SOUTH AFRICA: Municipal elections in a test for the ANC

AFP - South Africans voted Wednesday for their fourth city since the end of apartheid, a test for the African National Congress (ANC), which is struggling to overcome growing frustration towards his performance after 17 years in power.

Polling stations officially closed at 19.00 pm (1700 GMT), but voters who were still queuing at this time have been able to deposit their ballots in the ballot box, according to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

The results arriving only a very partial, it was still impossible to identify a trend towards midnight (2200 GMT). The final results must be published Friday.

Pansy Tlakula, the owner of the IEC, said she thought the turnout exceeded 40%.She had reached 48.4% in the previous municipal 2006.

Apart from some delays due to delays in delivering ballots, failures scanners identity cards of voters, power cuts or the presence of crocodiles preventing tellers to access a remote polling station, the election went well, according to the IEC.

23.6 million South Africans renewed the elected eight cities, 226 municipalities and 44 districts ordinary.

The ANC, still basking in the glow of his image as a liberator, remains the favorite in the poll.But discontent against the failures of public services could lead some voters to the opposition or abstention.

"I'm very optimistic because we've made great progress," however, said the South African President and ANC leader Jacob Zuma, by voting mid-day in his village of Nkandla in Zululand ( is).

"We're going to surprise a lot," he said while acknowledging that more work to improve drinking water, electricity and roads.

Since the advent of multiracial democracy in 1994, marked progress has been made. Some 93% of households have a water point near their homes, against 62% last seventeen years, 84% are electrified as against 36% ...

But rural areas and former black townships have been left on the sidelines or equipped with failed installations, giving the impression to the poorest being left-nots.

These frustrations have led to a resurgence of protests demanding better public services.

Electorally, this discontent could undermine the dominance of the ANC. In a poll released Monday, the party captured 58.3% of the vote, 8 points lower than his score for the 2006 municipal.

The main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) that controls the city of Cape Town, expects this to continue growing discontent.The party won nearly 15% of the vote in 2006 and 17% in the 2009 parliamentary and could reach almost 20% this time.

The DA plans to take the ANC mayors, especially in the west and south.

"Our democracy is maturing and people are beginning to understand that we must vote on the parties' ability to act in their favor," said its leader Helen Zille, before dropping his ballot into the ballot box."No party owns the voters for eternity," she added.

During the campaign, the ANC has played its past as liberator, the president Zuma even calling on voters to vote for the party in memory of deceased heroes of the anti-apartheid struggle.

Tuesday, he also visited the bedside of the country's first black president, Nelson Mandela, 92 years, still recovering from a hospitalization in January for an acute respiratory infection.

In a country that still bears the scars of decades of racial segregation, the message is still fly with some of the black population.

Scenes of jubilation in Washington after the announcement of the death of bin Laden

AFP-Thousands of Americans gathered spontaneously outside the White House Sunday night to shout their joy after the announcement of the death of Osama bin Laden. "We had waited so long," said one student while the crowd sings "USA, USA".

"I've never felt such emotion," said John Kelley, a 19 year old student from New Jersey, near New York. "It's something we've waited so long. When I heard the news, my legs were shaking."

"As soon as I heard the news, 'says he," I called my best friend who lost her brother in the attacks of Sept. 11.He was overwhelmed with joy. It sounds too good to be true, I can not believe it, "he said.

Behind him, a young man crying in his phone: "we have had!". Students return to the campaign slogan of Barack Obama's to accommodate the news of the day: "Yes we can, yes we did" ("We can, we have done). Others sing the American anthem .

The crowd is very young. Many donned a sweatshirt "USA", some football shirt of the United States.The smile, the shouts, one picture taken in front of the White House to mark this historic day in a carnival atmosphere worthy of a victory in the "Superbowl".

Hoping to be heard by the U.S. president, students yelling "It cancels exams, which begin in a few weeks.

Anna Howell, 27, came with her husband. They look at the crowd, a little away, waving their flags. "It's great, what joy for the families who lost relatives on Sept. 11," she said."It's not every day that America and communion."

She lives in Alexandria, a suburb of Washington, near the Pentagon, the headquarters of the Ministry of Defence targeted for Sept. 11. Would she have preferred that Bin Laden is captured alive? "Dead or alive, I do not care. They have, that's what counts," she replied before thinking: "It would have been nice to bring him to justice."

