In Madrid, thousands of demonstrators defied a ban on protests

AFP - Thousands of people packed the Puerta del Sol in Madrid hosted Friday at midnight by a "silent scream" to protest the ban, noting the 12 strokes of the clock one minute of silence symbolic ribbons of tape stuck on the mouth.

At exactly midnight, hit an impressive silence for a few seconds on the main square in the heart of the Spanish capital, crowded as the streets around.

The demonstrators, who occupied the premises since Tuesday when they planted a village of tents and tarpaulins, and have welcomed the truce that prohibits any political rally on the eve of local elections.

Then, very quickly, the seizures returned, amid percussion: "Now we're all illegal," shouted the crowd, estimated at 19.000 people according to a statement submitted to the agency Efe by a specialized company.

The police presence remained quiet, with only a few police cars parked in surrounding streets.

The organizers of the movement, born earlier this week to protest unemployment and the fallout from the economic crisis, had warned they were ready to defy the ban.

"We will stay on the site.This is not an event but a citizens' movement, had said Friday morning Juan Lopez, an unemployed 30-year and one of the spokespersons of the movement.

Two days ahead of local elections disastrous for the ruling Socialists, the government, very embarrassed, promised to act with restraint while "applying the law, which requires respect for the electoral truce.

Since Tuesday, the spontaneous movement brings together a mosaic of young people but also people from all backgrounds and all ages, unemployed, students, retirees, employees who took possession of the place.

Unique, colorful and pacifist movement, on behalf of the "right to be indignant," wants to be "apolitical" and denounced the collage stranglehold of the major parties on Spanish politics, social injustice, the "corruption of politicians ".

More importantly, it betrays the frustration of millions of Spaniards who face unemployment reached a record high of 21.19% and strikes nearly half the age of 25, salary cuts, fallout from the economic crisis.

The determination of the demonstrators on the eve of the weekend election, puts the government in a difficult position, forcing him to choose between a police very risky, or a flexibility that would surely earn him criticism.

"We will apply the law to guarantee the rights and freedom of all citizens," said Friday, Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba.

The head of government Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has assured him that the government would show "understanding".

Throughout the week, protesters have gathered every day more numerous at the Puerta del Sol. The movement, to a lesser extent, has won most of the cities of Spain.And in a few days, it was structured.

A camp of plastic sheeting mounted on wooden structures and tents popped up on the spot, with "pit" dedicated to cooking, hospitality, health care, and also communication where any new "spokesperson" are trying to refine the message, sometimes blurry, of protesters.

In the queue in front of the booth dedicated to the signing of the petition of support, Maria Jesus Garcia, an employee of 40 years, told Friday it coming "because of unemployment. Especially the young."

"I will read the petition, and I'll sign," she said. "But they must continue after the elections. If they stop, it will be worth nothing."

CASE DSK: Emerging covet the IMF, the stronghold of Europeans

The debate over the estate of Dominique Strauss-Kahn to head the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has launched since Tuesday. There "is no longer able to lead the IMF," said Tuesday night, Timothy Geithner, the Secretary of State U.S. Treasury, before calling for a quick change at the head of the institution. Same story in France: "The question of succession will be resolved in the coming days," he said Wednesday Jean-Francois Cope, head of the UMP.

Must still agree on the name of a replacement.The departure of Dominique Strauss-Kahn is there an opportunity to put an end to more than 70 years of EU presidency IMF? Emerging countries hope to take this opportunity to promote one of their favorites, the South African Trevor Manuel and the Turkish Kemal Dervis.

For their part, Europeans want to perpetuate an unwritten rule in effect since 1944 that the IMF management amounts to one of their own and the presidency of the World Bank falls to an American.

But for several years, emerging countries reiterate that the world is not bipolar like in the 70s and should be taken into account.It is this new balance of power that Dominique Strauss-Kahn has also tried to reflect through the reform in 2008, voting rights at the IMF.

"Emerging markets now have more voice in the institution and therefore more weight on the designation of the future CEO", said FRANCE 24 Nicolas Dromel, associate researcher at Paris School of Economics.

