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AFP - The regime of President Bashar al-Assad will not withdraw its forces deployed in the Syrian cities before obtaining "written assurances" from the opposition, said ; the Syrian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"To say that Syria will withdraw its forces from cities as of April 10 is incorrect, (the international envoy) Kofi Annan has not yet submitted written guarantees on acceptance by terrorist groups armed with the cessation of all forms of violence and their willingness to supply weapons to extend the power of the state on all land "Syrian statement said.

"Mr. Annan has not submitted any written commitments from the governments of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey on stopping their funding of terrorist groups, "the ministry Syrian.

These three countries have strongly supported the Syrian opposition in recent months, Saudi Arabia and Qatar even declaring in favor of sending arms to the rebels.

The crisis plan presented by Mr. Annan foresees the withdrawal of the army of cities Tuesday and the fighting ended 48 hours later.

"Syria will not repeat what happened in the presence of Arab observers, when armed forces were out of town, which had allowed the groups armed terrorists to regroup and rearm to control entire neighborhoods, committing all possible terrorist acts, killing and kidnapping people and destroying public and private property " ;, it said.

The Arab League was deployed in early observers before ending its mission amid continuing violence.

At a meeting in Damascus with President Assad, "Mr. Annan said his mission was based on the respect of Syrian sovereignty. He said he would work to stop the violence from any party whatsoever, to disarm armed groups (…) to initiate a comprehensive national dialogue with the movements of Opposition in Syria, "the statement said.

The text reads: "This is the principle that Syria had accepted the role of Annan and his six-point plan".

AFP - The Security Council of the United Nations on Wednesday urged a cease-fire immediately in northern Mali, where the secular component of the Tuareg rebellion, now supplanted by Islamist groups, has announced the end of its "military operations".

In a statement proposed by France, the 15-member Security Council

also called for a return to a legitimate government in Bamako, where a military junta overthrew President Amadou Toumani Toure two weeks ago.  

Taking advantage of the coup in Bamako, Tuareg rebels and Islamist groups have taken over the weekend checking the three cities of northern Mali, Kidal, Gao and Timbuktu, without resistance from an armed e Malian under-equipped and disorganized, in fact cutting the country in two.

The Islamist Ansar Dine, led by Tuareg chief Iyad Ag Ghaly, and elements of al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) have since taken over the National Movement for Liberation of Azawad (MNLA).

The rise of the Islamists, who have announced their intention to impose Sharia law in their area, has caused concern within the international community, especially from France who won Wednesday vote on a resolution of the Security Council of the UN.  

Council members were "concerned about the presence in the region of the terrorist group AQIM," which could "further destabilize the situation".

They invited the rebels to "immediately cease all violence and to seek a peaceful solution through political dialogue", and "strongly condemned the attacks, looting and confiscation of territories engage" these rebel groups.

From Bamako, the junta of Captain Amadou Sanogo denounced "grave violations of human rights" in the north, and more particulièrmeent Gao, since "fighters MNLA invasion, Ansar Dine and AQIM ".

"Women and girls are abducted and raped by the new occupants who dictate their law," said the junta.  

"It's a reality here. At night they kidnap women, they take them, rape them, "said one resident told AFP Gao, ensuring that he is aware of" at least ten cases. "

Northern Mali has become a black hole, become totally inaccessible to the press and international organizations. Many residents reported looting and pillaging in Gao and Timbuktu.

Some 90,000 displaced people who were in Gao, Timbuktu and Kidal, are now "unassisted," said Caritas International.

Gao, "public buildings, private offices, banks, NGO seats, food banks, everything has been sacked" by the attackers, said a employee of humanitarian organization.  

Three distinct groups share control of the town, according to a local MP, Abdou Sidibé: MNLA the Tuareg, the Islamist Ansar Dine and a splinter group of AQIM, and Finally traffickers and criminal groups.

