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.

UNITED STATES: The Federal Reserve has revolutionized the communication

Chairman of the Central Bank of the United States (Fed), Ben Bernanke, has dealt a further blow to the reputation of secrecy and opacity of the institution in deciding to hold regular press briefings.

Mr. Bernanke will hold press briefings four times a year to present the latest economic forecasts Monetary Policy Committee of the Fed and to provide additional circumstantial evidence on the Committee's decisions, "the Fed said in a statement.

The first briefing is scheduled for April 27, after the next monetary policy meeting of the Federal Reserve.Two more are planned for 2011: June 22 and November 2.

It is a revolution in communication and transparency for the Fed, which until 1994 did not communicate the decisions taken during meetings of its Monetary Policy Committee (FOMC).

It was then scrutinize the evolution of the interbank lending market on a daily basis, on which the Fed has daily, to get an idea of ​​what she had decided.

Since then, the FOMC announces its decision in a statement issued at the end of its meetings and whose every word is weighed and analyzed by experts.

The Fed said that "the launch of regular press briefings designed to further improve the clarity and timeliness of [his] communication."

The FOMC holds a regular meeting every six weeks, eight times a year.

At the Committee meeting in December, several members had insisted on "communication challenges" facing the Federal Reserve to make it understand as precisely as possible its intentions.

Quiet by nature, Mr. Bernanke seemed rather reluctant to exercise press conferences.

He had participated in early February at a Washington press conference - where the questions were filtered by a moderator - who had the air of a trial run.

Mr.Bernanke said last year that his institution had not yet taken the decision "difficult" to communicate more often, just like what the European Central Bank (ECB) and Bank of Japan, whose respective presidents, Jean -Claude Trichet and Masaaki Shirakawa, give regular press conference.

"We do not want to create inappropriately uncertainty or volatility in financial markets by saying things that could be misinterpreted," he had said the same.

At the head of the Fed since 2006, Mr.Bernanke has profoundly changed the habits in the central bank, rejecting the "cult" which was under his predecessor Alan Greenspan, and leading the Fed to communicate a lot about his action.

Where Mr. Greenspan had made a specialty of small cryptic sentences, Mr. Bernanke, a former economics professor, is trying to explain in the simplest possible action.

The announcement of regular press briefings of the President of the Fed takes place while the U.S. central bank will soon have to clarify how it intends to fly the "crisis", that is to say how she intends to use to return smoothly to the hundreds of billions of dollars it has pumped into the U.S. economy to enable it through the crisis.

COTE D'IVOIRE - EXCLUSIVE: The reconciliation of the country through the people of Duékoué

Some images may offend the sensibilities of viewers.

Ten days after the effective takeover of the Ivorian president Alassane Ouattara, the new government must now begin on a gigantic construction: that of reconciliation. The Republican Forces of Côte d'Ivoire (FRCI), which brought to power Ouattara, are now sovereign and crisscross the country to collect weapons in circulation and safety.

In Duékoué, Caroline Dumay, special correspondent for FRANCE 24, followed FRCI patrols in the heart of one of the cities most affected by the clashes between pro-and pro-Gbagbo Ouattara.Their mission focuses on two areas: ensuring the safety of people and uncover possible weapons caches.

"Duekoué was the nest of the militia and Liberian mercenaries. The amount of weapons we have recovered is below the estimates we made on the number of weapons distributed here," said the commander of the gendarmerie Konda Duékoué responsible for operations in the region.

In recent weeks the clashes, several reports have confirmed that the armed forces loyal to President Laurent Gbagbo had out massively distributed weapons to civilians.For the commander Konda, this weapon is a threat to the newfound peace in Côte d'Ivoire.

Massacres

Securing Duékoué by FRCI is now one of the priorities of government Ouattara, while residents return to their homes and attempt to identify the many dead.

In recent weeks, several humanitarian agencies have accused the pro-Ouattara of committing atrocities in the region of Duekoue. The Red Cross had even suggested a figure of 800 deaths in one district of Carrefour.

The Government believes that the balance Ouattara civil clashes is 330 deaths in the region.Officials of the UN mission on site, for their part, said they had conducted the burial of 198 bodies.

