PAKISTAN: Ten dead in a burning tanker truck NATO

AFP - At least 15 people were killed Saturday near the Afghan-Pakistan border in the fire, caused by a bomb, a truck that NATO was en route to Afghanistan, Pakistani officials said .

The victims were youths who had gathered to collect the leaking fuel tank near the town of Landi Kotal in the Frontier Province du Nord-Ouest, said an official of the local government, Shafeerullah Wazir.

"The tanker caught fire after an explosion caused by a small bomb," he said."The villagers of nearby houses rushed to collect leaking gasoline truck damaged after the fire was under control," he added.

"Suddenly, the fire resumed and at least 15 people, including five young boys, who collected the fuel in buckets, were fatally burned."

According to another Pakistani official Iqbal Khattak, eleven trucks and tanker trucks from NATO were destroyed Friday around midnight near Torkham (northwest). The vehicles caught fire after the explosion caused one of them, it seems, by a bomb placed under his frame.

No casualties have deplored, "saidKhattak told AFP.

These 12 destruction have not been claimed, but authorities suspect the Taliban of being the authors.

These attacks occurred in the aftermath of the attack against two cars in the U.S. consulate in Peshawar, northwestern Pakistan, which slightly wounded two Americans and killed a passerby. It was the first direct attack on the United States since the death of Osama bin Laden.

The Pakistani Taliban insurgents who have pledged allegiance to Al Qaeda in 2007 and lead since a very bloody campaign of bombings in Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack to avenge the mastermind of the Sept. 11, killed on 2 May in the north by a helicopter-borne U.S. commandos.

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND: The maneuvers have begun for the succession of DSK

Reuters - Interned in the huge prison complex Rikers Island since Monday evening, Dominique Strauss-Kahn to add to a prison daily increasing pressure for his resignation as director of the IMF.

Then he will appear a second time on Friday before a criminal court in Manhattan to respond to alleged sexual assault, DSK is increasingly isolated and keeping him at the head of the International Monetary Fund is seen as an embarrassment .

The IMF has tried to contact its Director General to determine whether he intended to remain at this station during the course of the investigation or whether he planned to retire.

In a statement, the international institution has lamented the fact that such a relationship could not take place since the inquiry of DSK Saturday afternoon at JFK Airport in New York on a plane to Paris.

An IMF spokesman said that "it is obviously important that contact can be established within a reasonable time."

"I know there is a problem concerning his status in the IMF, but it is hoped that this will be put in brackets the time that we see clearer in this case," said Bill Taylor, one of the lawyers DSK.

Washington calls for an interim Director

Two sources at the IMF confirmed to Reuters that the board has tried Tuesday to join DSK considering whether or not to remain at his post.

One source said that IMF chief's resignation is the ideal solution, while the second source said that this sentiment was not shared by the 24 members of the board of directors.

The IMF chief is currently in custody at Rikers Island prison after rejecting his request for bail in a case of alleged sexual assault on a woman in a hotel room in New York.

According to the regulations of the prison administration of the city, inmates may receive three visits per week in addition to their lawyers.

The U.S. treasury secretary, Timothy Geithner, said it was important that the Fund can continue to operate normally at a time when he intervened in the rescue of several European Union countries.

"I can not comment on the case, but obviously he (DSK) is not in a position where it may lead the IMF," said Geithner.

"It is important that the Board of Directors of the IMF formally appoint someone to a transitional period and that person is acting as director," he added.

The White House is already thinking of replacing John Lipsky, number 2 of the Fund who is temporarily acting, and plans to push the candidacy of Councillor David Lipton to this post.

"Given the situation, the release on bail was refused, he should (resign) to avoid penalizing the institution," said Maria Fekter, Austrian Minister of Finance.

"It is important to ensure the stability of the institution, but we must also rely on the intelligence of Mr. Strauss-Kahn.And in this case it does not seem to have demonstrated, "said Elena Delgado, Spanish Minister of Economy.

Rivalry between emerging European and

If it is not yet officially opened, a succession of DSK to head the IMF is already the subject of rivalries, especially between emerging markets and European Union.

China, which last year became the third largest contributor to the Fund, called for "fairness, transparency and merit" in choosing the new head of the organization.

Brazil and South Africa echoed this position by stating that the choice of the next executive director must be on the basis of his qualifications and not his
nationality.

