SYRIA: Facing rising anti-Assad, the Syrian Christians are reluctant to take a stand

While the Syrian regime is working to quell violent protests calling for his ouster and the proceedings were extended and radicalized in the country, some segments of the Syrian population - Multifaith - watch carefully the movement that is shaking up the system President Bashar al-Assad, in power since 2000.

Iraqi scenario

Since the uprising began, two million Christians living in Syria (12% of the population) were kept out of events, consisting of an overwhelming majority of Sunnis, who spearheaded the mobilization. "Most Christians have been left out of the revolt, Syrian sitters.They fear an unfavorable outcome to the crisis that would affect their lives and their property, "said Mohamed Ajlani, professor of political science and international relations at the Center for Diplomatic and Strategic Studies (CEDS), joined by FRANCE 24.

Within this community, concern of a repeat the Iraq scenario is very strong. Many fear being forced into exile, as were Iraqi Christians since the fall of Saddam Hussein, victims of several murderous attacks."The destabilization of Syria could jeopardize relations between religious communities and, in the same way as happened in Iraq after the occupation of Americans, harm to the two million Christians living in the country," said recently Vicar Apostolic of Aleppo Latin Catholic Bishop Giuseppe Nazzaro, the missionary agency Misna.

So far in fact, the Assad family in power in Damascus since 1970, itself a result of the Alawite religious minority (derivative of Shia Islam), has placed de facto under the protection of Christian and Druze minorities in the country ."The regime has always tried to maintain a privileged relationship with the Christians of Syria to secure its internal legitimacy. Partnering with minorities, the authority wanted to balance the roles against the Sunni majority, and maintain its image bulwark against Islam vis-à-vis the outside, "Mohamed Ajlani analysis.

Caught

For their part, Christians have been comforted over the years by the secular nature of the regime and not by the establishment of radical Islam that they fear the takeover in case of revolution."The Assad has always operated this card, claiming that if the regime falls, chaos will reign and that Christians would be the first to pay the piper," notes Mohamed Ajlani.

In exchange for the security and freedom of worship, the Christians of Syria have renounced to play a political role similar to that of their fellow Lebanese. Despite the presence of some of their representatives in government or parliament.At the cost of this implicit bargain - and not so much political commitment to the Assad regime - one of the oldest Christian communities in the world has prospered economically in a climate of religious tolerance.

"The Syrian Christians are a very active component of Syrian society, especially in the economic and cultural.If some people are accommodated in the scheme and benefited from the system to enrich themselves, others chose the opposition and the underground, like other communities, "analysis for its part Samir Arbache, religious historian and specialist Middle East at the Catholic University of Lille, joined by FRANCE 24.

Sandwiched between demonstrations calling for the downfall of the regime and pending a political solution to the crisis, the Christian community is therefore reluctant to take a stand. "If the regime falls, you may get wrong to anger all those who have been frustrated by the regime of Assad. If we participate in the demonstrations, the regime could make us pay dearly by addressing our rights.In both cases we lose! "Concluded Sami, a young Maronite Christian from Damascus.

IVORY COAST: Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara was sworn in Abidjan

AFP - Alassane Ouattara was sworn in Friday as president of Côte d'Ivoire, after five months of crisis-related challenge to the presidential election Nov. 28 by the outgoing Head of State Laurent Gbagbo, who was arrested April 11, found a AFP.

Mr.Ouattara, 69, was sworn in, standing, right hand raised before the President of the Constitutional Council, Paul Yao N'Dré, the palace of the Presidency, in the administrative district of Plateau (center) in the presence of members of government, diplomats, representatives of the armed forces, political parties and civil society.

"Before the sovereign people of Côte d'Ivoire, I solemnly swear to honor and to respect and faithfully defend the Constitution, protect the rights and freedoms of citizens, to conscientiously fulfill my duties in the best interests Nation, "he said.

"That the people will retire his confidence and that I undergo the rigor of the law if I betray my oath," he added.

"This is the beginning of a new era of reconciliation and unity between all the girls, among all our dear son of Ivory Coast," promised Mr. Ouattara in a brief intervention, immediately after its swearing.

The ceremony took place after the proclamation of Alassane Ouattara as president by the Constitutional Council, ending the controversy over the presidential election.

Ouattara Chairman welcomed this proclamation: "This decision has thus removing any doubt about the outcome of the vote."