According to FRANCE 24 journalists in Duékoué, it is likely that many civilians were summarily executed. Images they filmed, the lifeless body emerged, particularly that of a pastor who tried to surrender before being shot.

The time of reconstruction

The authorities said the residents of Duekoue that the area was now secure and that they could return to their city.But for many people, the main concern now is to know where to sleep, while many houses were swept away by the fighting.

Father Bertin, parish of Diahouin, chose to return. But the return is difficult. His chapel was burned, his house was looted and the well is filled with corpses. "It is not difficult to return, but once you're there, where to stay Where to live?" Asks he.

At 85, like many others, he can not afford to rebuild. This heavy burden will be the new power in place. A "major challenge", recognizes Sidiki Konate, a government minister Ouattara."If it solves the problem of reconciliation in Duékoué, it solves the problem of reconciliation in Côte d'Ivoire," he says.

A scenario that can take shape without the rapid reconstruction of infrastructure.

LIBYA - Feature: In Misrata, the fighting is taking place amid a ruined city

Misrata reached April 12, Matthieu Mabin and Alexandra Fox, FRANCE 24 correspondents, are alongside the rebellion Libyan Misrata when she comes back to a neighborhood to the forces of Colonel Gaddafi.

Beach shoes and sweatpants, five weeks ago, insurgents Misrata were students, dentists and masons. Today they have become combatants. This is the case of Muhammad, who fights in his neighborhood, close to his own house: "I stay in my city to defend it. If someone comes to you and tries to kill you, what do you do? You defend yourself! We only defend themselves by fighting .... "

Within days, the fighting turned into a battlefield Misrata."Look at the streets of Tripoli on 6 or 7 miles, everything is destroyed, nothing remains," said Muhamad.

The battles are played out street by street, house by house, and leave behind a city totally devastated.

COTE D'IVOIRE: The battle continues Abidjan, Laurent Gbagbo called for "resistance" against France

The battle of Abidjan Saturday saw a new rise in power with the attack against the Golf Hotel in Abidjan, the headquarters of the president recognized by the international community, Alassane Ouattara, by men of outgoing President Laurent Gbagbo.

His spokesman, Ahoua Don Mello, however, strongly denied in the evening to AFP that the attack was carried out by his forces: "This is absolutely false.There was no attack of Golf, "he said, calling the incident an" imaginary attack. "

"President Gbagbo called for resistance against the bombing and the actions of the French army in Ivory Coast, because ultimately it is the French army that attacked us," he also said Ahoua Don Mello.

"Our troops are trying to rebuild after suffering a barbaric attack of the rebels backed by the UN and Licorne," he added.

Conducted after a relatively quiet day in Abidjan, the shooting against the Golf Hotel are the first aimed directly at the hotel where Mr. entrenchedOuattara and his government since the beginning of the post-election crisis in Ivory Coast, there are more than four months.

"We are being attacked with heavy weapons and light. It shook the walls, the staff are being evacuated in the basement," said a hotel employee. According to several witnesses, the fire started before 5:00 p.m. local and GMT and was completed shortly after 18:00.

Defence Forces and Security (SDS pro-Gbagbo) "are now attacking us and trying to push them," said a veteran Republican Forces of Mr. Ouattara.

"The shots are very, very close. Snipers fired bursts of Kalashnikov.The pro-Gbagbo attack us on all fronts ", including from the opposite edge of the lagoon along the Golf Hotel, said a resident of the Golf Hotel.

"Before the attack on the golf hotel, a convoy of soldiers FRCI Forces (Republican, pro-Ouattara) was ambushed as he left the hotel to Abobo (north of Abijan)," he told AFP an official military camp Ouattara.

"There are at least four dead and ten wounded," he added.It was not immediately possible to confirm this assessment.

Peacekeepers defending HQ Ouattara returned fire Saturday after the mortar attack, said the UN mission in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI).

"It came from the other side of the lagoon (south of the hotel) and the residence of President Gbagbo (located in the same district of Cocody)," said Hamadoun Toure, spokesman of the UNOCI.

"In accordance with their mandate to protect the golf hotel where the president and his team Ouattara, peacekeepers have responded by targeting the source of the shots coming from the other side of the Lagoon.We purposely avoided the residence of President Gbagbo, "added the spokesman.