"Earthquake with multiple aftershocks

In this, Europe contends that the timing is wrong."The first record of the future will be the crisis manager in the euro area and the Europeans believe that one of them will be more sensitive to this problem and better equipped to manage it," says Christine Rifflart, an economist at the French Observatory of conjunctures economic (OFCE), FRANCE 24."A European as Dominique Strauss-Kahn will have the necessary relationships to facilitate future agreements, including Greece and Ireland," adds Robert Wade, an expert on international organizations at the London School of Economics, FRANCE 24.

But beyond the European battlefield, the arrival of a representative of an emerging nation it change something for the operation of the IMF? "Dominique Strauss-Kahn has already done much to meet the demands of emerging economies such as to make the institution less dogmatic in his political allocation of loans," recalls Christine Rifflart. "The IMF has also put in place adequate filters to prevent the arrival of a president too heterodox," she adds.Moreover, "all candidates have been educated in the same high school and are awarded by the IMF," says Nicolas Dromel.

Still, the arrival of an emerging economy to head the IMF would be a powerful symbol and could act as "an earthquake with many aftershocks," says Robert Wade. "Once the barrier of the IMF will sell, there will be no reason to prevent leaders from emerging countries to take the lead of other international financial institutions", says British economist. Pre-square American Bank would he in turn threatened? In theory yes, but nothing is done."The United States has pushed for emerging countries take a greater role within the IMF and in return, they could thank them by giving them the leadership of the World Bank," said Robert Wade.

JUSTICE: What might Dominique Strauss-Kahn under U.S. law?

The arrest and prosecution of sexual assault, attempted rape and kidnapping of Dominique Strauss-Kahn on Sunday by the prosecutor of New York, raises several legal issues relating to sexual offenses. Decryption.

What's next court waiting DSK?

The IMF chief should be referred on Sunday at 19 pm (Paris time) before a U.S. judge in New York, with whom he will have the opportunity to speak. Former socialist minister denies all the charges alleged against him and will plead not guilty, told AFP his Washington lawyer, William Taylor. The magistrate will then decide on the release on bail of former minister or otherwise detained."In general, with regard to foreign nationals, who are by definition the risk to flee the United States to their country, mostly in cases of this magnitude, those accused remain in jail, at least for the time the judge to initiate the procedure, "says Emmanuel Saint-Martin, FRANCE 24's correspondent in New York. If the judge finds that the director will not escape justice, then it will be released on bail or without bail, on condition that he report at trial.

The head of the IMF has it a privilege?

"Theoretically, DSK is protected by an immunity for acts committed as part of his official duties in accordance with the operation of major international institutions.Remains whether it applied at the time of the alleged assault, "said Stanislas de Saint Hippolyte, FRANCE 24's correspondent in Washington. Indeed, the IMF Articles of Agreement (Article IX), showing that its officials" are not prosecuted for acts performed by them in exercising their official duties, "however, the Fund may decide to waive this immunity after meeting management.

If the allegations are true, what are the penalties incurred by Dominique Strauss-Kahn?

The fate of DSK depends on the nature of the crime by holding the "District Attorney" (floor New York).Charged with sexual assault, forcible confinement and one of attempted rape, the IMF chief "risk if convicted one year to twenty-five years in prison, according to the prosecutor's decision", said Stanislas de Saint Hippolyte.

Four scenarios could apply to Dominique Strauss-Kahn: sexual intercourse without consent of the victim. "This is the crime the less severely punished, ie one year in prison," said Stanislas de Saint Hippolyte. The second case involves sexual abuse. It may be a crime as a crime, punishable by up to fifteen years imprisonment. The third qualifier is rape, punishable by a sentence of twenty-five years in prison.Finally, any act of rape with "deviant", such as the practice of oral sex, is punishable by twenty-five years' imprisonment maximum.

GERMANY: After 18 months of trial, the former Nazi Demjanjuk soon learn his fate

AFP - The last great trial of Nazi crimes in Germany draws to a close one against John Demjanjuk, accused of involvement in the Holocaust as an extermination camp guard, whose verdict could fall Thursday.

After some 18 months of trial, a court in Munich (south) should indicate whether such a stateless person of Ukrainian descent aged 91 years is complicit in the murder of nearly 27,900 Jews at the Sobibor camp (Poland), where he was in custody six months in 1943, prosecutors said.

But the uncertainty was still up Thursday morning: the court must first decide on a defense motion that wants to present new evidence before closing the debate, said prosecutors Wednesday.

