first month since the start of the demonstrations, and knowing that they were violating the curfew remains in force in the country.

EGYPT - massive repatriation of Egyptian nationals in Libya

The Egyptian authorities announced on February 24 the establishment of an airlift with Tunisia to evacuate their nationals who have fled violence in Libya from Tunisia, tells the newspaper's website. Planes from airports Tunisian Jerba and Gabes. While Egypt has received permission to perform five daily flights to Libya, the newspaper said more than 15,000 Egyptians have already crossed the main crossing point between the two countries.

Kenny: "The bailout is bad for Ireland and bad for the EU"

Dublin, February 26 .- The leader of the conservative Fine Gael, Enda Kenny, winner of the Irish general election, said today that the European Union (EU) has to "listen" to the electorate and recognize that the terms of the bailout in this country are "bad for Ireland and for Europe." Speaking on Radio Television Ireland (RTE), the next prime minister announced that initiate contact with their community partners the next week to try to renegotiate parts of the agreement signed last December with the EU and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The Saharan celebrate its 35 anniversary

Brahim Chagaf has come from the Dakhla refugee camp, Azman has returned from Spain to join the cause of the Saharawi people has come from Zocimacha Aiaún in Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara. From all sides, the Saharawi have wanted to celebrate the 35 th anniversary of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in the hope that the winds of change blowing in the Arab world to bring more democracy and freedom in the region.

NEW ZEALAND - Hopes of finding survivors are dwindling

Three days after the massive earthquake that struck the city of Christchurch, the authorities announced that more than 200 relatives of missing persons should prepare for the worst. A temporary morgue receives the 113 bodies already recovered, a toll that makes this earthquake the worst natural disaster in New Zealand last eighty years.

The Daily Christchurch publishes on its website the list of persons whose death was confirmed. Among them are several foreign nationals.

The Security Council postponed voting hours on sanctions against Libya

United Nations. .- The Security Council decided today to the UN several hours delay its vote on the resolution that imposed sanctions on the regime of Muammar Gaddafi and his environment by the bloody repression in civil protests against him. Diplomatic sources said that "the vote was postponed until after 01.00 GMT," because the delegation of China, a permanent member with veto awaits instructions on the voting of its capital.

The Court of Milan takes the process against Silvio Berlusconi's Mediaset

The Milan Court Monday takes up a so-called Mediaset, the first of the lawsuits against Silvio Berlusconi will be resumed in the coming days after the partial invalidation of a judicial shield the president and the Italian prime minister is accused of alleged fraud tax. The first hearing of this new phase of the trial was suspended in April 2010 pending the Constitutional Court to rule on the law of legitimate impediment (last judicial shield Berlusconi), is scheduled for 0900 local time (08.00 GMT ) before the First Criminal Section of the Court of Milan.

COTE D'IVOIRE - Fighting in the West

"Fighting murderers yesterday in the west and Abobo," as the newspaper the day after violent clashes between former rebels, allied with Alassane Ouattara, and the army, loyal to the outgoing president, Laurent Gbagbo. Fighting took place around Zouan-Hounien, a town on the west. Each camp will refer the responsibility for the attack.

In Abidjan, 24 February clashes continued in the district of Abobo between supporters of Gbagbo and Ouattara. Hundreds of people fled for their neighborhood.

Oman: demonstrations reached the capital

In the industrial city of Sohar Oman have on the third day in a row mostly young Omanis protested against the government. They looted a supermarket on Monday and set him on fire. The army sealed off the city to prevent a surge in protests and from spreading to other cities. In the city of protesters blocked the roads to the port and the refinery.

Conflicting data are available regarding the number of demonstrators killed on Sunday. Security forces had cracked down on the 2,000 demonstrators with rubber bullets. It was a protester was killed, said Health Minister Ahmad Bin Muhammad Al Saidi. A doctor at the hospital told a news agency, however, six people were killed.

Obama: "Gaddafi must leave now"

Washington. .- The U.S. president, Barack Obama, today discussed the situation in Libya in a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in which he said that the North African country's dictator, Muammar Qaddafi must now let go of power. "When the only way for a leader to stay in power is the use of violence against its own people, has lost the legitimacy to govern and should do what is right for your country leave now," Obama told Merkel according to a statement released by the White House.

Sixteen dead after falling from a high voltage cable on party crowd

At least 16 people were killed and 50 wounded today, dropping a high voltage cable of a crowd enjoying a celebration of Carnival in the Brazilian city of Bandeira do Sul, according to a police spokesman quoted by regional agencies. The tragedy happened on Sunday afternoon in the main square of Bandeira do Sul, a town of about 6,000 inhabitants in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais (southeast), which organized the last three different days in anticipation of the Carnival festivities.

