SYRIA: Dozens of protesters killed during the "Friday of Wrath

At least 62 civilians were killed Friday in Syria during demonstrations against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, mostly Deraa in the south, said the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights. In a first assessment, the organization spoke of 48 dead.

The Observatory has reported 35 deaths in the province of Deraa (south), 15 in the Homs (center) and one in Latakia (northwest). Later, it was reported that Syrian security forces had opened fire on the crowd Rastan (center), killing 13 protesters and wounding 45.

A Deraa, home of the dispute, at least thirty-five people were killed and dozens others injured by shots fired by security forces at the entrance to the city, told AFP the militants Human Rights.Tens of thousands of people defied the ban on demonstrations by marching in several cities demanding the regime fell.A week ago, Friday, April 22, repression killed more than 80 dead.

Meanwhile, a military spokesman quoted by the official SANA news agency said that four Syrian soldiers were killed at dawn and kidnapped two others in Deraa in an attack by "armed terrorist group".

The demonstrators in the streets of Deraa, Damascus, Homs and Banias

Six weeks after the start of an unprecedented protest movement against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, "the Syrian youth revolution" had called on Facebook to "Friday of Wrath" in solidarity with Deraa, cradle of the revolt , besieged by the army since Monday.

Responding to this call, 2.000 demonstrators gathered in Midane, a district of Damascus, said militants told AFP.And several thousand people gathered in WQAS, near the capital.

In the industrial city of Homs (center), thousands of people shouted "Down with the regime," according to videos filmed by militants and released for the first time in real time on the internet.

At Banias, nearly 10,000 people demonstrated, chanting "Freedom, solidarity with Deraa," according to activists of human rights.

At Deir Ez-Zor, 460 km northeast of Damascus, a thousand of protesters emerged from mosques and Al-Farouk Al-Othman were dispersed "with sticks and electric cables" by security forces, has told AFP Nawaf al-Bashir, a militant human rights.

And Ar Raqqa, 540 km northeast of the capital, 300 to 400 people shouted "God Almighty, let the siege be lifted to Deraa," said Abdallah al-Khalil, a member of an association of defense of human rights.

In the predominantly Kurdish region of northern Syria, 15,000 people marched without incident in Qamishli and three surrounding communities, according to Kurdish officials for Human Rights.

Unauthorized demonstrations despite the end of emergency rule

The authorities, however, reiterated the ban on protests: "In current circumstances, the Interior Ministry calls on citizens to refrain from conducting demonstrations or sit-in under any slogan, without official permission" according to a statement carried by the official Sana agency.

"Existing laws will be enforced to ensure safety of citizens and the stability of the country", added the ministry.

On 19 April, Mr.Assad issued a decree requiring event organizers to obtain prior official authorization in this country ruled with an iron hand by a single party, the Baath, since 1963.

Four soldiers killed by "terrorists" or protecting the demonstrators?

The army said that four Syrian soldiers were killed and two others abducted at dawn Friday in an attack against a military post in Dera (south) by an "armed terrorist group".

Earlier in the day, an activist in Deraa, Abazid Abdallah, told AFP that four soldiers were "killed while defending the people."

"We are peaceful people, at no time have we borne arms against the army or cons or security services," said Abazid.

On Monday, the army had launched an unprecedented offensive to quell the revolt Deraa where, according to a report of the Observatory of Human Rights, 50 people were killed.

Since the beginning of the protest, more than 500 people were killed across the country, as the "Committee of the martyrs of 15 March", close to opponents.But the military spokesman denied that figure, saying 148 people had been killed - 78 soldiers and policemen and 70 civilians.

The Commission on Human Rights of the United Nations held in Geneva on Friday a special session on Syria at the request of the United States who wish to adopt a resolution condemning the crackdown.

The Muslim Brotherhood, the main opposition group in the country, accused the regime of committing "genocide" and called on people not to succumb to the "tyrants" in reference to Mr. Assad.

YEMEN: The ruling party accepts the plan to end the crisis in the Gulf monarchies

AFP - The ruling party in Yemen has accepted the plan to end the crisis presented by the Gulf monarchies to provide a starting within weeks of President Ali Abdallah Saleh, to whom the United States immediately asked to begin "immediately" political transition.

"The General People's Congress (GPC, in power) and its allies have accepted the initiative of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in its entirety," he told AFP Sultan al-Barakani, Deputy General Secretary of the GPC and Head of the parliamentary bloc of the party.

To overcome the crisis, the GCC has proposed forming a national unity government, then a transfer of powers by the Head of State in Vice-President and stop the demonstrations.

