Queen Elizabeth II to visit historic and highly monitored in Dublin

Queen Elizabeth II Tuesday began a historic visit to Ireland under surveillance, the first movement of a British monarch since independence in 1922 was troubled by the threat from dissident republicans.

The police are on the warpath in both London and Dublin and Belfast, fearing that Republican dissidents opposed to the peace process in Northern Ireland will build upon the movement to attempt a resounding action.

No fewer than 10,000 police and troops deployed in Ireland for a visit and several people were arrested in recent days, suspected of belonging to the dissident republican movement.

On Monday, a bomb threat from dissident Irish republicans caused a commotion of battle police in London. The "Mall" that leads to Buckingham Palace was closed for several hours after an alert, which proved unfounded.

The fear of an assassination of a dissident group was reinforced by threats brandished late April by a masked man at a rally in Londonderry, Northern Ireland."The queen is not welcome," he had started, saying speak on behalf of the Real IRA who is credited with the recent increase of attacks in Ulster, including the murder of a police officer in April.

The tumultuous relationship between Irish and British have largely subsided since the peace accords of 1998 and the first visit by a British monarch since 1911 figure is a gesture of reconciliation.But resentment still against the former colonial power.

At the time of the independence of Ireland, London has retained in her lap the province of Northern Ireland, mostly Protestant.

Sinn Féin, often accused of links with the IRA (Catholic separatists), found the visit "premature," before acknowledging that it represented a "unique opportunity" to establish "a new relationship based on equality and mutual respect ", joining the majority sentiment.81% of Irish people are friendly to visitors, according to a survey.

Tuesday, Elizabeth II is to lay a wreath at the "Garden of Remembrance (Memorial Garden), erected in honor of victims of the war of independence," a powerful symbol of reconciliation, "the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs.

She must decide Wednesday night a highly anticipated speech, joined for the occasion by Prime Minister David Cameron and the head of British diplomacy, William Hague. The movement will end Friday.

UNITED STATES: The flood of the Mississippi force load shedding to prevent the flooding of New Orleans

U.S. authorities have opened a valve unloader on the Mississippi River in Louisiana (south), which recorded a historic flood in order to prevent further flooding of New Orleans, six years after Katrina.

The body of Engineers U.S. Army had previously announced it would open gradually from 3:00 p.m. (2000 GMT) the overflow channel of Morganza, Louisiana, to avoid a "wall of water "in the words of the governor of this state, Bobby Jindal, does descend on thousands of homes located along the Atchafalaya River.

"It may be more a marathon than a sprint," said Gen. Michael Walsh at a news conference in Morganza, stating that "enormous pressure weighing on the entire system."

The valve was opened when the river flow reached 42,500 cubic meters per second.This is only the second time since its construction in 1954 that emergency channel is open.

If all the floodway gates were open, the flow would reach a rate of 17,000 cubic meters per second, three times the volume of water that falls daily from Niagara Falls.

To avoid such a destructive flow, a single valve was opened Saturday to pass 280 cubic meters per second, one or two others could be Sunday.

Load shedding, which will supply water into the Gulf of Mexico, is expected to cause flooding of 1.2 million hectares but will save Baton Rouge and New Orleans, the martyred city of Hurricane just who is recovering from the ravages of Hurricane Katrina in late August 2005, Governor Jindall.

New Orleans is protected by dikes upstream from six yards but the water has already reached 5.2 meters, and the worst floods in 70 years-that struck the central United States follow the course of the Mississippi south .

They have so far destroyed thousands of homes, farms and roads in Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi.

In view of downloading, the authorities have carried out evacuations in rural areas will be affected, a sacrifice which the mayor of New Orleans, Mitch Landrieu, said he was conscious.

"It's a tragic situation for everyone in America and of course for people who live in the Atchafalaya Basin and Morgan City.We wholeheartedly with them, "he said, noting that it would save his city.

Cindy Prejean, a resident of Gibson, a town a hundred miles from New Orleans, expects to see its home swim in 1.5 meters of water.

"What gives them the right to inundate us? Here there are so many neighborhoods, businesses and farms," ​​she told AFP.

According to forecasts, the opening of the channel load shedding could lead to peak at 4.5 meters in some neighborhoods.

The army said it would focus more on individuals than on the property.In anticipation, the American Red Cross has prepared thousands of places for evacuees.

Economically, the activity of the Port of New Orleans are continuing normally but 2,200 oil wells were threatened by floodwaters.

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.

FOOTBALL: Real Madrid narrowly missed a sixth consecutive defeat in the "clásico"

Real Madrid, reduced to 10 and led the scoring for Barca, has managed to avoid a sixth successive defeat in the "clasicos" Saturday (1-1) but still eight points behind La Liga, six days of end.

Morally, Real, crushed at Camp Nou (5-0), has avoided the depression, preventing its biggest rival to win a third consecutive time in the Santiago-Bernabeu stadium.

Messi Barca will do as well as the Real of Di Stefano in the 60s, with six "clasicos" consecutive victory in La Liga.

But he remains undefeated this season against Real and comes under the best conditions before the three other "clasicos" program: Wednesday in the final of the Copa del Rey, April 27 and May 3 in the semi-finals (round-trip League) champions.

Barca's record against Real since the arrival of coach Josep Guardiola in 2008 is impressive: six games, five wins, one draw, 17 goals scored, three conceded.

Jose Mourinho, who had tamed Barça de Guardiola last season with Inter Milan, has three more opportunities to defeat the team "Blaugrana" with Real.

The stars of each team, Cristiano Ronaldo at Real and Barca in Messi, defeated their Indian sign on Saturday night.