Nearby, a young man disagrees.It exhibits a cardboard sign on which he wrote in black marker: "We got rid of the junk bin Laden."

In the streets of Washington overlooking the White House, Americans come in clusters. Taxis honk filled as for a wedding. Jon Garcia, a 19 year old student came to the White House to "be part of history."

"I feel a sense of justice. It took so long but we got it. It is only fair for families bereaved by Sept. 11," he said."It gives meaning to our mission in Afghanistan," he adds.

David Abel, an "Obama fan" of forty years, is "shared". "For many people it is a symbolic victory. But it's too selfish. We sing + USA + USA, we only think we are forgetting the rest of the world," he laments before returning to his hotel .

The ambassador of Syria off the list of guests at royal wedding

The British Foreign Minister, William Hague, announced Thursday the withdrawal of the invitation by the Syrian ambassador to the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton, said it was "unacceptable" after the repression of demonstrations in the country.

"In light of attacks against civilians this week by Syrian security forces, which we have condemned the Minister of Foreign Affairs has decided that the presence of the Syrian ambassador to the royal wedding would be unacceptable and that it should not take part, "said the Foreign Office in a statement.

Questioned by AFP, the royal service said they "share" this opinion.

The invitation to the Syrian ambassador had generated considerable controversy in the United Kingdom, after the violent suppression of demonstrations in Syria against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Since their beginning March 15, at least 453 people were killed, according to the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights.

Buckingham Palace, in charge of invitations with the Foreign Office pointed out that all the representatives of countries with which London has "normal diplomatic relations" were among the 1,900 guests at royal wedding.This explained why Libya was not invited to the UK conducting military operations.

But the presence of Syrian diplomat in royal wedding on Friday became all the more incongruous that he had been summoned Tuesday to the Foreign Ministry to be told that London considered "unacceptable" use of force by the government against the demonstrators.

This meeting was conducted as part of a joint effort by several European countries including France, Italy and Germany.

Rome will grant temporary visas to migrant Tunisians

AFP - Italy has decided to issue temporary residence permits "humanitarian" immigrants recently arrived on Tunisian soil, enabling them to travel to all countries of the European Schengen zone, said Thursday the Minister of Interior Roberto Maroni.

"We decided to grant temporary residence permits for humanitarian protection, which will (such migrants, ie) to travel in the countries of the Schengen area," said the minister, noting that "the overwhelming majority of immigrants say they want to join friends and relatives in France or other European countries. "

The minister appeared before the Chamber of Deputies the agreement reached this week with the Tunisian authorities, after the visit Monday of the Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi in Tunis.

It was on this occasion on Friday confirmed he would meet his French counterpart Claude Gueant "to define a common response system so that France and Italy may involve all countries of the European Union."

Mr Maroni said that the temporary permit applied only to migrants have arrived on Italian soil.According to the agreement with Tunisia, newcomers must be returned to Tunisia.

Since January, with the fall of Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and the insurgency in Libya, Italy is facing an exceptional influx of immigrants, with over 22,000 landings, mainly from Tunisia.

The majority of these immigrants from francophone ensures want in France.

CHINA: Police refuse to explain the arrest of the dissident artist Ai Weiwei

AFP - Police refused to provide explanations on the reasons for the arrest of the artist Ai Weiwei, his wife said Monday as a wave of repression has fallen on dissent in China.

This outspoken government critic, known abroad, was arrested Sunday at the Beijing International Airport as he prepared to board, confirmed his wife, Lu Qing, told AFP.

His aides had said he wanted to go to Hong Kong and that police had raided his studio in north-east of Beijing.

"So we stopped him, the police came home with a search warrant and searched everywhere," added his wife by telephone.

"They took the computer and other equipment," said Lu Qing, "they refused to give the reason for the search warrant or arrest of Ai Weiwei.

More assistants to the artist were questioned and released Sunday, said Lu, adding that she herself had not been under house arrest.

Contacted by AFP, Beijing City Police refused to comment on Ai.

His arrest comes at a particularly difficult for critics of Chinese communist regime, dozens of whom were detained under house arrest or far from home in recent weeks as Beijing fears contagion of revolt in the Arab world, as organizations Defence of Human Rights.

