ロンドンの地下鉄3駅で爆発 乗客が避難

21日、イギリスロンドン市内の3つの地下鉄駅で煙が上がった。爆発との情報もある。警察当局の発表によると1人が負傷した。また、ロンドン東部のハックニー通りで、バスの爆発があったとの情報もある。

現地時間21日昼ごろ（日本時間午後8時30分ごろ）、ロンドン市内のウォレンストリート駅、シェパードブッシュ駅、オーバル駅の3駅で列車から煙が上がった。地元テレビ局は、ウォレンストリート駅では男が背負っていたリュックサックが爆発したが、男は生存していると伝えている。現在もロンドン市内の地下鉄4線は、運転を取りやめている。

この事件に関して、イギリス交通警察は、乗客全員が爆発現場から避難したと発表している。

ロンドン警視庁は、2週間前の爆発より被害は小規模だろうとの予測を発表した。

まもなく、イギリス首相のトニー・ブレアが会見を開く予定だ。


Weer bomaanslagen in Londen

Exact twee weken na de terroristische aanslagen van 7 juli zijn er weer enkele bommen ontploft in het Londense openbaar vervoer. Niet bevestigde berichten melden dat valse ontploffingen op drie locaties plaatsvonden. Er ontplofte onder andere een spijkerbom in een treinstel, en een deel van de Londense Underground werd afgesloten.

Volgens BBC zijn Warren Street, Oval en Shepherd's Bush, allemaal stations van de Londense Underground, geëvacueerd. De diensten op de Northern Line, Victoria Line en Hammersmith and City Line zijn stilgezet.

Een bus van lijn 26, Watterloo-Hackney op Hackney Road zou ook getroffen zijn. Er zou een bom ontploft zijn op de bus die de ramen uit de bus geblazen heeft. Er zouden geen gewonden zijn.

De explosieven in Warren Street zouden één persoon verwond hebben. Er wordt gespeculeerd dat dit de dader van de aanslag is.

De Londense politie heeft onmiddellijk de zones rond de getroffen stations afgesloten voor het publiek. Dit werd gedaan om slachtoffers te voorkomen, indien er zich nog een explosie zou voordoen of er chemische of biologische componenten in de explosieven verwerkt waren. Een tweede reden om deze zones af te grendelen is om getuigen of eventuele daders te kunnen vinden.

Kort voor de explosieven ontploften ontwaarden de passagiers in de trein een rare geur, als gevolg hiervan werd gevreesd voor bommen met een chemische component. Voorlopig zijn bij het onderzoek van de explosies echter enkel conventionele chemicaliën gevonden.


Kolejna seria wybuchów w Londynie: Ewakuowano trzy stacje metra

Doszło do trzech wybuchów w wagonach londyńskiego metra, w pobliżu stacji Warren Street i Oval. Najprawdopodobniej była to eksplozja ładunków wypełnionych gwoździami. Policja potwierdziła także wybuch ładunku wybuchowego w autobusie miejskiej linii numer 26 na Hackney Road (wschodni Londyn). Według informacji uzyskanych od kierowcy autobusy w wyniku tego wybuchu nikt nie został ranny.

Według świadków doszło do eksplozji kilku niewielkich ładunków wybuchowych. Świadkowie twierdzą również, że z jednego z pociągów wydobywa się dym.

Jak powiedział Ian Blair, szef londyńskiej policji, w Londynie były "cztery eksplozje bądź próby wywołania eksplozji". Incydent sklasyfikował jako "poważny". Ponadto zasugerował mieszkańcom Londynu o "pozostanie tam, gdzie są".

Jak na razie nie ma żadnych danych o ofiarach. Jedna osoba jest ranna.

Zamknięto trzy linie metra (Hammersmith & City, Victoria oraz Northern), ewakuowano trzy stacje podziemnej kolei oraz budynki znajdujące się w ich pobliżu. Po niespełna godzinie wznowiono ruch metra na linii Victoria.

Do incydentu doszło dokładnie dwa tygodnie po zamachach bombowych z 7 lipca. Zginęło w nich 56 osób, w tym trzy polki.


Três estações de metrô em Londres são evacuadas por causa de explosões

Três estações de metrô de Londres foram evacuadas por causa do que parecem ter sido explosões. Serviços de emergência foram chamados para as estações Warren Street, Oval e Shepherd's Bush. As informações ainda estão um pouco confusas. Até agora só se reportou um ferido leve. As autoridades policiais asseguram que os incidentes não têm a mesma gravidade dos atentados de 7 de julho.

Nas estações de metrô de Warren Street, Shepherds Bush e Oval, situadas no centro, sul e oeste de Londres respectivamente, registraram-se as explosões. As linhas Norte, Victoria, Hammersmith-Cidade  e Waterloo-Cidade foram suspendidas. Por enquanto os meios de comunicação britânicos só falam de um ferido leve na estação de Warren Street.

Um passageiro de um dos trens que ia de Warren Street  contou que uma mala de outro passageiro explodiu: "A mochila foi aberta pela força de uma pequena explosão". Por sua vez, um oficial de polícia disse o seguinte a respeito de uma suposta explosão em um ônibus em Hackney: "O motorista do ônibus ouviu um estalido na parte traseira. Pensou que provavelmente tinha sido um veículo com o qual tinha se chocado. Deteve-se numa paragem próxima e viu um pacote suspeito na parte traseira do ônibus".


Fourteen dead in two attacks in Somalia

A land mine blast in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, has killed eight people, and mortars launched by rebels at the city airport killed six others, according to witnesses and doctors. The al-Shabaab group was said to be responsible for both the attacks by police officials, although they did not claim responsibility for it.

"All the mortar rounds missed the airport but landed in civilian areas," Ali Muse, coordinator of ambulance services, told Reuters news agency. Five of the six people were killed in the Bakara market, four of them being women. The rebels opened fire soon after President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed and the parliament speaker arrived late on Saturday.

The earlier attack occurred near a police station in southern Mogadishu. Several government soldiers died in the attack. Ali Gab, a local police official, said five police officials died in the attack, and blamed al-Shabaab for it. Fadum Hassan, a nurse at a hospital where the injured was being treated, said twenty critically injured people had been admitted to the hospital.

"The explosion killed five soldiers and three [civilians]. Human flesh was everywhere and some of the injured victims were screaming for help," eyewitness Yusuf Abdulqader told Reuters. Relatives of the victims of the attack have blamed the al-Shabaab for the blast. "They have massacred our people, they don't care for our people, our flag and sovereignty," cried Fadumo Abdi, whose son died in the attack.


Somali'deki iki saldırıda 14 kişi öldü

Tanıklardan ve doktorlardan alınan bilgilere göre Somali'nin başkenti Mogadişu'da meydana gelen iki saldırda on dört kişi hayatını kaybetti. Saldırılardan biri bir mayının patlamasıydı ve bunda sekiz kişi öldü. Altı kişinin ölümüne sebep olan diğer saldırı ise militanlar tarafından havaalanına atılan havan topları ile gerçekleşti. Polis saldırılardan El Şebab örgütünü sorumlu tuttu; fakat örgüt saldırıları üstlenmedi.

Ambulans sevisi koordinatörü Ali Muse'nin yaptığı açıklamaya göre havan topları havaalanını ıskalayıp sivil alanlara düştü. Ölen altı kişiden beşi pazarda hayatını kaybetti ve bunların dördü kadındı. İlk saldırı ise bir karakolun yakınlarında meydana geldi ve saldırıda beş polis öldü.


Fourth Lebanon bomb rocks shopping mall

Another bomb has exploded late Friday in a shopping center in the Lebanese Christian village of Broummana east of Beirut. Nobody was killed in the blast, but twelve people have been wounded, though not seriously, reports say. Lebanese television pictures showed extensive damage to the area. The explosion is the fourth targeting Lebanon's mainly anti-Syrian Christian population in as many days. The last, on March 27, killed two people and wounded five others.

The explosion happened at about 9:45pm local time, at the 'Rizk Plaza' shopping mall. It is understood from local media that a bomb was placed in the underground parking area below the complex, although there has been no official confirmation from security services. Sources on the ground say that the actual commercial center occupied the ground floor, with upper stories occupied by inhabited apartments.

Located in the Metn range of mountains east of Beirut, Broummana is about half-hour's drive from the capital and is popular with tourists, particularly those from the Gulf states.

Earlier, the pro-Syrian Prime Minister Omar Karami had announced that he would not step down as he had previously announced before. He will instead attempt to form a unity government until the country's elections, due in May. The anti-Syrian opposition had refused to join his government and have instead demanded his resignation.

Lebanon has seen significant political unrest since the assassination of its former Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri, and the subsequent pullback of Syrian forces stationed in the country.


Quarta bomba explode no Líbano

Outra bomba explodiu na tarde de sexta-feira em um centro de compras na aldeia libanesa-cristã de Broummana, a leste de Beirute, capital do Líbano. Ninguém foi morto na explosão, mas doze pessoas foram feridas, embora não seriamente, os relatórios indicam. Imagens  da televisão libanesa mostraram grandes danos.  A explosão é o quarto atentato   cujo alvo principal é  a população  anti-síria cristã. O último atentado ocorrido anterioremente, no dia 27 de março, matou duas pessoas e feriu  outras cinco.

A explosão aconteceu  aproximadamente às  21:45, hora local, no shopping center   Rizk Plaza.  A mídia local acredita que uma bomba foi colocada na área de estacionamento no subterrâneo,  abaixo do complexo, embora não tenha havido ainda nenhuma confirmação oficial dos serviços de segurança.  Fontes dizem que o centro comercial atual ocupava o andar térreo, e que os espaços nos andares superiores não eram utilizados.

Localizado na região de montanhas de Metn  a leste de Beirute, Broummana fica a  meia hora de carro da capital e é uma localidade   popular para os turistas, em particular aqueles dos países do Golfo.

Horas antes,  o primeiro ministro pró-sírio Omar Karami tinha dito  que ele não renunciaria como  tinha anunciado anteriormente. Ele tentará em vez disso, formar um governo de coalizão até as eleições do país, previstas para  maio. A oposição anti-síria tinha recusado juntar-se  ao  governo e exigia em vez disso a sua renúncia.

O Líbano vive sob grande tensão  política desde o assassinato do antigo primeiro ministro, Rafik Hariri e do recuo subseqüente das forças sírias colocadas no país.


Ny bomb i libanesiskt köpcentrum

Ännu en bomb exploderade sent på fredagen i ett köpcentrum i den kristna, libanesiska byn Broummana, öster om huvudstaden Beirut. Ingen dog i explosionen men tolv människor har skadats lindrigt. Bilder från libanesisk TV tyder på omfattande materiell skadegörelse. Bombattenatet är det fjärde de fyra senaste dagarna som drabbat främst den kristna, anti-syriska befolkningen.


France calls on Libyan leader to step down

French president Nicolas Sarkozy has stated during a news conference that Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi "must leave," calling the leader to step down. His comments were made during a press conference with the Turkish president Abdullah Gül in Ankara. Sarkozy also stated that military action to remove Gaddafi isn't ruled out.

"Our stance is clear. Mr Gaddafi must go. The systematic violence against the Libyan people is unacceptable and will be the subject of investigations and sanctions. Regarding a military intervention ... France would consider any initiative of this type with extreme caution and reserve," said Sarkozy. The United Kingdom is also calling for an arms embargo along with an investigation into war crimes be conducted against Gaddafi.