The President should then submit his resignation within 30 days, and a presidential election would take place 60 days later.

On Friday, Mr. Saleh, whose term runs until 2013, had said he welcomed the plan but reiterated that it would sell the power in an orderly and constitutional.

The United States, which have been implicated along with European countries in the negotiations for a settlement of the crisis, have pressed Mr.Saleh, their ally in the fight against terrorism, to begin "immediately" the political transition.

"President Saleh has publicly expressed its willingness to engage in peaceful political transition," assured Mark Toner, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department, adding that "the timing and form of this transition must be determined so concerted and start immediately. "

"All parties need to really participate, including young people, in a transparent process that addresses the legitimate concerns of the Yemeni people, their political and economic aspirations and their calls to bring to justice those who quickly suppress the demonstrations by the violence," Mark Toner yet assured.

The parliamentary opposition, the Common Front, agreed on Saturday plan to end the crisis in the Gulf Arab countries, apart from one point to provide for the formation of a unity government with the participation of Mr. Saleh .

"The initiative is positive and we accept it, except the formation of a unity government because we refuse to serve under the authority of Ali Abdullah Saleh and take oath before him", told AFP spokesman of the opposition, Mohammad Qahtani, before the announcement of the plan is accepted by the CPG.

He had urged Saleh to agree to cede power in a "30 days" as required in terms of the GCC monarchies, saying the opposition was ready to form a national unity cabinet with Vice- which Mr. PresidentSaleh has transferred its powers.

So far, the opposition demanded the immediate departure of Mr. Saleh, like committees of protesters surround the protesters. The latter, however, clearly reject the plan of the Gulf monarchies.

Strongly contested in the streets since January, Mr. Saleh faces a broad popular protest movement that organizes demonstrations almost daily to demand his immediate departure. The repression of this movement has done more than 130 deaths.

Saturday, calling for a general strike was well attended especially in the south.

NIGERIA: Several attacks marred the legislative

The legislative elections of Nigeria already postponed twice and opened Saturday in an explosion at a polling station in Maiduguri in the north-east of the country has made several wounded.

On Friday, a bomb had already exploded in a polling station near Abuja in the center of the country leaving 11 dead and 38 wounded. The balance of the explosion of Maiduguri has not yet been clarified.

This vote marks the start of a marathon election, which must continue with the presidential April 16.Polling stations have opened in some areas as scheduled at 08:00 local time (0700 GMT) but others could not start on time, found the AFP journalists.

A poll postponed twice

These elections take place in almost all districts of the country, had been postponed last Saturday April 4 and April 9, due to the absence of electoral materials and personnel in a large number of polling stations.

"I think today will be different.(Electoral Commission) is ready, "said Fatai Awofolaju, an official election in Lagos.

In Lagos, the economic capital, Abuja, the administrative capital and Kano (North), the second city of the country, polls opened at 8:00 or shortly thereafter.In Bayelsa State which is from the President Goodluck Jonathan, they opened with 90 minutes delay.

This election that is expected to test the ability of the country's most populous country with 160 million people to hold free elections.

Attacks and armed robbery threaten legislative

The explosion of a bomb Suleija Friday, some 45 km from Abuja (center) in a polling place elections and preparing where 11 people were killed and 38 injured, has not been claimed. The vote in this constituency has been postponed.Chairman Jonathan presidential candidate, denounced a "heinous terrorist bombing" and ordered increased security at the premises of the Electoral Commission throughout the country.

Gunmen also attacked Friday in Shani, Borno state in north-east, a police station where election officials were responsible for the supervision of election materials, killing four people.

The previous elections in Nigeria were marred by fraud and violence.Since November, the NGO Human Rights Watch has already recorded 85 deaths in pre-election violence.

The borders were closed, traffic restrictions were imposed on vehicles and soldiers patrolled the strategic points.

The impact of the attacks was difficult to measure. "What bomb?" We have no problem here, "commented Bode Oshowole Saturday, a printer 61, in a polling station in Lagos.

"They're trying to scare us but it does not," responded the head of another office."Nigeria can not be turned into another Afghanistan or Iraq," said Nnamdi Ekweogu.

In a little over 10% of precincts where the ballots could not be printed in time, the legislation will be held April 26, the date of elections of governors and assemblies of the 36 states of the federation.The postponement affects 15 out of 109 senatorial districts and 48 constituencies which elect the 360 ​​members in the House of Representatives.