In Timbuktu, men of Ansar Dine and "mujahideen" to AQIM have driven the MNLA, of which only twenty men are stationed near the airport, and put an end to looting the name of their new Islamic order, residents said.

Ansar Dine has strengthened its military position in the city, by deploying armored vehicles.

More no services running, the city had no electricity since mid-Journé and water could soon be cut, according to a humanitarian source in Mali on site. The new masters of the city have asked people to stockpile water. The offices of the national telephone company (Sotelma) were burned, with a risk of breaking the phone.

Two leaders of AQIM have also given to a local association of multiple copies of the Koran and clothing, according to another witness.

Kidal, the leader of Ansar Dine, Iyad Ag Ghaly, originates, for its part has been spared the looting because it is essentially his fighters who captured the city.  

In Bamako, the coup leaders announced Wednesday the postponement of the "National Convention" which was to be open Thursday, at their initiative, the first step in a "transition" desired by the junta but they did not specify the duration.

They claim to have consulted various parties who wished to "better preparation material" and state that "the new date (…) will be announced by agreement with the all the sensitivities involved. "

A front anti-junta, bringing together fifty political parties and "hundreds" of associations and unions, has rejected any participation in such an agreement.  

A pro-junta coalition, the Popular Movement of March 22 (MP22), it has urged the junta "to stand firm and now entirely reject the dictates of Western and French imperialists" .

Subject to an embargo since Monday diplomatic, economic and financial embargo imposed by its neighbors, the junta was sentenced Tuesday new sanctions by the African Union (AU) and the United States.

It also remains under threat of a West African military intervention, while the Chiefs of Staff of ECOWAS are to meet Thursday in Abidjan to activate a regional force de ; ja alert.  

Negotiations continue, however, and the Burkinabe Minister of Foreign Affairs Djibril Bassole, was Wednesday in Bamako to meet the head of the junta.

AFP - North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Un, gave his first televised address Sunday, during a military parade marking the centenary of the birth of her grand- father, Kim Il-Sung, the founder of the regime, according to state television.

"I offer my respects to the purest and the greatest honor to the great friends Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il", his father died last December, said ; a number to a North Korean crowd that ovationnait.

Jong-Un, dressed in a Mao-style black suit, delivered his speech on a platform facing tens of thousands of soldiers who participated in a massive military parade in the capital Pyongyang. 

"I want to express my greetings to our compatriots in South Korea and elsewhere in the world who are dedicated to the reunification and prosperity of nations," said a voice the third child of the "Kim Dynasty", age 29 or 30, who rarely raised his eyes from his text.

"En route to our final victory!" He said again, pointing his finger at the soldiers who ovationnaient singing ever "Mansei! (Long life) "

AFP - Hungarian President Pal Schmitt, the heart of a plagiarism scandal over his academic work doctoral, Monday announced his resignation to Parliament. "Since according to the Constitution, the President shall represent the unity of the nation Hungarian, and my person that has unfortunately become synonymous with division, I feel that my duty is to give up my job, "he told MPs. "I feel it my duty (…) to make my tenure as president," he said. This faithful Conservative Prime Minister Viktor Orban had initially refused to resign after has been divested his PhD last week, ruling that there was "no connection" between his thesis and his position as head of state.

The Senate of Semmelweis University in Budapest on March 29 had withdrawn the title of doctor to the head of the Hungarian state, calling it "plagiarism" his thesis on the history of the Olympics that had sustained 20 years ago. The Senate had justified its decision by stating that the thesis of doctoral unresponsive "not scientific methods nor ethical." Mr. Schmitt told the deputies have "done an honest job" , and found that the university had "no right" to deprive him of his doctorate. He also announced its intention to prepare a new doctoral thesis with the subject and sports respect for the environment. The opposition parties welcomed the decision of Mr. Schmitt, who ends a damaging scandal, according to them, the country's image. According Mesterhazy Attila, president of Socialists (MSZP), the decision of Mr. Schmitt was "a decision expected for several days the whole country". He suggested that the Fidesz to propose to the President Laszlo Solyom, who had held the account between 2005 and 2010, and is known for his moral integrity and professionalism. The party of Viktor Orban will de facto decide the new president, to be e read in Parliament by a two thirds majority, held by the Conservative party. The Hungarian weekly HVG had revealed the affair in early January with the passages of the thesis of Pal Schmitt, 69, appearing as a translation of the French text of a Bulgarian expert Nikolay Georgiev: "The resumption of work of Bulgarian Georgiev, pages 215 through 180 of the Pal Schmitt's thesis, is the suspicion of plagiarism. " In 2011, Germany, a resounding case of plagiarism in a university thesis was forced to de mission on Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, then the rising political figure in the conservative parties CDU-CSU (Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union).

