Showing posts with label transactions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label transactions. Show all posts

Sunday, May 22, 2011

ROLAND GARROS: The French Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, headlining the first day

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will be the attraction of a lean first day at Roland Garros where Manceau, as opposed to modest Czech Jan Hajek, will be responsible to lead the way to the French camp.

Introduced in 2006, the "Sunday start" allows the tournament to start gently with a small lineup that has only one Top 10 player, David Ferrer, and the outgoing runner Samantha Stosur this year.

The projectors will therefore focus trained on the eleven French and especially Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, whose beginnings are expected in Paris where he lines up for the fourth time this year without a coach.

For N.18 world, it is better to start than last year when, also scheduled the first Sunday, he struggled for five sets to the unknown German Daniel Brands, a burst of energy that would cost him dearly since it had left behind in eighth in the final against Mikhail Youzhny.

On paper, Jan Hajek, 121st World, it can be a danger even less. Skimming the circuit for a while now, the player Olomouc, 27, has never been ranked higher than 71st, 2006, and was easily beaten Tsonga 6-3, 6-2 in their only meeting, Barcelona on clay in 2010.

"This is a first round of Grand Slam. There is always some tension.But I realize that it is within my reach, "admitted Tsonga who said this time ready to play", unlike last year when he did not expect to have to enter the track on Sunday.

"My coaches prepared me to start on Monday or Tuesday, remembers there. It hurt me a bit. The evidence, I came with soreness on the Central face Daniel Brands.I came close to disaster because I remember he had made the break at the beginning of the fifth set ... "

Manceau addition, the French public will face Julien Benneteau in Portuguese Rui Machado and watch a feat David Guez before the Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhocvsky, seeded N.31, or Augustine Gensse face Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka (N.14 ) Tsonga potential opponent in the third round.

Note also the two fratricidal duels between Adrian Mannarino and Guillaume Rufin and between Vincent Millot Maxime and Texeira.

Among girls, Mathilde Johansson has the honor of facing the Central German Julia Goerges (n.17) Aliz Cornet then open the tournament on the Suzanne Lenglen before the Czech Renata Voracova.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

MOROCCO: Thousands of people march for democracy in several cities

AFP - Several thousand people demonstrated peacefully Sunday in the cities of Morocco, for the third time since the beginning of the year, demand more democracy and social justice, despite the recent release by King Mohammed VI of political prisoners and its promise of significant reforms.

Other events are planned for later in the day, from 16:00 (1700 GMT) in other cities like Rabat and Fez (center), the call of the Youth Movement of 20 February claiming political changes social and Morocco.

In some cities such as Casablanca, Tangier (north) and Marrakech (south), the demonstrations began at 11.00 GMT.

"We want more equality and less corruption," "No to the accumulation of wealth and power," "a king who reigns but does not govern," chanted the demonstrators in Casablanca.

Nearly 10,000 people gathered in the center of town and walked to the Place Mohammed V, according to an AFP journalist.Organizers estimate that "nearly 20,000" number of demonstrators.

"I'm here because I want a fairer Morocco, where the odds are the same for all youth, particularly as regards employment," he told AFP Mohammed, a 23 year old who a degree in economics.

The limitation of political power of the king, the fight against corruption and judicial independence are the main demands of protesters in Casablanca, for most young people of the Movement of 20 February, after the date of the first events in Morocco in the context of revolution and unrest in various Arab countries.Other demonstrations took place March 20.

In Marrakech, there were more than 500 protesters to demand political reforms, according to an AFP correspondent.

In Tangier, more than 2,000 demonstrators called including the departure of the mayor, Fouad El Omary, and criticized its management, according to a witness.

In a speech on March 9, Mohammed VI announced major policy changes designed especially to enhance judicial independence and separation of powers, and set up the next day a commission to reform the Constitution.

On 14 April, the king freed many political prisoners including Islamists and Saharawi, a measure introduced as a sign of appeasement by several observers.