Sarkozy's call on Gaddafi to step down comes after violence on Friday alone has left at least five people dead in Tripoli, the capitol of Libya, when security personnel fired on demonstrators. At least 500 people are suspected to have been killed in Tripoli with over 2,000 injured. Gunshots were heard in several parts of the city on Friday. Navi Pillay, head of the human rights division of the United Nations says thousands in Libya could have been killed since the uprising began. Human Rights Watch puts the death toll at 300.

"We think this needs to be brought to the International Criminal Court. We also think that people who still cooperate with Gadhafi should be punished," added Sarkozy.

Reports say security forces loyal to Gaddafi have used rocket propelled grenades, snipers, anti aircraft guns and foreign mercenaries to repel protesters. Gaddafi blames Osama bin Laden and people on hallucinogenic drugs for the mass  protests in the country. "(The protesters') ages are 17. They give them pills at night, they put hallucinatory pills in their drinks, their milk, their coffee, their Nescafe," he said on Thursday.

In a speech that aired on Libyan State TV today, Gaddafi said to supporters in Green Square in Tripoli, "We can defeat any aggression if necessary and arm the people. Prepare to defend the nation and defend the oil. [We can] retaliate against them [the opposition]. You, the youth, be comfortable... dance, sing, stay up all night."


Η Γαλλία καλεί τον ηγέτη της Λιβύης να παραιτηθεί

Ο Γάλλος Πρόεδρος Νικολά Σαρκοζί ανακοίνωσε σε συνέντευξη τύπου  ότι ο ηγέτης της Λιβύης Μουαμάρ αλ Καντάφι «πρέπει να φύγει», καλώντας τον να παραιτηθεί. Τα σχόλια του έγιναν κατά τη διάρκεια συνέντευξης τύπου από κοινού με  τον Τούρκο Πρόεδρο Αμπντουλάχ Γκιούλ στην Άγκυρα. Ο Σαρκοζί επίσης δήλωσε ότι δεν αποκλείεται στρατιωτική παρέμβαση για να μετακινήσει τον Καντάφι από την εξουσία.

«Η θέση μας είναι σαφής. Ο Κος Καντάφι πρέπει να φύγει. Η συστηματική άσκηση βίας κατά των κατοίκων της Λιβύης είναι απαράδεκτη και θα αποτελεί θέμα ερευνών και κυρώσεων. Όσον αφορά μια στρατιωτική επέμβαση ... η Γαλλία θα εξετάσει κάθε πρωτοβουλία τέτοιου είδους προσεχτικά,» είπε ο Σαρκοζί. Το Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο επίσης καλεί για ένα εμπάργκο όπλων σε συνδυασμό με μια έρευνα για τα εγκλήματα πολέμου που έγιναν εις βάρος του Καντάφι.

Το αίτημα του Σαρκοζί για παραίτηση του Καντάφι ήρθε μετά τα βίαια γεγονότα της Παρασκευής, κατά τα οποία τουλάχιστον 5 άνθρωποι σκοτώθηκαν στη Τρίπολη, στην πρωτεύουσα της Λιβύης, όταν προσωπικό ασφαλείας άνοιξε πυρ κατά των  διαδηλωτών. Τουλάχιστον 500 άνθρωποι θεωρείται ότι σκοτώθηκαν στη Τρίπολη, με τους τραυματίες να φτάνουν τους 2.000. Πυροβολισμοί ακούστηκαν σε αρκετά μέρη της πόλης τη Παρασκευή. Ο Νάβι Πιλλάυ, επικεφαλής των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων των Ηνωμένων Εθνών, είπε ότι χιλιάδες κάτοικοι της Λιβύης σκοτώθηκαν από την αρχή των διαδηλώσεων. Το Παρατηρητήριο των Ανθρωπίνων Δικαιωμάτων δηλώνει ότι ο αριθμός των νεκρών ανέρχεται στους 300.

«Νομίζουμε ότι αυτό πρέπει να το φέρουμε στο Διεθνές Εγκληματικό Δικαστήριο. Επίσης πιστεύουμε ότι αυτοί οι άνθρωποι που συνεχίζουν να συνεργάζονται με τον Καντάφι πρέπει να τιμωρηθούν,» πρόσθεσε ο Σαρκοζί.

Οι αναφορές λένε ότι οι πιστές στον Καντάφι δυνάμεις ασφαλείας χρησιμοποίησαν χειροβομβίδες, ελεύθερους σκοπευτές, αντιαεροπορικά  όπλα και ξένους μισθοφόρους για να αποκρούσουν τους διαδηλωτές. Ο Καντάφι κατηγορεί τον Οσαμά μπιν Λάντεν και διακινητές παραισθησιογόνων ναρκωτικών για τις μαζικές διαδηλώσεις στη χώρα. «(Οι διαδηλωτές) είναι 17 ετών. Τους δίνουν χάπια το βράδυ, τους βάζουν παραισθησιογόνα ναρκωτικά στα ποτά τους, στο γάλα τους, στον καφέ τους, στο νεσκαφέ τους» είπε την Πέμπτη.

Σε ομιλία που παρουσιάστηκε σήμερα σε κρατική τηλεόραση της Λιβύης, ο Καντάφι  είπε στους υποστηρικτές την Πράσινη Πλατεία στη Τρίπολη : «Μπορούμε να καταστείλουμε  οποιαδήποτε επιθετικότητα  αν αυτό  είναι αναγκαίο και να οπλίσουμε τον λαό. Ετοιμαστείτε να υπερασπιστείτε το έθνος και το πετρέλαιο. Μπορούμε να ανταποδώσουμε [στην αντιπολίτευση]. Εσείς, οι νέοι μας, μπορείτε να νιώσετε άνετα... να χορέψετε, να τραγουδήσετε, να μείνετε έξω τη νύχτα.»

26 Φεβρουαρίου 2011


France claims Russia has violated some terms of ceasefire with Georgia

French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner has claimed that Russia has failed to honour obligations agreed as part of a ceasefire brokered by the European Union. The deal ended a war with Georgia.

In August, Russian troops joined on South Ossetia's side after Georgia moved in in an attempt to regain control of the breakaway region. Russia also moved troops into Abkhazia and nearby areas to create security zones. These buffer zones were vacated by troops this week, and today Russia was due to completely withdrawal from Georgia.

France - who lead the brokering efforts as the EU's current presidential nation - say that Russian troops remain in the South Ossetian towns of Akhalgori and Perevi. According to the ceasefire, troops were supposed to return to their positions before the five-day conflict. However, Kouchner's phrasing was optimistic as he spoke to reporters today.

When asked if Russia had withdrawn, he said "I think so, but partly. This is not complete. This is not perfect. It's just the beginning. This is not the end," and that "Not everything has been achieved... That's why we'll continue talks in Geneva."

However, Russia's President, Dmitry Medvedev, says Russia has fully complied with the terms agreed on. "We have met all the obligations we accepted in the first document, the Medvedev-Sarkozy plan, and the second document, which was agreed on not long ago in Moscow," he told reporters. Russia has recognized South Ossetia as an independent nation, and had entered into a supporting military alliance.


Francia cuestiona el compromiso de Rusia en el alto el fuego con Georgia

10 de octubre de 2008Bruselas, Bélgica —

El Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de Francia, Bernard Kouchner, declaró este jueves que Rusia no se ha comprometido con las obligaciones de honor acordadas como parte del alto el fuego negociado por la Unión Europea, que ponía fin a la guerra con Georgia por Osetia del Sur.

En agosto, las la Federación Rusa se unió a la Guerra de Osetia del Sur de 2008 para apoyar a los surosetios respuesta a la movilización de tropas georgianas para tomar control de la región. Rusia también había movilizado tropas a Abjasia y a las áreas cercanas. Estas zonas de transición fueron desocupadas esta semana en virtud del llamado acuerdo "Medvédev - Sarkozy" (los presidentes de Rusia y Francia respectivamente), y hoy Rusia terminaría completamente su retirada de Georgia.

Francia –que había sido líder en las negociaciones como nación presidencial de la UE– reprochó que todavía no se han retirado tropas rusas de los pueblos surosetios de Akhalgori y Perevi; de acuerdo al alto el fuego, los tropas debían volver a sus posiciones originales antes de que ocurriera el conflicto.

Sin embargo, Kouchner se mostró optimista en su declaración a la prensa. Luego de ser preguntado si Rusia se había retirado, dijo que creía que sí, "pero parcialmente.

"No es muy completo. No es el final [...] No todo ha sido conseguido.. Es por esto que continuaremos las negociaciones en Ginebra".

A pesar de esto, el Presidente ruso Dmitri Medvédev señaló que Rusia ha cumplido con los términos acordados. "Hemos cumplido todas las obligaciones que aceptamos en el primer documento, el plan Medvédev-Sarkozy, y el segundo documento, que fue acordado no hace mucho en Moscú", destacó.

Rusia ha reconocido a Osetia del Sur como una república independiente, e incluso negoció una alianza militar con la nación caucásica.


France first to recognise Libyan rebels as "legitimate representatives of the people"

France  became the first country to formally recognize a newly formed Libyan  opposition council as the "legitimate representative of the Libyan people." The office of French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Thursday it will send ambassadors to the rebel stronghold in Benghazi, and in return the Libyan opposition council will  set up an embassy in Paris.

The decision was made after President Sarkozy met with two representatives of the opposition group, the National Transitional Council, in Paris. Mustafa Gheriani, a representative for the Libyan opposition,  said he expected other EU members to follow Sarkozy's lead. Other EU members expressed uneasiness, and declined to meet with the two representatives.

Although the EU has approved tighter sanctions in response to  Muammar Gaddafi's bloody crackdown on the opposition, EU members  held back from endorsing a specific opposition group. Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal, whose government still maintains an embassy in Tripoli,  cautioned, "There is not yet enough clarity about these opposition groups in and around Benghazi". Baroness Ashton, spokesman for the EU foreign affairs chief, stated: "We cannot unilaterally rush into recognising groups." Other members expressed the need for the EU to speak in a unified voice.

Contact between EU officials and opposition leaders is occurring. British Foreign Secretary William Hague said  he had spoken by telephone with Mahmoud Jabril, special envoy of the Libyan Transitional National Council, before he left for NATO talks in Brussels on the Libyan situation. The talks planned to include a discussion of a no-fly zone over Libya.

Meanwhile,  U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said she plans to meet with  Libyan opposition members on her trip to Egypt and Tunisia next week.


Η Γαλλία είναι η πρώτη χώρα που αναγνώρισε τους επαναστάτες της Λιβύης ως "νόμιμους εκπρόσωπους του λαού"

Η Γαλλία έγινε η πρώτη χώρα που επίσημα αναγνώρισε την αντιπολίτευση της Λιβύης ως "νόμιμους εκπρόσωπους του λαού της Λιβύης." Το γραφείο του Νικολά Σαρκοζί ανακοίνωσε  την Πέμπτη ότι θα στείλει ένα πρέσβη στη πρωτεύουσα των επαναστατών στην Βεγγάζη, και στην επιστροφή το συμβούλιο αντιπολίτευσης της Λιβύης θα στείλει μια πρεσβεία στο Παρίσι.