Sitting cross-legged on the floor of her jewelry in Bamako, Mali's capital, Mohammed Karbando speak more readily of his creations in silver as the situation of his country, threatened to score since the declaration of independence pendence of the northern region.

"I honestly do not know much about it," admits the Tuareg jewelery, dressed in the traditional indigo dress, eyes outlined with kohl. "I only know that I'm afraid. Sometimes I want to go, other times I want to stay but I'm afraid all the time and especially every time I hear of Azawad on the radio. ".. ……

The Azawad means the traditional territory of the Touareg, which extends along the entire northern region of Mali, on the borders of Niger and Algeria. Since the declaration of independence on April 6 by a group of Tuareg rebels, aided by various Islamist factions, the Azawad beyond the control of government, overthrown in a coup on March 22. The term is also used Azawad - wrongly - to designate the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), an extremely unpopular move to Bamako where the majority of the population rejects the unilateral declaration of independence of the region.

The resentment of the people of Bamako, the split caused by self-proclaimed North, drove away a small part of the Tuareg community in the capital. According to Mohamed Ag Ossad, director of Tuareg cultural center of the city, most of the "blue men" of the capital, whether officials, businessmen, students, musicians or artists, are already ; parties to escape the growing hostility of the population. He estimated 2 000 to 3 000 members this community used to live in Bamako. The fact remains that a small score today in this city with just under two million inhabitants. No official figures to confirm this point.

Of the 14 million people account Mali, about 10% belong to the Tuareg community or other ethnic groups of Berber origin. They are also a minority in the north, making their demands for independence very difficult to accept by other ethnic groups in Mali. A mosaic of ethnic groups

Mali's ethnic mosaic - composed, among others, Bambara, Malinke, Fulani and Songhay - was hitherto relatively untouched by the violence that has weakened to other African nations, although its independence in 1960, Mali has experienced several rebellions Tuareg. A series of peace agreements has helped to achieve greater social justice against "blue men". Problems of poverty, access to health care and education still remain in the north.

For thirty years, the Tuareg are better represented in the public and the professions, says Mohamed Ag Ossad. "The Tuareg have the feeling of not being treated well, although, today, every ministry and government services employ Touareg", assures us it.

Both waves start

These days however, many are leaving Bamako. According to Mohamed Ag Ossad, the first departures back in February after the sacking during a demonstration in Kati, a suburb of the city, a pharmacy and several houses belonging to the Tuareg. That of Zakiatou walet Halatine, former Malian Minister of Tourism and Arts, was not spared.

These attacks were only the latest in a series of violence targeting the community, including Arabs and Mauritanians, physically resembling the "blue men", were also the victims. But tensions appear to have exacerbated after the uprising in northern Mali in January, which coincided with the mass return of veteran Tuareg in Libya, after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi . In the absence of reaction of the authorities, thousands of community members have left Bamako to take refuge in neighboring countries, including Niger, Burkina Faso and Mauritania, according to Amnesty International.

To believe Mohamed Ossad, the situation has calmed down over the following weeks. Some would even returned home. "Men have returned to work, leaving their wives and children with relatives living abroad. But the exodus resumed after the coup of 22 March. This time, they are unlikely to return anytime soon, "he says. Ossad Mohamed himself has thought of sending her children to their grandmother, Burkina Faso. But the announcement of an agreement of transfer of power last week made him change his mind.