The prosecutor demanded six years in prison on the 15 he faces a maximum.The accused, who has remained silent, denying the facts, and his defense has claimed the acquittal of the "victim of German justice."

The prosecution had no direct witness or document compromising, if not a map showing its quality SS guard at Sobibor, challenged by the defense as a fake from the Soviet era.

For defense, there is no evidence that Demjanjuk was at Sobibor, and if there was a soldier of the Red Army prisoner of the Nazis, he acted only under duress.

Whatever the outcome, this trial may leave a "general feeling of frustration" and suspicion "partial justice" if the direct participation of the accused is not shown, commented to AFP Nazi hunter Serge Klarsfeld.

Demjanjuk, who was expelled two years ago the United States where he lived since the '50s, after a long legal battle centered on his health is shaky saying, attended the debates stretcher or wheelchair, and has not say a word.

He has already served eight years in prison in Israel, accused of being a guard at the Treblinka camp under the nickname "Ivan the Terrible."Sentenced to death in 1988 he was acquitted by the Israeli Supreme Court because of doubts about his identity.

His trial will be one of the last Nazi crimes, with that of the Hungarian Sandor Kepiro, 97, who has just started in Budapest.

But after Germany, Spain wants to try him for having been a guard in another concentration camp where prisoners have died in Spain.

Bin Laden enjoyed support in Pakistan, according to Obama

Barack Obama has revived debate on Sunday on the thesis of a possible government complicity in Islamabad about the presence of Osama bin Laden on Pakistani soil until his death on May 1, during a raid U.S. special forces.

"The Pakistani government must initiate an investigation"

The U.S. president said on CBS that the leader of al-Qaeda most likely disposed of support in Pakistan and urged the Pakistani government to investigate the subject.

"We think there should be a network of support in one form or another, for bin Laden inside Pakistan," he said in a television interview aired Sunday night on the show " 60 Minutes "CBS.

"But we do not know where," he added. We do not know if there could be people [who helped bin Laden, ed] within or outside the government.We need to investigate it and, more importantly, the Pakistani government must initiate an investigation. "

The founder of Al Qaeda, who masterminded the attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States, was killed on May 1 by U.S. special forces in his cache of Abbottabad, about sixty miles from the Pakistani capital Islamabad.

The Americans want to interrogate the three widows of bin Laden captured in Abbottabad

Prior to the release of about Barack Obama, the U.S. administration, it seems, spared its ally Pakistan by saying it did not have evidence to suggest that Islamabad qu'Ousama knew bin Laden was living in a city stationed nearby before his death.

"I can tell you frankly that I have seen no evidence to suggest that political leaders, military or intelligence services were aware of [the hiding place] bin Laden," said Tom Donilon, Counsellor national security of the White House during the show "Meet the Press" on NBC.

The hiding of the head of Al-Qaeda must "be an investigation," but he had added.

"The Pakistanis have said they would open an investigation, said Donilon. It is a very important issue in Pakistan at this time. How does this have happened in Pakistan? We have to investigate that.We must work with the Pakistanis. "

Pakistani authorities, he added, must provide U.S. authorities with the information they have gathered in the residence where bin Laden was killed, and enable them to meet his three widows who are currently detained in Pakistan.

Islamabad has already promised an investigation

On Monday, Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani could deliver clarification on this point during his speech to parliament in Islamabad.

And its ambassador to Washington, Husain Haqqani, has promised in the show "This Week" ABC that the Pakistani authorities would take action after investigation.

"Heads Will Roll, once the investigation is completed, he said.If proven incompetence, we'll tell you. But if, and God forbid, complicity are unearthed, we will apply the principle of zero tolerance. "

Despite the difficult relations between Washington and Islamabad, "we work closely with Pakistan in the cons-terrorism, said his side Tom Donilon.There were more terrorists and extremists captured or killed in Pakistan than in any other country "

American suspicions about the Pakistani intelligence

Pakistan, heavily dependent on billions of dollars of U.S. aid, is under pressure to explain how Bin Laden has been living so long in a garrison town so close to the capital without being flushed.

These questions reinforce the doubts about the relationship that could keep members of Pakistani intelligence (ISI) with Islamic extremists.

Pakistan vehemently denies any complicity and states have paid a heavy price for supporting the U.S. offensive launched after the attacks of September 11, 2001.

