Croke Park, the symbol of the march towards Independence

On the second day of his visit to Ireland, Queen Elizabeth II visited this Wednesday at Croke Park stadium in Dublin. A highly symbolic passage in the process of reconciliation between Britain and its neighbor.Croke Park has long remained the undisputed temple of Gaelic sports - such as hurling, Gaelic football and Camogie.

The stadium, which has a capacity of 82,300 seats, was opened to other sports (like football and rugby) in 2005, 92 years after its commissioning in 1913.

Most importantly, Croke Park was in 1920, the scene of a massacre orchestrated by British forces that helped lead to independence.

On the morning of November 21, 1920, the Irish Republican Army (IRA), Armed Force independence, launched a commando in several places in Dublin to remove a network of agents of British intelligence.The review of the operation was high: in the ranks UK, 12 people were killed and two paramilitaries in the pay of the Crown.

In the afternoon, the regular British police, backed by paramilitaries, decides to conduct a "punitive expedition" during a Gaelic football match, sports flagship of Ireland.

Catalyst for the march towards Independence

The British forces entering Croke Park, where 5,000 people gathered, and opened fire on the crowd. Fourteen people, including a woman, two children and two players were killed.

London, which had not been informed of the operation, is struggling to justify the massacre.The official version of the authorities reported a police action aimed at searching the audience to uncover potential supporters of the IRA and said that it is they who opened fire first.

Subsequent surveys will invalidate this thesis.Seventy-nine years later, the "Bloody Sunday" ("Bloody Sunday", not to be confused with the 1972 in Londonderry, Ed) is still remembered for the Irish as one of the pivotal events of the march the country to Independence.

Indeed, he helped establish the resentment against Great Britain in the Irish population, until the formal independence of Eire in 1922.

In Ireland, Croke Park is more than a major sporting complex. It is a temple of Irish culture, a monument dedicated to the memory of the struggle for national independence.

FRANCE: The number two in the IMF, John Lipsky, will act in the absence of DSK

The International Monetary Fund will take in an "informal" Sunday a special meeting of its board of directors after the arrest Saturday in New York's chief executive, Dominique Strauss-Kahn announced the institution.

"It is expected that the board will hold an informal meeting today to be kept informed of developments relating to the Chief," said the Fund in a statement.

"In accordance with normal procedures of the IMF, John Lipsky, first deputy managing director, is interim CEO when the CEO is not in Washington. Mr.Lipsky will chair the informal meeting of the board today, "the IMF added.

The Egyptian-American-British "Nemat Shafik, the Assistant Director General who oversees the work of the IMF in a number of countries of the European Union, will attend the Eurogroup meeting on Monday in Brussels," has also announced the IMF.

Strauss-Kahn had originally planned to attend the meeting of finance ministers of the euro area.

The IMF board is composed of representatives from 24 countries and country groups. It may initiate disciplinary proceedings against the Director General in cases of "serious violations" of the code of conduct for officials of the institution.

MEXICO: 85 000 people protested against violence related to drug trafficking

More than 85,000 people, according to an estimate of city officials, marched silently Sunday in Mexico City against the violence unleashed by drug traffickers and the military response of the state, culminating in a march of four days left Thursday for Cuernavaca 90 km south of the Mexican capital.

The march "for peace, security and justice" was launched at the initiative of the poet and journalist Javier Sicilia, whose son was murdered in March.At the head of a crowd carrying a silent sea of ​​white balloons bearing the names of victims of violence, Javier Sicilia entered in the late afternoon on the Zocalo, the huge central square of Mexico, while only were heard the bells of the cathedral.

Protesters call for end to violence by drug traffickers and the rapid withdrawal of the 50,000 soldiers who have to confront the drug cartels since December 2006, the date of arrival in power of President Felipe Calderon.

According to official figures, this offensive has killed 34,600 between December 2006 and December 2010.According to estimates by the press, more than 3,000 additional people have died since early 2011.

"We want to give the faces, names, dates, each of these 40,000 victims has left behind this deadly strategy," told AFP Javier Sicilia from the event.

"National security is not only letting the troops on the street is a lot of other things," he said."We have to sit around a table and think about strategy, because what has been done so far has been a mistake."

The march had started on Thursday in the city of Cuernavaca, 90 km south of the Mexican capital - where last March 28, were found dead in a car and a son of Javier Sicilia, Juan Francisco, and six other people showing signs of torture. The killings were attributed by the government to a cartel of drug traffickers.

This is the second protest called by Javier Sicilia since the death of his son.The next initiative will be the signing of a pact in June for the national dignity, in Ciudad Juarez, northern Mexico, the city hardest hit by violence, with more than 3,000 deaths in 2010.