"I'm not afraid," says he. "I'm home in Bamako and Mali is my country. I never asked for independence. […] I do not understand what is the goal. I do not think that these people [the rebels, note]. In fact, I think their problem is they do not reflect, "he says.

Embracing the view of the surrounding cultural center, Mohamed Ossad takes the reporter to witness: "You see problems, you? I'm here, everybody knows and nobody came to bother me. […] I defend Tuareg culture. Everyone knows that culture is the opposite of violence. "

This year's "stars" of the SXSW festival in Austin (USA) combining new technologies, music and video, are also called Clarence, William, or Rudolph. All have in common that they have become homeless and the time of the event (March 9-18) in Internet Relay traveling to the comfort of a public surconnecté.

An operation that has drawn the ire of the press. A dozen homeless of Austin were in fact chosen to mingle with the crowd to whom they offer a very high-speed Internet connection through a USB 4G they wear around their neck. Two dollars for 15 minutes, buffs net mobile and can send email, tweet or update their Facebook status through Clarence Rudolph or who follows them everywhere.

The operation dubbed "Homeless Hotspots" ("Internet Relay homeless") was launched by the British advertising agency BBH Labs which qualifies as "experience charity ", allowing SDF to" reconnect with people. " It also ensures that they receive all the money collected. But for a majority of festival participants, it is more of a holding "dubious" of a population in distress, as summarized in technology site Wired.

"Dystopia"

The use of the human person as infrastructure, even if it is paid, has not convinced the other media at Austin during the festival. Starting with the New York Times who has moved from Sunday, March 11th of this "dystopia" (cons-utopia). Since then, articles about "Homeless Hotspots" are increasing, both in trade publications - as Gawker does not hesitate to speak of "stupid idea" - in more general media such as BBC.

Faced with this controversy, Saneel Radia, responsible, innovative projects of BBH, said he was on Monday, "open to criticism," and assured that he would "never set up a campaign with the willingness to put human beings for the hardware ". He believes that this is a good source of revenue for these homeless while newspaper sales at auction do they relate much more. "This is a modern way for these people to make money," added the association Front Step, which helps homeless and who is a partner of BBH, in an email sent Monday site specializing in new media news BuzzFeed.

And the homeless who participate in the operation? Several of them said they were "delighted" to be present at SXSW. They expect, however, whether their BBH donate the money collected as promised.

The videos shot by Mohamed Merah will they be disseminated? That sent them to Al-Jazeera?

Sources in police said on Tuesday told AFP that Mohamed Merah is not the sender of the parcel containing the video that was sent to the chain Al-Jazeera. During his killing spree, Mohamed Merah took care to film the killings he committed to Montauban and Toulouse, with a small camera.

The Paris office of Al-Jazeera Tuesday, March 27 confirmed having received a montage of videos, which have been posted about in Toulouse. Upon receipt, the string passed to the French police elements that reached it. Interviewed on BFM-TV, the Paris bureau chief of the chain quatari said the video showed "all attacks in Toulouse and Montauban in the chronological order, "noting that no decision had yet been made regarding a broadcast antenna. Diffusion against which amounted President Nicolas Sarkozy, who asked at a press conference to broadcast "any reason" images of the killings.

He joins the position of Foreign Minister, Alain Juppe, for whom "this incentive on brain often fragile or disturbed, violence, murder, is to is detestable. " The victims' families have also begged the chain not to reveal to the public images of Mohamed Merah raids.

Which will be buried Mohamed Merah?