"We believe it is appropriate to have someone from a country emerging.We believe that India and Brazil are good options, but we also believe that Europe will try to maintain its leading position and we're going to press, "said an official of Brazil.

The three main tasks of the director who will eventually be named are: the debt crisis in Europe, the establishment of a political agreement on reducing debt in the U.S. and the risk of an inflationary bubble in emerging markets .

Waiting to be re-heard by American justice, Dominique Strauss-Kahn was under continuous surveillance designed to prevent any suicide attempt.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn has shown no signs to that effect and it is simply a precautionary measure, said a source within the prison service.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn will be monitored more frequently than other inmates, the source said, without elaborating.

FRANCE: Dominique Strauss-Kahn is charged with "sexual assault" in New York

The Director General of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the French Dominique Strauss-Kahn has been formally charged Sunday with sexual assault and attempted rape a few hours after being arrested at the airport in New York, officials said Source police.

Strauss-Kahn, known as "DSK", Socialist candidate preferred by the French presidential polls for 2012, "has been charged with sexual assault, forcible confinement and one of attempted rape on a young person 32 year old woman in a hotel room in New York, "Ryan told reporters Sesa, a spokesman for police in Harlem (north of Manhattan).

Mr.Strauss-Kahn, 62, was still detained at the police station in Harlem, where he was taken in the afternoon of Saturday, after being arrested while preparing to leave for Europe.

It should be referred to the prosecutor in the day Sunday, and should remain at the police station in Harlem by then, it was clear from the same source.

INTERNET: Syria Goes to War against Facebook

Served to suppress the popular uprising that opposes the regime of Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian leadership does not forget all the social media front. These days, Damascus has decided to launch an attack on Facebook.The "crime" of the famous social network? Having closed last Friday, the page electronic Syrian Army that supports the Syrian president without having informed his leaders when it had over 60,000 fans, reported Tuesday the Arabic version of the American CNN news site.

A few hours later, the ax fell on a clone of this page of pro-Bashar created by "sympathizers" in the words of the Syrian government daily Al-Thawra.

Earlier this week, the newspaper also accused Facebook of "supporting the alleged Syrian revolution."In short: Damascus suspected site of playing a double game, recalling in passing that the pages of the opposition continued, they, on their merry path digital.

If leaders of the social network have always kept to stand at the recent events that have affected the Arab world, it must be noted, however, he allowed the protesters to organize the Egyptian and Tunisian easier. Remains that Facebook is not accustomed to close the pages and do not typically occur in cases of flagrant and repeated violations against its rules.Contacted by FRANCE 24, the company declined to respond.

Call to spam

The directors of the famous Egyptian Facebook page "We are all Khaled Said", which was particularly illustrated in the uprising against the regime of former President Hosni Mubarak, advance, them, the following explanation for the closure of page E-Syrian Army: they ensure that its officers have violated the code of conduct on Facebook.

"We are all Khaled Said" reproduced well, a message posted on the "wall" of the electronic page of the Syrian Army to its members explaining the procedure for "spam" (flood of spam) - which is prohibited - Facebook groups calling for revolution in Syria.

But Internet Syrian lend, themselves, to Facebook noblest motives. The social network would react to the information of the British daily "The Telegraph" that in recent days, opponents of Syria were tortured to reveal their access codes to Facebook, they say.

Much refute accusations that Damascus.The daily Al-Thawra "said, meanwhile, that" those responsible for the electronic page of the Syrian army preparing to launch an offensive that Facebook will remember "to avenge the alleged bias of the social network.

FOOTBALL - THE CASE OF QUOTA: Zidane broke his silence and defends Laurent Blanc

AFP - The case of quotas was marked Saturday by Zinedine Zidane in support of Laurent Blanc, who has had a hectic day, between his private flight from Merano (Italy) Bordeaux, tracked by the press, and a denial of the French Football Federation (FFF) following the announcement by a regional media of his alleged resignation.

The position of Zidane, beacon generation black-blanc-beur, was eagerly awaited.Her silence became heavy while the world champions in 1998 tore at each other on the White case, with Vieira and Thuram accusers and Dugarry, Lizarazu, Desailly and Jacquet, coach of the defenders.