Leading the demonstration, carrying the flag of Mexico, also appeared Sunday Julian LeBaron, leader of a Mormon community in the state of Chihuahua (northern), whose son was murdered after being abducted."I'm here to be remembered for an end to impunity."

Behind him, holding his arms, marched Javier Sicilia and other relatives of victims with dozens of posters bearing the pictures of men and women dead or missing in the past four years.

Practicing Catholic, the poet had begun the day from the campus by a group prayer with other supporters. On the way, joined the procession Solalinde Father Alejandro, an advocate for immigrants from Central and South America who pass through Mexico to reach the United States.In August 2010, 72 immigrants from these regions had been murdered in a town north of the country by the cartel Zetas, a gang formed by former military elite of the Mexican army.

FRANCE: September 30th Cent Tunisians forcibly evicted from a squat in Paris by the police

Shortly after 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 137 Tunisian nationals were violently evacuated a building unsafe in the 19th arrondissement of Paris for three days they were squatting.

More than 200 riot police equipped with helmets, shields and batons, were loaded 137 Tunisians, and some twenty activists. Several witnesses have reported police violence against free squatters. "Members of the support committees and elected officials have made a human chain in front of the building.But they were jostled and manhandled by the police who broke down the door before entering, "says FRANCE 24 Ariane Calvo, deputy mayor of the 20th district, introduced during the evacuation." The 137 Tunisians were removed one after the other, molested and some flat on the ground without any help. They were scared to death. Many are minor, they would be mounted in the truck anyway, "continued Assistant Ariane Calvo. Detention for" damaging public property "The Tunisians were immediately placed on hold to a view in three police stations of 18th, 19th and 20th district.Only seven have been released. The 130 others were detained after being treated to a visit from a lawyer and a medical examination. According to several sources, the prosecutors took over the case. Migrants in an irregular situation, are charged with "damaging public property in a meeting". At 19 o'clock Wednesday night, no one was able to say more about their fate would be reserved. But given the government's determination in its desire to contain the flow of migrants from Lampedusa, associations like the elected left-mobilized by the evacuation feared a return to all its inmates in administrative detention center (ARC) followed by deportation ."We demand that the government respects the cooperation agreement signed between France and Tunisia in 2008 providing for the reception of 9000 Tunisian wishing to work in France. And we demand the establishment of an appropriate plan to help those who wish to return to Tunisia, "says FRANCE 24 Boistard Pascale, deputy mayor of Paris in charge of integration and non-EU foreigners.

Emergency accommodation precarious

Young migrants slept for several days or even weeks, in Parisian gardens, including the Parc de la Villette and the Parc de Belleville. Surviving in the most precarious and minimum hygiene conditions, migrants sought shelter at all costs.
"I visited the Parc de la Villette on Tuesday morning with Eva Joly and it was really indecent. A scabies epidemic was being spread. Another had leukemia. It really was not helping a person in danger" says Julien Bayou, a member of the collective Black Thursday. They have invested the building at 51 Avenue Simon Bolivar, on the night of Sunday to Monday.Police said between 80 and 100 Tunisians have occupied the building on Avenue Bolivar, while some occupants suggest a figure of 200, including several minors. "They were constantly harassed by police, were sleeping under the stars for many nights and nights. They just wanted a roof," says Oumeya Sedik, Member of the Tunisian Federation of the two banks (FTRD), their side since Sunday night. Bad choice though. The building, abandoned for several years, is dangerous. The risks of fire and collapse had finally convinced the collective black Thursday to leave the places they had invested in mid-April.
Considering the failure of negotiations held "dangerous and not intended as accommodation," according to a statement, the Paris City Council made the application for discharge after 48 hours of negotiations that resulted in failure.

"The situation was really tense after failed negotiations. Faced with this situation, we took our responsibilities and requested evacuation. But we regret," said Pascale Boistard FRANCE 24.

In the day Tuesday, elected officials and city officials tried to convince the Tunisians to leave the building to reach accommodation not funded the City: 100 seats were made available immediately in three shelters with a promise of 50 additional places. A proposal from the insufficient number of applicants continues to increase. Afraid of being separated, arrested or caught in an ambush during the transfer, the Tunisians have refused to leave Bolivar Avenue. "The migrants found themselves in an impossible situation to have to choose who would stay and who would go, says Oumaya Sedik.There was no question that some are housed and the other thrown in the street. In addition, they have not risked their lives to come here and beg for homeless housing, "protested Oumeya Sedik stressing that some had a residence permit issued in Italy." He does not have permission Living in France to come, "warned Claude Gueant, during his meeting with his Italian counterpart, last April 8 in Milan. According to several sources, the interior minister was in the 19th district police station this Wednesday afternoon even as police conducted this evacuation muscular.