The question of the burial of the body of Mohamed Merah is still pending. The French authorities fear that his future grave might become a place of "pilgrimage" to apprentice jihadists. Parents of Mohamed Merah wish them, their son, born in France, is buried in Algeria. Her mother says she took the decision to prevent the future grave of his son is "devastated". Contacted by FRANCE 24, the maternal uncle of Mohamed Merah, Djamel Aziri, confirms that steps are underway to bring his remains to the homeland of his ancestors and organize his funeral "in the Medea region, 80 km south of Algiers, where are buried his grandparents. For now, the body of Mohamed Merah is still at the forensic institute in Toulouse and the prosecution still has not confirmed the body is returned to the family.

Mohamed Merah How did it get to go to Israel?

The Israeli authorities have confirmed to the website JSS News that Mohamed Merah had spent three days in Israel in 2010. It would be able to penetrate easily into the country, including immigration services are known to be among the most vigilant and most stringent in the world. It was not even on no-fly'' list'' of the United States, there will be added after his capture in Afghanistan in late 2010. The Shin Bet, the Israeli security services, told the News that JSS traditional security checks were carried out upon entering the territory of the & rsquo ; Jewish state from Jordan. There was then no evidence to suggest he posed a risk to national security, said the Israeli newspaper "Haaretz". Remains today to determine the motivations of this visit in a country he holds responsible for the death of Palestinian children.

AFP - France has reduced its public deficit more than expected in 2011 to 5.2% of GDP, public debt has continued to increase more than expected, reaching a record 85.8% of GDP, INSEE said on Friday.

The public deficit, which includes accounts of the state, local and Social Security, was reduced from 7.1% of gross domestic product (GDP) to 5.2%, the sharpest decline ever in France.

The government was committed to its European partners on a target of 5.7%, before asserting, since late January, the deficit would be 2011 rather than 5, 4% or 5.3%.

He must bring it back to 4.5% this year and 3% next year. 

In contrast, public debt has continued to explode, to 85.8% of GDP in 2011 against 82.3% in 2010, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. This is more than expected by the government, which was based on debt to 84.9% last year.

In detail, the mandatory deductions (taxes, contributions …) climbed 42.5% of GDP in 2010 to 43.8% last year, slightly more that 43.7% expected. And public spending fall more than expected, 56.6% of GDP in 2010 to 55.9% in 2011 (instead of 56.3% predicted).

France is in mourning after the assassination of three children and a professor in the college-Ozar Hatorah Jewish Toulouse. A minute's silence will be observed at 11 am in all schools in the Hexagon. The political class has decided to suspend the campaign. "These are not just your children, they are ours", said yesterday on the scene the president, calling the killings "national tragedy" .

In Paris, a march gathered Monday evening several thousand people instead of the Republic, at the call of the Union of Jewish Students of France. Many politicians have made the trip. In the third arrondissement of the capital, a meditation ceremony was held at the Nazareth synagogue, in the presence of Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist candidate Francois Hollande. Both had visited the day the scene of the killing.

Emotion is particularly strong in Toulouse, where the ceremonies in honor of the four victims been taking place since yesterday. "A wake was held late into the night in the school where the tragedy took place, shows James Andrew, FRANCE 24's special envoy . Members of the school, the Jewish community but also local residents flocked by the dozens to the school. There were many prayers, flowers, candles, it was a very emotional moment. "This morning, Jules Dalou Street, where the college Ozar Hatorah- , was completely cordoned off by police.

The body of Professor Jonathan Sandler, 30, and her two children, Arieh, 5 years and Gabriel, age 4, should be repatriated to Israel in the day, and will be buried Wednesday. The rabbi, born in Bordeaux and party in Jerusalem, had returned to France in September 2011 to teach religion. They stayed two years. A little girl of seven years also fell under the bullets of the killer. Monsonego Miriam was the daughter of the headmaster of Ozar Hatorah-. She should be buried Thursday in Toulouse.

"No clear track for now"

Today, the concern is palpable in the streets of Toulouse. "How will we be able to return to school now? It is not possible for me, I will not return as the murderer has not been found, "said a young girl and the establishment of Ozar Hatorah- FRANCE 24. The Interior Minister, Claude Gueant, joined by his counterpart in Toulouse defense, Gerard Longuet, shares the same concern. "We are concerned about the possibility that [the killer] had wanted to commit a fourth attack," admitted Monday night on France 2, Claude Gueant. He added: "There is no clear track for the moment".