Despite these overtures, the Movement of the February 20 mobilization was held this Sunday to "continue to pressure" and because he deemed "insufficient" the royal decisions.

The Committee for Constitutional Reform will complete its work on June 15 and submit its findings to the king on 16, had told AFP one of its members.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

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 .

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Raul Castro ready to limit the length of the main political mandates to ten years

Cuban President Raul Castro, made the unprecedented proposal to Cuba limit to ten years the term of office for leaders on Saturday before the Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) which has over 300 adopt economic measures to save Cuba of bankruptcy.

"We came to the conclusion that it was advisable to limit to a maximum of two consecutive five-year term limits political rights," the president said before the 1,000 delegates of the congress of the CPC, the first since 1997.

This measure, he said, aims to "ensure a systematic rejuvenation of the entire chain of responsibility" within the government.

"While we have always tried to promote young people to key positions of responsibility, life has shown that these selections were not always the most appropriate," said Raul, who was for nearly half a century the minister of defense of his brother Fidel, 84.

Raul Castro, who turns 80 on June 3, made the proposal, unprecedented in Cuba since the establishment of the Castro regime in 1959 - during an analysis of the political leadership of the island.

Placing the Congress under the banner of "correcting the mistakes in the past five decades of socialist construction," Raul Castro called for "leave aside the formalism, dogmatism and stagnation."

He also advocated a strong degreasing of the "nomenklatura" of the party, which must by Tuesday renewed its senior management.

First secretary of the CPC since its founding in 1965, Fidel Castro, who ceded power to his brother Raul in the summer of 2006, announced in March that he wanted to abandon the last official functions held within the regime that it was founded in 1959.

In a speech two hours and twenty minutes, Raul Castro has also outlined the economic reforms that must be defined and adopted by Congress.

More than 300 economic measures will be submitted to Congress.

The original document, published in November, included 291 measures.After three months of discussions by 8.9 million Cubans over 163,000 meetings, the new document offers a range of 311 steps that need to "update" the socialist model, "said Raul Castro.

Job cuts in the public sector, opening the economy to private initiative, the autonomy of state enterprises, reform of the agri-food and openness to foreign capital are the main areas reforms proposed in the 6th Congress of the CCP.

The measure has attracted the greatest public attention during the public meetings for discussion, "said Raul Castro is the future of the" libreta "The ration book from 1963 that allows any Cuban to enjoy a basket of commodities at subsidized prices.

Eventually, the "libreta" should disappear, the president has confirmed.

"The disappearance of the libreta is not an end in itself but must be one of the measures that will be essential to adopt as part of an improvement in labor productivity," said Raul Castro emphasizing the parallel need for a general rise in wages.

Concerning redundancies in the state sector -95% of the Cuban economy, Raul Castro stressed that "nobody would be abandoned to its fate" and a "system of social attention will be implemented to guarantee a minimum support to those who really need it. "

Thursday, April 14, 2011

LIBYA: targeted air strikes of NATO on the Libyan capital

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has offered an outlet Thursday in the streets of Tripoli, which coincided with the recent raids by the coalition in the city, said on Libyan television.

Dark glasses and hat, chest thrown by the sunroof of a jeep moving slowly, hailed Colonel Qaddafi passers by raising his fists, according to images broadcast by television.

Several vehicles carrying bodyguards escorting the car driving Colonel Gaddafi.

At one point, his car slowed down and dozens of people have approached them to cheer the leader of the Libyan revolution.A man sitting in the front seat pulled out his head from the window, chanting "God, Libya, Muammar and nothing else."

Libyan television said the release of Gaddafi had been made "in raids colonialist aggressors crusaders."

According to AFP journalists, aircraft flew Thursday Tripoli, where heavy explosions were heard, followed by firing anti-aircraft defense.