(Photo credit: Pierre Morel)

COTE D'IVOIRE: Ibrahim Coulibaly, head of the Commando invisible, killed by FRCI in Abobo

Forces Ivorian president Alassane Ouattara killed Wednesday night the former coup leader Ibrahim Coulibaly, known as "IB", head of the commando invisible "in the north of Abidjan, which was perceived as a threat even if the power had contributed to the fall of Laurent Gbagbo.

Several hundred members of the Republican Forces of Côte d'Ivoire (FRCI), equipped with pickup topped with heavy machine guns and rocket launchers, launched Wednesday morning a major attack against the stronghold of "IB" in the popular district of Abobo (north), noted AFP.

After this "security operation and peace", "IB + + is sought refuge in a yard (residential) near a factory in PK-18 (north of Abobo)," said the AFP Captain Leo Kouakou Alla, spokesman of the Ministry of Defence.

Hostage taking and summation

In this court, Ibrahim Coulibaly "took hostage an entire family. FRCI made warning shots twice and he responded with gunfire.The FRCI had no choice but to retaliate, and the response has been fatal, "added the spokesman.

The clash that took place around 20:00 (GMT) has made "two soldiers killed and several wounded," FRCI side, and "seven lives" in the opposing camp, where "IB" itself, he said.

The FRCI had progressed during the day in his fief without encountering any real resistance.

The "commando invisible" had contributed to the downfall of former President Laurent Gbagbo on April 11, destabilizing his regime by increasing control of the north of Abidjan at the beginning of the year.

The appeal of Alassane Ouattara

President Ouattara had Friday called the former coup of 1999 and 2002 to disarm his men, under penalty of being compelled by force.

"We asked for a week, ten days, the time to explain to the combatants that they must disarm unconditionally. We must convince them that they can lay down their arms without fear for their lives", told AFP at the beginning Felix the offensive ennobled, number two commando invisible. "

"IB" had asked to be received by the Head of State to make available. His entourage had accused Prime Minister Guillaume Soro to block this request.

Mr.Soro was historic adversary of Ibrahim Coulibaly in charge of the rebellion of 2002 failed coup against Gbagbo, whose forces he finally took the head and which now forms the bulk of FRCI.

Ibrahim Coulibaly, one of the most mysterious of the Ivorian scene for a decade, had claimed in recent days his part in the downfall of Mr. Gbagbo, while providing stand under the authority of Alassane Ouattara, which had been the bodyguard.

In an interview with French daily La Croix, published Thursday, Mr. Ouattara has estimated that nearly 3,000 death toll of post-election violence in Côte d'Ivoire, while the UN reported nearly 1,000 dead.

FRANCE: A premium "required" for employees of large companies

AFP - After several days of debate within the government, Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday decided to impose on companies with more than 50 employees each year for the payment of a premium "binding" to their employees if they increase their dividends.

After a final arbitration meeting at the Elysee Palace with Prime Minister François Fillon and several members of his government, the head of state has ruled for a binding mechanism, as he had hinted Tuesday during a trip in the Ardennes.

"In all companies with more than 50 employees subject to the law on participation, if dividends are higher than the year before, there will be obliged to pay a premium negotiated with social partners," said a government source after the meeting.

The government hopes that the scheme is applied "this year". François Fillon also announced in the evening a bill to that effect would be submitted to Parliament "before summer".

This bonus will be subject to an amount of at least 1,000 euros at the same rate of social insurance premiums for participation that is to say 8%, sued the government source.This amount could possibly be revised upwards in arbitrations to come.

Firms with fewer than 50 employees will in turn "encouraged" to pay a premium equal to their employees. This premium will be exempt from taxes, said the source. "There will be no obligation for these companies," we insisted.

Studied by Labor Minister Xavier Bertrand, Economy Christine Lagarde and Budget Baroin, this "bonus", its amount and terms feed a confused debate over several days, both between the State and the social partners that 'within the government.

April 13 Evoking an amount "of at least 1,000 euros," Mr.Baroin had attracted a replica of the patron saint of dry MEDEF Laurence Parisot, who had denounced as "incomprehensible". Ms. Lagarde was then ruled to impose a fee for the premium.

Despite the hostility of employers and unions that it reserves prefer higher wages, Nicolas Sarkozy Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to implement this scheme, which aims to improve the purchasing power of the French.