In Washington, the spokesman for the State Department reiterated on Saturday condemned the violence perpetrated by the forces of Laurent Gbagbo, describing his attempts to negotiate a "ruse to regroup and rearm.

On the ground, a lull prevailed in Abidjan Saturday after heavy fighting the previous day's heavy machine gun and small arms fire that raged on the perimeter that includes the residence of Mr. Gbagbo, the RTI and the school gendarmerie.

Laurent Gbagbo's troops are fighting hard in the fiefs they held and where they enjoy a degree of mobility, according to testimony consistent.

Alassane Ouattara troops trying to secure the rest of the economic capital that suffers from a serious food situation.

The organization of human rights Human Rights Watch on Saturday accused forces pro-Ouattara and the pro-Gbagbo of committing massacres in western Ivory Coast, claiming possession of new evidence of atrocities already denounced by the UN and NGOs.

Forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara raped or killed hundreds of people and burned villages in late March in western Côte d'Ivoire, HRW said in a report published in New York.

The NGO also claims to have evidence of atrocities committed by the forces of Laurent Gbagbo, including a massacre at Blolequin March 28 more than a hundred men, women and children from northern Côte d'Ivoire and neighboring countries .On the 29th, ten of the same origin were killed and eight Togolese Guiglo in a village near Blolequin, HRW added.

In this context, the UN and the French Licorne force have confirmed their presence Saturday in the strategic port of Abidjan after the lifting of European sanctions, announced Friday against two major ports of Côte d'Ivoire - Abidjan San Pedro - as well as against several related companies including the cocoa sector.

Large stocks of cocoa beans, the main source of foreign currency, the world's largest producer, have been waiting for weeks to go for export.

On the other hand, an Air France flight arrived Saturday morning at the Abidjan airport, according to a French military source, who for the resumption of commercial flights is "effective."

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.

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.

GERMANY: The thesis of an Islamist attack raised after the shooting Frankfurt

German federal prosecutors suspected that the shooting Thursday in which two U.S. soldiers were killed the day before in Frankfurt Airport (West) was an attack "motivated Islamist."

If the motive is confirmed, this is the first time since September 11, 2001 killed an Islamist attack in Germany - which were partially prepared the 2001 attacks in the United States and which have failed for several projects terrorists.

"Given the circumstances, we may suspect that this attack is an act motivated Islamist," said federal prosecutors in Karlsruhe (West), responsible for terrorism cases, which took up the investigation.

On Wednesday, a source close Kosovar identified as investigators Arid Uka, 21 years old and lives in Frankfurt, drew on military U.S. Air Force who came from England and had to travel by bus to Ramstein base, 140 miles away. Two soldiers died and two others were seriously injured. One remained in critical condition Thursday.

According to Boris Rhein, interior minister of the regional state of Hesse, where Frankfurt is located, the suspected killer would be a "radical Islamist" who acted alone and apparently unrelated to a "network" terrorist. He worked at the postal facility of the airport and allegedly confessed, saidRhein.

The new Federal Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich found it unnecessary to address the security measures in Germany.

A special committee comprising the police U.S. investigators was established to elucidate the motivations of young Kosovar stopped just after the fact.

According to information from the public channel ARD, his weapon was "apparently stopped.The man shouted "Allah Akhbar" (Allah is the greatest ") before opening fire and was arrested in possession of many ammunition, reported several media.

It was not known by the German authorities as a dangerous Islamist, security sources said, but after ARD was close to a radical Moroccan preacher arrested a few days ago during a "crackdown".

The young Kosovar to be presented Thursday to a judge of the Federal Court to adjudicate on his detention.

Kosovo Albanian origin in Mitrovica (north), he had no criminal record in his country, a senior police official in Kosovo.

He lived in Germany with some of her family and investigators are looking in particular on his Facebook page where he made no secret of his convictions radical media reported.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday U.S. President Barack Obama "outraged by this attack," no effort be spared in this folder. And the chief diplomat Westerwelle pledged Thursday to his counterpart Hillary Clinton "a rapid and complete clarification of this attack."

Ramstein hosts a major U.S. base, which serves as a platform for logistics and other operations in Afghanistan.The U.S. Army has several other bases in the region.

