PAKISTAN: Terrorists kill four people in Karachi

Militants attacked Sunday a Pakistani air base in Karachi, killing four people, said a spokesman for Pakistani naval forces.

According to the Express television channel TV, five explosions were heard on the Naval Air Station.

Officials of the intelligence services have said that between 15 and 20 attackers were inside the base of Mehran and had attacked three aircraft hangars.

Witnesses reported gunfire and saw smoke rising from buildings.

"We have four dead and five wounded, but the balance may go up," he told Reuters an official security services, who requested anonymity.

Images on television, we can see flames and smoke rising from the site.

The Pakistani Taliban have vowed to avenge the death of Osama bin Laden, killed May 2 in Pakistan by American special forces.

EGYPT: Parliamentary elections held in September

AFP - The first parliamentary elections since the fall of President Hosni Mubarak held next September in Egypt, but the date of presidential elections has not yet been set, said Monday a senior military official.

"The elections will be held in September," he told reporters Gen. Mamdouh Shahin, a member of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (AFSC), in a formal announcement on that date.

He added that the date of the presidential election would be announced later. The date of the election for the presidency "is not defined.We must keep the law and when that is done we will announce the president, "he said.

The AFSC provides leadership in the country since the February 11 resignation of President Hosni Mubarak last under the pressure of the street.

After the departure of Mr.Mubarak, the army had given an indicative timetable of six months to organize legislative and presidential for a return to civilian rule.

This time, however, was considered by many personalities as too short to ensure a genuine democratic transition.

Egypt has already organized the March 19 referendum to revise the Egyptian Constitution, which was widely endorsed by 77% of voters.

The last legislative elections were held in November and December 2010. They had resulted in a landslide victory of the party of Mr.Mubarak, but the most important opposition groups have withdrawn, denouncing massive fraud.

The Egyptian parliament has been dissolved in the wake of the departure of Mr. Mubarak.

COTE D'IVOIRE: deadly fighting continues in Abidjan and the west

Heavy fighting erupted Wednesday in the town of Duekoue in central-western Côte d'Ivoire, killing at least two deaths, while five people were killed in Abidjan.

The rebels supporting Alassane Ouattara, recognized by the international community as the winner of the presidential election on Nov. 28, rejected any involvement in the clashes in central-west.

Residents of Duékoué reported several hours of clashes in the city, the scene of tension for years, but remained under the control of supporters of President Laurent Gbagbo out since the end of the 2002-2003 civil war which had cut the country in two.

The rebel forces that dominated the North during the civil war now argue the former Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara. They have threatened to push southward to force Gbagbo to step down.

Security in Abidjan, economic capital, has rapidly deteriorated since gunmen loyal to Ouattara took control of the northern suburbs.Of the pro-Gbagbo responded by establishing roadblocks and killing those they suspect of being rebels.

The fighting has spread in recent days to areas hitherto spared.

Witnesses reported that security forces had launched an operation against supporters of Ouattara and suspected rebels in Williamsville and Port Bouet 2, neighborhoods west of Abidjan, killing at least three people.

There is shooting everywhere, reported Alidou Dao, a resident of Port Bouet 2. Many people leave, "he added.

A resident of Williamsville said he saw his neighbor down the street and two others taken from their home by uniformed men who then murdered.A spokesman for the police could not be contacted immediately.

According to Human Rights Watch, the atrocities committed by forces loyal to Gbagbo have been organized on such a scale that they could constitute war crimes, but men supporting Ouattara has also been accused of executions.

Police fire

A Attécoubé, near the center of Abidjan, where the mission is based peacekeeping UN (UNOCI), young pro-Ouattara attacked and torched a police station and two of them were killed by gunfire from police trying to repel the assault, reported a witness, Junior Seiba.

Calm returned after the fighting in Duekoue, but thousands of people fled to seek refuge at the Catholic mission, reported one resident.

There was fighting in other towns in the west of the country since the presidential election but Duekoue is a strategic town on the road leading to the main cocoa producing regions.

Referring to a grenade attack that killed one person and injuring 18, UNOCI Wednesday called for stopping the escalation of violence.

Doctors Without Borders, for its part warned that the crisis sharply reduced access to healthcare for the population.

Tuesday, Alassane Ouattara, Gbagbo has warned that the offer of honorable exit made a few days ago by the African Union (AU) was his "last chance" to leave power smoothly.

He also urged the security forces supporting Gbagbo to switch sides to end a crisis that risks plunging the country into another civil war.

Laurent Gbagbo, in power since 2000, refuses to give his presidential chair and relies on the Defence Forces and Security (SDS) to break any challenge.