Η απόφαση λήφθηκε μετά τη συνάντηση του Νικολά Σαρκοζί με 2 εκπρόσωπους της αντιπολίτευσης, του Εθνικού Μεταβατικού Συμβουλίου, στο Παρίσι. Ο Μουσταφά Γεριάνι, ένας εκπρόσωπος της αντιπολίτευσης της Λιβύης, δήλωσε ότι και τα υπόλοιπα μέλη της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης (Ε.Ε.) πρέπει να ακολουθήσουν τη κίνηση του Σαρκοζί. Τα άλλα μέλη της Ε.Ε., ωστόσο, εξέφρασαν την ανησυχία τους και αρνήθηκαν να συναντήσουν τους 2 εκπρόσωπους.

Παρόλο που η Ε.Ε ενέκρινε αυστηρές κυρώσεις σε απάντηση στην αιματηρή καταστολή της αντιπολίτευσης από τον Μουαμμάρ Κανταφί, τα μέλη της Ε.Ε.  καθυστέρησαν να υποστηρίξουν κάποια συγκεκρινένη ομάδα της αντιπολίτευσης. Ο Υπουργός Εξωτερικών της Ολλανδίας, Ουρί Ρόσενθαλ, της οποίας η κυβέρνηση εξακολουθεί να διατηρεί πρεσβεία στη Τρίπολη, δήλωσε, "Δεν υπάρχει ακόμα αρκετή σαφήνεια για τις ομάδες της αντιπολίτευσης μέσα και έξω από την Βεγγάζη". Η Κάθριν Άστον, Εκπρόσωπος Τύπου των Εξωτερικών Υποθέσεων της Ε.Ε, δήλωσε: "Δεν μπορούμε να βιαστούμε μονομερώς με την αναγνώριση ομάδων." Τα άλλα μέλη εξέφρασαν την ανάγκη για την Ε.Ε. να μιλήσει με μια ενιαία φωνή.

Διεξάγονται επαφές μεταξύ των μελών της Ε.Ε και των ηγετών της αντιπολίτευσης. Ο Γραμματέας Εξωτερικών της Βρετανίας Ουίλλιαμ Χάγκ είπε ότι είχε τηλεφωνική συζήτηση με τον Μαχμούντ Ζαμπρίλ, ειδικό απεσταλμένο του Εθνικού Μεταβατικού Συμβουλίου της Λιβύης, πριν αφήσει τις συζητήσεις του ΝΑΤΟ στις Βρυξέλλες για το θέμα της Λιβύης. Οι συζητήσεις θα περιλαμβάνουν και το θέμα για την απαγόρευση πτήσεων στη Λιβύη.

Εν τω μεταξύ, η Γραμματέας των ΗΠΑ Χίλλαρι Κλίντον δήλωσε ότι σχεδιάζει να συναντήσει τους εκπρόσωπους της αντιπολίτευσης της Λιβύης στο ταξίδι της στην Αίγυπτο και στη Τυνησία την επόμενη εβδομάδα.

12 Μαρτίου 2011


France knew of and told CIA about al-Qaeda hijack plans prior to 9/11

Reports produced by the French secret services reveal that they knew that al-Qaeda was planning attacks on the United States at least eight months before the 9/11 attacks and that the attack was going to involve U.S. jetliners, the French newspaper Le Monde reports.

Le Monde also says one of the reports was handed to Bill Murray, a CIA agent working at the Paris station at the time, but no record of that handover has been released in the U.S. governments 9/11 commission report in 2004.

"[The French government knew of a] plan to hijack an aircraft by Islamic radicals," said the report, adding the planned attack had been discussed by al-Qaeda, Taliban and Uzbek militants in 2000.  However; the Washington Post and The Daily times mistakenly say that the Uzbeck militants were Chechen.

According to the reports, al-Qaeda was planning to launch the 9/11 attack in March or September in 2000, but that the attack was delayed because of "differences of opinion, particularly over the date, objective and participants."

"You have to remember that a plane hijack (in January 2001) did not have the same significance as it did after September 11. At the time, it implied forcing a plane to land at an airport and undertaking negotiations," said Pierre-Antoine Lorenzi.

The CIA said that the report does not show that the U.S. or France had advance knowledge that an attack was going to take place.

"Today's Le Monde article merely repeats what the U.S. government knew and reported before September 11 that al Qaeda was interested in airliner plots, especially hijackings. The article does not suggest that U.S. or foreign officials had advance knowledge of the details surrounding the September 11 plot. Had the details been known, the U.S. government would have acted on them," a spokesman for the CIA, George Little, said.


11 septembre 2001 : les services de renseignements français avaient alerté leurs homologues américains

Publié le 17 avril  2007   Le journal Le Monde a publié un long article, hier, concernant une « note » de 328 pages relatant les activités terroristes d'Al-Qaida. Ce document, « une véritable encyclopédie », selon le quotidien du soir, relate, avec précision, certains préparatifs de cette organisation.

Le dossier y relatait, huit mois avant les sanglants attentats du 11 septembre 2001, un détournement d'avion projeté par l'équipe Ben Laden, notamment au départ de Francfort.

La DGSE savait à peu près tout sur cette organisation, notamment sur les ramifications en Europe et dans le Maghreb, ainsi que sur leur mode de recrutement. Selon les fac-similés publiés par Le Monde, on peut y lire « Selon les services ouzbeks de renseignement, le projet d'un détournement d'avion semble avoir été discuté en début d'année 2000 lors d'une réunion à Kaboul entre des représentants de l'organisation d'Oussama Ben Laden… »

En effet, c'est depuis 1995 qu'une cellule « Oussama Ben Laden » avait été mise en place au sein des services de renseignements français. Tout a avait été retranscrit dans cette note avec une précision d'horloger suisse. C'est alors que fut prise la décision d'informer la CIA des renseignements obtenus.

M. Lorenzi, chef de cabinet du diriecteur de la DGSE jusqu'en août 2001 précise ; « Il faut se rappeler , que jusqu'en 2001, le détournement d'avion n'a pas la même signification qu'après le 11-Septembre. A l'époque, cela implique de forcer un appareil à se poser sur un aéroport pour mener des négociations. On est habitué à gérer ça. »

Du côté américain, c'est l'amnésie totale. Toujours selon le même quotidien, « De l'autre côté de l'Atlantique, deux anciens agents de la CIA spécialistes d'Al-Qaida, que nous avons sollicités, ne se souviennent pas d'alertes particulières envoyées par la DGSE. Ni Gary Berntsen, rattaché à la direction des opérations de l'agence de 1982 à 2005, ni Michael Scheuer, ancien responsable de l'unité Ben Laden au siège de la CIA, n'ont gardé en mémoire des informations spécifiques en provenance de la DGSE. »

Selon le rapport de la Commission d'enquête du Congrès publié en juillet 2004, le FBI et la CIA ont été pointés du doigt sur leur incapacité « d'agréger des données éparses visant certains membres des commandos du 11-Septembre. À aucun moment la commission n'a évoqué la possibilité que la CIA aurait répercuté au pouvoir politique, dès janvier 2001, des renseignements émanant des services français sur le choix tactique d'Oussama Ben Laden d'organiser des détournements d'avions américains visant certains membres des commandos du 11-Septembre. »

Enfin, la note de la DGSE met en évidence l'absence de volonté des autorités saoudiennes d'apréhender Ben Laden quand elles en avaient la possibilité.


France offers promised 2000 soldiers to the UN in Lebanon

After a meeting with the government and general officers, French President Jacques Chirac announced today that the French complement in the UNIFIL will be increased to 2,000.

"Conditions required by France being fulfilled, I decided to favourably answer the requests of the General Secretary of the United Nations, and of the Lebanese and Israeli governments", Chirac declared; "two more battalions will come to reinforce our deployment on the field within the UNIFIL. 2,000 French soldiers will thus serve under the blue helmet in Lebanon".

Chirac also underlined that the deployment of the 1,700 strong Opération Baliste would continue.

UNIFIL is currently headed by French Major General Alain Pellegrini.

France initially surprised the world by promising to send only 200 more soldiers, after playing a major diplomatic role in settling the cease-fire, and while a reinforcement of the UNIFIL to 15,000 troops had been announced by the United Nations. The press has commented that France is reluctant to send Blue Helmets without clear rules of engagements and guarantees, after the experience of the UNPROFOR in Bosnia, where French soldiers had been forced to witness atrocities without being able to intervene, had been taken hostages without means to defend themselves, and had suffered heavy casualties.

Countries expected to contribute the bulk of the troops to the "reinforced UNIFIL" are France, Italy and Spain; reinforcements are also expected from Belgium and Greece.

President Chirac said that he wanted a "fair repartition of contributions" and called for "other permanent members of the Security Council" to contribute; he mentioned that "Several European partners will do so, as well as important Muslim countries of Asia". Chirac cited United Nations Resolution 1701 by requesting "the release of the abducted Israeli soldiers, the return of the Lebanese prisoners, the delineation of the borders, especially in the Shebaa Farms area".

Lebanese Prime minister Fouad Siniora declared that "the decision from President Chirac helps Lebanon, reinforced her stability, and helps her get back her territory through Israeli withdrawal, and instaur authority of the State in South Lebanon".


La France va envoyer 2 bataillons au Liban

Le président Jacques Chirac a annoncé aujourd'hui dans une allocution télévisée que la France va envoyer 2 bataillons au Liban pour renforcer les forces de la FINUL. Ces 2 000 soldats vont rejoindre ceux déjà en place au Sud-Liban. "les 1 700 soldats français de l'opération aéronavale qui assurent le ravitaillement de la FINUL depuis le début de la crise, sont maintenus bien évidemment sur place".


France rejects European Union's asylum seeker quota initiative

On Saturday, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls stated his opposition to the European Commission's quota system for distributing asylum seekers amongst member countries of the European Union (EU).

The quotas are determined by the gross domestic product, population, and unemployment levels of countries within the EU, and would mean that Germany, France, and Italy would receive the highest intake of migrants.

Valls did not approve of this scheme, instead suggesting asylum seekers be spread among the nations in a more "fair distribution". He said migrants should be denied access to Europe unless they are truly seeking asylum.

The quota scheme comes amidst a large influx of refugees from the Middle East and North Africa who travel along the Mediterranean Sea. Within the last week, almost 1000 migrants were seized in southern France near to Menton.

France has also suggested ways to stop migrants leaving their countries, including establishing a centre for migrants in Agadez, Niger. This centre, scheduled to be operational toward the end of 2015, is based in Niger as migrants travel through it to get to people smugglers in Libya who then transport them across the Mediterranean Sea.

The EU plans a naval unit to prevent people-smuggling boats from operating in Libyan territory, though it is yet to be approved by the United Nations Security Council.


França rebutja l'iniciativa de quotes d'asil de l'Unió Europea

Dissabte, el primer ministre francès, Manuel Valls va declarar la seva oposició al sistema de quotes de la Comissió Europea per a la distribució dels sol·licitants d'asil entre els països membres de l'Unió Europea (UE).

Les quotes es determinen pel producte interior brut, la població i els nivells d'atur bruts dels països dins de la UE, i significaria que Alemanya, França i Itàlia rebrien la major part dels immigrants.

Valls no aprova aquest esquema, en el seu lloc suggereix que els sol·licitants d'asil s'estenguin entre les nacions en una "distribució més equitativa". Va dir que els immigrants se'ls ha de negar l'accés a Europa si no estan buscant realment asil.