Ai Weiwei's arrest was greeted with concern by those organizations.

"The Chinese government is intensifying its policy of harassment against the latest symbols of dissent and seeks to silence all critical voices," said Reporters Without Borders.

"We urge the international community to respond forcefully to the arrests of dissidents and bloggers who follow each other at a pace not seen in China."

Ai Weiwei had said last week the AFP will open a studio in Germany to exhibit his work, saying they are frustrated by the obstacles he experienced in China.

"What happens here is very discouraging and I want to keep working, I must find a basis," said Ai, who is known for monumental exhibitions including, most recently in London.

On Monday, his cellphone rang in the air and his Twitter was dumb.The major Chinese websites have been redacted information of his arrest.

"Since mid-February, the GOVERNMENT has stepped up pressure on militants in recent days and the repression was even stronger," noted Hong Kong's Defenders of Human Rights in China, in reaction to the arrest of the artist.

AFGHANISTAN: Karzai calls on NATO to stop its military operations

AFP - Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Saturday asked its NATO allies to cease their military operations in the country to avoid killing civilians, while traveling in the east where foreign soldiers are accused of several recent blunders .

This is the first time Mr. Karzai came to power by the West in late 2001 but continues to report civilian casualties burrs on the strength of NATO, calling for a drastic measure to its allies.

His spokesman, Omer Waheed, however relativized statements after this intervention: it estimated that Mr.Karzai had only to ask again for NATO to cease operations that kill civilians, usually air strikes and targeted raids against suspected rebels.

Asked in the afternoon by AFP, the international force from NATO in Afghanistan (Isaf) did not wish to react to Mr. Karzai.

This statement of Afghan President comes two days after a loved one has been killed by international forces in the family stronghold located in the southern province of Kandahar.

Mr.Karzai was speaking Saturday to about 500 tribal leaders in Asadabad, capital of Kunar, a stronghold of Pakistan border where Taliban Kabul accuses NATO of killing 74 civilians in recent weeks.In the audience were also relatives of the victims of those bombings.

"On the occasion of this meeting I would ask NATO and the United States with honor and humility and without arrogance, to cease their operations in our country," he said, adding: "We are a very tolerant people, but our tolerance is wearing thin. "

The solution to the war against international terrorism "is not in our country" but "in the regions we have shamed for nine years, and they (NATO, ie) know themselves" saidKarzai.

The Afghan president has repeatedly in recent years to ask the international forces to attack Taliban insurgents rear bases overseas, including in neighboring Pakistan, not in Afghan villages.

To the audience, Mr. Karzai took in his arms a little girl's leg amputated after a NATO bombing, and began to cry."I want you to take pictures of this little girl and her injuries and that you show your authority," he told representatives of the NATO force on site:

"We thank the West and are happy with everything they have done for us. We do not complain if we are killed by terrorists, but if we are with our allies, we have the right to complain.How long will I continue to attend the funeral at the four corners of Afghanistan? If foreigners see us as their friends, they should not kill their friends, "he said.

Nearly 140,000 foreign soldiers, two thirds of Americans are deployed in the country to support the weak government of Mr. Karzai against the Taliban insurgency. NATO plans to transfer responsibility to Afghan forces for the security of the entire country by the end of 2014.

The EU underlines the role of women in the recent revolutions in Arab

AFP - Women played a "crucial role" in the changes taking place in Tunisia and Egypt, said Tuesday the head of European diplomacy and Ashton's Vice-President of the European Commission, Viviane Reding, on the occasion of International Women's Day.

"Women have played a crucial role in triggering the changes taking place in North Africa. In a climate of violence, they are engaged in the struggle for change," said the two European officials.

"We hope that the crucial role that women have played so far will be taken fully into account the institutional changes that are already discussed in the region.Women must be central to discussions on the new order that will be implemented, "they added.

Women defying stereotypes and taboos, have emerged as essential actors in the various uprisings that have shaken the Arab world's autocratic regimes.Whether in jeans and T-shirt or draped in black, tens of thousands of women have made their voices heard in the streets of Tunis, Cairo, Manama and Sana'a, demanding reforms in these countries.

