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.

AFGHANISTAN: Eight ISAF soldiers killed by an Afghan military airport in Kabul

Eight soldiers from the NATO force in Afghanistan (ISAF) and a sub-contractor were killed Wednesday during a shooting at a military airport in Kabul, said the training mission to NATO in Afghanistan ( NTM-A) in a statement.

"Eight soldiers of ISAF and a sub-contractor were killed" during small arms fire at the Kabul airport, which "houses the Training Center of NATO air," said NTM- Who depends on the ISAF.

Command of ISAF in turn had previously announced that six foreign soldiers were killed in a shooting at the training center.

The Afghan Ministry of Defense attributed the shooting to a dispute between a military pilot in Afghanistan and foreign troops, saying the pilot had been shot. The Taliban on their side said that one of their activists "employee" on the base had led an attack.

LIBYA: NATO takes command, the coalition strikes Sirte and Tripoli, the insurgents argue

AFP - The inhabitants fled in Sirte on Sunday hometown of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, in fear of air raids of the coalition and the arrival of the rebels advancing rapidly toward the west taking advantage of the disarray of the government forces.

NATO has announced to take "immediate" command of all military operations in Libya, which were hitherto were conducted by a coalition led by the United States, France and Great Britain.

"We do not stop until you have freed Misrata, Tripoli and then!"

Sunday morning, the rebels took over the oil terminal at Ras Lanuf (east), according to AFP journalists.This town is located 210 km west of Ajdabiya, strategic crossroads recovered Saturday by the rebels.

The pro-Gaddafi "fled last night after the air strike," said an insurgent, Mohsen Omar, 30. "They fled, and now we are pursuing.It does not stop until you have freed Misrata, Tripoli and then! "

Pro-government forces retreated towards Gaddafi in Sirte, 200 km further west, along a flat coast and desert difficult to defend without heavy artillery or aircraft.

The rebels were in the late afternoon Nofilia, a small town between sea and desert, 110 km of Sirte, and more than 400 km from their stronghold, Benghazi.

They expect the bombing to Sirte international venture, while dozens of families fleeing the city towards Tripoli in fear of air raids and the international arrival of the rebels, said a journalist from AFP .

In the evening, a coalition air raid took place in Sirte, where armed men in military uniform and some in civilian clothes, were traveling in dozens of pick-up bearing pictures of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The day before, the city had already been the target of intense airstrikes.

Raids to facilitate the advance of rebel troops

Explosions and gunfire were also heard DCA in Tripoli around 18.30 GMT Sunday, according to an AFP journalist.Libyan television confirmed the raids on Tripoli and Sirte coalition.

To the west, the French fighter planes led Sunday air strikes against Libyan armored vehicles and "a major ammunition depot" in the regions and Misrata Zentena, announced the French army.

Saturday, resuming and Ajdabiya Site Brega Petroleum neighbor had set up the first victory of the rebels since the start of international intervention on March 19, reversing the trend after a long week of retreat and stagnation.

Since Thursday, the raids have "prepared the battlefield" and the officers and soldiers who joined the rebellion played a major role, coordinating their attacks with the coalition, according to a rebel spokesman in Benghazi, Chamseddine Abdoulmolah.

According to the insurgents, the oil fields they control areas currently produce 100,000 to 130,000 barrels per day.The opposition plans to export oil by "less than a week," said a rebel spokesman, Ali Tarhoni, adding that the rebellion has delegated to the Qatar market.

NATO runs military operations in Libya

Accused of having launched a war without an exit strategy in Libya, U.S. President Barack Obama welcomed the developments, stating that the intervention was "targeted and being successful."

NATO, already responsible for enforcing the arms embargo and the no-fly zone over Libya, decided to take command of all military operations in Libya.

"We asked the senior operational command of NATO to implement the execution of this operation immediately," said Sunday night the Secretary General of the Atlantic Alliance Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

With the approach of the contact group meeting in London on Tuesday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced a Franco-British initiative for a political solution.

Italy, the former colonial power, has announced that it is also a plan, which provides an exile of Colonel Gaddafi."Even within the regime, there are people working on this solution," the foreign minister, Franco Frattini.