3 December 2010, Mr. Yao N'Dré near Laurent Gbagbo, had opened the most serious crisis in the country's history by proclaiming Mr.Gbagbo reelected with 51.45% of the votes at the polls on November 28.

The Council then had to invalidate the results of the independent electoral commission, certified by the UN, giving Mr. Ouattara winner with 54.1% of votes.

December 4, Côte d'Ivoire was thus left with two chairs.Laurent Gbagbo was sworn in during a ceremony with great pomp in the presidential palace, while Alassane Ouattara had done so through a letter to the Constitutional Council.

Laurent Gbagbo was eventually arrested by the pro-Ouattara in the presidential residence in Abidjan on April 11, after several days of bombing of the French Licorne force and the UN, ending four months of crisis and 15 days of war, that killed nearly 3,000 people, authorities said, and about one million displaced.

The inauguration of President Ouattara to be held May 21 in Yamoussoukro (center), the political capital of the country, attended by foreign heads of state.

GERMANY: The energy giant RWE attacked the moratorium on nuclear

Bang nuclear Germany. RWE, the German number 2 in the nuclear sector (and number 3 worldwide), filed a complaint Friday against the government's decision to temporarily close two of its reactors. The energy giant considers illegal moratorium on nuclear introduced by Chancellor Angela Merkel, March 18.

An approach that could negate one of the most popular government decisions in recent weeks.Supporters of the anti-nuclear issue in Germany and elsewhere in the world had found the appropriate response after the nuclear catasprophe occurred in Japan as a result of the earthquake and tsunami of 11 March.

"Our reactors meet all the safety conditions imposed by German law. So there is no legal argument for closing them," said RWE in a press release posted Friday morning.Contacted by FRANCE 24, the company declined to give details.

Under the moratorium, the German authorities had decided to close for three months the eight older reactors still in operation, including two owned by RWE.

The world's No. 1 does not follow RWE

The attack against RWE is German public opinion against the grain. The anti-nuclear message has indeed gained strength in recent days. On Sunday, the Greens, the Social Democrat allies of the SPD, have also won a historic election victory in Baden-Württemberg, the Land (administrative region German, Ed)'s richest countries.Success largely due to the sling anti-nuclear environmentalists.

"It's a brutal approach [to file a complaint, Ed] who points out that RWE has no regard for the public interest and public opinion and thinks only of profits," laments Karsten Smid, M . Nuclear Greenpeace Germany.

A complaint that also throws in trouble the other industry players, including E. ON, the world's No. 1 nuclear power. The latter, which had to close two reactors, decided Friday not to complain."We discussed at length this morning and we believe it is not possible in the context of emotion today to have a reasonable debate on this issue," says FRANCE 24 Christian Drepper, spokesman for E . ON.

A poorly conceived moratorium

However, the Spokesperson of E. We understand the legal process of its competitor. "We also have doubts about the legality of the decision to close the reactors," he adds.

Moreover, everyone seems to agree on this point: the moratorium is poorly conceived. It is based on a law that allows closing the reactors that if "an immediate danger to human life.""On the one hand, the immediate danger is not proven, and secondly, if a reactor is considered dangerous, it must be shut down, not only for three months," said the AFP Morlok Martin, professor law at the University of Düsseldorf.

A rookie mistake of the government of Angela Merkel? For the head of Greenpeace Karsten Smid, Berlin has either acted in a hurry without thinking or voluntarily created a way for the nuclear lobby to challenge that moratorium.

LIBYA: Obama fixed the issues and the limits of U.S. involvement

Reuters - Barack Obama in a speech on the situation in Libya, said Monday that the U.S. would, in concert with their allies, seek to hasten the day when Moammar Gadhafi should step down, but he stressed they would not use direct force to overthrow him.

In a televised address to the nation, Bush, accused by many members of Congress not to have explained the role of the international coalition in Washington, defended its decision to intervene militarily in the conflict in Libya.

At the same time, he clarified the limits of the action of the United States and sought to counter the impression that he had no clear goals nor credible strategy out of the conflict.

"For generations, the United States plays a unique role as an anchor of international security and defending the fundamental freedoms." Bearing in mind the risks and costs of military intervention, we're obviously reluctant to use force to solve the many problems facing the planet. But when our interests and values ​​are at stake, we have a responsibility to act. That's what happened in Libya over the past six weeks, " the president said.