"The sharing of value, I would like because it's a matter of justice," he said."When there is recovery, I say it is normal for employees and workers who have sought work during the crisis benefit from the recovery, it is a principle I will not give in," had he insisted, noting the failure of the negotiations he had requested in 2009 the social partners on this topic.

In a financial crisis, the head of state asked them to discuss the "value sharing", defending himself the idea of ​​a rule of "three tier" where corporate profits would be divided into three parts equal shareholders, employees and investment.

"In two years, negotiations have not moved an inch", "he lamented Tuesday," so the government will take responsibility. "

One year before the presidential election and while the economic recovery starts to take shape, Nicolas Sarkozy is trying to revive its 2007 election promise to be the "president of purchasing power".

Even if it does not affect the 5.2 million civil servants, whose salaries have been frozen for the second consecutive year, this "bonus" is likely to affect at least 8 million people employed in businesses with more than 50 employees .

COTE D'IVOIRE: Pro-attack Ouattara Laurent Gbagbo's residence in Abidjan

REUTERS - Forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara attacked the residence of Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo in Abidjan outgoing, announced Friday a spokesman for the government to Ouattara.

"Her house is attacked, that's for sure. There is resistance, but it is attacked," said Patrick Achi, told Reuters.

The attack was confirmed by a military source close to the Gbagbo camp. The bodyguards of the outgoing Head of State returned fire, they added.

The spokesman Ouattara had earlier announced that the Republican Forces of Côte d'Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara, considered by almost all of the international community as the winner of the presidential elections of 28 November, had seized the Radio Ivorian television after intense fighting in central Abidjan.

SYRIA: Authorities confirm the lifting of the state of emergency and send the army in Lattakia

AFP - The Syrian authorities have decided Sunday to revoke the emergency law in force for nearly 50 years, restricting civil liberties, and President Bashar al-Assad, who faces a protest movement, should s' address "very soon" to the public.

Moreover, military reinforcements entered in Lattakia, multifaith city of northwestern Syria, after extremely violent clashes Saturday, which made twelve dead, including members of the security forces, civilians and two insurgents.

"President Bashar al-Assad will address very soon to his people"

In an interview with AFP on Sunday in Damascus, the adviser to the president, Boussaina Shaaban, revealed that the decision to repeal the emergency law in force since 1963 had been taken.

"The decision to repeal the emergency law has already been taken but I do not know when it will be implemented," she said, adding that immediately after the repeal of this law, "all persons arrested under this Act will be released ".

This law, drafted in December 1962 by a previous government, came into force immediately after the arrival in power of the Baath party in March 1963.It imposes restrictions on freedom of assembly and movement, and allows the arrest of "suspects or persons threatening security."

It also allows the monitoring of communications and the diligence of the media.

The Director of the Syrian Human Rights (OSDH) Rami Abdelrahman, who welcomed the expected repeal of that law, estimated that about 2,000 people should be freed.

"All those convicted by the High Court of State security should be released, because the special court was established under this law," he said.

"The successful candidates in the local security services, as arrested without warrant" should be released by him.

Dr. Shaaban has also announced that President Assad, in power since 2000, will address "very soon" to the nation, while the country was shaken by a challenge without precedent.

"President Bashar al-Assad will address very soon to his people to explain the situation and clarify the reforms he intends to pursue in the country," she said.

These reforms include a law on political pluralism and a more liberal law on the press, which will "be subject to public debate," she said.

Military reinforcements to Latakia to dislodge insurgents

Moreover, military reinforcements came in Lattakia, Syrian press reported, to dislodge insurgents who shoot from rooftops and cars against the security forces and bystanders.

In total, since Friday in this city located on the coast, 13 soldiers and civilians and two insurgents were killed, said Ms. Shaban.

She accused the "Muslim extremists were behind the attack, with the objective to bring about sectarian strife in the country."Latakia is inhabited by Sunnis, Alawite, and Christians.

The government newspaper Teshreen reported 150 injured on Friday and Saturday in the port city.

The daily al-Watan said that "the thugs are not the Syrians and their nationality will be announced shortly."

Ms. Shaban had told reporters on Saturday accused "certain Palestinian refugee camp Ramel, near Latakia, of wanting to create fitna (dissension denominational) by pulling the security forces and protesters" to raise tension them.

The Secretary General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) has denied "any involvement of Palestinians in the camp Ramel events Saturday."

LIBYA: Seif al-Islam Gaddafi brandished the threat of civil war

Seif Al-Islam Gaddafi, a son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said that Libya was on the brink of civil war and the target of a foreign plot, during a televised speech on the night of Sunday to Monday.