IRELAND - The legislative form of denial

Some 3.1 million Irish to the polls for the Feb. 25 legislative sounding like a repudiation of the ruling party, which ruled the country for fourteen years. Fianna Fáil candidates (center) expect their "worst performance", tells the daily. Facing a huge deficit, Prime Minister Brian Cowen accused of failing to foresee the economic downturn, had accepted the international bailout of the EU and the IMF.

The former Libyan Minister of Justice announced that it will form a government opponent

Benghazi. .- The former Libyan Justice Minister Mustafa Abdulyalil announced today that the opposition will form a national unity government composed of civilians and military and said he intends to hold democratic elections in three months. Abdulyalil, who resigned this week in protest at the violent repression of demonstrations against the regime of Muammar Gaddafi, told the Qatari TV station Al Jazeera that the government will have "a democratic framework." In a videoconference connection with Al-Jazeera from the eastern Libyan city of Al Beida, controlled by the opposition, the former minister said the cabinet will be formed to "respect all international agreements." He added that in order to form the temporary cabinet is maintained contacts with political personalities in the West, did not identify.

Chile moving vigil to remember earthquake victims

Candles of remembrance have seized around Chile on the anniversary of the earthquake. The central and southern Iraq have not slept. At 3.34 am it was a year since an earthquake of 8.8 on the Richter scale, the fifth most powerful in history, struck the center and south of the country and leave 523 dead, 24 missing and more than 800,000 homeless.

Most of the 'velatones', the lighting of candles in memory of the deceased, took place in the regions of Maule, Bío Bío and the Juan Fernández Archipelago, in places like Dichato, Talcahuano, San Juan Bautista or Constitution, most affected by the tragedy of last February 27, 2010. In Constitution, 361 kilometers south of Santiago, the acts were solemn.

ALGERIA - The state of emergency was officially lifted

Algeria has officially lifted on February 24 the state of emergency in force since nineteen years in the country. "The Presidential Decree No. 11-01, dated February 23, 2010 and waiving the state of emergency was published in the Official Gazette, thus signing the official end of an exceptional situation that lasted nineteen years, "the newspaper said.

Faced with opposition demands, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika promised February 3 to lift state of emergency declared in 1992 to fight against Islamist guerrillas.

Thousands of Moroccans calling for democracy despite the express prohibition

Rabat. .- Thousands of people from the "February 20 Movement" went peacefully today in several cities in Morocco to demand a "democratic constitution", despite the official warning that the protests are prohibited. In Rabat, a hundred people gathered in the square of Bab el Had, near the medina, and although the movement had announced it would head for the Parliament finally made one sitting.

LIBYA - The rebels march on Tripoli

While Western countries seemed to the hands of the far Zouara City, located 120 kilometers west of Libyan capital, was released Feb. 24 by the insurgents. The Gaddafi clan is to cut off his hand in Tripoli. Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has accused al-Qaida yesterday to support the insurgents and to provide them "hallucinogenic pills".

He spoke in an audio message broadcast by Libyan television. The same day, Barack Obama and Nicolas Sarkozy called for "an immediate halt to the use of force." The Security Council UN meets today to discuss the Libyan crisis.

Tripoli (geolocation) Tripoli (wikipedia)

Saif al-Islam: "If they hear fireworks, do not confuse them with fire"

Tripoli. (Reuters) .- Saif al Islam Gaddafi, son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, says the streets of Tripoli are brimming with jubilant crowd throwing fireworks, Korean slogans for Gaddafi and celebrates its long-term. "All is calm", has told the small group of foreign journalists who have been entering the country with official permission.

"If they hear fireworks, do not confuse them with gunfire," said Saif. "Peace is returning to our country," said Saif al Islam Gaddafi, who called "lies" reports that certain media are spreading. He also denied that his father ordered to bomb civilians. "We laugh at this information", commented.

Serious disturbances in the Western Sahara in the 35 th anniversary of the Polisario

With the backdrop of 35 anniversary of the Frente Polisario, the Saharawi town of Dakhla has lived this weekend "serious and hard" clashes between pro-independence Sahrawi and Moroccan civil population, as reported to ELMUNDO. is from the former Villa Cisneros Bachir Lejfauni Sahrawi activist. Local authorities, through official news agency Maghreb Arabe Presse (MAP), were accused of rioting and vandalism to the "Polisario separatists, while organizations such as the Sahrawi Association of Victims of Human Rights Violations (ASVDH) blame them to "encouraged by Moroccan security forces." The conflict erupted on Friday between supporters of both attitude and as a citizen of the MAP 53, Hamid Charfi (vegetable vendor originally from Marrakech) was fatally struck Saturday by a Toyota Land Cruiser with five people inside .