Friday, Gbagbo's camp had rejected a proposal to Addis Ababa by a panel of African heads of state mandated by the AU and of putting up a
national unity government led by Alassane Ouattara.Gbagbo found himself at the same time provide a safe conduct if he would step down.

Taking note of the failure of Laurent Gbagbo, the AU had then demanded that Alassane Ouattara is installed in his functions as head of state.

THEATRE: Men, Gods and Caesar ...

With 11 nominations at the 36th ceremony of Caesar, the film by Xavier Beauvois' Of Men and Gods "collect in advance the honors of the profession that brand again its distance from the box office by ignoring" Little Tissues "from Guillaume Canet and "Camping 2" Fabien Onteniente.

After a great year for cinema hexagonal (over 206 million cinema admissions, 35% for French films), appointments spend yet most beautiful successes of 2010, "Potiche" to "Tour "from" The Heartbreaker "to" The Ghost Writer "by Roman Polanski.

The Academy of Caesar accompanies the unexpected triumph of the film by Xavier Beauvois (more than 3 million viewers), already crowned by the Grand Jury Prize at Cannes, "Of Men and Gods," which recounts the fate of the monks of Tibehirine , abducted and murdered in Algeria in 1996, is quoted in ten categories.

It is proposed to Cesar for best film, best director, best original screenplay, best sound, picture editing, best costumes, sets, best actor Lambert Wilson and twice for Best Actor in a Supporting Role Michael Lonsdale and Olivier Rabourdin.

Nominees in major categories:

Best Film
"The Heartbreaker" by Pascal Chaumeil, "The Name of the people" by Michel Leclerc, "The Ghost Writer" by Roman Polanski; "Tour" Mathieu Amalric, "Of Men and Gods" by Xavier Beauvois; "Gainsbourg, life heroic "by Joann Sfar;" Mammuth "Benoit Delepine and Gustave Kervern.Dr. Nolan, "The Social Network" by David Fincher, "Invictus" by Clint Eastwood, "Bright Star" by Jane Campion; "Heartbeats" by Xavier Dolan, "In his eyes" by Juan Jose Campanella; "Illegal" d Olivier Masset Depasse.

Best First Film
Simon Werner disappeared "Fabrice Gobert," The Heartbreaker "by Pascal Chaumeil," Gainsbourg, heroic life "by Joann Sfar;" All That Glitters "Géraldine Nakache
"Turk's Head" by Pascal Elbe

A Caesar of honor will be awarded by the Academy to the American director Quentin Tarantino during the Feb. 25 ceremony will be broadcast live at 21:00 Clear Channel Canal +.

LIBYA: The challenge wins Tripoli, ransacked several government buildings in the capital

The seat has a TV and radio public were ransacked by demonstrators Sunday in Tripoli where police stations and local revolutionary committees were set on fire, reported the AFP witnesses reached by telephone.

"A room that housed the television station Al-Jamahiriya Radio 2 and Al-Shababia was ransacked," said a witness told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The diffusion of television was suspended Sunday night, resumed Monday.

Al-Jamahariya 2 second public channel, and radio Al-Shababia had been launched by a son of Libyan leader Muammar, Seif al-Islam in 2008, before being nationalized in the future.

Moreover, according to several testimonies gathered by the AFP, public buildings were burned in the capital Sunday night, including police and local revolutionary committees in several neighborhoods, including near the square in downtown Green where violent confrontations took place at night between pro-and anti-regime.

The "Hall of the People", a building located near downtown and where are often organized events and formal meetings, was also burned, told AFP Tripolitan who lives nearby.

This building is located not far from downtown, at the entrance of the residential district of Hay al-Andalus.

In the night, heavy gunfire were heard in several neighborhoods of Tripoli and clashes between opponents and supporters of the Libyan leader had taken place including the Green Square Tripoli, witnesses said.

Violence during demonstrations against the power of Libya Muammar Gaddafi took at least 233 deaths since February 15, HRW said Monday, following a warning from the leader's son Seif al-Islam against the risks of " civil war "in the country.

Benghazi, the second largest city 1,000 km east of Tripoli, is the center of the revolt for six days and for Sunday alone 60 people were killed, according to Human Rights Watch.

The protests have won the capital Sunday.

"Libya is at a crossroads.Either we are hearing today on reforms, or we do not mourn 84 deaths but thousands and there will be rivers of blood throughout Libya, "said Seif al-Islam during a televised speech on the night Sunday to Monday, saying the country is on the verge of "civil war".

He repeated several times the figure of 84 dead in violence in Libya and said the balance sheets provided by "foreign media" were "greatly exaggerated".