"It would be crazy to let him go because of it"

To the question "Should he step down as coach?" Zidane replied in an interview published Sunday in L'Equipe: "Of course not. But I can tell you it was very, very touched. I think he started doing a great job. And he has a real project, but you must leave things in their place, it would be crazy to let him go because of this. It must continue. "

"Regarding Lawrence, we'll make it simple and clear: I know him well, he is obviously not racist, says 'Zizou'.I'm going even further: it never reasons like that because it's not an issue for him! I think that's also how he has made clear in a discussion take.

White spent a Saturday in leading media.The FFF had formally denied to AFP his resignation presented by the conditional site-West France on Saturday morning, also denied information by the Ministry of Sports.

"I got the phone (...) at no time was there any question about it (...) It does not have to tell me everything, but at no time did I felt on the verge of resignation, "for his part told AFP press chief of the Blues, Philippe Tournon.

Laurent Blanc is silent before being heard by the Commissions of Inquiry

White left Meran (northern Italy) in early afternoon Saturday, when he was in treatment, said a reporter from AFP.The coach is then arrived at about 5:15 p.m. on board a private plane at the airport Bordeaux-Merignac, found a photographer for AFP.

"Out of respect for the Committees preparing to audition, Laurent Blanc will not make any statements before the hearings and render findings. He will speak, however much later," said Mr.Tournon.

The coach has until Monday morning to even be heard by the mission of the Department of Sports and by the internal commission of the FFF, a source familiar with the matter.

Davenas Lawrence, one of two members of the Committee of Inquiry of the FFF, said Saturday at the AFP: "Until further notice, a hearing will be in Paris, probably during the weekend," the later Monday.

Chantal Jouanno Sports Minister must present the findings of the investigation department on Monday afternoon.Those of the internal investigation of the FFF should be reserved for a special federal council next Thursday.

In the case of quotas, for now, only the national technical director (DTN) François Blaquart, which depends on both the department and the FFF is temporarily suspended. It is seems likely that the heavier penalty.

Brussels unveils several proposals to reform the Schengen area

The European Commission will propose on Wednesday a greater flexibility to restore the checks within the Schengen area without borders, under pressure from Paris and Rome who are concerned about the arrival of thousands of Tunisian immigrants.

Temporary restoration of national borders is a "possibility among others" to be used in exceptional circumstances, "said Commission President José Manuel Barroso, in a letter sent late last week in France and the Italy.

But most said one European diplomat, is that of restoring border controls is clearly signified.

This review could "undermine the philosophy of the Schengen system, which relies on mutual trust between States, but warned Yves PASCOUAU, a European expert on migration issues, in a study released Tuesday by the European Policy Centre (European Policy Center) .

Paris, in conflict with Rome about the reception of migrants in Tunisia, estimates that the current "safeguard clauses" that allow states to reinstate the controls are too restrictive.

France wants such that they can do so not only in cases of "serious threat to public order or national security" - as is expected today - but also in cases of "failure" of a state in monitoring its borders.

A European diplomat cited the example of Greek-Turkish border, which is one of the main crossing points for illegal immigration in Europe.

It is "essential" that the border control at the borders of Europe should be "effective and credible," the text that the Commission should present Wednesday and which AFP has obtained a copy still subject to change.

Temporary restoration of national borders should be "an incitement to virtue to compel these countries to be more rigorous, more demanding," said one diplomat.

A capacity of Frontex?

European Commissioner for immigration Cecilia Malmström should also propose a strengthening of skills and capacity for action of Frontex, the agency responsible for overseeing the external borders of the EU.

Its proposals will then be on the agenda of a meeting of EU interior ministers on May 12 in Brussels before being finalized in June at a summit of Heads of State and Government of the EU.

"The goal is to go as fast as possible to strengthen the governance of the Schengen area," said one diplomat from a major European country.

However, if the proposals are in line with Brussels wanted by Paris and Rome, the debate on how best to implement them is unresolved.France calls for new legislation changing the Schengen code to give more weight to the amendments, while the Commission and some capitals look for a less cumbersome for simple "clarification" of existing rules, according to diplomats.

The German Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle has placed limits on changing the rules. "Freedom of movement in Europe is such a success that it should not be renegotiated," he said.

The Schengen Area comprises 25 Member States with three non-EU members (Norway, Switzerland and Iceland, Liechtenstein and soon).It allows more than 400 million citizens to move freely from Finland to Greece, from Portugal to the Polish border, without showing their passports.

The accession of Bulgaria and Romania, initially scheduled for March, is still pending.