U.S.: "Gaddafi may go into exile" Battle for Misurata air base

The exile to Gaddafi, "is a possibility." The opening of the White House. The spokesman, Jay Carney, said that "all options remain on the table, including the exile." In this case it is not clear however how this can link with the investigation into the violence in Libya, which could be opened by the International Criminal Court (ICC) within a few days, as stated by the ICC prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo.

EUROPEAN UNION - Lampedusa, an outpost in the storm

(A boat carrying migrants preparing to dock in Lampedusa, February 21, 2011, AFP) When they say, it's a little impressive, but this is exactly as if we were preparing for war. For Italy - which has already led one - is sort of a second Libyan war [the first, which began in September 1911 marked the beginning of the Italian colonization of Libya].

As a base of nose-story, C-130 provide feverishly evacuations parallel: on one hand, it removes the Tunisians Lampedusa and the other Italians in Tripoli, because now share either side of this little corner of the Mediterranean, all those who can flee, never to return. Warships en route to the Strait of Sicily to join the small fleet that crosses there already.

Struck a wagon of the Carnival: 16 dead and 55 wounded in Brazil

At least sixteen people were killed and more than 50 were injured during a Carnival parade in Bandeira do Sul, a village of 6,000 inhabitants in the state of Minas Gerais, south-east of Brazil, 427 km from Belo Horizonte. The victims have been electrocuted by a fallen high tension cable on a "power trio", a truck load of people and amplifiers that goes through the streets playing marches and songs of "Carnaval." "Someone made from a coil, an artificial fire, which cut the cord - said Daniel de Oliveira, director of Carnaband, a pre-carnival party in the country which brought together more than 10 000 people - The power cord has fallen on truck that was completely packed with people.

U.S., France, UK and Canada turns its back on Gaddafi

Washington .- The United States imposed sanctions on the Libyan government yesterday and said that the legitimacy of leader Muammar Gaddafi has been "reduced to zero." In response to the bloody repression of the Libyan leader to revolt against his government, President Barack Obama signed an executive order freezing the assets of Qadhafi, his family and officials, as well as the Libyan Government, the central bank and the country SWFs.

An entrenched Gaddafi says Libya is completely calm

After losing the east and west at the hands of the popular rebellion, Muammar Gaddafi also seems to have lost 'the North': In a television interview with Serbia 'Pink', the Libyan dictator said that the country is "totally calm" . Asked by the channel exclusively Serb accused Gaddafi back to Al Qaeda of being behind the "terrorist gangs" that have revolutionized the population against the old regime, and said the "small group" of opponents "has been fenced" by loyal troops.

ARAB WORLD - The roots of Islamism Jacobin

Recently I had occasion to reread the book of Sayyid Qutb, the ideologue of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood [hanged in 1966] titled "Milestones on the road." Specific points that I had not noticed thirty years ago this time have caught my attention. Indeed, why not see Jacobin radicalism that emerges from the works of Qutb?! It is thus quite striking resemblance between radical political projects, be they secular or Islamic.

Seven killed in riots in Yemen

Aden .- Up to seven people died and fifty were wounded by gun fire during protests on Friday in the Yemeni city of Aden, as reported by medical sources said Saturday. In total 24 people have died since the outbreak of the February 17 protests against the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, mainly in the south.

The president of Yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh said today that the Yemeni people will strongly support the armed forces and police to protect his regime from any conspiracy. "We are confident that our people and their great national institution (the army and police) will abort any plot," the president said in a speech at a meeting with senior commanders of the armed forces and security services in Sana'a .

Alain Juppe in French diplomacy replaces the resigned Alliot-Marie

Michèle Alliot-Marie has endured to the end. The Foreign Minister of the French Republic did not understand, or would not understand, why the President called for his head after successive blunders that starred a few weeks ago, in relation to the crisis in Tunisia. In the end, to the inevitability of retirement, the veteran politician of the UMP has chosen to seek the settlement of its own accord to avoid the ignominy of dismissal traumatic.

SAUDI ARABIA - What resistance against the winds of change?

After three months of absence, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz returned to a country where the reformers, inspired by Egypt, calling for more openness and equality. In Riyadh, tongues wag.

Egyptian demonstrators Tahrir again last night after riots

Cairo. .- Hundreds of protesters again occupied the central Tahrir Square today after they were expelled by force last night in a riot with military police authorities promised they would not repeat. Carrying banners and flags to half this afternoon were hundreds of people that had settled there, the epicenter of public protests forced the February 11 resignation of President Hosni Mubarak.

"Sitting up to topple the regime of truth" and "That fall, dropping the regime," the posters said two protesters who were gathering in a circle of grass that occupies the center of the plaza, as could verify Eph. This focus is part of attempts to speed up reforms after Mubarak's resignation and change the government.

The revolution will expire in the coming days

Abdelhafiz Ghoga, new spokesman for the National Council of Libya (CNL) has stated that this organization that claims to be an embryonic transitional government and to integrate representatives of all cities "liberated" the country-that was his expression, is opposed to any foreign intervention even if it is to help the revolution.