El règim de quotes arriba enmig d'una gran afluència de refugiats procedents d'Orient Mitjà i el Nord d'Àfrica que viatgen al llarg del mar Mediterrani. En les dues últimes setmanes, gairebé 1000 migrants van ser segrestats al sud de França, prop de Menton.

França també ha suggerit formes d'aturar la sortida d'immigrants dels seus països, incloent l'establiment d'un centre per a immigrants a Agadez, Níger. Aquest centre, que es preveu estigui operativa a finals de 2015, es basa a Níger ja que els migrants viatgen a través d'ell per arribar als traficants de persones a Líbia, que després els transporten a través del mar Mediterrani.

La UE planeja una unitat naval per evitar que els vaixells de contraban de persones puguin operar en territori libi, tot i que encara no s'ha aprovat pel Consell de Seguretat de les Nacions Unides.


France to replace controversial youth worker law

French President Jacques Chirac has announced that the new youth job law that has fueled protests for the past few weeks is to be replaced by other measures to attack unemployment amongst young adults.

Students and unions protested the new law, which would have given employers the freedom to fire youth workers under the age of 26 without reason during a two-year "trial period". The prospect had sparked somewhat violent protests across the country in the past two months.

Union leaders have given government officials until Easter to withdraw the existing law or face yet another general strike.


France : abandon du contrat première embauche

Ce matin Dominique de Villepin a annoncé la réécriture de l'article 8 de la loi pour l'égalité des_chances concernant le CPE. Le projet de loi visera principalement à faciliter l'emploi des jeunes de moins de 26 ans sans qualifications par une aide à l'employeur lors de l'embauche. Le gouvernement espère démobiliser l'opposition en annonçant cette modification le premier jour des vacances parisiennes et à la veille de la journée d'action du mardi 11 avril. Toutefois de nombreuses Assemblées Générales d'étudiants n'ont pas voté l'arrêt de la grève ni le débloquage des facs, leurs principales revendications -retrait du CNE, retrait de l'intégralité de la loi sur l'égalité des chances, retrait du projet de loi sur l'immigration, augmentation du nombres de postes au CAPES, revalorisation de l'éducation, retrait du LMD- n'ayant pas été satisfaites.

Publié le 12 avril 2006
L'aménagement de l'article 8 de la loi pour l'égalité des_chances, le retrait d'une partie des syndicats, les vacances et la fatigue résultant de plus de deux mois de mobilisations ont fortement pesé sur la mobilisation des manifestations du mardi 11 avril. A peine plus de 40 000 manifestants sur l'ensemble de la France alors qu'ils étaient entre 1,7 et 3 millions aux mêmes heures la semaine précédente, ces chiffres de (dé)mobilisation soulèvent de nombreuses interrogations quant à la suite du mouvement.

Toutefois l'assemblée générale unitaire (et souveraine) du mouvement contre la précarité et pour le retrait du CPE a réuni aujourd'hui à l'Université Marc Bloch de Strasbourg environs 800 personnes, qui ont souligné la difficulté pour les travailleurs du secteurs privé de se mobiliser, la légalisation par la loi sur l'égalité des chances du travail de nuit a partir de 15 ans ainsi que la nécessité de se défaire aussi du CNE qui pourrait, grâce à quelques aménagements, ressusciter le CPE.

Si le symbole du recul d'un gouvernement illégitime donne une teinte de victoire à la mobilisation de nombreux étudiants rappellent que cette réécriture est surtout l'occasion de mettre un frein aux revendications en divisant les syndicats et partis politique.


La Francia ritira il CPE

Il presidente della repubblica francese, Jacques Chirac ha annunciato che sarà ritirato il contratto di primo impiego (il tanto contestato CPE) e sostituito con "un dispositivo teso a favorire l'inserimento professionale dei giovani in difficolta".

Gli studenti e i sindacati hanno a lungo contestato la nuova legge, che avrebbe dato ai datori di lavoro la libertà di licenziare giovani lavoratori sotto i ventisei anni anche senza giusta causa durante un biennale periodo di prova. Il mancato ascolto delle contestazioni ha provocato delle forti violenze negli ultimi due mesi.

I sindacati, che avevano dato un ultimatum al governo che sarebbe scaduto a Pasqua, si sono dichiarati soddisfatti per il ritiro della contestatissima legge.


France votes no in EU referendum

In a result predicted by polls, a 54.87% majority of French voters voted non in Sunday's European Constitution referendum. Of France's 42 million eligible voters, over 70% turned out at the 55 thousand polling stations across the country, which were open from 8:00 to 20:00 on Sunday (except in Paris and Lyon where voting finished at 22:00, and French oversea possessions and other polling centers in the Americas, which voted on Saturday in order not to have them vote when the results are already known). A 70% turnout is very large compared to Spain 42%.

The result comes as no surprise to European political commentators as opinion polls had consistently suggested that the "No" camp was on course for a strong victory. Indeed, the last opinion poll before the actual referendum suggested a 56% win for the "No" camp.

The treaty was supported by all 3 major political parties (center-left PS, center-right UMP, center-right UDF), though a significant minority of the PS, and some in the UMP, chose to oppose it.
It was opposed by the French Communist Party, as well as Trotskyite movements such as the Revolutionary Communist League, other far-left movements such as the Party of the Workers, parts of the Socialist party, parts of The Greens some members of UMP, and the nationalist National Front.

According to polls, the vast majority of blue collar workers, farmers and other categories threatened by globalization and international concurrence voted against the treaty. The urban, better educated or richer population voted in favor.

Some supporters of the "No" camp have argued that the mainstream media was biased in favor of the "yes" cause, and this was supported by some analyses of times awarded by television to both camps. However, the "no" camp also waged an aggressive campaign, with the walls of major cities being plastered with posters linking the EU Constitution and the European Union to all kind of social ills, such as high unemployment.

You can read the entire proposed European Constitution at Wikisource

According to polls collected by TNS-Sofres, the largest polling company in France, voters gave the following reasons for voting no:

Note, however, that such polls offer only a limited number of answers and may thus misrepresent the actual motives of the people.

Proponents of the "No" vote, both on the left and right, argued that the proposed constitution enshrined what they claim is an undemocratic Europe, with much of the responsibilities granted to a body of unelected political appointees, the European Commission and not enough checks and balances. They also point out that it vests much legislative power in the European Council, representing the executives of the various countries; this is seen as a bad arrangement with respect to Separation of powers. While the treaty adds supplemental powers for the directly elected European Parliament, many opponents, particularly on the left, consider that they are still insufficient in order to provide checks and balances.

Much criticism was directed at the length of the proposed Constitution. The real treaty submitted to French voters is about 80 pages long, which many argue is too long and complex for a constitution. It is followed by 100 pages of appendices, declarations and protocols, some of them dealing with matters such as oil refining in the Dutch West Indies or specific nuclear power plants in Eastern Europe.

Opponents of the treaty argue that the proposed constitution will largely hamstring the French government and prevent it from leading its own policies in matters as diverse as social services or foreign policy.

Much of the opposition was targeted at Part III of the proposed constitution, which sets the policies of the European Union. Opponents point out that the constitutions of most countries, including France, do not specify policies explicitly, except for a limited number of fundamental rights, but rather are limited to specifying the core principles and procedures of how governmental institutions work. Part III, they argued, sets in stone a number of economic and social choices, while these should be a matter of political choice depending on democratic votes.

Both left-wing and right-wing opponents consider that some of these policies, already applied and enforced by the European Union, are disastrous for France's economy and society as well as European's economy and society. One primary target is the free trade policies with countries having less expensive workforce and social protection, which, they argue, drive French workers out of work (2.7 million French people are out of work).

This was recently exemplified by the so-called "Bolkestein directive", which would have enabled service providers in the European Union to work anywhere in the union according to the legislation and social practices of their own country, not of the country where they'd work: this was caricatured as the example of the "Polish plumber" coming to work for a meager fraction of what French plumbers demand.

Much is made of délocalisations — that is, the transferring of industries and, now, services to countries with lower production costs, depriving French workers of jobs at a time when unemployment is high.

As a consequence, both left-wing and right-wing opponents of the treaty and of current and proposed European Union policies argue in favor of some sort of protectionism.

In the field of international relations, many opponents contend that the proposed constitution would make the European Union largely subservient to NATO, an institution dominated by the United States of America.

A factor in the opposition to the constitution is the recent enlargement of the European Union, a major move which was not approved by a referendum. Opponents consider that open border concurrence with much poorer economies is bad for French economy; many express uneasiness at subsidizing and collaborating with governments that they consider subservient to the interests of the United States, such as Poland's (Poland chose to buy warplanes from the United States after receiving some European Union subsidies, a movement which resulted in many questioning the financial and diplomatic priorities of their government).

Finally, many seized the occasion to express their discontent at France's political elite and to president Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin's government. While unemployment had receded under the rule of center-left former prime minister Lionel Jospin, it has climbed against under Raffarin's administration despite his and Chirac's promises.

Much opposition was directed towards what many on the Left consider the "ultra-liberal" character of the Constitution: that is, they argue, the proposed constitution makes permanent economic policies which they consider disastrous for French society:

Left wing opponents, they say, want Europe, but another Europe, which, in their view, would put the concerns of common people before those of financial markets and the wealthy. They contend that free market capitalism, which they consider enforced by the constitution, destroys lives and benefits the financial establishment, but not the average worker. They argue that open trade and concurrence encourages unemployment in France.

They argue, bluntly, that the constitution is the constitution of right-winger Chirac and MEDEF, the union of larger French private employers. MEDEF, due to its current leader Ernest-Antoine Seillière, is very unpopular among the left.

Left-wing opponents argued that the Charter of rights included in the constitution was largely indicative, not prescriptive. They questioned the say that other members of the union may have in matters such as the right to abortion and the separation of Church and State, which they consider threatened by certain governments from Catholic countries, which, during the negotiation of the treaties, had insisted on adding references to the Christian heritage of Europe.

Another argument from the left was that the Constitution called for member states to strengthen their military forces. Opponents argue that this would be wasteful spending, would result in an arm race with the United States, China and others, and would result in wars and more instability.

Many leaders of the opposition to the "No" also simply called for a blow to Chirac.

Many right-wing opponents argue that Turkey, which has applied for European Union membership, should not become a member, and that acceptance of the Constitution would pave the way for this. They point out that the new Eastern European members, whose joining many of them opposed, were accepted without a referendum; they also point out that Turkey is for the most part not located in Europe, but in the Middle-East, and that it borders countries such as Iran and Iraq.

In addition, many supporters of the right-wing are opposed to a union with countries whose culture they consider too far from France, and are concerned about unchecked immigration from these. They also consider that the direction the European Union is heading will only reinforce unchecked immigration from poor Muslim countries, which they think is bad socially and economically for Europe. This point of view is disputed by many economists, who point out that due to aging of France and other European countries increasing immigration is the only viable option for boosting the existing economies.

Such arguments are likely not to have much impact on many French voters. The results of this referendum, as well as those of the 2002 presidential election, show some deep distrust of the population for the political class as well as for "experts". There is high skepticism against economists and politicians who promote what they consider to be necessary reforms, whereas despite those reforms unemployment has remained high and standards of living have lessened for many.