Benedict XVI has called for opening "an immediate dialogue" to reach a cease-fire in Libya.

A first boat carrying African migrants from Libya, with on board nearly 300 people, arrived Sunday in southern Italy and was followed by three others, according to the coastguard and humanitarian organizations.

Rome said he feared a wave of at least 200,000 to 300,000 immigrants from tip of Muammar Gaddafi has warned that thousands of migrants could reach Europe.

LIBYA: The international coalition bombed Tripoli, civilians are afraid of abuses

Reuters - A coalition of five Western armies began Saturday to bomb targets in Libya to try to compel the forces of Muammar Qadhafi to cease fire and stop attacks against civilians.

Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, who bloodily suppressed the rebellion in eastern part of the country a month ago, called it aggression "colonial", comparing it to a crusade.

Libyan state television has reported 48 dead and 150 wounded in air raids and firing of these missiles launched several ships and submarines in the Mediterranean, it is not possible to verify the information.

France, Great Britain, the United States, Italy and Canada to participate now in operation dubbed "Dawn of the Odyssey," the biggest military intervention in the Arab world since the invasion Iraq in 2003.Qatar has pledged to get involved and several other European and Arab countries are also ready to participate in this action.

Its objective is, under resolution 1973 adopted on Thursday by the Security Council of the UN to introduce a no-fly zone and to impose a cease-fire.

In a televised address shortly after the first strikes, Muammar Gaddafi said that the Mediterranean and North Africa was now a "battlefield" and that air and sea targets, military or civilian, were now exposed to a real danger in the region.

"It is now necessary to open all deposits and arm the masses with any type of weapon to defend the independence, unity and honor of Libya," he added.

Meanwhile, state television said that Libya was ending its efforts to block illegal immigrants en route to Europe.

More than 110 missiles

The French Air Force struck first in the wake of the Paris summit, which gathered Saturday at the Elysee leaders from 22 countries and organizations, including UN, EU and Arab League.

Twenty French planes took part in the operation over a wide area around Benghazi, destroying several tanks and armored vehicles of the loyalist forces, said the MoD.

Starting at 19:00 GMT, warships and submarines, British and American fired over 110 Tomahawk missiles against more than 20 sites in Libya, and Qaddafi's air defenses were severely damaged, an official of the Security Council National American.

China and Russia, who abstained without veto in the vote on Resolution 1973, deplored the military action.

Explosions and gunfire were heard fed air defense in the early hours Sunday in Tripoli.

Libyan television showed images of a hospital that she did not identify where she was admitted as victims of "the colonial enemy." You could see ten bodies wrapped in blue and white sheets and several wounded, one seriously.

Relief and fear

Residents of Tripoli reported an explosion near the neighborhood of Tadjoura, where the opposition has on several occasions last month.A Misrata, 200 km east of Tripoli, residents have said that air base outside the city had been hit by strikes in the West.

In Benghazi, the second largest city, a Reuters reporter heard an explosion and fire air defense without being able to determine their origin.

In the stronghold of the insurgency threatened by loyalist forces, the people welcomed the first international hits with a mixture of relief and apprehension.

"We welcome France, Great Britain, the United States and Arab countries that sided with Libya. But Gaddafi will unleash his wrath against civilians.The West needs to hit hard, "said Khalid Ghourfali an every officer of 38 years.

Libyan officials say the media that targets civilians, including a hospital, were bombed in Tripoli, Sirte and Benghazi, and Zouarah Misrata and there are civilian casualties in the capital.

In the southern suburbs of Tripoli, thousands of supporters converged on the colonel army camp in Bab al Azizia, forming a human shield in the base of Gaddafi.

The international operation has led Germany's reserves - which is not involved in the operation but requires the implementation of resolution 1973 - and many military analysts, who fear a protracted civil war.

Phase

In conclusion of the Paris summit, Western leaders have said that Muammar Gaddafi they had not left the choice of intervention by not complying with the ultimatum of the international community for a cease-fire.

The objective of the coalition is not taking control of Libya, but to help a people in "mortal danger" facing "the madness of a regime that has lost all (...) legitimacy, "said Nicolas Sarkozy.

"The door of diplomacy will reopen when the attacks cease," added the French president, but his foreign minister Alain Juppe, there is "little hope" that Colonel pandering to the UN .