Seif Al-Islam Gaddafi has acknowledged that several cities, including Benghazi and Al-Baida in the east, were the prey of fierce fighting and the mobs had seized military weapons. Tens of thousands of people head to Tripoli, he said.

"At the moment the tanks move in Benghazi led by civilians. A Al-Baida people have guns and numerous ammunition depots were looted.We have weapons, the army has weapons, the forces that want to destroy Libya weapons, "he said.

He said the clashes were provoked by Libyan and foreign elements to destroy national unity and establish an Islamic republic, according to these statements broadcast by Libyan state television.

"We will destroy the elements of the insurgency," he said, while promising the "formation of a commission to create a constitution."

"The army will now have a key role in imposing security because it is the unity and stability of Libya" that are at stake, "said the son of Libyan leader.

"Libya is at a crossroads.Either we are hearing today on reforms, or we do not mourn 84 deaths but thousands and there will be rivers of blood throughout Libya, "said Seif al-Islam.

He repeated several times this figure of 84 dead in violence that began last week in Libya and said the balance sheets provided by "foreign media" were "greatly exaggerated".

According to Human Rights Watch, at least 173 people were killed in Libya since the start of the protest on February 15.

According to an AFP count compiled from various sources Libyan stock of demonstrations against the regime of Colonel Gaddafi is at least 77 dead, mostly in Benghazi.

Heavy gunfire were heard around 11:45 p.m. GMT in several districts of Tripoli by the AFP correspondent on the spot.

Seif al-Islam said that "Libya is not Egypt or Tunisia," in reference to these two neighboring countries whose leaders, Hosni Mubarak and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, have been driven by the Street in recent weeks. "The Libyan army will play a big role. This is the Tunisian army, not the Egyptian army," he said.

"Gaddafi is not Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. It is not Mubarak," he said.

Colonel Gaddafi made no public statement since the violence began.He has been in power in Libya since 1969.

"We will not abandon one inch of Libya," he said Seif al-Islam said: "We live in Libya, we will die in Libya."

According to unconfirmed reports, Muammar Gaddafi, born in 1942, would have left Libya on Sunday night.

IRELAND: The government's bluff after the resignation of the Greens

AFP - The Irish government was Sunday at the foot of the wall to immediately call a general election, after the departure of its coalition partner, the Greens.

The Green Party said on Sunday his withdrawal from the coalition government in Ireland, after a week of crisis, which saw six ministers quit in quick succession, then the announcement by Prime Minister Brian Cowen that he would not the leadership of Fianna Fail (center).

The old wolf of Irish politics and hoped to defuse the crisis and remain at his post of prime minister until the date he had set himself for election March 11.

But the pressure is rising throughout the weekend and the start of the Greens now makes inevitable the convening of elections, Fianna Fail no longer have a parliamentary majority.

"Our patience is exhausted," he said on Sunday the leader of the Green Party, citing "lack of communication and the collapse of confidence." John Gormley said it was "absolutely necessary elections. "We decided that we could not stay longer in government," saidGormley.

He however said his party would act "responsibly" and "support the vote of the finance law since the opposition benches."

The Prime Minister has once said he "accepted the decision of the Greens", adding that he would remain at his post until the vote of the Finance Act. He said it was "impossible" to pass the law by Friday, as demanded by opposition parties.

The Finance Act, which completes the Irish budget the highest in the country's history, was published only on Friday and should be examined from next week in parliament. However, it must be dissolved three weeks before the election.What makes an unlikely date for elections by mid February.
A meeting with opposition leaders to be held Monday "to discuss the passage of the act realistically," said Brian Cowen.

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan has recalled the "vital importance" of the text, especially to "establish the confidence of the international community."He felt that some parts of the text could be referred to a subsequent law, adding "of course, mean that the timetable for elections will also be accelerated."

The two main opposition parties, Labour (left) and Fine Gael (center) are committed to accelerating the passage of the law in parliament in exchange for the announcement of a new date for elections.

The number two James Reilly of Fine Gael said that his party would "expedite" the law and file a motion of no confidence if it was not passed by Friday.The Labour party has already filed a motion of no confidence.

Prime Minister Brian Cowen breaks records of unpopularity for his handling of the financial crisis in Ireland, which imposed heavy sacrifices on the population, and have developed a bailout of 85 billion euros with the EU European and International Monetary Fund (IMF), seen as an abandonment of sovereignty in Ireland.

Brian Cowen leaves a poor state party: Fianna Fail is credited with more than 14% of the vote.

The party will choose its new leader Wednesday to 1400 GMT. Four candidates have already declared.Former Foreign Minister Michael Martin, head of the rebellion that precipitated the resignation of Brian Cowen, is favored.