An Islamist group disbanded in the fall of 2007 before he proceeds to act, "Sauerland cell" Ramstein was in sight. Its members were convicted in March 2010 for having dreamed of "a new Sept. 11.

Germany had previously eluded other Islamist attacks. In July 2006 particular, bombs placed by Islamists in suitcases on two regional trains did not explode. In 2003, attacks against Jewish interests had been foiled.

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.

EGYPT - EXCLUSIVE: Mohamed el-Baradei: "It is time that Mubarak parte"

As thousands of demonstrators gathered again on Saturday morning in Cairo and a new government must be designated in the day, the opponent Mohamed el-Baradei called, in an exclusive interview with FRANCE 24, the departure of President Hosni Mubarak.

"I will continue to participate [events] to ensure that the Mubarak regime to leave," says FRANCE 24 this Saturday the former director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), returned Thursday in Egypt.

A speech "meaningless"

One who is ordinarily resident in Vienna, Austria, said he was ready when he left for Cairo to drive the transition in the event of departure of President Mubarak.

"Friday night we were hoping qu'Hosni Mubarak would decide to leave, but at the last minute it became a meaningless speech, which was a big disappointment for the Egyptians," said Mohamed el-Baradei.

"Hosni Mubarak does not clearly understood the message that emanated from the Egyptian people," says Mohamed el-Baradei. His only response was to form a new government, it was almost an insult to the intelligence of the people. People know although he too is responsible for directing all aspects of the country, it offered no political or economic reform. "

The former head of the IAEA believes that this scheme, which he describes as "dictatorial", has "failed on the economic and political.""We need a fresh start with a free, democratic," he said. We will need a transition period. "

"When a system behaves with such meanness, and opens the water cannon at anyone who won the Nobel Peace Prize, this indicates that it is the beginning of the end for this regime and is time he left, "he added, referring to the events of yesterday in Cairo in which he participated.

"The army did not used to confront the Egyptians"

Mohamed el-Baradei said he hoped that new events "even broader" take place this Saturday. "The police no longer on the streets, the army has taken over," he adds. Traditionally, the army did not used to confront the Egyptians.I hope qu'Hosni Mubarak will get the message before things become very serious. "

During the night, U.S. President Barack Obama for his part called Hosni Mubarak to "keep its promises to work for democracy" and to undertake economic and political reforms. A message found "extremely disappointing" by the opponent.

"The United States said they would work with the Egyptian people and government, then it must make a choice," says Mohamed El-Baradei. It is an authoritarian government and the people suffer hardships for 58 years.Although I have great respect for Barack Obama, assign the task to implement economic reforms and policies to a man who is the head of an authoritarian system and in power for 30 years is a paradox. The first real change to democracy would be to assign this task to a Democrat. "

Although Egyptian officials security said Friday that Mohamed el-Baradei was under house arrest, it has so much going forward. "There are no troops stationed in front of me says it Saturday morning. At least I do not think I'll check it out in my house. I do not know to what extent it correct.In my opinion, it is primarily a message to deter people from participating in peaceful demonstrations. "

Opening the trial of the perpetrator of a cartoonist Muhammad

The trial of a 29 year old Somali man accused of attempted murder against the Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard of Mohammed opened Wednesday just before 9:30 am (0830 GMT) in the court of Aarhus (center), noted AFP.

The hearing of the trial court was transferred into the premises of the Court of Appeal because of the busy media, surrounded by extraordinary security measures with police dogs and metal detectors.

Geele Mohamed, whose name was revealed for the first time publicly at the hearing, had burst a year ago at night in the house of the cartoonist, armed with a hatchet and a knife, shouting that he wanted kill him, according to the testimony of the draftsman.

"My client admits only possession of knives and intrusion into people's property," he said at the hearing counsel for the Somali, Mr. Niels Strauss.

Kurt Westergaard, 75 years old today, had been spared by hiding in her bathroom, before the police stop a suspect after having wounded twice.

The Somali, who has denied the charges since his arrest on the evening of 1 January 2010, faces life in prison.He is charged with attempted murder and terrorism as well as assaulting a police officer and illegal possession of weapons.

According to the Danish intelligence service, he was close to Somalia's Islamist al-Shabab and leaders of Al Qaeda in East Africa.

Nine days of hearings are scheduled and the verdict is expected around the first week of February.