Supporters of the proposed European Constitution contend that it is a marked improvement over preceding treaties governing the European Union. They point out that it gives increased powers to the directly elected European Parliament compared to the politically appointed European Commission and European Council. They also point out that it gives a right of petition to European citizens, which they contend is a marked democratic advance. Opponents point out that this right may be exercised only with strict conditions (1,000,000 signatures from a "significant" number of countries) and with uncertain consequences. Furthermore, they point out that the basic undemocratic handling and procedures followed for the legislative enactment of laws are kept in place, and that neither the EC or the counsel of ministers have been internally made more democratic.

Proponents of the constitution consider that these improvements make the European Union markedly more democratic than it was before, while opponents may be of the opinion that something which is better then extremely bad, is still no good, and consider a no-vote a chance to come up with something better. Some supporters of the constitution contend that certain European measures that many consider ill-advised (such as the Bolkestein directive or the directive on software patents) would not have been adopted if the stronger checks and balances provided for by the constitution had been implemented, but there is little actual basis to support such a claim.

Part II of the proposed European Constitution is a Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. This charter lists a number of human rights, such as the prohibition of torture, the prohibition of the death penalty, etc., and reinstates that the Union follows the Council of Europe's (COE) European Convention on Human Rights and the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). All members of the European Union must belong to the COE and accept ECHR jurisdiction. Proponents of the constitution consider that this reinstatement of human rights is of great import, especially with respect to recent new members, which may not have much of a tradition of democracy, rule of law and human rights.

Proponents of the constitution dispel the accusation that the constitution is ultra-libéral (i.e. supports unfettered free market and prohibits social policies in member countries). They contend that these dispositions are not new, and were already to be found in the 1957 Treaty of Rome. They point out that unbiased concurrence is a the heart of European policies since the beginnings of the European Economic Community.

They contend that, for a large part, the proposed constitution is just the consolidation of the preceding treaties governing the European Union into a single document.

They admit out that the Constitution, like all works designed by a committee out of compromise, may be bulky. However, they point out, France cannot expect to force its choices on other countries. While some French parties may have preferred that the constitution contains more "social" dispositions, such social dispositions would be opposed by countries such as the United Kingdom, and there is little hope that any renegotiation would get them accepted. French Citizens, they claim, should be ready to accept an imperfect text.

Some supporters say that refusing the constitution will diminish the clout of France in European institutions and may make it more difficult in the future to have its interests be taken into account at that level.

Some right-wing supporters of the treaty contend that the European Union is a necessary force in order to push what they consider to be necessary reforms upon France.

Supporters of the treaty point out that the question of the constitution is disconnected from that of the accession of Turkey. President Chirac has pledged that the accession of Turkey would be put to a referendum before French voters (the accession treaty of former Eastern Bloc countries was ratified by the French Parliament without a referendum).

Finally, supporters of the proposed Constitution point out that this referendum is about the ratification of a treaty, and is not a plebiscite on the actions of president Jacques Chirac and prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, both of which are deeply unpopular.


Frankreich lehnt europäische Verfassung ab

Paris (Frankreich), 29.05.2005 - Eine Mehrheit hat beim französischen Referendum über die Ratifikation des Vertrags über eine Verfassung der Europäischen Union mit »non« gestimmt und somit die Verfassung abgelehnt. Zirka 55 Prozent der Abstimmenden haben den Vertragsentwurf zurückgewiesen. Die Wahlbeteiligung lag bei etwa 70 Prozent.

Zum Inkrafttreten des Verfassungsvertrags ist eine Ratifizierung durch alle 25 Mitgliedsnationen der Union erforderlich. Abhängig von den Modalitäten der Nationalverfassungen wird über die Ratifikation entweder per Referendum oder per Legislaturbeschluss befunden. In neun Mitgliedsnationen, in denen bisher über die Ratifikation befunden wurde, wurde der Vertrag angenommen, davon gab es aber nur in Spanien ein Referendum. In vielen Ländern steht die Entscheidung noch aus; unter anderem in Großbritannien, Irland und Dänemark stehen noch Referenden an, deren Ausgang noch nicht gewiss ist.

Mit der Zurückweisung durch Frankreich kann die Unionsverfassung aber bereits als bis auf weiteres gescheitert gelten. Über die Möglichkeit einer Wiedervorlage in Frankreich, wie sie beim irischen Referendum über den Vertrag von Nizza praktiziert wurde, besteht noch völlige Unklarheit. In den Niederlanden wird am kommenden Mittwoch, den 01.06.2005 ein Referendum abgehalten, voraussichtlich mit 60 Prozent "nee". Für den Fall einer Ablehnung durch einen EU-Mitgliedsstaat, wie hier geschehen, wurden bisher noch keine Nachverhandlungsmöglichkeiten öffentlich erörtert.

In Frankreich hatte das Referendum auch eine innenpolitische Bedeutung; für die kommende Woche wird nun ein Kabinettsrevirement erwartet, wobei unter anderem Premierminister Jean-Pierre Raffarin ausgewechselt werden dürfte.


Francia dice "no" a la constitución europea

30 de mayo de 2005París, Francia — Contundente decisión del pueblo francés, tras los resultados del referendo del día 29 del presente mes y después de numerosas especulaciones sobre la aceptación o negativa a la Constitución Europea que debe ser aprobada por ratificación, en los 25 países de la Unión para 2006.

Los resultados dieron al NO un 54,87% frente al 45,13% de votos por el SÍ, lo que además de un evidente rechazo a la constitución es un freno de contención para Europa, que ve con preocupación sus intereses políticos y económicos en busca de adhesión de nuevos miembros, lo que ha obligado al presidente francés Jacques Chirac a tener que aceptar el hecho consumado y a tratar de renegociar el tratado con la Unión Europea a partir de un nuevo referendo, para así no verse más en dificultades.

Antes de Francia, nueve de los veinticinco países ya habían realizado consultas populares para decidir el futuro de la carta magna comunitaria. En el caso de España, el referendum, a pesar de dar un resultado positivo en favor de la Constitución Europea, fue votado por poco más del 40% de los potenciales electores, según algunos por cierta lejanía con la política de ese país.

El rechazo a la Constitución Europea se percibió en el pueblo, ya que los comunistas, organizaciones antiglobalización y la extrema derecha preconizaban su repudio al Tratado de la Constitución, temerosos de lo que pueda ser el final del modelo social europeo, con la entrada de los diez nuevos miembros en mayo de 2004, así como en la aceptación de los otros como Rumania, Bulgaria, Turquia y posiblemente Suiza.

Además, Chirac argumentó que el triunfo del NO traería serios reveses para Francia y su relación con Europa. Varios analistas creen que el resultado tiene que ver más con una inconformidad de los franceses con el gobierno Chirac que con un verdadero desacuerdo con la Constitución Europea. A finales de abril, un sondeo mostraba una leve victoria del "sí".

A nivel europeo, las cosas se pondrán mas inquietantes, pues esta negativa francesa es para los líderes de la Unión una gran decepción, ya que puede causar mayores dificultades y esto podría ser decisivo para el referendo de este miércoles 1 de junio en Holanda, el 27 de septiembre en Dinamarca y también en el Reino Unido, en donde la consulta se realizaría en la primavera de 2006.


Résultats du référendum français sur la constitution européenne

Page actualisée : 2 juin 2005 — « Formation du gouvernement de Dominique de Villepin »

Publié le 30 mai 2005

Les Français (à 54,86%) se sont prononcés contre le projet de constitution qui leur était proposé en accord avec les sondages effectués avant le vote.

Alors que certains pays trouvent ce texte trop social, les Français le trouvent trop libéral et espèrent à travers ce vote massif (70% de participation) provoquer une renégociation du texte. Le mécontentement de la situation actuelle en France serait également important. Le président de la Commission européenne (M. Barroso) a pourtant, dès l'annonce des résultats au soir du 29 mai, exclu toute renégociation de ce traité.

Selon un organisme de sondages, les raisons évoqués pour le « non » seraient :

Jacques Chirac a annoncé dès l'annonce des résultats des changements dans la politique de son gouvernement. Ce type d'annonce signifie fréquemment un remaniement de gouvernement. Une annonce devrait être faite aujourd'hui ou demain à en croire le premier ministre J. P. Raffarin. Le président de la République a reçu différents membres de sa majorité parlementaire ce lundi 30 mai.


Francja: Nie dla Traktatu Konstytucyjnego

W przeprowadzonym w niedzielę referendum, Francuzi opowiedzieli się za odrzuceniem Traktatu ustanawiającego Konstytucję dla Europy. Według danych przedstawionych przez francuskie Ministerstwo Spraw Wewnętrznych, za jego przyjęciem opowiedziało się 45,32%, przeciw zagłosowało  54,68% obywateli. Frekwencja wyniosła 69,34%. Wynik referendum musi zostać zatwierdzony przez komisję konstytucyjną.

Pierwszy sondaż IPSOS/DELL opublikowany w niedzielę o godzinie 22:00, tuż po zamknięciu ostatnich lokali wyborczych, wskazał na zdecydowane zwycięstwo przeciwników Traktatu Konstytucyjnego, których głosy stanowiły 55% ogółu wyborców biorących udział w referendum. Pozostałe 45% stanowiły głosy zwolenników konstytucji. Dane te nie odbiegają znacząco od wyników oficjalnych.

Wśród przyczyn odrzucenia Traktatu najczęściej wymienia się niechęć Francuzów do rządów premiera Raffarina i prezydenta Chiraca. Niechęć ta spowodowana jest problemami gospodarczymi Francji oraz wysokim stopniem bezrobocia. W Paryżu, gdzie bezrobocie stanowi niewielki problem, aż 66,45% głosujących poparło Traktat Konstytucyjny.


55% votam pelo "não" no referendo francês à Constituição Européia

Os primeiros resultados do referendo francês a respeito da retificação da Constituição Européia mostram que 55% dos votantes optaram pelo não, rejeitando a proposta de Constituição. O resultado confirma as especulações de diversos analistas políticos, baseados em pesquisas de opinião recentes que denunciavam a vitória do não por uma margem considerável.

A não-ratificação da Constituição é incentivada por políticos tradicionais de direita, como o ex-deputado europeu Jean Marie Le-Pen. Entre aqueles que apoiavam a proposta, estão partidos de esquerda, como os sociais-democratas.

A proposta de Constituição deve ser ratificada por todos os Estados-membros da União Européia. Entre os países que já afirmaram-na está a Espanha.


Французи против европског Устава

Французи су се (са 54,68%) изјаснили против пројекта конституције, коју је њихова држава понудила држављанима Француске. Резултат је потврдио и исход испитивања јавног мњења пре гласања.

Иако неке земље мисле да је текст конституције веома социјалан, Французи су га схватили као веома либералан, и надајући се, да ће моћи да покрену преговоре о новој изради устава, су изашли у великом броју (око 70% гласача) .

Po испитивању јавног мњења, разлози за гласање против:


France warns of war with Iran

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner warned on Sunday of the possibility of a war over Iran's nuclear program.

"We have to prepare for the worst, and the worst is war," Mr. Kouchner stressed in an interview broadcast by French radio and TV. He also highlighted the importance of negotiations with Iran, stating these should continue "right to the end," though he underlined that if Iran possessed real nuclear weapons, this would pose "a real danger for the whole world".

Tehran has denied all charges from developing nuclear weapons; nevertheless, Iran has announced its intentions to acquire uranium for energy rather than weapons.