Planes flying over the capital since Thursday morning.Around 1300 GMT, the AFP journalists have heard at least a fighter plane flying low before hearing a loud explosion from the hotel hosting the journalists in Tripoli, not far from the residence of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.

The firing of antiaircraft artillery followed the detonation.

Less than an hour later, at least two explosions were heard far and DCA joined back in action, while fighter jets continued to fly over Tripoli.

A column of smoke was seen by journalists in the district of Ain Zara, in the southeast of the capital.

Libyan television, quoting a military source said that "military and civilian sites in Tripoli, Aziziyeh Kikla and (had) been targeted recently by the raids of the colonialist aggressors crusaders."

Questioned by AFP, NATO said that 1300 GMT there was no device sent by the Alliance over the city.

NATO officials said that the alliance planes flying over the Libyan capital "all the time" but that no bomb had been dropped there.

"Aviation NATO struck a anti-aircraft battery (...) 40 km south of Tripoli this afternoon," he told AFP spokeswoman Oana Lungescu NATO.

"We are very careful about how we aim our (target) to minimize any risk to civilians. So this is another example of misinformation (from the Libyan authorities) as we had more this week. "

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Diplomatic wrangling, one year after air tragedy of Smolensk

On April 10, 2010, a Tupolev carrying President Lech Kaczynski and other senior Polish officials, crashed while attempting to land in heavy fog at Smolensk, killing its 96 occupants.

A plate that contained only inclusion in Polish, recalled that the late Polish President went to Smolensk for the 70th anniversary of the massacre of Katyn, near Smolensk in 1940.22,000 Polish officers were shot there by the Soviet secret police.

But on the eve of the anniversary of the plane crash, a new plaque was placed by the Russian authorities on the memorial that do not refer to the tragedy of Katyn, causing anger among Poles.

A Polish spokesman raised the possibility that President Bronislaw Komorowski, who must travel to Smolensk Monday does not file a wreath at the new plaque.

Sunday in Warsaw, several hundred nationalists demonstrated outside the Russian embassy.

The Russian governor of Smolensk Sunday justified the absence of any reference to Katyn massacre on the new plaque at the site of the plane crash in which he had died a year ago the former Polish president and 95 other responsible.

"This is the place where we mourn the dead from the plane that crashed, not when we mourn the tragedy Polish" Katyn, told the press the governor of Smolensk (western Russia), Sergei Antoufiev.

Religious ceremonies and street rallies began on Sunday morning to commemorate the Polish air disaster in which Polish President Lech Kaczynski and 95 other people died a year ago at Smolensk in Russia.

Divided on the causes of this accident and the ongoing investigations in Russia and Poland, the Poles can follow two separate programs of celebrations: the official program and one that was prepared by the conservative opposition of Jaroslaw Kaczynski, twin brother the late president.

At 6:41 GMT (exact time of the crash a year ago), the head of state Bronislaw Komorowski and Prime Minister Donald Tusk laid a wreath before a plaque commemorating the victims of the accident at the military church in Warsaw.

Meanwhile, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who decided to boycott official ceremonies, laid a wreath at the presidential palace, amid a crowd of enthusiastic supporters.

Mr.Kaczynski sharply criticized the government for letting Russia lead the investigation and not to have rejected the findings.

Supporters of his party Law and Justice announced on Sunday at least four events to commemorate the victims of the disaster, 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. local outside the presidential palace in Warsaw, including a torchlight march at around 18:00 GMT.

In the midst of white and red national flags, a wooden cross was erected birch outside the presidential palace with, at its foot, a model of the presidential train Tupolev crashed, broke in two.

Other crosses, large and small, and the candles have been introduced to that place that initially after the accident, had been the symbol of the unity of Poles in mourning, before becoming one of the divisions .

Protesters waved banners calling on the authorities to shed full light on this accident.The thesis of a conspiracy and an attack was mentioned on the leaflets in the crowd that the Polish prosecutors have definitely ruled recently.

