CYCLING: Alberto Contador is appealing his suspension for doping

AFP - The cyclist Alberto Contador said Friday he had "never doped" and would "appeal" and fight to the end to prove his innocence at his first press conference after announcement of his suspension for one year.

"I'm going to appeal, where it will be necessary to defend my innocence to the end," Contador said at a news conference in Puigpunyent, near Palma de Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain).

"During these ten days I'll work up with my lawyers to see justice done," said Tour de France 2010.

"I never doped myself, I am an example of cleanliness," he said.

Contador, 28, underwent 21 July 2010 in Pau, at a rest day of the Tour de France, a positive drug test that revealed trace amounts of clenbuterol, a product that stimulates lung function and also has anabolic effects.

The three-time winner of the Tour de France has always defended by claiming to have been a victim of food contamination.

He faces a one-year suspension, sanction proposed by the Spanish Cycling Federation, and the loss of his Tour victory in 2010.

The final sanction, subject to appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is to be known until mid-February.

"Baby Doc" indicted for theft and corruption in Port-au-Prince

Two days after his return to Haiti, Jean-Claude Duvalier was convicted Tuesday of conspiracy, embezzlement and corruption in public administration during his years in power (1971-1986).

The former dictator nicknamed "Baby Doc", left Tuesday's late on the courthouse in Port-au-Prince, where he was questioned by a prosecutor. "He is free but is available to justice" said one of his lawyers.

Earlier in the day, the judge and prosecutor Gabriel Ambroise Auguste Aristides, accompanied by a dozen policemen had gone ask Jean-Claude Duvalier in the hotel where the former dictator was installed since his surprise return to country on Sunday after 25 years of exile in France.He had then taken under police escort to the courthouse.

Outside the hotel, then the palace, dozens of his supporters had gathered to demand the release of the former president "for life". "A few hundred demonstrators pro-Duvalier sing songs to his glory and chanting slogans against René Préval [the current head of state of Haiti, ed]," said Alexandra Fox, special correspondent for FRANCE 24 in Port-au-Prince . There were burning tires and throwing stones.The UN Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) protects the entrance with tanks. "

In the sights of the defenders of human rights

The son of Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier, who had transferred power in 1971 when he was only 19 years old, yet embodies, like his father, one of the darkest pages of history Haiti, marked by torture and murder committed by opponents of the secret police, the "Tonton Macoutes". But today, "Baby Doc" nevertheless enjoys the support of some of the Haitians.As for the young, who make up the majority of the population, they have not experienced the dark days of his presidency.

Several international human rights, such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, also demanding the arrest and trial of former dictator for crimes against humanity committed during his presidency (1971-1986 ).

The former dictator has still not explained the reason for his return. According to his longtime girlfriend, Veronique Roy, he has planned to stay only three days.Its reappearance in Haiti is still resurface "all questions concerning" and "impunity and accountability around him," said Monday the spokesman of the High Commissioner for Human Rights based in Geneva, Rupert Colville , during a press briefing.

Experts on Human Rights UN review, meanwhile, now, the opportunities for Haitian authorities to prosecute."It is not yet clear that Haiti is in position to arrest and prosecute Jean-Claude Duvalier for anything right now," said Rupert Colville, stressing that no one knew yet s it existed or not warrants of arrest of Jean-Claude Duvalier in Haiti courses.

Photo: Amelia Baron / RFI correspondent in Port-au-Prince (Haiti)

Hu Jintao to the U.S. to resolve differences between the two countries

The White House will deploy, on Wednesday, an arsenal of prestige for ceremonial welcome for four days with Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Washington the day before. This is the first visit by a Chinese head of state in the U.S. for thirteen years. Despite U.S. efforts (arrival ceremony, meets in the Oval Office with Barack Obama, news conference before a sumptuous dinner), this meeting between two giants of the global economy looks tense.

And for good reason, Washington and Beijing will try to resolve their deep differences after a complicated year 2010.Whether the economic and monetary policy, foreign policy or record of human rights, the two countries disagree on many issues.

Monetary policy at the heart of discussions

On Wednesday, it is the economic and trade issues to be addressed by both leaders. The main demand for U.S. monetary policy in China. According to Washington, the undervaluation of the yuan, Chinese currency, lead the U.S. trade deficit with regard to Beijing (270 billion). The U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner reiterated last week his wish to see the yuan appreciate more. For the Chinese, the yuan revaluation will take time.Especially as the weakness of their currency is the backbone of the country's growth based on export capacity.

This question is at the heart of discussions between Barack Obama and Hu Jintao on Wednesday in Washington."These two countries, one still dominant and the other emerging, maintain such an economic interdependence, trade and finance that it is normal to see their relations tense as everyone's interests," said Francoise Lemoine, Senior Economist Centre for Future Studies and International Information (CEPII).

She says an economic compromise is possible between the two parties, because "the Chinese market represents a challenge as the Americans have every incentive to insist on the opening of the market economy in the world." Indeed, Obama's priority is economic.This visit should lead to the signing of a series of contracts, a quarantine, with U.S. companies like Boeing and General Electric. "The White House wants to highlight opportunities for U.S. companies and their exports to China will be positive for employment in the country," said William Meyer, Washington correspondent for FRANCE 24.

Human rights and diplomacy

Besides the monetary and economic policy, the two leaders must address their many disagreements that have plagued their diplomatic relations.Up for discussion arms sales to Taiwan, the visit of the Dalai Lama and Nobel Peace Liu Xiaobo.

The spokesman for the White House, Robert Gibbs, said Obama would talk "directly to his concerns on the issue of human rights" during his state dinner with the Chinese president Wednesday night. U.S. President knows awaited on this issue. In 2009, he postponed a scheduled appointment at the White House with the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, not to upset Beijing.

Finally, the United States want their host to pressure the North Korean authorities in Pyongyang's nuclear issue and escalating tension with South Korea.