Mr. Kouchner also stated that "we are trying to put in place plans which are the privilege of chiefs of staff and that is not for tomorrow," and, that even though any attack was far from taking place, "It is normal for us to plan".

The French Minister also added that France intended to impose new sanctions over Iran, but not under the framework of the UN Security Council, and thus force Tehran to give up any attempt to acquire nuclear weapons.

Kouchener is quoted in the EU Observer saying, "We have decided, while negotiations are continuing (…), to prepare eventual sanctions outside the ambit of UN sanctions, which would be European sanctions. Our good friends, the Germans, suggested that."

One sanction:  asking France's largest companies not to do business with Iran.  The Financial Times quotes Kouchener saying, "We have asked a certain number of our big companies not to respond to Iranian tenders."

The United Nations Security Council has imposed severe sanctions over Iran, but until now has not accepted military action. The United States has also not ruled out the option of military actions towards Iran, if the nuclear program continues.


Francia advierte guerra con Irán

El Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de Francia, Bernard Kouchner, advirtió este domingo la posibilidad de una guerra por el programa nuclear iraní.

"Tenemos que prepararnos para lo peor, y lo peor es la guerra", recalcó Kouchner en una entrevista transmitida por la radio y televisión francesa.

Además subrayó la importancia de las negociaciones con Irán declarando que éstas debían continuar "justo hasta el final", aunque reconoció que si Irán poseyera realmente armas nucleares, esto significaría "un peligro real para el mundo entero".

Teherán ha negado todas las acusaciones de desarrollar armas nucleares; sin embargo, Irán ha anunciado sus intenciones de adquirir uranio enriquecido para energía y no para armas.

Koucher además dijo que "estamos tratando de poner en lugar planes que son el privilegio de jefes del staff y que eso no es para mañana" y que, aunque las posibilidades de un ataque són ínfimas, "Es normal para nosotros planear".

El Ministro francés además agregó que Francia pretende imponer nuevas sanciones a Irán, aunque sin embargo no bajo el marco del Cosejo de Seguridad de las Naciones Unidas, a fin de disuadir a Teherán de adquirir armas nucleares.

El Consejo de Seguridad ha impuesto varias y severas sanciones a Irán, pero hasta ahora no ha aceptado el accionar militar como medio legítimo de coacción.


France: Villepin's cabinet announced

Newly named Prime Minister of France Dominique de Villepin has had his cabinet accepted by President of the Republic Jacques Chirac.

Head of the majority Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party, Nicolas Sarkozy, comes as a second-in-command as Minister of the Interior, with the honorific rank of Minister of State. The Ministry of the Interior is traditionally one of the most important positions in the cabinet, with that of Finances; the Minister of the Interior is in charge, notably, of law enforcement and relationships with local governments. There is some uneasiness in having the head of a party in a position that is partly in charge of electoral redistrictings. Also, this arrangement creates a peculiar situation: it is public knowledge that Villepin and Sarkozy consider each other a dangerous political rival with respect to the 2007 presidential election, and they are widely said to loathe each other.

The cabinet was presented as a "restricted" cabinet. However, as many as 31 ministers, delegate ministers and secretaries of state were named; still, this is a reduction from the preceding 43. While the cabinet is for a large part copied from the preceding one, some ministers who had provoked controversy and animosity were removed or moved to another less risky position. François Fillon, formerly Minister of National Education, whose plan for reforming public education was lambasted by members of his own party, including president of the National Assembly Jean-Louis Debré, was ruled partly unconstitutional by the Constitutional Council, and provoked widespread student protests and unrest in high schools, is no longer a minister. Dominique Perben, who pushed for controversial law which opponents allege curtail fundamental constitutional freedoms while Minister of Justice, was moved to the less sensitive position of Minister of Transportation and Equipment. It is also possible that the movement of Brigitte Girardin from Minister for the Oversea (relationships with French overseas departments and territories) to (international) Cooperation was motivated by the crisis that occurred in French Polynesia between Gaston Flosse and his opponent Oscar Temaru.

While the Union for French Democracy (UDF) party, led by François Bayrou, formally remains in the ruling coalition along with the UMP, it has decided that, because the new government would probably do more of the same policies, it would not participate in it. The only member of the government from UDF is Gilles de Robien, as in the preceding government.

Previous head of government Jean-Pierre Raffarin had lost the confidence of the French, with polls putting him as low as 22% confidence. President Chirac's confidence among the citizenry is also a record low of 24%.

Mr Dominique de Villepin is Prime Minister.

Delegate ministers operate as subordinates of ministers.


Formation du gouvernement de Dominique de Villepin

La composition du nouveau gouvernement de la France a été annoncée, jeudi 2 juin 2005, à 19 h 15 (17:15 UTC), sur le perron du Palais de l'Élysée, par Frédéric Salat-Barroux, secrétaire général adjoint de la présidence de la République.

Selon la formule consacrée, le président de la République (Jacques Chirac) a donc nommé, sur proposition du Premier ministre (Dominique de Villepin) :

Ministres :

Ministres délégués :


Fred Thompson quits U.S. Presidential race

2008 United States presidential election

Republican Fred Thompson has officially withdrawn his bid for the United States presidency. This announcement comes after Thompson's third place finish in the South Carolina Republican primary, in which he received 16% of the vote, trailing Mike Huckabee and John McCain.

"Today I have withdrawn my candidacy for president of the United States," Thompson said today. "I hope that my country and my party have benefited from our having made this effort. Jeri and I will always be grateful for the encouragement and friendship of so many wonderful people."

He hoped to do well in South Carolina after his disappointing showings in other primaries, including a sixth place finish in New Hampshire and fifth place finishes in Michigan and Nevada.

Thompson's campaign began in September when he announced his candidacy on The Tonight Show. However, this was long after the other Republican candidates had already started their campaigns. He had been contemplating a presidential bid since March and formed an exploratory committee in June.

Thompson served as a Tennessee senator for 8 years, from 1994 to 2002. He is also an actor who played a district attorney on the television series Law and Order.

The five Republicans left in the race are McCain, Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, and Rudy Giuliani.


Fred Thompson retira su candidatura presidencial

Ayer, Fred Thompson, político y actor estadounidense y miembro del Partido Republicano de los Estados Unidos, anunció que ha decidido retirar su candidatura a la presidencia de ese país.

El anuncio viene tras los resultados de las primarias republicanas de Carolina del Sur, en la que quedó en tercer lugar con 16% de los votos, después de Mike Huckabee y John McCain.

En un discurso, dijo: "Hoy he retirado mi candidatura para presidente de los Estados Unidos. Espero que mi país y mi partido se hayan beneficiado de nuestro esfuerzo. Jeri [su esposa] y yo siempre estaremos agradecidos por el apoyo y la amistad de tanta gente increíble."

Thompson fue senador del estado de Tennessee del 1994 al 2003 y fue actor de la serie de televisión policiaca y legal estadounidense Law & Order.


Fred Thompson se retire de la course à la Maison Blanche

Le républicain Fred Thompson a officiellement jeté l'éponge dans la campagne pour la candidature à l'élection présidentielle américaine. Ce communiqué intervient après la primaire républicaine de Caroline du Sud, durant laquelle il avait obtenu 16 % des voix et ainsi obtenu la troisième place derrière John McCain et Mike Huckabee.
« J'ai aujourd'hui retiré ma candidature à la présidence des États-Unis d'Amérique » a déclaré Fred Thompson aujourd'hui. « J'espère que mon pays et mon parti ont bénéficié de l'effort que nous avons produit. Jeri[1] et moi seront toujours reconnaissants pour les encouragements et l'amitié de tant de merveilleuses personnes ». Il espérait obtenir de meilleurs résultats en Caroline du Sud après ses résultats décevants dans les autres primaires, comme sa sixième place dans le New Hampshire et ses cinquièmes places dans le Michigan et le Nevada.
La campagne de Fred Thompson a commencé en septembre, lors de l'annonce à la candidature lors du The Tonight Show. Cependant, elle intervenait bien après que les autres candidats républicains eurent déjà commencé leurs campagnes. Il envisageait une candidature présidentielle depuis mars et avait constitué un comité exploratoire depuis juin.
Fred Thompson a été sénateur du Tennessee pendant 8 ans, de 1994 et 2002. Il est aussi acteur, jouant un procureur de district dans la série télévisée Law and Order[2].
Les cinq Républicains restant en lice sont John McCain, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul et Rudy Giuliani.


Fred Thompson abandona a corrida pela Casa Branca

O republicano Fred Thompson se retirou oficialmente a sua proposta para a Presidência Americana. Este anúncio ocorreu após Thompson saber que ficou em terceiro lugar nas prévias eleitorais republicanas na Carolina do Sul, em que ele recebeu 16% dos votos, Sendo que os outros dois candidatos republicanos eram Mike Huckabee e John McCain.

"Hoje eu retirei a minha candidatura à presidência dos Estados Unidos", disse Thompson hoje. "Espero que o meu país e o meu partido tênham se beneficiado de ter feito este nosso esforço. Jeri e eu sempre seremos gratos pelo encorajamento e amizade de tantas pessoas maravilhosas".

Ele esperava que faria uma boa campanha na Carolina do Sul após sua decepcionante apresentações em outras primárias, incluindo um sexto lugar no New Hampshire e terminar em quinto lugar em Michigan e Nevada.

A campanha de Thompson começou em setembro, quando ele anunciou sua candidatura em The Tonight Show. No entanto, esta foi muito depois os outros candidatos republicanos já haviam iniciado as suas campanhas. Ele tinha sido contemplando com um lance presidencial desde março e formou um comitê exploratório em junho.

Thompson serviu como um senador do estado de Tennessee  por 8 anos, de 1994 a 2002. Ele é também um actor que desempenhou um distrito advogado na série de televisão Lei e Ordem.

Os cinco republicanos que estão agora na corrida são John McCain, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, e Rudy Giuliani.

*Thompson abandons White House bid — CNN, 22 de janeiro de 2008

*Michael D. Shear. Fred Thompson Drops Presidential Bid — Washington Post, 22 de janeiro de 2008

*Adam Nagourney, Michael Powell. Fred Thompson Drops Out of the Presidential Race — The New York Times, 22 de janeiro de 2008

*David Espo, Liz Sidoti. Thompson Quits Presidential Race [inativa] — Associated Press, 22 de janeiro de 2008. Página visitada em 23 de janeiro de 2008. Arquivada em 28 de janeiro de 2008


Freed hostage Sgrena, says shooting "no accident"

Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena has suggested that it was "no accident" when US troops shot at her car, resulting in the death of an Italian intelligence officer who had helped to secure her release from captivity earlier that day.

Speaking to the press at the Rome hospital where she is being treated for a gunshot wound to her shoulder, she said, "It can't be just said that it was just an accident. We can't accept this, it is not possible."

Sgrena's suggestion is being reinforced by her partner, Pier Scolari who said "I hope the Italian government does something because either this was an ambush, as I think, or we are dealing with imbeciles or terrorized kids who shoot at anyone,"

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi at a press conference in Rome today looked visibly angry and said "I immediately invited the American ambassador to come speak with me, to clarify the actions of the American military for such a grave accident that someone is going to have to take responsibility for,"

Sgrena claims that Italian secret service agent Nicola Calipari was fatally hit when he moved in front of her in the car after the soldiers opened fire on the group.

