EGYPT: Muslim Brotherhood created their own political party

AFP - The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, the most influential movement oppositon, have created their own party Saturday, with the ambition to contest half the seats in parliamentary elections scheduled for September, the first since the fall of the regime of Hosni Mubarak .

The new party, dubbed the "Party of Freedom and Justice", has denied having an orientation "theocratic" and said he would be "independent" of the Brotherhood, whose pronouncements are often the distrust of the population.

The Advisory Board of the movement decided to launch the party and adopted at the same time its political program, said at a news conference Mohammed Hussein, Secretary General of the brotherhood born there over 80 years.

The party, headed by a politburo member of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohammed al-Mursi, will coordinate its positions with the Brotherhood while remaining an independent body.

"It will be a civil party and not theocratic," repeated Mr. Mursi. The Egyptian constitution bans parties based on religion.

According to Dr. Mursi, the Party for Freedom and justice will run for between 45 and 50% of seats in parliamentary elections in September, the first poll since Mr.Mubarak has stepped down under pressure from the streets Feb. 11.

The army, which Mr.Mubarak handed over the reins of the country to his departure, announced in late March it would give legislative power to the future parliament elected in September, then the executive power at the head of state chosen by ballot at the end of the year .

The ambitions of the new party should raise the dismay of other political parties who have engaged in rebellion against the old regime and who may fear being marginalized if they do not present a united front.

"This announcement is depressing to political forces in the country," he told AFP Rashawan Dia, an expert on Islamist movements at the Al Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies.

"The revolution was not Islamic.We must now reconsider the idea that the Muslim Brotherhood are the most important force in the country, "he said.

The Muslim Brotherhood, the Mubarak regime nemesis, were officially banned from the Egyptian political sphere, but were tolerated in practice.Drawing on influential social support networks, he presented their candidates as "independents".

After a breakthrough in the legislative elections of 2005, which saw them win nearly 20% of the seats, the Muslim Brotherhood came out empty handed from the first round of the legislative end of 2010, and had decided to boycott the second round, alleging massive fraud and violence.

The brotherhood is particularly active in the mosques, where it carries out actions to help the disadvantaged, in universities and within unions.

Founded in 1928 in Egypt by Hassan al-Banna, it is the oldest movement of Sunni Islam.His doctrine organized around the doctrine of "Tawheed" (Oneness of God), the fusion of religion and politics.

During its history it has oscillated between violent opposition to power and collaboration, between pleas for an Islamic state and insurance companies respect the democratic game. It thus remains an enigma and creates fear of Westerners, who fear the establishment of an Islamic regime in Egypt.

CHINA: dissident artist Ai Weiwei arrested at Beijing airport

AFP - The Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, outspoken government critic, was arrested when he was about to board a plane for Hong Kong and police raided his studio outside Beijing, have announced its employees on Twitter.

The arrest of Ai Weiwei, 53, comes just days after he announced his intention to move abroad to avoid being harassed by the time the authorities have further strengthened their crackdown on people criticizing the regime.On Tuesday, he spoke German.

Have announced in mid-February the cancellation of his first major exhibition held in China in March, organizers had explained to him that the timing was inappropriate and they wanted to reschedule.

According to messages on Twitter accounts assistant to the artist, police visited his studio in the District Caochangdi equipped with a search warrant.

Eight of his assistants were taken by police for questioning while his wife was under police surveillance at their homes, according to these same sources.

The mobile phone of the artist was off Sunday and did not answer the phone at his studio in Beijing.

In January, the artist's studio in the suburbs of Shanghai had been demolished. Ai was briefly placed under house arrest last November for trying to "celebrate" with her fans announcing the forced demolition.

Have defended many humanitarian causes and won renown with a broad inquiry into the collapses of school buildings during the earthquake in Sichuan province (southwest) in 2008, apparently related to corruption.

MIDDLE EAST: Islamic Jihad claims two new rockets at Israel

Al-Quds Brigades, armed wing of the radical Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility on Wednesday morning the firing of two rockets at Israel, in a statement released in Gaza.

Al-Quds Brigades have attributed the authorship of two rocket attacks against the town of Beersheba in the Negev (southern Israel) and that of Ashdod, near the border with the Gaza Strip.

"This is an initial response to the Zionist crimes committed against our people in Gaza," the statement said.

These new rockets are part of an escalation of violence since Saturday between armed Palestinian groups in Gaza and Israel.

Eight Palestinians, four civilians including two minors, and four Islamic Jihad fighters were killed by Israeli fire in Gaza on Tuesday, the deadliest day in the Palestinian territory controlled by Hamas for more than two years.

On the night of Wednesday, two Islamic Jihad militants were wounded, one seriously, during an Israeli air strike in the Zeitoun neighborhood in Gaza City.

LUXURY: Bulgari, the end of independence

And in the end, he won the bet. French luxury giant LVMH was not alone in taking a close look at Bulgari. But so far, the Italian jeweler had resisted all the sirens. A determination that Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH and the world's No. 1 luxury, finally came to end. His group has acquired, on Monday, 51% of Bulgari in a transaction valued at 1.84 billion euros. And to mourn its independence, the Bulgari family has received 16.5 million shares LVMH, or 3.5% of the group.