On a visit to Brazil, President Barack Obama stressed the limited nature of U.S. intervention and reiterated that no ground troops would be deployed.

Washington admitted that he took command of the first intervention phase, hoping to quickly transfer the command to other countries.

LIBYA: The G8 failed to agree on the establishment of a no-fly zone

The foreign ministers of the G8 in Paris on Tuesday called for new measures to the UN to "further pressure" on Muammar Gaddafi, Alain Juppe announced at the end of their work.

"We agree to ask the Security Council to increase its pressure on Colonel Gaddafi," said Alain Juppe to the press.

But the written conclusions of the meeting did not mention the option of a no-fly zone, in which several countries, including Germany, were opposed.

"The ministers have asked Muammar Gaddafi to respect the legitimate claims of the Libyan people for their fundamental rights, freedom of expression and a representative form of government.They warned against the tragic consequences of his refusal, "these findings indicate.

"The Ministers welcomed the fact that the Security Council of the United Nations urgently examine a wide range of measures to protect people against attacks by Libyan forces of Muammar Gaddafi," said the text also.

"They also agreed that the Security Council should increase the pressure to encourage Muammar Gaddafi to leave, including economic measures," he adds.

Alain Juppe had announced on Tuesday morning that the G8 countries were unable to agree on the principle of military intervention in Libya, desired by France.Paris and London last week evoked the possibility of targeted air strikes, carried out with the approval of the Security Council, or a no-fly zone.

LIBYA: Tripoli suspends diplomatic relations with Paris

Libya on Friday decided to "suspend" its diplomatic relations with France, said the Libyan Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Khaled Kaaim, during a press conference in Tripoli.

"We decided today (Friday) to suspend diplomatic relations with France. We will later load a country to represent our interests in France," saidKaaim.

"The aim of France is only to divide Libya," he further said.

The decision comes after that of Paris on Thursday to recognize the Libyan opponents of the National Transitional Council (CNT) as "the legitimate representative of the Libyan people."

"This council represents only himself. He was not elected. Do not represent the regions of Libya, even in the East" the stronghold of the opposition, still hammered Friday, Vice-Minister.

UNITED STATES: Boeing and EADS suspended Washington's decision on tanker

AFP - The Pentagon is expected to unveil Thursday its decision on the mega-tanker contract from the U.S. Air Force, for which the U.S. aviation giant Boeing and Europe's EADS are competing for several years.

Several congressional sources said on condition of anonymity Wednesday that the decision on the contract of $ 35 billion was to be unveiled Thursday.

The solicitation is 179 tanker aircraft to replace the aging fleet of KC-135 U.S. Air Force from the 50.The Pentagon will buy these devices at a rate of 15 per year maximum and plans to spend $ 900 million in 2012.

According to Loren Thompson, an analyst at the Lexington Institute, a think tank based in Arlington, near Washington, EADS appears poised to win the contract.

The history of this tender is peppered with twists, including a spy scandal, and the contract was canceled twice, having been awarded to Boeing for the first time in 2003 and a second in 2008 to Airbus and Northrop Grumman.

EADS, the parent company of aircraft manufacturer Airbus, launches this time without a major trading partner, but with the support of hundreds of U.S. equipment.

EADS submitted a military version of its Airbus A330, the KC-45, it boasts as "the only real-tanker aircraft already in operation" while the version presented by the 767 Boeing is "on paper" and argues that its production in the United States would generate 48,000 jobs in the country.

The European firm announced last week it had revised its price down to steal the contract.

Boeing says his side as he presented the instrument ensure "better operational capabilities to U.S. combat aircraft with a fuel consumption 24% lower than the unit proposed by EADS," and that support 50,000 jobs in the United States.

In Congress, elected representatives of the States of Washington, Kansas (center), Missouri (center), Michigan (north) and South Carolina (southeast), where Boeing plants or subcontractors working with the manufacturer, have been campaigning for months for the selection of the American.

However, elected officials in Alabama (south) where the tanker would be assembled to support the European Airbus.