"Libya is directly between Tunisia and Egypt, two countries that have inspired the world when their peoples have stood up to take control of their destiny. For over 40 years, the Libyan people is led by a tyrant, Muammar Gaddafi.It deprives its people of freedom, uses his wealth, murdering its opponents at home and abroad, and terrorizing innocent people in the world - including Americans who were killed by Libyan agents.

GADDAFI DOES NOT "OVERNIGHT"

"Tonight, I am able to say that we stopped the progression of lethal Gaddafi," he said before a gathering of officers at the National Defense University in Washington, 10 days after ordering that the United States participating in Operation "Dawn of the Odyssey."

"We hit the air defenses (Gaddafi), which allowed the establishment of a no-fly zone.We targeted the tanks and other forces that were strangling the cities, and we cut to a large extent the supply lines, "he said.

The U.S. president also said that the award of U.S. Command in NATO would intervene on Wednesday.

"We will deprive the system of any weapon, interrupt his source of income, help the opposition, and we will work with other countries to hasten the day when Gaddafi will leave power," continued the president.

This, he said, "will not happen overnight," and he admitted that Qaddafi might be able to cling to power."Expanding our military mission to a regime change would be a mistake," he pointed out, however.

Obama spoke on the eve of the scheduled conference in London on Tuesday attended by 35 countries on the situation in Libya.

The issue of Obama's speech was to identify and clearly define the purpose and scope of the mission of the United States to Libya, to be understood by Americans, preoccupied with domestic economic problems, which are already of a dim view of the costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Yemen: President Ali Abdallah Saleh is increasingly isolated

Leaders of the Yemeni army announced Monday their rally to protest against President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has assured the people that supported him despite calls for redoubled his departure.

In addition, the main tribal leader, Sheikh Sadek al-Ahmar, asked President Saleh, in power for 32 years to retire, adding its voice to those of traditional and religious leaders, whose role is critical in this poor country 24 million inhabitants.

Two regions commanders, General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, head of the north-east which includes the capital Sanaa, and General Mohammed Ali Mohsen, head of Eastern Military District, declared themselves in favor of the protesters.

Their defections were the first of this magnitude in the ranks of the army, and two other generals: Nasser Ali Chouaibi in south-east, and Faisal Rajab, in the south.

Despite these defections, President Saleh, 68, said the "majority of the people" supports it.

"The vast majority of people with Yemeni security, stability and constitutional legality.And those who call for chaos, violence, hatred and sabotage are a tiny minority, "assured the president to Sanaa.

Previously, General al-Ahmar, from the most influential tribe in the country, had accused Al-Jazeera the head of state to "repress peaceful protesters" and "push the country towards civil war".

In Sanaa, dozens of officers have announced their allegiance to a crowd of protesters who braved still on the University Square a ban on demonstrations to demand the departure of President Saleh.

In the morning, tanks were deployed in the center of the capital, especially around the presidential palace, the seat of the ruling General People's Congress (GPC), the Department of Defense and the Central Bank.

In Aden (south), the second largest city, General Chouaibi has supported the protest, along with 60 officers of the province of Hadramout and 50 officers from the Ministry of Interior. And the governor of the province, Ahmad Qaatabi, submitted his resignation.

These rallies to protest came as the tribal leader, Sheikh Sadek al-Ahmar, President Saleh has asked to "avoid bloodshed and to opt for a graceful exit."

His defection adds to those of regime officials who have propagated these days, forcing the president Saleh to sack the government on Sunday night, after the resignation of three ministers.

According to the official news agency Saba, M.Saleh has asked his cabinet to "caretaker until the establishment of a new government."

The ambassadors of Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Mohammad Ali al-ahwal, and Kuwait, Sheikh Khaled Rajeh, also announced on Monday to join the protest movement against President Saleh.

Five ambassadors of Yemen in Europe have written to President Saleh to ask him to resign, according to the Yemeni ambassador in France, Khaled al-Akwa.

The departure of President Saleh is "indispensable" found on his side the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Alain Juppe.

The dispute has gained momentum after the death of 52 people killed in an attack Friday against protesters in Sanaa.The killings attributed to supporters of the regime marked the bloodiest day since the end of January in protest.

This massacre was sentenced Monday by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, visiting Cairo. "The Yemeni government has an obligation to protect civilians," Ban said, supporting a "comprehensive dialogue".

BAHRAIN: Curfew eased in Manama, despite the intensification of repression

AFP - The Bahraini authorities have eased the curfew in the center of Manama, which will now be imposed from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. local time (5:00 p.m. to 1:00 GMT), said Thursday on state television.