The Polish authorities have scheduled a ceremony before a memorial to victims of the accident at Powazki cemetery in Warsaw, followed by a solemn Mass at the cathedral and a large concert at the National Theatre.

A series of ceremonies and celebrations are planned Sunday across Poland.

The Polish and Russian presidents, Bronislaw Komorowski and Dmitri Medvedev will meet Monday at Smolensk, the scene of the accident.

The Tupolev 154, carrying 10 April 2010 President Lech Kaczynski and other senior Polish officials, crashed while attempting to land in heavy fog at Smolensk, killing its 96 occupants.

The Polish delegation went to the ceremonies of the 70th anniversary of the massacre of about 22,000 Polish officers prisoners of the Red Army, including at Katyn near Smolensk.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

UNUSUAL: On a shovel, a private Georgian Armenia Internet

No need to be a genius hacker or a dictator desperate to deprive a country of the Internet. A retired Georgia cut inadvertently Web access to a part of Armenia, said on Wednesday, the Georgian Ministry of Interior.

March 28, the Georgian age 75 plunged for nearly ten hours in the neighboring state in the dark digital quasi-complete, so it sought to sell the copper near Tbilisi, the Georgian capital. His shovel then accidentally cut a fiber optic cable. And not just any as it was he who provided 90% of the Internet in Armenia.Some 3.2 million Armenians were Internet users and found no connection.

"Hacker shovel"

Its unfortunate sod has also affected the Internet for parts of Georgia and Azerbaijan. A few hours after the incident, the local media now call the "hacker shovel" was always in search of the precious metal.

The good lady was arrested for sabotage. Which could earn him a sentence of three years in prison."Given his advanced age, we released the time of the investigation," he said Wednesday at a press representative of the Ministry of Interior.

This incident was unusual in any case exposed the infrastructure problems that regularly affect the network in Georgia. These cables, which belong to the Georgian telecommunications company, has long had to be strengthened. Alas, the company had to abandon work because of the many rains and landslides that hit the region frequently.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

LIBYA: The cyber-Benghazi Mohammed al-Nabbous died

Founder of the web-Libya Alhurra TV, the cyber-Mohammed al-Nabbous died on Saturday at noon at the Benghazi hospital, just hours before the start of the intervention of the international coalition in Libya. Released a little early to make new videos of the attack on forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi over the city, he was the victim of a sniper shooting.

His death was confirmed by mid-afternoon by his wife, pregnant, in an audiotape posted on the site. Tears in her voice, you can hear it say: "Muhammad died for [the liberation of Libya, Ed].What began, we must continue, whatever happens. "

Become a symbol of the Libyan Revolution

28 years old, Mohammed al-Nabbous launched the site Alhurra Libya on February 17, the first day of demonstrations against the regime of Muammar Gaddafi. The internet platform of the telecom engineer by profession has quickly become one of the sources of information most reliable international media to monitor the situation in Benghazi.Through the dissemination of his reports on the Internet, Mohammed al-Nabbous also helped to publicize the growing hostility of the Libyan people against Muammar Gaddafi.

Mohammed al-Nabbous is the second victim of the conflict to be killed when he turned the images. Already last week, a cameraman for Al-Jazeera was killed in an ambush near Benghazi.

In one recent videos he posted on his website, Mohammed Al-Nabbous sought to show the consequences of bombing on civilians.In it, she was heard to say in front of the webcam: "It must be stopped [Gaddafi, Ed]."

At the news of his death, many media have paid tribute, with some even present it as the symbol become the Libyan revolution.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

LIBYA: Fever cyberdissidence to attack the regime of Gaddafi

Surrounded by two popular revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, Libya, led an iron fist by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, is contaminated in turn by fever cyberdissidence. For several weeks, the Libyan youth is now to harness the power of YouTube, Facebook and Twitter to express his opposition to the plan. An unprecedented event.

