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.

A year after the oil spill in Louisiana, the risk is always present

A year after the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, oil has been dispersed and enhanced security, but the United States is not safe from another disaster, told AFP that the admiral had led the government's efforts against the oil spill.

"We can never prevent a disaster from taking place here," said retired Admiral Thad Allen, who has worked on various oil spills since the 80s and led relief operations after the explosion of the oil platform , April 20, 2010, off the coast of Louisiana.

The accident had caused the worst oil spill in U.S. history.BP, operator of the platform, could not prevent the spill of some 4.9 million barrels of crude in the Gulf of Mexico.

"And we're still cleaning," said Mr. Allen told AFP. "But the quantities are much smaller than those we have known, limited mostly to swampy areas," upsetting the nesting birds in the reeds still polluted the coast of the Southeast, according to Mr.Allen.

Over 1,700 km of wetlands and beaches of the Gulf have been polluted and more than 6,000 birds died, according to the American Council for the Defence of natural resources, while 2,000 people are still working to clean the first wetlands to be affected by oil spill.

The U.S. government said at the time a moratorium on offshore drilling and a few months later, the Department of the Interior has tightened rules against companies wanting to acquire a drilling permit.

"This is obviously an improvement over the previous situation, but we can never prevent such an event happen," he said.

Mr.Allen retired in June but stayed on the scene to carry out the plan of government support Obama until the wellbore BP is declared "dead" in September.

"It was clear that this crisis would not be resolved quickly," says Allen, urging the U.S. not to repeat the mistakes of the oil spill from the Exxon Valdez, which had spilled 50,000 tons of oil Wed

"Two to three years after the Exxon Valdez, it has invested heavily in research and development against these risks," according to Thad Allen.

"And while we focus on tanker accidents, the industry has changed and went to drill deeper and deeper."

"We should not let that happen.We should focus on innovation and technological improvements to track changes in the industry, "says Allen.

NIGERIA - PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: Goodluck Jonathan at the top of the partial results

AFP - Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan took out a big lead Sunday in the presidential race, winning in at least 20 of the 36 states, and could win the first round in this election, whose effectiveness has been praised overall by observers.

The final results of the election on Saturday, known in 30 states, gave Mr. Jonathan winner in 20 states, while its main rival, former junta leader Muhammadu Buhari, won the votes in 9 states, and Nuhu Ribadu, who led the anti-corruption agency in Nigeria, was leading in the State.

Voting took place Saturday in a relative calm, with sporadic incidents that have not made a victim.Observers have generally welcomed the successful conduct of this election, which marks a positive break after a series of fraudulent elections.

"There is consensus that this is a new beginning, after irregularities in the 2007 presidential election," said Clement Nwankmo, coordinator of a local group of observers.

"The election was held in conditions even better" than as laws of April 9, already felt Saturday Slovene Alojz Peterle, head of the mission of the European Union.

The known results include those officially announced by Abuja those reported by the states themselves and, finally, those of local media and NGOs.

To win, the candidate with the most votes must also obtain at least a quarter of the votes in at least two-thirds of the 36 states or 24 states, in the words of the Constitution.

Nigeria, most populous country in Africa with 155 million inhabitants, has 36 states plus the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and that includes its surroundings.

Goodluck Jonathan, Vice-President became head of state in May 2010 following the death of his predecessor Umaru Yar'Adua (2007-2010), a Muslim, a Christian South, candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP).This party dominates the political scene and won the first round every presidential since 1999.

Elected vice president in 2007, Jonathan is a doctor of zoology 53 years old, known for constantly wearing the hat.

The country has had such a new electoral register containing the electronic fingerprints of more than 73 million subscribers. The previous list was riddled with ghost voters.

A coalition of local observers nevertheless reported irregularities concerning the voting of voters minors, the unusually high turnout and suspicions of ballot stuffing important.

Partial results of the election were also emerge a clear division between the Muslim north, which voted for the former military junta leader (1984-1985) Muhammadu Buhari, and the Christian south favor Goodluck Jonathan, waving the spectrum of religious and ethnic divisions.

Muhammadu Buhari was reported Saturday in "news of election fraud, ballot stuffing in some places."

Tensions have arisen in the North where voters were afraid of fraud from the camp of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) Goodluck Jonathan.

"There is good news and bad news in this presidential election. The good news is that we count actual votes and people are interested.The bad news is that the country is seriously divided, North against South, "said Chidi Odinkalu, the Open Society Justice Initiative.

Many analysts had warned against this scenario in a country as turbulent as Nigeria, which has more than 250 ethnic groups.

In the Muslim north, many believe that the reelection of Jonathan would be a breach of an unwritten rule in the People's Democratic Party (PDP), providing for rotation of power between North and South.

The final results of parliamentary April 9 have not yet been proclaimed. April 26 will be the elections of state governors and regional assemblies.