"It wasn't a checkpoint, but a patrol that started shooting after pointing some lights in our direction," the Ansa news agency cited Sgrena as telling prosecutors. "We hadn't previously encountered any checkpoint, and we didn't understand where the shots came from." The New York Times quotes Sgrena as stating that, "There was no bright light, no signal."

The London Observer reported, "Sgrena told colleagues the vehicle was not travelling fast and had already passed several checkpoints on its way to the airport. The Americans shone a flashlight at the car and then fired between 300 and 400 bullets at if from an armoured vehicle. Rather than calling immediately for assistance for the wounded Italians, the soldiers' first move was to confiscate their weapons and mobile phones and they were prevented from resuming contact with Rome for more than an hour."

The US military said in a statement: "About 2100 [1800 GMT], a patrol in western Baghdad observed the vehicle speeding towards their checkpoint and attempted to warn the driver to stop by hand and arm signals, flashing white lights, and firing warning shots in front of the car.  When the driver didn't stop, the soldiers shot into the engine block, which stopped the vehicle, killing one and wounding two others."

American soldiers have had been victims of suicide car-bomb attacks in the past. On December 4, 2004, two cars exploded next to a checkpoint at the Green Zone in Baghdad, killing 16 and wounding dozens. On December 13, another car exploded in Baghdad killing 13.

Sgrena had been held captive for a month by Iraqi rebels. She works for the Italian newspaper Il Manifesto, founded by the former leader of Communist Youth Luciana Castellina[1] [2]. The paper has been characterized by the Partito della Rifondazione Comunista as a "communist daily" that has been "engaged against the war [in Iraq]."


Periodista italiana liberada en Iraq afirma que EUA intentó matarla

17 de marzo de  2005Italia — La periodista italiana Giuliana Sgrena que fue liberada en el inicio de este mes por la organización islámica, sugirió que no fue ningún accidente el hecho de los soldados de Estados Unidos de América hayan tirado contra su coche. El incidente causó heridas no graves en la periodista y resultó en la muerte de un oficial del servicio de inteligencia italiana que la acompañaba.

El periódico London Observer reportó:

Los militares norteamericanos refutan esa declaración y argumentan que si el hecho narrado por la periodista hubiera ocurrido de la forma como ella describió, el coche habría sido totalmente destruido.
La Associated Press y el canal de televisión italiano RAI mostraron imágenes del coche después del supuesto ataque:
[1],
[2]
Las imágenes muestran un automóvil con relativamente pocos daños.

Sgrena dijo también durante una entrevista para el canal italiano La7:

Los militares de los EUA no niegan haber disparado contra el coche de la periodista. Ellos explicaron el acontecimiento a través del siguiente comunicado:

Ya ocurrieron en el pasado ataques de coche-bomba suicida contra patrullas americanas. El 4 de diciembre de 2004 [3], por ejemplo, dos vehículos llenos de explosivos detonaron a proximidades de un puesto de inspección en las afueras de la Zona Verde, en Bagdad, y provocó la muerte de 16 personas y hirió decenas de otras. El día 13 de diciembre [4], otro coche explotó en Bagdad, cerca de un puesto de verificación y mató a 13 personas.

Sgrena fue mantenida prisionera durante un mes por los rebeldes iraquíes. Ella trabaja para el periódico comunista italiano Il Manifiesto, fundado por la antigua líder de la Juventud Comunista Luciana Castellina. Tanto el periódico, critico y feroz opositor del gobierno de los EUA, como la periodista, se opusieron abiertamente desde el inicio a las operaciones norteamericanas en Iraq.


Italiana libertada acusa os EUA

A  jornalista italiana Giuliana Sgrena que foi libertada no início deste  mês  pela organização Jihad Islâmica,  sugeriu que não foi  nenhum acidente o fato de os soldados dos Estados Unidos da América terem atirado no seu carro. O incidente causou ferimentos não graves na jornalista e resultou na morte de um oficial do serviço de inteligência italiana que a acompanhava.

O jornal London Observer reportou:

Os militares norte-americanos refutam essa declaração e argumentam  que se o fato narrado pela jornalista tivesse ocorrido da forma como ela descreveu, o carro teria sido totalmente destruído.

A  Associated Press e o  canal de televisão italiano RAI TGI disponibilizaram  imagens do carro após o alegado ataque:[1], [2]. As imagens mostram um automóvel bem pouco danificado.

Sgrena disse ainda durante uma entrevista para o canal italiano La7:

Os militares dos EUA não negam ter disparado contra o carro da jornalista. Eles explicaram o acontecimento através do seguinte comunicado:

Já ocorreram no passado ataques de carro-bomba suicida contra patrulhas americanas. Em 4 de dezembro de 2004, por exemplo, dois veículos cheios de explosivos detonaram próximo a um posto de inspecção nas redondezas da Zona Verde, em Bagdá, e provocou a morte de 16 pessoas e feriu dezenas de outras. No dia 13 de dezembro, outro carro explodiu em  Bagdá, perto de um posto de verificação e  matou 13 pessoas.

Sgrena foi mantida prisoneira durante um mês pelos rebeldes iraquianos. Ela trabalha para o jornal comunista italiano  Il Manifesto, fundado pela antiga líder da Juventude Comunista Luciana Castellina. Tanto o jornal, critico e ferrenho opositor do governo dos EUA,  quanto a jornalista se opuseram abertamente desde o início às operações norte-americanas no Iraque.


French aircraft on flights over Libya; US missiles launched at targets

French military aircraft began flying missions over Libya today in support of a no-fly zone the United Nations approved Thursday.

President Nicolas Sarkozy said that "[o]ur air force will oppose any aggression by Colonel Gadhafi [...] As of now, our aircraft are preventing planes from attacking the town [and] are prepared to intervene against tanks, armored vehicles threatening unarmed civilians." One of the planes deployed has reportedly fired against a ground military vehicle.

The intervention is believed to be the first such action since the no-fly zone was approved. Dassault Rafale fighter jets have been deployed from Saint-Dizier, France, and have reportedly encountered no problems during their missions.

This action was followed by United States warships launching Tomahawk cruise missiles at targets in Tripoli and Misrata.

Other countries are preparing to assist in enforcing the no-fly zone. Italy has offered to allow aircraft use at their air bases, and Canada has already sent an aircraft to the region, though they will not immediately begin flying missions.

In Benghazi, government forces have reportedly launched an attack on the rebel stronghold, though Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has denied this claim. Pro-Gaddafi forces have apparently shot down a rebel aircraft.

Some 200,000 people are estimated to have fled the city, according to the UN.


Začaly letecké údery na Libyi

Zejména francouzská letadla a rakety odpálené z amerických lodí a ponorek se zapojily do první fáze vojenské operace proti Libyi. Akce, založená na rezoluci Rady bezpečnosti OSN začala v sobotu v odpoledních hodinách přelety francouzských letadel do oblasti Benghází. Večer pak byly raketové údery zaměřené především na vyřazení protivzdušné obrany na pobřeží a v okolí Tripolisu. Účastní se také britská letadla. Cílem je dosáhnout bezpečí pro letecký dohled nad bezletovou zónou vyhlášenou Radou bezpečnosti.

Podle nejmenovaného zástupce amerického letectva údery vážně poškodily systém libyjské protiletadlové obrany. Libyjská televize oznámila, že byly zasaženy civilní cíle, včetně nemocnice na předměstí Tripolisu. Případná zranění nebo oběti na životech zatím nebyly vyčísleny. Francie popřela tvrzení Libye, že jedno francouzské letadlo bylo sestřeleno.

Libye zaregovala na útoky odsouzením. Muammar Kaddáfí je označil v rozhlasovém projevu za kolonizační agresi a pohrozil tím, že promění celé Středomoří ve válečnou zónu. Slíbil otevřít sklady zbraní a vyzbrojit lid.

Americký prezident Barack Obama prohlásil, že operace je odpovědí na volání libyjského lidu. „Nemůžeme stát stranou, když tyran vzkáže svému lidu, že nebude mít slitování,“ řekl Obama. Německá kancléřka Angela Merkelová vyjádřila operaci podporu, byť se němečtí vojáci aktivně zúčastnit nemají. Země se chystá prosadit zejména ropné embargo, jehož důsledky by měly podle tamní vlády dopadnout nejvíce na Kadáffího režim.

Operaci podporuje Liga arabských států, nesouhlasí s ní naopak Africká unie. Rusko vyjádřilo nad údery politování. Itálie se chystá zapojit poskytnutím základen, do oblasti míří také kanadská letadla. Česko se podle premiéra Petra Nečase operace zapojí maximálně nepřímo, je také připravené poskytnout Libyi humanitární pomoc.

V Benghází byl údajně ze země sestřelen libyjský letoun MiG-23, pilot se měl katapultovat. Nebylo jasné, zda byl ve vládních službách, anebo zda ho pilotoval zástupce povstalců. V ulicích města pokračovaly ozbrojené střety. Zatímco povstalci obviňovali vládu, že nedodržuje klid zbraní přikázaný Radou bezpečnosti OSN, její zástupci naopak tvrdili, že příměří trvá a že přestřelky byly způsobené střety prokaddáfiovské části obyvatel Benghází s povstalci.


Französische Luftwaffe greift libysche Regierungstruppen an

Paris (Frankreich) / Bengasi (Libyen), 20.03.2011 – Mit einem Angriff auf ein libysches Militärfahrzeug hat die französische Luftwaffe erstmals direkt in die Kämpfe zwischen den Aufständischen und der regulären libyschen Armee eingegriffen. Dies teilte das französische Verteidigungsministerium in Paris mit. Der Angriff erfolgte knapp zwei Tage nachdem der Sicherheitsrat der Vereinten Nationen die Resolution 1973 verabschiedet hat, mit der das Gremium andere Nationen ermächtigt hatte, zum Schutze der Zivilbevölkerung zu intervenieren.

Bereits früher hatte das Ministerium mitgeteilt, dass französische Flugzeuge im libyschen Luftraum Aufklärungsmissionen flögen. Ein Sprecher sagte gegenüber der Nachrichtenagentur Reuters, etwa 20 Flugzeuge seien in Libyen eingesetzt. Außerdem sei eine Seeblockade verhängt, erklärte Kanadas Premierminister Stephen Harper.

Es gibt außerdem Berichte darüber, dass Regierungstruppen einen Kampfjet der Rebellen abgeschossen haben. Die Aufständischen waren in den letzten Tagen durch desertierende Piloten an mehrere Flugzeuge gekommen. Der Abschuss wurde von einem Sprecher der Aufständischen bestätigt. Stefan Schlentrich, ARD Kairo berichtete in den ARD-Tagesthemen um 22:05 Uhr am Samstag, die Rebellen selbst hätten versehentlich eine von einem Rebellen gelenkte Mirage mit ihrem Flugabwehrfeuer in Bengasi abgeschossen.

Hochrangige Diplomaten und Politiker aus mehr als zwanzig Staaten hatten am Samstag (19. März) in Paris an einem Sondergipfel teilgenommen, um ein gemeinsames Vorgehen gegenüber Libyens Herrscher Muammar Gaddafi zu beraten, darunter Vertreter der Arabischen Liga, der Europäischen Union und der USA. Die NATO, die zeitgleich in Brüssel tagt, konnte sich nicht auf eine gemeinsame Haltung einigen. Die Afrikanische Union, die sich in den vergangenen Tagen gegen eine ausländische Intervention ausgesprochen hatte, entsandte keinen Vertreter zu dem Treffen, tagte am Samstag allerdings in der mauretanischen Hauptstadt Nouakchott. Die NATO soll offenbar keine führende Rolle übernehmen, weil sie nach Ansicht Frankreichs in der Arabischen Welt nicht angesehen sei. Berlin will keine Truppenkontingente bereitstellen, Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel kündigte in Paris aber an, sich stattdessen stärker an AWACS-Aufklärungsflügen in Afghanistan beteiligen zu wollen.