For the first time in France, the highest degree of Vigipirate, the level "scarlet", was triggered in the Midi-Pyrenees and in two neighboring districts. "Measures of supervision and protection are implemented for places of worship Jews and Muslims, for schools and businesses related to Jewish and Muslim faiths as well as military sites, railway stations SNCF, the airport and the subway "of Toulouse, said Tuesday the prefecture of Haute-Garonne. Traffic controls and access to public or private buildings will, moreover, be set up on "sensitive places or open to the public", including mosques and synagogues .

Police Raid

In addition to strengthening the protection and monitoring, significant resources have been deployed to try to find that now that the press calls "the killer to the scooter." Twenty-five policemen from the elite unit of the Raid (Research, Assistance, Intervention, Deterrence) were added to the Monday night special device developed in the region.

Monday night, the police seemed to move towards the track of a single killer for killing college Ozar Hatorah, and the killing of three soldiers in Toulouse and Montauban last week. "The police is studying the track including three former military, excluded from the 17th Parachute Regiment of Montauban in 2008 for asking before a Nazi flag, reports James Andrew. One of them has already presented to the police, the other two, however, are still being sought. "

Tuesday, on France Inter, Peter Cohen, the Socialist mayor of Toulouse, called for calm. "We call for great caution, but also to stay calm as possible and continue to live normally because the Republic must continue to live and stand in the face of heinous acts.". …….

Because of violence or offensive nature of some comments posted on this page, FRANCE 24 has decided to temporarily close the comments.

George Clooney was arrested Friday in Washington by demonstrating outside the Sudanese Embassy, ​​last brilliant action of the American actor who seeks to draw attention " ; war crimes "and the humanitarian crisis unfolding in his opinion in the south.

George Clooney, and several members of the House of Representatives and activists, was handcuffed and taken to a police van, said a journalist from AFP.

The actor, wearing a pepper and salt beard and wearing a navy blue jacket, explained to a large number of cameras that required the Sudanese government allow international community to send a humanitarian aid "before it became the worst humanitarian crisis in the globe". 

"The other thing we ask is very simple: that the Khartoum government to stop indiscriminate killing of men, women and innocent children," he said. "Stop raping them and stop them starve, that's all we ask," added the actor,

George Clooney recently carried out a clandestine mission in Southern Kordofan, a state of Sudan where fighting between the army and rebels in Khartoum in favor of a connection in Southern Sudan have resulted in famine. Southern Sudan gained its independence in July.

On his return to the United States, the hero of "The Descendants" said Tuesday that the Sudanese armed forces were committing "war crimes" by attacking civilians in this re ; region.

Received Thursday by Obama, George Clooney has reported that U.S. President went to press Chinese President Hu Jintao to prevent a humanitarian disaster in Sudan.

According to the actor, China, main partner of Khartoum, is more inclined to consider the economic and moral arguments to the extent that the conflict between Sudan and Southern Sudan has a negative im NEGATIVE on oil supplies to Beijing. 

The actor also took part Wednesday in a U.S. Senate hearing at which U.S. officials have said that about 250,000 people were threatened by food shortages in Southern Kordofan.

George Clooney has been involved for months to alert the media and politicians on the violence in Sudan. He contracted malaria during his last visit in January.

While visiting with the villagers hid in caves since the beginning of a campaign of aerial bombing of the Sudanese armed forces, he was asked the actor and his accomplice, activist John Prendergast, to move rapidly away.

George Clooney said they were not really in a hurry, thinking that the warning was only related to the arrival of a Sudanese Antonov aircraft. "But it was not an Antonov. It was a rocket goes boom and CAA. We wanted to go in this area and we have been but we were not expecting to rockets, "he said.