COTE D'IVOIRE: Firing missiles on Gbagbo's residence, his camp denounces assassination attempt

The residence of Laurent Gbagbo in Abidjan was partially destroyed Sunday by missiles fired from helicopters UNOCI and the French Licorne force, said a spokesman for the outgoing president of Ivory Coast. The helicopters fired on the tanks inside the presidential palace and outside the residence. He did not say if Laurent Gbagbo was on site at the time of the attack.

"French helicopters and the UN continued to fire on the residence of President Gbagbo, who is partially destroyed," said Reuters spokesman said, Ahoua Don Mello."There is a thick smoke but we have no other details on the damage caused. "

A resident of Cocody said he saw "a French helicopter fire four missiles in the area of ​​the residence shortly before 17:00 (GMT). A resident of the neighborhood Youpougon (West Shelf separated by the lagoon) has reported seeing "three Helicopters fire on the presidency.""For several minutes, black smoke rises into the sky towards the palace," he added.

A Reuters correspondent on the French military base of Port-Bouet, near the airport, fifteen kilometers from the residence of Gbagbo said he heard loud explosions echoed from the combat zone.He said that four helicopters, two of UNOCI and two of the Force Licorne, "led the attacks.

Gbagbo's camp talking about an assassination attempt, invokes UNOCI's mandate

France has "no other purpose" than to "assassinate" the outgoing president, Laurent Gbagbo, has responded to AFP Ahoua Don Mello, denouncing the shooting of the French Licorne force "on the residence of the Chief State ".

"France was looking for excuses to réattaquer, she has gathered," he said, referring in particular to an attack Saturday on the headquarters of Alassane Ouattara, Gbagbo, whose camp has denied being responsible.

"We take the operation to neutralize the heavy weapons wherever they are. UNOCI and Licorne have begun to target targets in several places, especially near the presidential palace and near the presidential residence," replied the spokesman of UNOCI, Hamadoun Toure. "Over the past three or four days, there was a use of heavy weapons against civilians and peacekeepers. The firing against the head of UNOCI continued, hence the need to react to protect civilians in accordance with our mandate, "he added.

The shootings have targeted as "camps where recognition exercises have identified heavy weapons," according to Mr Touré.

In three days, three Boeing aircraft makes emergency landing in the U.S.

The United States experienced in the space of three days, three emergency landings of Boeing aircraft including the cabin atmosphere was no longer breathing without an oxygen mask, the latest being the one Sunday in New York of American Airlines aircraft.

A Boeing 757 that connected Boston (Massachusetts, North-East) to the island of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, had to land at JFK airport in New York in mid-day, told the AFP a spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority (FAA), Jim Peters.

"The crew reported a loss of cabin pressure," said the spokesman, adding that the reason was unknown.

No passenger or crew member was injured, he added.

American Airlines could not be reached Sunday to give his version.

Friday afternoon, another spectacular incident had hit a Boeing 737 operated by Southwest Airlines, part of the roof was torn off after shortly after takeoff from Phoenix (Arizona, Southwest).

The plane, headed for Sacramento, California (West) had landed on an air base in Yuma (Arizona). A member of the crew and a passenger were slightly injured.

The incident has led Southwest to inspect 79 Boeing 737s.Sunday, the company said in a statement it had found "small cracks below the surface" on two planes.

Friday morning, another American Airlines plane, a Boeing 737 between Washington to Chicago, landed in the airport emergency Dayton (Ohio Northern) after the disappearance of four passengers, while many others felt sick.The origin of the problem was not disclosed.

These incidents come one month after the deactivation by the United States, imitated by Canada and France, systems that supply oxygen in the toilets of some models of aircraft, for fear that they are terrorists.

The FAA then estimated that the depressurization event was "extremely rare" in aircraft.

INTERNET: Microsoft launches assault against Google in Europe

AFP - The U.S. computer group Microsoft has openly declared war in Europe with his compatriot and great rival Google on Internet, by filing Thursday for the first time in its history, a complaint with the European Commission for abusing its dominant position.

Brad Smith, vice president of Microsoft, announced the complaint in a blog published on the website of the group in Redmond.

It has been confirmed by the services of EU Competition Commissioner, Joaquin Almunia, who already have a formal investigation against Google open since November.

Brad Smith accuses Google of using "an increasing number of technical measures" to "build walls" preventing proper access to certain content to Internet search engines online competitor of his.

It "blocks of content and data that competitors need to provide search results to consumers and to attract advertisers," source of income for the free services on the Internet, he acknowledges, with several examples support.

Brad Smith evokes including restrictions on access to online video site YouTube to search engines other than Google Search or the multifunction phones using Microsoft software.

Ultimately, Google and reinforces the dominance of Google Search, whose market share in Europe is estimated at 95%, against 5% for Bing, the search engine from Microsoft.

The Commission had already received several complaints in the past against Google.His investigation is focused for now on two markets where the giant internet hyperdominant in Europe, research and online advertising.

It seeks to verify if it promotes its own services and penalizes those of competitors in the results provided by its search engine, or if it imposes exclusivity to advertising partners.