EGYPT: Negotiations begin between the regime and opposition

AFP - The Muslim Brotherhood, one of the main components of the Egyptian opposition, announced in a statement on the night from Saturday to Sunday to have decided to "initiate dialogue" with the heads of power "to find out how they are willing to accept the demands of the people. "

A Hizbullah official told AFP on condition of anonymity that "a meeting is scheduled between officials of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Vice-President Omar Suleiman," without specifying the date.

"Desiring to preserve the interests of the nation and its institutions and concerned with preserving the country's independence and their rejection of any international or regional interference in our internal affairs, we decided to start a dialogue session to see how they are willing to accept the demands of the people. "

Brothers and want to distance itself from Iran in particular has called for the establishment of an Islamic regime in Egypt.

Leaders of the movement have repeatedly said this week that the Muslim Brotherhood "will not" present a candidate in upcoming presidential elections scheduled for September.

Mr. Sulaiman announced Thursday that the Muslim Brothers were invited to the dialogue that began with representatives of various political forces on democratic reforms.He said that "it is a valuable opportunity" for the Islamist movement.

This is the first time that the Egyptian regime called the Brothers, his nemesis, the dialogue to find a solution to the unprecedented popular protest that has continued for 12 days demanding the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak.

Mr.Suleiman met in recent days several prominent independent and opposition to discuss ways to end the political crisis facing the country.

The most prominent opponent in Egypt, the former director general of the International Agency for Atomic Energy Mohamed ElBaradei, was not invited to the dialogue so far.

He demanded a resignation of President Mubarak before any dialogue on the country's political future.

ALGERIA: Algiers Violent clashes outside the headquarters of the RCD

The streets of Algiers were the scene of violent clashes on Saturday between riot police and protesters from defying the authority to call for an opposition party.

Outside the headquarters of the Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD), some 300 people including recovered blocked by hundreds of policemen. According to Said Saadi, leader of the RCD, 42 of them were injured and transferred to city hospitals. Among them would be Amazouz Othman, the parliamentary leader of the RCD. Official sources have reported wounded seven policemen, including two in serious condition.The independent newspaper El Watan also reported that a dozen arrests were made.

The newspaper always, clashes also erupted on the outskirts of Algiers between security forces and protesters who tried to reach the capital. AFP reports that the local leader of the RCD, Reda Boudraa was beaten with sticks to Bejaia, 260 km east of the capital. The head was bleeding, he was evacuated by ambulance.

The police, present en masse in the Algerian capital, trying to prevent a planned rally by the RCD to demand democratization."The police prevented the protesters to meet, shows Tazir Ahmed, FRANCE 24's correspondent in Algiers. Any group of people over 10 is dispersed."

An impressive police presence was deployed in the early hours of the day, crisscrossing the entire town. "The atmosphere is tense currently in Algiers," said Faisal Métaoui by phone, a political reporter for the independent daily El Watan. " "There are police everywhere, the main entrances of the city are blocked, rail traffic is stopped, the buses are controlled.Some are forced to turn back, mainly those from Kabylie [region traditionally opposed the regime of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Ed], "he says.

"Historical Impasse"

RCD called for the release of political prisoners, lifting the state of emergency in force since 1992, respect for individual and collective freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and the dissolution of elected assemblies, "the source of all the political instability since they were imposed by electoral fraud, according to Said Saadi. It is a catchword very consensual, "says the leader of the RCD.

"We're not just in a state of political crisis, we are in a historical dead end, says the latter.There is no longer any bridge between the authorities and society.If we fail to initiate a process towards a peaceful transition, violence will be much more devastating in Algeria than it was in Tunisia. "

Friday, local authorities have, meanwhile, called on residents of Algiers to ignore calls to the event scheduled for Saturday before the Parliament at 11am.

"He asked citizens to exercise wisdom and vigilance, and not respond to any provocation intended to undermine their peace, their peace and their serenity," said a statement from the prefecture Algiers.

Demonstrations are banned in Algeria since 1992, when the state of emergency was declared.

For now, popular protest has not led to a shift of the Algerian government. "It is too early to tell whether this movement has the same consequences as that which takes place in Tunisia, said Faisal Métaoui. The Algerian police are more experienced in Tunisia concerning the riots, said the journalist. But indeed, if nothing changes, if the government does not give a little ground, things may get tougher. "