In Bahrain, where thousands of demonstrators calling for the mainly Shiite dynasty fell of the Sunni Al-Khalifa, women have participated in mass mobilization, their traditional black abayas forming an ocean in events where men and women marched separately.

In conservative countries like Libya or Yemen, women have defied social norms to join the protest, marching through the streets and speaking openly to reporters in front of the camera.

Asma Mahfouz, a young Egyptian whose blog video calling for the mobilization was a huge success, is considered one of the voices that triggered the unprecedented revolt that led to the downfall of President Hosni Mubarak on February 11.

"Only by taking decisive action now we will ensure that women and girls for a future without discrimination or violence in a world with equal opportunities for all and all," felt especially Mrs Ashton Reding.

EGYPT: Strong mobilization of anti-Mubarak despite threats of power

Despite the threat of power to involve the army in case of "chaos", the protesters remained very much involved, Tahrir Square in Cairo Thursday for the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak, who has failed to quell a revolt unprecedented.

The 17th day of the uprising against Mr.Mubarak, in power for nearly 30 years, protesters chanted early morning "The people want to topple the regime," motto of the protest.

"Alaa (eldest son of the president), told Dad that a quarter of a century, enough!" They shouted Tahrir Square, occupied day and night and became the symbol of the movement.

Many carried pictures of "martyrs" killed during the violence that killed about 300 people according to a report from the UN and Human Rights Watch since the beginning of the movement.

Defying the power has toughened their tone on Wednesday against the demonstrators set up new tents on the square, according to an AFP photographer.

The Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit on Wednesday held up the military threat, saying the military institution, considered as neutral, would take place "in case of chaos to take things in hand".

The British daily The Guardian has however reported testimony accusing the military of having been held incommunicado hundreds of demonstrators and to have tortured some.

Protesters spent the night on both sides of the road leading to Parliament, and Thursday morning, the two entries of this road were blocked.

"No to (Omar) Suleiman!", The Vice-President (ex-intelligence chief), "No to American agents", "No to Israeli spies", "Down with Mubarak," they chanted.

Hundreds of protesters surrounded Parliament on Wednesday and the government headquarters, located opposite the center of Cairo.

"If we do not die here, we will die in prison. I'd rather die here," Attiya told AFP Abu El-Ela, a graduate of 24 years of work.

Now the pressure, the White House said that the pursuit of popular mobilization showed that political reforms were still not sufficient, while the State Department urged the Egyptian army to continue to exercise restraint.

Mr.Aboul Gheit, whose country is one of the main U.S. allies in the region, accused the U.S. of seeking to "impose" their will to Egypt in demanding immediate reforms, in an interview on U.S. television PBS.

The calm seemed to be back on Thursday at El Kharga, a town 400 km south of Cairo, where five people injured yesterday in clashes between demonstrators and police who used live bullets, died, according to medical sources. There was also a hundred injured.

Tuesday, Vice-President Suleiman had estimated that an immediate end to the regime "would mean chaos," remarks immediately denounced by the Muslim Brotherhood who ensured that the demonstrations "will continue whatever the threats."

The army, the backbone of the regime, has been named January 28 as reinforcements of police, in particular to enforce the curfew still in force in Cairo, Alexandria (north) and Suez (east).

The situation returned to normal as in Assiut, south of Cairo, where a railway track and a highway linking the northern and southern Iraq, demonstrators blocked Wednesday by anti-Mubarak, have been reopened.

Protesters had also ransacked a government building in Port Said (northeast), the Mediterranean entrance of the Suez Canal.

The protesters still demand the immediate departure of Mr. Mubarak, 82, who has promised to fade at the end of his term in September without appease the protesters.

A political protest were joined by social movements on wages or working conditions in the arsenals of Port Said, in private companies working on the Suez Canal (east) or at the Cairo airport.

Since February 3, events occur most frequently in the tranquility.Clashes between police and protesters during the first days, then between pro and anti Mubarak February 2, however, have claimed nearly 300 lives, according to the UN and HRW, and thousands injured.

The cybermilitant Wael Ghonim, became an icon of the Egyptian revolt after spending twelve days in prison, promised Thursday that he would not make policy and that it "would amount to a normal life once the (...) Egyptians have realized their dream. "