Frankreichs Staatschef Nicolas Sarkozy hatte Gaddafi nach dem Gipfel nochmals zum Einlenken aufgefordert. Notfalls könne der derzeit in Toulon vor Anker liegende Flugzeugträger „Charles de Gaulle“ auslaufen, um die französische Luftwaffe zu unterstützen. Außerdem habe man Einheiten auf Korsika und im Tschad in Bereitschaft versetzt. „Die Tür der Diplomatie wird sich wieder öffnen, wenn die Angriffe enden“, sagte der französische Staatspräsident. Weniger diplomatisch war der britische Premierminister David Cameron. Es sei der Zeitpunkt gekommen, an dem die internationalen Staatengemeinschaft handeln musste. „Wir müssen den Willen der Vereinten Nationen durchsetzen und können das Abschlachten von Zivilisten nicht weiter zulassen.“

Die britische Luftwaffe hat zusätzliche Tornado- und Eurofighter-Flugzeuge auf der britischen Luftwaffenbasis Akrotiri auf Zypern stationiert, die US-Navy hat den Flugzeugträger „USS Enterprise“ und mehrere weitere Kriegsschiffe im Mittelmeer zur Verfügung. Unterstützung haben außerdem Katar, Dänemark, Norwegen, Italien, Belgien und Spanien versprochen. Kanada will sich an der Durchsetzung der Flugverbotszone mit mehreren Jagdbombern und der Fregatte „Charlottetown“ beteiligen.

Unterdessen heißt es, dass immer mehr Menschen ostwärts zur ägyptischen Grenze fliehen. BBC-Reporter Ben Brown zufolge seien zwar erst wenige Menschen an der Grenze zu dem Nachbarland, doch OCHA befürchtet, dass in den nächsten Tagen 200.000 Menschen zu Fuß oder mit Autos die Grenze überqueren wollen, um sich vor den Kampfhandlungen in Sicherheit zu bringen. Der libysche Staatschef hatte nach dem Bekanntwerden der UN-Resolution am Freitag zwar einen Waffenstillstand seitens der Regierungstruppen verkündet, doch gelangte diese Anordnung offenbar nicht an die Front; nach Berichten von Al-Dschasira drangen regierungstreue Einheiten am Samstag bis in die westlichen Vororte Bengasis vor. Die Rebellen berichteten auch über Angriffe der libyschen Regierungstruppen auf Misrata und az-Zintan im Westen Libyens. Die Regierung bestreitet eine Offensive. Die Regierungstruppen würden sich lediglich selbstverteidigen, hieß es in einer durch die staatliche Nachrichtenagentur Jana verbreiteten Erklärung.


La aviación francesa sobrevuela Libia

Aviones militares franceses han comenzado a sobrevolar Libia en apoyo de una zona de exclusión aérea que las Naciones Unidas aprobó el jueves.

El presidente Nicolás Sarkozy dijo que "nuestra fuerza aérea se opondrá a cualquier agresión por el coronel Gadafi [...] A partir de ahora, nuestros aviones están impidiendo que los aviones de atacar la ciudad [y] están dispuestos a intervenir contra los tanques, vehículos blindados amenazantes civiles desarmados ". Uno de los aviones desplegados presuntamente disparó contra un vehículo militar terrestre.

Se cree que es la primer intervención desde que se aprobó la zona de exclusión aérea. Aviones de combate Dassault Rafale han sido desplegados desde Saint-Dizier, Francia, y los informes, no encontró problemas durante sus misiones.

Otros países se están preparando para asistir en la aplicación de la zona de exclusión aérea. Italia se ha ofrecido para permitir el uso de aviones en sus bases aéreas, y Canadá ya ha enviado un avión a la región, aunque no de inmediato comenzará a volar misiones.

En Bengasi, las fuerzas gubernamentales habrían lanzado un ataque contra el bastión rebelde, aunque el líder libio Muamar el Gadafi ha negado esta afirmación. Las fuerzas pro-Gaddafi, aparentemente, han derribado un avión rebelde.

Se calcula que unas 200.000 personas han huido de la ciudad, según la ONU.


Libye : début des opérations militaires internationales

Page actualisée : 20 mars 2011 — « Intervention militaire en Libye : le Charles-de-Gaulle quitte Toulon »

Au surlendemain du vote d'une résolution du Conseil de sécurité des Nations unies instituant une zone d'exclusion aérienne au-dessus de la Libye et autorisant l'emploi de la force pour protéger les civils, des avions de combat viennent d'être déployés pour stopper l'avancée des troupes de Mouammar Kadhafi.

Publié le 19 mars 2011 à 17 h 30 UTC
Les représentants de vingt-deux pays étaient réunis ce samedi au palais de l'Élysée, à Paris, pour décider d'une attitude commune face à la situation en Libye. Après le vote avant-hier de la résolution 1973 par le Conseil de sécurité, ils se sont engagés dans le communiqué final à prendre « toutes les actions nécessaires, y compris militaires » pour la faire respecter. Même si les contributions des différentes nations « seront différenciées » , elles se sont déclarées « [déterminées] à agir collectivement et résolument pour donner plein effet à ces décisions ». La résolution institue une zone d'exclusion aérienne au-dessus du pays et autorise le recours à la force pour protéger les civils, tout en interdisant une intervention terrestre. Les participants à cette coalition sont majoritairement occidentaux : la France et le Royaume-Uni, qui semblent en avoir pris la tête, la Belgique, le Danemark, l'Espagne, la Grèce, le Canada et les États-Unis. Le Qatar est le seul pays du monde arabe à avoir annoncé sa participation aux opérations militaires, mais il pourrait être rejoint par les Émirats arabes unis. L'Italie a mis à disposition plusieurs bases aériennes mais n'exclut pas de s'engager davantage dans un second temps.

Dans la matinée, des avions de combat français Rafale et britanniques Tornado ont effectué des vols de reconnaissance au-dessus de la Libye. À 16 h 45 UTC, l'aviation française a tiré sur un véhicule militaire libyen « clairement identifié comme appartenant aux forces pro-Kadhafi » dans la région de Benghazi, d'après le colonel Thierry Burckhard, porte-parole de l'état-major des armées. Plus tard dans l'après-midi, trois autres blindés ont été détruits au sud-ouest de Benghazi. Ces attaques sont probablement les premières d'une longue série pour empêcher Mouammar Kadhafi de continuer son offensive contre les rebelles, retranchés dans la ville de Benghazi. Pour cela, il y aura probablement des frappes contre les bases aériennes et les défenses antiaériennes libyennes, et contre les troupes au sol. Un blocus maritime du pays vient d'être mis en place et le déploiement des forces aériennes et navales des différents pays participant à la coalition se poursuit. Le Canada a annoncé des actions aériennes prochaines et la France, qui a déjà dépêché la frégate antiaérienne Forbin, enverra demain le porte-avions Charles-de-Gaulle.

La situation est cependant critique pour les insurgés, puisque les troupes de Mouammar Kadhafi, mieux armées et organisées, ont intensément bombardé Benghazi aujourd'hui et auraient commencé à l'investir. Cette ville de plus de six cent mille habitants est devenue le cœur de la révolte qui agite le pays depuis février ; c'est là que s'est établi le Conseil national de transition et les combats qui s'y déroulent actuellement seraient très violents. La proximité des troupes loyalistes et rebelles à l'intérieur même de la ville pourrait compliquer les frappes internationales et augmenter les risques de morts civiles.


È iniziata la guerra in Libia

Ieri alle 17:45 sono iniziati i primi bombardamenti della Libia da parte dell'esercito francese, americano e inglese, nell'ambito dell'operazione militare Odyssey Dawn. Secondo le prime stime i morti tra i civili ammontano a 64, 26 solo a Tripoli, e i feriti a 150, ma si tratta solo di un bilancio provvisorio. Sono state bombardate le città di Tripoli, Sirte, Bengasi, Misurata e Zuwarah.

È stata la Francia ad iniziare i bombardamenti con i caccia Rafale intorno a Bengasi. Poi gli USA su Tripoli hanno sganciato circa 40 bombe dai caccia B-2 Stealth e, assieme al Regno Unito, hanno lanciato sul paese 112 missili Cruise da navi e sottomarini.
Missili SCALP sono stati lanciati dai caccia Tornado GR4 del Regno Unito.

Le navi americane avevano iniziato a muoversi verso la Libia a fine febbraio, pochi giorni dopo l'inizio degli scontri tra ribelli e autorità libiche. Il 17 marzo la Francia ha chiesto all'ONU di imporre una zona di interdizione aerea, richiesta che è stata approvata nella risoluzione 1973, votata da USA, Francia, Regno Unito, Bosnia-Erzegovina, Colombia, Gabon, Libano, Nigeria, Portogallo e Sudafrica, mente si sono astenuti Brasile, Russia, India, Cina e Germania. Il 18 marzo Mu'ammar Gheddafi ha ordinato il cessate il fuoco e la chiusura totale dello spazio aereo, ma i bombardamenti da parte della coalizione sono iniziati comunque il giorno dopo.

I rapporti politici ed economici tra l'Italia e la Libia sono numerosi: l'ENI ha il circa il 14% della propria produzione di idrocarburi in Libia ed è il principale azionista del gasdotto Greenstream; inoltre sono stati stipulati vari trattati, l'ultimo nel 2008 dal Governo Berlusconi, per la cooperazione economica e militare. Nonostante ciò l'Italia ha messo a disposizione della coalizione le proprie basi di Amendola, Aviano, Decimomannu, Sigonella, Trapani, Gioia del Colle e Pantelleria, dopo la votazione in Parlamento alla quale era assente la Lega Nord e si è astenuta l'Italia dei Valori.

Intanto l'Unione Africana ha chiesto il blocco immediato a tutte le ostilità contro la Libia. Cina, Russia e India hanno espresso il loro rammarico per gli attacchi della coalizione. La Lega Araba ha criticato i bombardamenti, che sono andati oltre l'obiettivo di imporre una zona di interdizione aerea. Il presidente del Venezuela Hugo Chávez ha criticato il premio nobel per la pace Barack Obama perché sta portando avanti un'altra guerra, come in Iraq e Afghanistan, solo per prendere il petrolio.

A Lampedusa intanto si affollano gli immigrati-rifugiati, quasi 4000, ben oltre gli 850 posti disponibili per l'accoglienza e la popolazione locale (che è di circa 6000 persone) è insorta a causa della grave situazione di affollamento e nel tentativo di bloccare la costruzione di una tendopoli da parte del governo. A Trapani è stata imposta la chiusura dello spazio aereo civile entro la fine della giornata. Nel porto di Tripoli un rimorchiatore napoletano con a bordo 8 italiani è rimasto bloccato da uomini armati. Oggi alle 15:15 dalla base di Sigonella si sono alzati in volo sei caccia F-16 della Danimarca con destinazione Misurata.