Since coming to power of the "Guide of the Libyan Jamahiriya" in 1969, the international community has difficulty obtaining credible and independent information from the North African state, long isolated diplomatically.But this week, the video sharing site online, YouTube has been flooded with images of amateur violent protests that took place during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, Benghazi in the east. According to a latest report, 38 people were injured during the clashes.


Disseminated by the media, relayed by Internet

The videos have been broadcast by major international media and massively publicized on the web by Internet via Twitter and Facebook social networks on the eve of the "day of anger" that the Libyan dissidents have planned for this Thursday.

They have invited the public to take to the streets through a Facebook page titled "Revolt of February 17, 2011: Day of anger in Libya."Created on January 28 by Hassan al-Djahmi, a Libyan dissident living in exile in Switzerland, the group has far more than 14,000 fans.

"The Internet has played a decisive role in spreading the spirit of dissent in Libya, says Guma el Gamaty, a Libyan writer based in London. Over the last two months, the number of young people who have joined Facebook groups and network Twitter has exploded. They are tens of thousands to connect to discuss and organize on Twitter, "he says.

The telecom network controlled by the son of Gaddafi

Like many countries in the region, Libya has a very young population. Nearly 33% of the 6.5 million inhabitants are under 14 years.But unlike Egypt, which, with its 80 million inhabitants, remains the most populous Arab country, Libya, benefited by strong oil reserves, has managed to secure a higher standard of living for its people and maintain low prices for basic commodities. "But the lack of infrastructure that the penetration of the Internet is not very high," notes El-Gamaty.

And for good reason, much of the infrastructure of the Libyan Jamahiriya, governed by an unusual cocktail of socialism and Islam, was nationalized and controlled by a clique of relatives of Colonel Gaddafi.The pattern of state-owned telecoms companies - Libyana and Al Madar, who provide mobile telephony services and Internet access - is none other than Mohammed Moammar Gadhafi, the eldest son of the "guide".

Twitter to the rescue

Therefore, access to certain Web sites and remains closely controlled by Tripoli. "Three months ago, they blocked the YouTube website, like Facebook for a while instead.It is expected that they all begin again by cutting the internet connection altogether in the coming days, "said Mojahed Bossisy, a Libyan journalist based in Qatar.

Despite the censorship, the Twitter site, particularly used by the Tunisian and Egyptian dissidents, remains functional. On the eve of the "day of rage", many Internet users are used to indicate to the Libyans to take steps to avoid a potential deadlock.

Rap anti-Gaddafi

In addition, the site Libyan Khalas! ("Enough"), launched in 2009 by Libyan exiles in the United States, participates fully in the campaign of opposition against the dictatorial regime of Gaddafi, he denounces in English and Arabic.This particular site has provided a forum for Ben Thabet rapper, songwriter incendiary against the regime, which called on Libyans to revolt and revolution inspired by the Tunisian.

Most observers agree, however, suggest a scenario of escalation to the Egyptian or Tunisian is unlikely in the Libyan Jamahiriya. "Zero tolerance applied by the scheme does not permit the emergence of organized opposition or recognized.Nor is there civil institutions, trade unions, freedom of speech or press, "explains El-Gamaty.

However, there are a multitude of ingredients that can keep the wind of revolt in Libya: the young population, high unemployment, widespread corruption of the regime, a weak health system and widespread resentment within population. El-Gamaty is one of the many Libyan dissidents who recognize that it will be difficult to make a revolution, but not impossible.

In "Al-Soal" ("The Question"), Ben Thabet sings: "There are several reasons why the Libyans should revolt. Perhaps it is not next week or the one after, but it will happen .One day it will happen. "

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

UNITED STATES: The House opposes the extension of the Patriot Act anti-terrorism law

The U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday night blocked a proposed short-term renewal of the Patriot Act, a legislative arsenal to combat terrorism set up by the administration of George W. Bush after the Sept. 11, which expires in late February.