Since the beginning of the protest movement in Libya, his father, Colonel Gaddafi, who has for 42 years without a power-sharing in this oil-rich country, made no public intervention.

AFGHANISTAN: A shopping center in Kabul hit by suicide attack

AFP - At least two Afghan guards were killed Monday in a suicide bombing at the entrance of a shopping center in Kabul, said on television, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry.

The bomber had driven his explosives belt when he was stopped by guards at the entrance of the Kabul City Center, said Zemaraï Bashary the private Tolo television channel.

"Two guards were killed and others wounded.There is only one attacker who blew himself up, "he added.

"Two guards of the mall were killed and two others were injured," he confirmed on site to the press on police chief of Kabul, Mohammad Ayoub Salang.

A senior city police had earlier said that several armed men stormed the Kabul City Center, and that an explosion had been heard.

Ten days ago, a suicide attack claimed by Taliban insurgents had killed eight people in a supermarket in the center of the capital, in an area close to many embassies where many Westerners live.

If security in the Afghan capital has generally improved over the past two years, Kabul is still the target of bombings and attacks often claimed by the Taliban and specifically targeting Afghan and international forces and foreign civilians sometimes.

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. "

ITALY: Four children die in a fire at an encampment of Roma

Four children aged three, five, seven and eleven years died Sunday in a fire in a camp of Roma in the Italian capital, told AFP spokesman Fire of Rome.

"The bodies were charred and half it could be that there is a fifth victim," he said."Checks are under way, the fire has just been extinguished," he added.

ANSA news agency reported, four others are missing.

The fire broke out, for reasons still unknown, around 8:30 p.m. (1930 GMT) in a hut in a camp located along the Appia Nuova, one of the great arteries from the Porta San Giovanni, in the east of the city towards the airport of Ciampino.

According to NGOs, ten thousands of Roma living in the Italian capital and its suburbs.Most live in illegal settlements whose next closure was announced last year by the city of Rome.

Three new legal settlements, as there are already seven around the Italian capital, must be built by late 2011 with the aim to host 6000 Roma.

Wikileaks: The Mubarak of Egypt under scrutiny of U.S. diplomatic cables

Quarantine of diplomatic cables on Egypt made public by the website Wikileaks between late January and early February depicts a power elite profoundly disconnected from the people. The authorities there seem to be paralyzed by power struggles and very timid on the issue of human rights. Review in detail the main themes raised in these confidential diplomatic exchanges.

Hosni Mubarak: Egyptian The Rais is portrayed as an old wolf of the policy that is clinging to power at any cost, in a long cable in May 2009 dedicated to him.According to the American ambassador stationed in Cairo, he is obsessed by the "threat" of the Muslim Brotherhood and considers Iran "as its main adversary" in the region. The great ideals like human rights do "not interested". Another message of January 2010 provides that he will represent in the 2011 presidential election and that "obviously will be reelected" ...

Inheritance: "This is the topic of conversation in the corridors of power," it said repeatedly in these diplomatic cables. Struggles clan seem to dominate the energy of all those close to Hosni Mubarak.The personality of the president's son, Gamal Mubarak, is considered the main fault line. "The army does not support Gamal and never let settle a dynastic succession," says a cable and September 2008. Better: a parliamentary assured a U.S. representative in 2007, that the only way to resolve the problem of succession would probably one day be "a military coup."

Human Rights: The issue of police violence is one of the most often discussed in these diplomatic cables that run from 2005 to February 2010. The representatives of the Egyptian government then respond systematically denial.On January 31, 2010, the director of security services, Hassan Abdel Rahman, said as there had been no "abuse of prisoners in the last ten years." The Embassy of the United States, however, noted that from 2007, the courts more readily grasp of police brutality case. But the only convictions are generally the "underlings". Between 2005 and 2010, the conclusion is often the same: "Torture and police brutality are rampant and widespread"

Army: A diplomatic cable in 2008 described the army as a body of the state's declining influence that attaches primarily to its economic privileges.U.S. Ambassador Margaret Scobey estimated that the population no longer sees the army as the nation's elite. Above all, the diplomat believes that the power of the military is primarily economic - investment real estate, among others - that politics of economic privatization undertaken by the president especially irritates the military institution.

Public opinion: On several occasions, diplomatic cables echo the growing public resentment against Hosni Mubarak. Cable in particular relating to violent protests in the city of Mahalla in 2008, stresses that the term "corruption and disdain are on everyone's lips."Upon arrival of Mohamed el-Baradei in Egypt in February 2010, a diplomatic cable emphasizes that for the population, it represents a "viable alternative to a corrupt system."