The French group hopes through this acquisition to double its revenue in an area where it is still not number 1.Bulgari should enable it to achieve a turnover of 1.8 billion euros in 2011 in the jewelry against 985 million euros in 2010.

Paolo and Nicola Bulgari for, respectively President and Vice-Chair of the Italian family, the benefits are less obvious. They put forward "guarantees for the future" made by LVMH to justify the operation. But it is mainly a reversal of unexpected situations.

A climb that quickly attracted the covetous

The house has always prided itself Bulgari to be one of the last major family-owned businesses in the world of luxury. In 2007, its CEO, Francesco Trapani told the daily La Tribune that his "business [was] not for sale.It has never been and we do not expect to sell. "

Founded in 1884 in Rome, Bulgari has managed to become the third largest jewelry brand in the world behind Cartier (part of the world's No. 2 luxury Richemont) and Tiffany. Climb to the podium that is actually relatively recent. In the 1980s, Bulgari had only five stores and 80 employees. Over 30 years later, Bulgari can boast of having 3300 employees and sells products in more than 250 shops. Floated in 1995, the title of the Roman house gained nearly 900% of its value.

In these circumstances it is natural that the jeweler has aroused the envy of all the industry heavyweights.Especially in 2006, Bulgari has for the first time exceeded the billion turnover. They all declared their love to the Italian group. PPR (Pinault Printemps Redoute), the French rival LVMH, Bulgari have sought to acquire in 2006. A year later, it was the turn of Swatch to declare interest. While Richemont who has never ruled on the case Bulgari, the Swiss group, which owns Cartier, could hardly stay out of negotiations on the fate of his Italian rival.

Expansion halted by 2009

But until then had always preferred Bulgari continue to grow alone.Spurred by Francesco Trapani, CEO since 1984, the Italian company has successfully launched, diversify in perfumes, leather goods and even luxury hotels (in partnership with the Marriott group).

Until the 2008 financial crisis, Bulgari seemed not to have known of missteps. But in 2009, the company posted a net loss - its first since 1995 - from 1.38 million. A bad year that Bulgari has placed on the account of a broad expansion of its distribution started before the crisis erupted.

It is perhaps this reversal of fortune that LVMH has decided to take action.Perhaps also the desire to prove to another family business coveted Hermes, the companies that seem attached to their independence may also eventually be seduced.

The 24-hour general strike marred by incidents in Athens

Clashes erupted Wednesday in central Athens between dozens of youths and riot police, splitting in two a procession of demonstrators protesting against the austerity as part of a general strike for 24 hours, was a journalist the AFP.

The security forces, deployed by cable to the Ministry of Finance, at the bottom of the central square of Syntagma fired tear gas to repel irritants and young people, who were of various projectiles.

The police then deployed to push beyond the square mass of protesters split into two incidents and many were coughing and choking.But échaufourrées continued down from the parliament with the firing of Molotov cocktails by young troublemakers.

Police said the various processions union in Athens and Piraeus have collected some 20,000 people, and more than 60,000 according to union estimates, a significant mobilization. In Salonika, the police amounted to some 16,000 demonstrators.

Some 5,000 policemen were deployed in central Athens against the possibility of such excesses, almost automatically give in recent years at events and in particular that had marred the last union demonstration accompanying a general strike on December 14.

The Minister of Citizen Protection, Christos Papoutsis on Tuesday called for calm and "responsibility" to safeguard the country's image in front of the "international community".

The demonstrations were organized by the two major power plants in the country, the GSEE and ADEDY private to the public, and by the communist trade union front Pame, as part of a day of action against the treatment of 24H austerity prescribed in the country by the Union duropéenne and the International Monetary Fund in exchange for his financial rescue.

LIBYA: In Benghazi, the police dispersed a rally against the government

AFP - The Libyan police forcibly dispersed the night from Tuesday to Wednesday a sit-in against the power in Benghazi (east), and hundreds of supporters of the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi soon after marched in several cities, it was learned from sources.

Family members of prisoners killed in 1996 in a shootout in the prison of Abu Slim in Tripoli, gathered outside a police station in Benghazi to demand the release of their coordinator, the lawyer Fethi Tarbel, the newspaper reported Online Al-Manara.

Ms. Tarbell, whose reasons for arrest are unknown, was released under pressure from families, according to the newspaper's website Qurina near Seif Al-Islam, son of Colonel Gaddafi.

But the crowd did not move out and others joined the protest, prompting the police to disperse them by force, according to the website Libya al-Youm.

The demonstrators chanted slogans against the regime: "Benghazi wake up is the day you were waiting for" the blood of martyrs is not shed in vain, "or" the people want to bring down corruption, "according these media.

Soon after, hundreds of demonstrators marched pro-regime in Benghazi, the second largest city, 1,000 km east of Tripoli, but also in Sirte (east), Sebha (south) and Tripoli, according to images state television.