Elected officials voted on the text by 277 votes against 148. But to be adopted to the extent needed a two thirds majority.He missed less than fifteen votes.

This extension until December 8 do not correspond exactly to the wishes of the White House that called for an extension until 2013, but the Chair had said in a statement it does "not oppose" the bill of House.

Bill conceived after Sept. 11 to try to remedy the shortcomings of U.S. authorities in the fight against terrorism is highly controversial because of the exceptional powers given to security forces.

The Republican chairman of the Committee of Intelligence Mike Rogers, argued that extension of short-term in a statement Wednesday saying: "it is our duty to examine the measures in a comprehensive, energetic and sensible, rather than rushing into extended long term. " Mr.Rogers wanted to use the nine months to negotiate "ideally a permanent extension.

In the Senate, debate on how the extension will be even more complicated because several competing bills were filed.

The chairman of the Judiciary Committee Patrick Leahy proposes an extension until December 2013 these measures.

Senate Republicans, themselves, want a permanent extension of these measures, but unlike their colleagues in the House, they are a minority.

Three major steps are involved: "mobile monitor" communications of suspects using multiple phone lines, the principle of "lone wolf" who can investigate a person purporting to conduct terrorist activities on its own account, the possibility for authorities to access "any tangible data" on a suspect, such as emails.

The Minister of Justice Eric Holder and the Director of American Intelligence (DNI) Eric Clapper called elected officials in a letter Jan. 28 to renew the three measures. They cautioned against renewal of the Patriot Act "short term".

Thursday, February 3, 2011

HAITI: Haitians suspended the announcement of the results of the first round of presidential

Peacekeepers from the UN mission in Haiti were deployed Wednesday in the day in Port-au-Prince and in cities across the country in anticipation of the announcement of final results of the disputed first round of presidential elections initially planned evening. Finally, night has fallen on the island without any result is revealed.

Haitians are suspended from the verdict of the Provisional Election Commission (PEC). In the streets of Port-au-Prince on Wednesday afternoon, the UN vehicles were visible, and private banks and commercial institutions were closed earlier than usual.Local residents rushed to buy food and water.

"We have people deployed in strategic locations in the capital and regions, while awaiting the results," he told AFP spokesman for police in the UN Mission for Stabilization of Haiti (MINUSTAH), Jean-François Vézina.

Haiti was plunged into a serious political crisis since the beginning of December the provisional results of the first round of voting on 28 November, according to which the former first lady and candidate Mirlande Manigat power Jude Celestin qualified for the second round scheduled for now March 20.

These results have led to violence by supporters of the candidate who came third, the singer Michel Martelly.

The PRC had assured to do his best to respect the official date of February 2. But the "willingness and availability" displayed by some electoral advisers, including Jacques Belzin, were not enough.

Among the questions that remain unanswered, Haitians wonder if the PRC is likely to follow the recommendations of the Organization of American States (OAS) by announcing a second round without Jude Celestin, between Mr and Mrs Martelly Manigat.The ruling party took the decision last week to reject its candidate in the race, but Jude Celestin has not confirmed his own withdrawal.

On Tuesday, opposition parties and civil society organizations have requested the cancellation of elections and the establishment of a "provisional government" February 7, when the term of outgoing President Rene Preval expires .

The Head of State has already announced he would stay beyond that date to allow the electoral process to succeed.

The return on January 16 in Haiti's former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier, after 25 years in exile, has plunged even further the country into crisis.

In a television interview, Mr.Duvalier assured returning to help rebuild the country after the earthquake of January 12, 2010 which was 220,000 people.

It was, incidentally, boasted of having "launched" the democratic process in Haiti. "When you call me a tyrant, it makes me laugh, because people are suffering from amnesia," said Mr. Duvalier, who is the subject of complaints for crimes against humanity.

Adding to the confusion, the Haitian government was ready Monday to grant a passport to former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, exiled in South Africa after being ousted in an armed insurrection in 2004.