In the immediate future, its services have "taken note" of the new complaint, saying they would like the procedure provided, request a response to Google.

They will then assess whether or not to include it in the file, allowing Microsoft to be more involved in the investigation.

For its part, Google is "not surprised," he assured his spokesman in Brussels, Al Verney, recalling that one of the subsidiaries of Microsoft had been "one of the first plaintiffs in Brussels.

The group suggested all along that Microsoft is behind his troubles in Europe.

Upon revelation of the first complaints, he noted that two of them were related to the group from Redmond: the Internet portal Ciao, acquired by Microsoft in 2008, and that of Foundem compare prices, part of him as association lobbying ICOMP.

From this point of view, the complaint of Microsoft clarifies the debate.

She is also a backlash, because a few years ago, the positions were exactly reversed: it's Microsoft that was in the sights of Brussels for abuse of dominant position, at the time because of its Internet Explorer browser, and Google on the side of plaintiffs.

The standoff lasted for years, and Microsoft had to pay heavy fines.

Brad Smith acknowledged Thursday "irony" of the situation, but assured that Microsoft had not taken his decision lightly. Google "should not be allowed to continue practices that restrict innovation and offer competing services," he stressed, saying "hope" that Brussels' decision to stop. "

LIBYA: Several loud explosions heard in Tripoli

Firing of the air defense and several loud bangs were heard Thursday morning in Tripoli, the sixth day of the offensive of the international coalition, according to an AFP journalist.

The DCA went into action at 4:30 GMT and several loud explosions resounded then, according to an AFP journalist who was unable to identify the origin of the blasts.

The coalition had conducted air raids on Wednesday night in Tripoli.Of flak and fighter aircraft noise had been heard above the city, according to AFP journalists.

By early evening, a loud explosion occurred on a basis of the Libyan army in the region Tajoura, 32 km east of Tripoli, witnesses said AFP.

These witnesses saw flames rising over the military base after the explosion.

The Libyan news agency Jana said last year that the international coalition raids on the eastern outskirts of Tripoli on Wednesday night had "targeted a residential area," making a "significant number of civilian deaths".

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.

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.

MIDDLE EAST: Iranian warships will make a "brief routine visit" in Syria

AFP - The visit of two Iranian warships in Syria is "routine" and will be "short term", said Sunday an Iranian diplomatic source told AFP. "It will be a routine visit, consistent with international law, which is part of cooperation between Iran and Syria," she said.

"The ships will remain a few days in the Syrian ports. The goal is to make training," the source said stressing that both countries were "bound by a strategic relationship."She says these warships have visited several countries including Oman and stopped in the port of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

Egypt has allowed two Iranian warships to transit the Suez Canal, announced Friday the official news agency MENA, the first since the Iranian Islamic revolution in 1979, which Israel described as a "provocation."

Mena said the application filed by the Iranian authorities stated that the two vessels were carrying any weapons or nuclear materials or chemical.

According to the official news agency Fars, the buildings in question are the Kharg, a supply ship and support of 33,000 tons, and Alvand, a patrol frigate, both of British construction.

The Kharg has a crew of 250 people and can accommodate up to three helicopters. The Alvand is armed with torpedoes and antiship missiles.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Shakhtar is sacked Rome

They came, they saw, they conquered. The Brazilians dominated Shakhtar Donetsk AS Roma in a match that was cut short for the Giallorossi on Wednesday, in the fourth round to move the Champions League. Ukrainians, far from being petrified by the two-month winter break when they are forced, reversed the game just one minute after the opener by the Romans (28th, Simone Perrotta) before taking it, 3 -2.

This is the Brazilian Jadson who undertook to deliver the two teams tied with a shot deflected by the unfortunate Nicolas Burdisso. Ten minutes later, the quota "do Brasil" Shakhtar drives the point home.At the edge of the area, Douglas Costa will play four defenders Italian Roma Doni and wrong a beautiful shot wound (1-2).

Too sure of him early in the game, the Roman club made the mistake of taking up a Ukrainian team that finished first in their group to Arsenal last December.

The fall of Rome

Especially since, its momentum, Shakhtar continues to rage.On a loose ball from Norwegian John Arne Riise, Costa transplanted into the shaft and serves caviar Luiz Adriano (41 ') which has only put the ball into the net (1-3).

But while the end of the European adventure seems to be emerging for the Romans, the French Jeremy Menez, who wrote a very good performance, give hope to his teammates. After the break, the former Monaco full-line rushes, fails to make the shirt and pull up a curling shot into the top corner (2-3).

The game finally balanced between a conquering and a Roma Shakhtar who wants to keep the advantage while seeking the killer cons. Yet the repeated incursions by Marco Borriello (70th, 90th), Francesco Totti (82) and Rodrigo Taddei (82) will achieve nothing.With their victory on the outside, the Ukrainians will host the March 8 a humiliated Roma who will also be without his strong man of the moment, Menezes, who was sentenced a second yellow card. The fall of Rome is announced ...