Since 4:00 local time (0200 GMT), the channel al-Jamahiriya broadcast live images of protesters marching on foot and in cars, waving flags and pictures of Colonel Qaddafi and chanting slogans in praise of the Guide of the Libyan revolution and cons channel Al-Jazeera accused by the regime to incite rebellion in Arab individuals.

The string "al-Jazeera despicable, we do not want anything other than our leader," chanted the demonstrators particular.

These events occur on the eve of the "day of anger" Libyan scheduled for Thursday, according to appeals on Facebook.

Under the slogan "Revolt of February 17, 2011: to make a day of anger in Libya," a Facebook group, which calls for an uprising against the regime of Muammar Gaddafi, has risen from 4,400 members Monday at 9600 Wednesday morning.

According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), at least 1,200 prisoners were killed by police during a shootout in the prison of Abu Salim in 1996, under circumstances that remain unclear.

In recent years their families, much of which originated in Benghazi, continues to claim that light and justice are made on the massacre.

RBS Six Nations: Victory reassuring XV de France face Scotland

AFP - XV de France has started its title defense in the RBS Six Nations rugby victory (34-21) against Scotland on Saturday at the Stade de France during the first day.

France, who scored four tries against three conceded, was a first point for the reconquest of his audience, two months after the correction (16-59) received against Australia at St. Denis during the tours in November.

The second stage of the tournament will be held next Sunday in Ireland, victorious (13-11) Saturday in Italy. Meanwhile, France is ranked first ahead of England and Ireland with a better points difference.

The French took the score came through a try for winger Maxime Medard transformed by Morgan Parra on a ball recovery.Fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc, a drop, giving ten points ahead of his team before the test of Scottish captain Alastair Kellock, converted by Dan Parks.

France took over the seven-point lead before the interval by pushing the Scots to concede a penalty try after five mixed difficult to board their online test. Transformed Parra (17-7).

The Scots saw their chances diminish in the 55th minute with the third try scored by French Imanol Harinordoquy, cleverly used by Trinh-Duc.Yachvili transformed (24-7, 55th).

Courageous, XV of the Thistle reduced the scoring in the 60th minute with the test line 3 Kelly Brown, converted by Parks, but the French regained 17 points ahead with a try between the posts for Damien Traille converted by Yachvili, before the third Test Scottish Sean Lamont.

Yachvili concluded the discussion by writing an ultimate penalty.

FRANCE: Michele Alliot-Marie criticized for its friendly relationship with someone close to Ben Ali

AFP - The head of French diplomacy, Michele Alliot-Marie, was used in 2010 in Tunisia in a private jet Tunisian businessman, presented by the weekly Le Canard Enchaine as a member "of the clan Ben Ali" what was denied on Tuesday the cabinet of the Minister.

The newspaper reveals that the minister used between Christmas and New Year's Day this aircraft to connect to the city of Tunis Tabarka, with her husband Patrick Ollier, Minister for Relations with Parliament, and members of their families.

Tunisian revolt began some two weeks ago, after self-immolation of a young Tunisian, December 17 in Sidi Bouzid, in the center of the country.

Michèle Alliot-Marie was sharply criticized in France since 11 January for having underestimated the Revolution of jasmine and have proposed to the National Assembly security cooperation regime in the Ben Ali.

The private plane and the destination hotel Michèle Alliot-Marie owned Aziz Miled, longtime friend of the Minister and presented by Le Canard Enchaine as close Belhassen Trabelsi, brother of former President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali.

"It is true that Michele Alliot-Marie, after taking a commercial flight from Paris to Tunis, then took a private plane to Tabarka," he told AFP his cabinet."It was at the invitation of Aziz Miled, a friend for several years, which is the owner of an airline called Nouvelair. Miled Aziz was on the plane and took them with her parents and her husband" sources said the same source.

"But Aziz Miled is not a clan member Ben Ali," said the minister's office. "He was caught by a family member Trabelsi 20% of its shares in the airline and the presidency of this society," we sure of the source. Family Trabelsi is the wife of the former president.

"Mr.Miled is even less a friend of Ben Ali as the new Tunisian authorities, after the latter's departure and his family, he gave back all its shares so that the chair of Nouvelair, "argued the firm the minister. "In any case, it was a clan for Ben Ali", it was stressed from the same source.

However Aziz Miled is part of the list of which Switzerland has frozen the assets on January 19 after the fall of Ben Ali. He is featured on this list, published by the Swiss government as a partner Belhassen Trabelsi.

Sunday, in an interview with Paris, Michèle Alliot-Marie had admitted being on vacation in 2010 in Tunisia. "Like millions of French, I'm going to Tunisia.That's all, "she had said.

She added he had not thought about resigning after his controversial remarks on police assistance that France could make to Tunisia, saying had "learned to have thick leather" faced with controversy.

Last week, Segolene Royal, Socialist former candidate for president in 2007, was deemed "hateful" about the minister before the deputies and found that having "very personal ties with Tunisia" made "blind".

The Chained Duck also states that it sought in vain to who had paid the hotel bill of Tabarka stayed where the minister and his family."It was settled by Ms. Alliot-Marie and her family," assured the minister's entourage without elaborating.