The curfew was declared Wednesday between 4:00 p.m. (1300 GMT) and 4:00 (0100 GMT) in the areas of Manama with known events, including the replacement of the Pearl and the financial district.

Banks and many shops remained closed Thursday in Manama, as well as schools until further notice, while troops were stationed in the financial district where most of international companies.

The movement was fluid in the capital, just days after the proclamation of a state of emergency for three months by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in the kingdom shaken by a growing protest the plan.

The Bahraini security forces had stormed Wednesday against protesters Shiites observing a sit-in on the Place de la Perle in Manama, and five people were killed.

IRAQ: At least 10 policemen killed in a suicide bombing in Samarra

AFP - A suicide car bombing against police left 10 dead and 16 injured Monday morning in the Iraqi city of Samarra (center), announced a lieutenant-colonel of the police.

A policeman on guard outside the door, fired on the bomber but he managed to bring his white van filled with explosives into the compound of the Rapid Response Unit, arrived in the south two weeks ago to protect the ceremonies marking the death of an imam revered by Shiites, said the senior officer who wished to remain anonymous.

February 12, near the Sunni town located 110 km north of Baghdad, at least 30 people were killed and 28 wounded by a suicide bomber who detonated his explosive vest in a bus of Shiite pilgrims.

Samarra which houses the mausoleum are buried the 10th and 11th imams revered by Shia Twelver Ali al-Hadi (827-868) and Hassan al-Askari (847-874) in which the faithful commemorate the death Saturday.

The destruction of the Samarra shrine bombing in February 2006 had triggered violence between Shiites and Sunnis in which tens of thousands of people had been killed.

MEXICO: The Mexican justice dismissed the cassation appeal of Florence Break

AFP - A Mexican court of three judges on Thursday rejected the appeal in cassation Break of Florence, the French woman sentenced to 60 years in prison in Mexico for kidnapping and imprisoned for over five years.

"Justice of the Union does not challenge the final decision of the court of appeal against Florence Break", now aged 36 years, according to the ruling made public before the forty journalists.

The three judges of the Supreme Court made their decision after less than two hours of meeting.

The French, who has always protested his innocence, has no recourse to justice in Mexico, but it can still enter international organizations, said the second counselor of the Embassy of France in Mexico, Florian Blazy.

"We need to revise the ruling. There are other international remedies," said the French diplomat. The situations envisaged by the embassy even before the trial were those of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights or the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

"I do not know how is Florence, but I can imagine," said Mr.Blazy.

Cassez, arrested in December 2005 during a mock inquiry held for television, was sentenced to 96 years in prison in the first instance, a sentence reduced on appeal to 60 years in prison in March 2009.

The arrest of Florence Break, along with his former partner Israel Vallarta, had been a television broadcast made at dawn on December 9, 2005 as a live broadcast in a "rancho", a house countryside on the outskirts of Mexico City.

The French had claimed she was arrested yesterday and held incommunicado until dawn.The police had then acknowledged having made a "recovery".

For advocates of the young woman, the cassation appeal (amparo) filed in August 2010 was to demonstrate that all the charges "built on sand" on "false evidence" in the words of counsel French Break Florence, Frank Berton.

At the beginning of the case, the opinion was unanimous Mexican Cassez been hostile to media and the verdict was no appeal against the "evil French".

But in five years, the activities of lawyers and press-depth investigations, including from French journalists on the spot on a record of more than 10,000 pages, had sown doubt in circles wider and wider in Mexico.

In November 2010, the French had received two notable supporters: that the Catholic Church of Mexico and a former federal Attorney-General, the equivalent of the Minister of Justice, who claimed to believe in his innocence.

The church had found a "total violation" of human Cassez and his "absolute innocence".

Former Minister Ignacio Morales Lechuga said for his part that the procedure "has not respected the rules of the Mexican criminal law, violated the rights of the condemned" and "led to freedom by letting the real perpetrators of crime" .

Break The case also became a contentious diplomatic row between France and Mexico, especially since the visit of Nicolas Sarkozy in Mexico in March 2009.

Three months later, in June 2009, Mexican President Felipe Calderon has ruled out personally in a speech for radio and television, the solution advocated by French President to transfer Cassez France.

This decision of the Supreme Court comes as Mexican has been officially launched, a few days ago, the year of France in Mexico.