"Several countries in Africa have been able to hold successful elections, and if we fail, we can not claim a leadership role or to discipline anyone for failure," he said Thursday Jonathan to a delegation of the National Democratic Institute (NDI), based in Washington, which supports democratic institutions and practices worldwide. The NGOs in Nigeria has sent more than 50 observers from more than 23 countries, working with 1700 Nigerian observers.

SYRIA: Al-Assad supported the former Minister of Agriculture to form a government

AFP - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, was charged Sunday Agriculure outgoing Minister Adel Safar, to form a new government, announced the official SANA news agency while the regime is facing a wave of protest.

"President Bashar al-Assad issued a decree instructing Adel Safar to form the government," Sana reported.

Ba'ath Party member and 58 years old, Mr.Safar has studied agriculture at Damascus University before earning a doctorate in France.

From 1997 to 2000, he served as Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture in Damascus before becoming Minister of Agriculture in 2003.

The outgoing government of Mohammad Naji Otri, in office since 2003 did not survive the challenge in the country and resigned March 29, two weeks after the first demonstrations against the regime.

INTERNET: The Artistic Memory of the Egyptian revolution took refuge on the web

The memory of the revolution in Egypt is being built. And it goes particularly through art and the Internet. Since the resignation of Hosni Mubarak, February 11, several sites have begun a tedious job of archiving photos, videos and other forms of artistic expression related to the "revolution of 25 January." Initiatives that are based mainly on suggestions made by users. And they flock, especially on the beloved children of the revolution: social networks.

One of the projects that seem more serious started last Sunday on Facebook. It's called "I am Tahrir" and intends to create the first virtual exhibition of the artistic heritage of the Egyptian revolution.The administrator of this page of famous social network that currently has about 1000 "fans" says he hopes "not only document the Egyptian revolution, but eventually become a relay for the revolutionary art of all countries".

Traces

Customers have started feeding this new artistic platform online with their own achievements, but also those that seem symbolic of the popular uprising in Egypt. Thirty cartoons, photos or prominent shocks, songs, poems but also videos already adorn the wall of the Facebook page. Much evidence showing the trend of sentiment in the street over the 18 days that ended the regime of Hosni Mubarak.It sees the anger against the former president, hope amount in the last days of demonstration and determination of the Egyptians.

The founders of "I am Tahrir have already providing a number of documents. Once finalized documents to the fishery, all these works will be displayed on another site in the form of virtual art gallery also called "I am Tahrir. The promoters of this project have not said when this first cyber-exhibition will be finalized.

It must be said that the mass of material available on the Web is impressive. Another online project is enough to make dizzy."I am Jan25", a name chosen in reference to the first day of protest against the regime of former Rais, has chosen to display without sorting or formatting, all images and videos relating to the Egyptian revolution unearthed on the Web. The site currently lists over 4000 images and over 3000 videos. It contains all the essential being, it seems, to keep track.

AFGHANISTAN: Insurgents stormed the police headquarters in Kandahar

AFP - Three people were killed Saturday, including two policemen, and 26 others wounded in an attack claimed by the Taliban from the police headquarters in Kandahar, the largest city in southern Afghanistan, said the spokesman provincial governor.

Nine children were among the wounded, "said Zalman Ayubi.

The police headquarters of the provincial capital is under attack since mid-day by insurgents holed up in a large six-storey building, located 50 m across, where they shoot with automatic weapons, rocket launchers and machine guns, said a correspondent for AFP.

Taliban insurgents have claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that six of their militants had taken control of the hotel.

The police, who replies with automatic weapons and rocket launchers, stormed the building early in the afternoon.

The correspondent of AFP, two explosions, one in the lobby, another powerful front of the building were heading directly when police began investing the hotel.

A police chief, who requested anonymity, told AFP that six explosions had been recorded since the fighting started, "five of them around the police headquarters, and about one km zone "near a shopping center, he added.

The AFP correspondent has heard from a seventh blast near police headquarters.

The fighting is still ongoing, have gained in intensity, found the AFP correspondent who saw the police take position on the roof of the hotel.

Of automatic weapons fire echoed also in several districts of Kandahar, deserted by its inhabitants, ordered by police not to leave their homes, according to this correspondent.

The streets are blocked by Afghan police and U.S. soldiers, while U.S. helicopter gunships turn in the sky.

Since they were toppled by an international coalition led by the United States in late 2001, the Taliban waging a deadly insurgency in Afghanistan against the Kabul government and the international force of 140,000 strong men, who supports it.

Violence has intensified in recent months in Kandahar province, recently hit by several deadly suicide bombings claimed by the Taliban, while NATO troops are conducting several months of offensives aimed at driving the rebels from their strongholds.