"We are totally against any military intervention in any country whatsoever. The rest of Libyan territory will be released by the Libyan people," said the lawyer, known for his activity in Benghazi for human rights and which now becomes the new face of the provisional authorities in areas loyal to the popular revolt.

Arab Revolt - petty Europe

This Europe is not up to the ongoing revolution in North Africa and the Middle East. Silence and inaction which were received with demonstrations that toppled the dictatorship of Ben Ali and Mubarak is in addition to this the lukewarm reaction to the massacre perpetrated by the Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

When a tyrant is launching its tanks and its air force against citizens who demand his departure and that there are already dead by the hundreds, it is simply disgraceful to call for restraint in the use of force. The crimes these days are not the first guilty that Qaddafi, but those he has perpetrated the most shameless.

Prevented the first manifestation of the lifting of emergency rule in Algiers

Samir KnayazArgel. .- Even when it has not attracted large masses, just a hundred people, "the first demonstration to demand regime change in Algiers after the lifting of emergency rule was prevented by force by hundreds of riot police. Convened by the opposition party Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD) of Said Sadi, the march was from the Place des Martyrs in Algiers, at the foot of the old Kasbah, passing in front of the seats of Parliament and Senate, and end about four miles away, in May First Square, renamed "Place de la Concorde Civil." The RCD thought to organize your event without impairments as the state of emergency, which banned such protests was lifted on Thursday by decision of the president, Bouteflika Abdelziz after 19 years, but it was not the case.

The complicated task of rebuilding the area hardest hit by the earthquake

By the way we receive, trying to keep his distance, Soledad means that something is wrong with the women of the emergency camp. The Chileans from all walks and kisses greet those we reach out as if we were a couple of foreign diplomats. The head of reconstruction in Bio-Bio, the region most affected by the earthquake of exactly a year ago, knows enough to know that something was hidden and that something is surely the visit of a politician.

Alliot-Marie's resignation

Too close to Ben Ali: Alliot-Marie, the French Foreign Minister Michele Alliot-Marie will be explained, according to government sources on Sunday morning her resignation. As the news agency AFP on Saturday learned in Paris, Alliot-Marie wanted to step down after returning from Kuwait. The Foreign Minister was due to their contacts with the environment of the Tunisian President Ben Ali ousted last come under severe pressure.

Sacramento: the first supermarket opened in cannabis

They've dubbed "the Wal-Mart grass," because it is the largest retailer of products related to cannabis. Last Saturday in Sacramento, California, opened a retail chain of franchised Wegrow over 10 thousand square meters where you can buy everything you need to grow a marijuana plant in the house.

The store does not sell drugs, but allows customers to learn the techniques of cultivation and buy those products are natural and artificial help to rapidly grow marijuana plants. These are present in the store, but can only be 'admired' by customers. In California, the medical use of marijuana is legal, as it continues to be banned "recreational" substance.

Russia: Man blows himself up in Moscow in the air

With a hand grenade, a man in Moscow in front of a department store was blown up. The 41-year-old had announced shortly before the suicide, his son by phone, police said on Saturday, according to the Interfax news agency. Reason for the desperate deed was probably a family dispute. First, an attempt had been feared after the end of January had killed terrorists from the North Caucasus at the Moscow airport Domodedovo in a suicide attack 37 people.

Kenny is Premier: Ireland to vote for the change of power

Ireland's choice winner: Enda Kenny, the Irishman put in the serious economic crisis to a new government. As expected, they have voted out the incumbent government party Fianna Fail economic liberal Prime Minister Brian Cowen. Newly come to power on the green island, the conservative Fine Gael with the nominee for Prime Minister Enda Kenny at the top.

After the counting of nearly 40 of the 166 seats in 43 constituencies are largely confirmed the prognosis. Kenny scored in his constituency Mayo the best individual result so far with more than 17 000 votes. The final result was after a marathon count only expected on Sunday. Election in Ireland: Some polls had seen the party Fine Gael at almost 40 percent after predicting on the basis of election surveys, the law-and-order party does nationally to more than 36 percent of the vote.

Rebellion in Oman: the government building on fire, two dead in the streets

LONDON - The government building and police station in Sohar are on fire. The witnesses said. The city was the scene of a demonstration to demand new reforms resulted in blood: two demonstrators were killed when police fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.. During the clashes five other people were injured and some vehicles on fire.

The parade was attended by at least 2,000 people. The official news agency ONA has confirmed that the event has taken place, speaking of an unknown number of casualties. The country, which borders with Yemen and Saudi Arabia is ruled by Sultan Qaboos bin Said since 1970.

Oman (geolocation) Oman (wikipedia) Fiamme (wikipedia)