Ronaldo, who had never scored against Barcelona, ​​equalized on a penalty kick in the 82nd.As for Messi, who had never scored against a team of Mourinho, he opened the scoring, also from the penalty spot (53 ').

Messi remains top scorer in La Liga, with 30 goals, against 29 for Ronaldo.

Adriano saves on his line

Dampened by the heavy defeat at the Nou Camp to go phase, the toughest of his career, Mourinho opted for a highly defensive, with Pepe, center-aligned as a false front hinge midfielder Albiol-Carvalho.

A tactical move to master the elusive Messi. And it worked, until the turn of the game: the penalty and exclusion of Raul Albiol (51). But Pepe's tenure came at the expense of midfielder Mesut Özil.And for many years, Real has been unable to produce the game

In the first half, the show was not announced dazzling the rendezvous: a lot of mistakes, nervousness, balloons lost. And very few opportunities.

Messi has still been two: the 19th with a lob small intercepted by Iker Casillas and the 44th with a breakthrough followed by a shot from the left. But again, Casillas played a full role in pushing both hands.

And Cristiano Ronaldo has created the most dangerous time: after an initial header from a corner of Ramos, he forcefully took over the head. We were very close to the 1-0 but Adriano saved on his line (45th).

The match was completely packed second half.After two penalties, Real had several opportunities, including a match by Khedira (90th). Barca was the same in stoppage time, by Villa.

Prior to the summit of the Spanish League, Valencia had consolidated his third place by winning consistently at the last, Almeria (3-0).

Valencia, who finished digesting its elimination by eighth-finals of the Champions League (for Schalke 04), finished the season strong and will receive the Real Madrid the next day.

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.

CINEMA: The screening of the film at the UN "Miral" boosted Israel

When the chamber of the UN General Assembly is transformed into a cinema and it plans a film on the Middle East, the actors in the Israeli-Palestinian to watch closely ... The Israeli delegation to the UN is moved because of the screening on Monday evening, the film "Miral" directed by American director Julian Schnabel of the Jewish faith in an enclosure as symbolic.

A feature film politically biased and biased judge and the Israeli delegation. "Miral" tells the story of a young Palestinian woman gathered in an orphanage in Jerusalem, which crosses the Israeli-Palestinian Oslo agreements until 1993.The film is inspired by an autobiographical book written by the Italo-Palestinian Rula Jebreal, wife of the director.

"We do not know of another film with such a controversial political content that has received such an accession of President of the General Assembly, writing and Chaim Waxman, head of the Israeli representative to the United Nations, in a press release .This is clearly a political decision of the UN, a decision that is a misjudgment and lack of balance, "the document.

Israeli officials accuse including Joseph Deiss, President of the UN General Assembly, have supported the development of this projection, but the Assembly to deal with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in an "excessive and obsessive."

Accusations that Jean-Victor Nkolo, spokesman of the General Assembly, joined by France24.com, totally rejects. "There have been several films in recent months. Films on water films on child soldiers in Uganda, films about suicide bombers.They can also be considered political films! "Surprised it before continuing:" It is difficult to say what a movie with political content. We're talking about a work of art tour by a large American director Julian Schnabel, whose mother was president of Hadassah movement, which contributed to the creation of the Israeli state in 1948.I do not think Julian Schnabel could be seen accused of being anti-Israel. "

Al Pacino and Sean Penn attend the screening

Jean-Victor Nkolo wants, instead, believe in the virtues of the film "Miral": "We are sensitive to the views expressed by the Israeli delegation, more because of the recent murder of an Israeli family in the West Bank (in the night from March 11 to 12, Ed). We condemn this attack. It is precisely on the issue of children in this conflict that concerns the film. This may lead to a dialogue. "

Rula Jebreal says she, having described his childhood in Jerusalem for the sole purpose of encouraging the Palestinian society to send their daughters to school."The more you educate girls, the more Israel will be safe, and we'll all be safe," she claimed on FRANCE 24, the month of May (see video below-cons).

For their part, the Weinstein brothers, owners of the Weinstein Company, the company that distributes the work in the United States, assert their Jewishness and say they never provided "a film that would be unfavorable to Israel or Judaism. " "'Miral' tells the story of a young palestinian, they said, that does not make a movie controversy."Julian Schnabel drove the nail in an article published Saturday by the Daily Beast: "As long as Palestinian history is not understood and recognized by Israel and its American allies, there will be no peace in the Holy Land."

On Monday evening, the screening of "Miral" will be attended by the film crew and several personalities from the film world like Al Pacino or Sean Penn. "Member states of the UN [y] are naturally invited. It's open to everyone, just come and collect a ticket in the limited seats available", explains the spokesman of the General Assembly . Promises, however, that no actor in the Israeli-Palestinian participate in the discussion held following the screening.

FOOD: Rising food prices hit a new record

"In February, unfortunately, the food prices have hit a new record." This was announced Abby Abbassian, an economist with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), told FRANCE 24. In February, the benchmark index of the FAO has indeed jumped 2.2% in January. Over the last six months, the increase was nearly 70%.

The situation begins to resemble more than in 2008, during which many food riots had broken out.The rising price of grain basket, accounting for 46% of the caloric World, "is largely responsible for this new record," regrets Abby Abbassian.

FAO estimates that several factors could prevent a new hunger crisis. "The situation in 2008 was largely due to higher rice prices within the basket of grain, remains one of the most stable," says Abby Abbassian. At that time also, investment in biofuels, which use grain, but now seemed uncontrollable "they are better controlled."

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.

"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)