Officials said Pakistani security service, the head of al-Qaeda could have lived more than seven years in Pakistan before he was killed on May 1 by U.S. commandos.

One of the widows of bin Laden told investigators that he had spent about two and a half years in a Pakistani village before moving to Abbottabad.

This woman, Amal Ahmed Abdoulfattah, said the leader of Al Qaeda and its relatives had lived five years in Abbottabad.

Donilon said Sunday that the death of Osama bin Laden was a "real blow" to Al Qaeda.

"With the measures we have taken during the assault on the home run against Pakistan and the death of Osama bin Laden, they are even more vulnerable," he said.

Washington said Saturday that the complex where bin Laden lived Ouassama housed a "command post and Active Control" operations of Al Qaeda.

"It sounds ridiculous, responded Sunday a senior Pakistani intelligence. He did not seem in the process of directing a terrorist network."

"That's bullshit," added a senior Pakistani security services asked about the active role played by bin Laden since Abbottabad.

FLYING RIO PARIS: A first body of Flight 447 passenger rescued

A first body of a victim's flight from Rio to Paris found in the wreckage of the aircraft could be remounted on board the vessel involved in research, announced Thursday the direction of the police.

The discovery of two black boxes from Flight 447, apparently in good condition, Sunday and Monday in the Atlantic, should help elucidate the causes of the accident, which has killed 228 on 1 June 2009.

The wreckage was located early April, 22 months after the accident, at 3,900 m depth and a dozen bodies were in a part of the fuselage of the Airbus.Fifty others were rescued at sea shortly after the disappearance of the aircraft.

Experts have warned that the recovery of the bodies was not guaranteed, some corpses can not resist any manipulation and transfer in the warmer waters of the Atlantic.

A first body was nevertheless rebounded Thursday.

Remained submerged for two years or to a depth of 3900 meters, this body, still strapped to a seat on the plane, "appears degraded," said the police in a statement.

Samples were made by investigators and will be sent next week to a laboratory for analysis to determine the possibility of identifying victims through DNA.

The police said that large uncertainties remain about the possibility of raising other body, attempts to lift itself down "in a particularly complex and hitherto unpublished."

Investigators as the families of the victims hope that the analysis of the two black boxes of the device will remove the mystery of the crash of Paris-Rio.If they prove workable, they could allow investigators to recover by late May the scenario of the disaster.

A patrol is gone Monday in Cayenne, French Guiana, to join the cable ship Ile de Sein offshore Brazil and recover the two black boxes, which are sealed. The recorders will then be sent to Paris, where their openness and analysis should begin within the next ten days.

FRANCE: Baptism of fire for Marine Le Pen's Parade FN 1-May

Marine Le Pen on Sunday urged the French to regain their "freedom" against the euro, globalization, immigration and insecurity in his first speech of May 1 as president of the National Front, before a crowd larger than last year.

"I am part of the historical struggles for freedom, fighting for millions of anonymous people who fell for her, Bouvines the Chemin des Dames, fighting major fates Republicans, Victor Schoelcher to Charles de Gaulle," he launched the President of the FN to his supporters gathered at Place des Pyramides Paris before the statue of Joan of Arc.

"Breaking the chains of the French people! Breaking the chains of denial," she added, asserting that "in a year," just days before the second round of presidential elections, "we'll just days before the spring of France! ".

The theme of freedom has returned to loop through the speech.

Marine Le Pen has called on France to "get rid of a European Union which has continued to weaken us and reduce our freedoms," then she slammed as usual Euro, "the collapse announced "would be taboo in public discourse.

Speaking of Frontex, the European structure responsible for auditing the EU borders, it launched "the house is open and we gave the keys to a stranger's garden (...) eager to see everyone settle in our house without our knowledge. "

Paying tribute to Joan of Arc, like his father years earlier, she drew a parallel between the Burgundians "in favor of annexation English" and that those "call now shills + +".

"After the debacle in France in 1940, as pacifism, but also the illusion of peace left to pay the price of the easement (...) Has led some to an unworthy French collaboration with the invader, "said Marine Le Pen, on the dais where leaders had taken up several of the FN, including Jean-Marie Le Pen, but not Gollnisch.

The parade before the speech was attended by 3,200 people between the police and 20,000 according to the FN. Numbers increased compared to last year (2,000 and 8,000 according to police by FN).