EUROPA LEAGUE: Falcao flows Villareal, Benfica takes over Braga

AFP - FC Porto, with a quadrupling of Falcao, took a huge advantage for the qualification for the final of the Europa League after the semi-finals go on Thursday, beating Villarreal 5-1, while Benfica has become smaller cons Braga (2-1).

After being led in scoring by Villarreal, the "Dragons" have turned the tide with their two Colombian Guarin and especially Falcao, author of a quadrupled.

Villarreal, currently fourth in the Championship of Spain, had opened the scoring just before the break thanks to a goal from Cani (0-1, 45).

Falcao equalized from the penalty spot, a few minutes later (1-1, 49). Guarin then resumed his own head strikes repelled by the pole to take the lead (2-1, 61).Porto, Portugal sacred recent champion, then took off with three new goals Falcao, the best scorer of the tournament (15 goals with this fourfold), putting himself in good position before moving to Villarreal for the second leg .

Benfica dominated the challenger Braga

In the other semifinal, the giant Benfica overcame the challenger Braga neophyte at this level, taking a slight edge before moving on May 5 in "The Quarry", the nickname of the stadium in Braga.

The "Eagles scored two goals in nine minutes to have a catchy Braga. Defenseman Jardel, recalling the memory of his illustrious namesake Brazilian prolific scorer in the Championship of Portugal from 1996 to 2003, tackles the ball successfully repelled by the pole (1-0, 50).

Three minutes later, Braga equalized in the head by Vandinho (1-1, 53), before the Paraguayan Cardozo gives the advantage to the people of Lisbon from a masterful free kick into the top corner (2-1, 59).

The final of the Europa League will take place May 18 in Dublin.

LIBYA: Gaddafi's forces attacked the port of Misrata

AFP - The forces pro-Gaddafi on Tuesday bombed Libyan port of Misrata, but the rebellion has ensured that the Libyan leader was entering a "lost battle" and French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he was "optimistic" about the after the conflict.

Around 13:30 local time (1130 GMT), a dozen bullets hit the port 12 km east of Misrata, only link with the outside world for this great coastal city 200 km east of Tripoli with the pro Gaddafi-cut all access roads, according to an AFP photographer.

A ship of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), came to continue the evacuation of thousands of Africans stranded in the harbor, had to move away for safety.

"Many refugees were injured by the bombing. There may be dead," said Dr. Khalid Abu Falra in the main city hospital. On Monday, Washington had estimated that 2,000 African migrants were still waiting on the port.

According to the rebels, "a score of vehicles" government forces approached the port around 15:30 local.

NATO planes flew over the city, where explosions were also heard apart after a lull of 24 hours. According to journalists in the port, they have conducted at least one hit.

Misrata has experienced in recent days of heavy fighting in which rebel soldiers have pushed the pro-Qaddafi on the outskirts of the city.Rockets and artillery shells rained down on the city, seemingly at random.

The explosions and fighting have left dozens dead and hundreds wounded since Friday. According to the Red Crescent Misrata, the conflict has claimed about 1,500 dead, residents and rebels since the uprising in the city on February 19.

"Misrata is the key to Tripoli. If (Gaddafi) abandons Misrata, he will leave Tripoli.He is not crazy enough to do that ", warned Monday the military spokesman Transitional National Council (TNC) in opposition to Benghazi (east), Colonel Ahmed Omar Bani.

But Colonel Gaddafi has embarked on a "lost battle" because the rebels are more numerous, "better equipped, trained and organized, and more determined than ever," said Tuesday another spokesman for the CNT, Jalal al -Gallali.

"Combined with the greater efficiency of NATO, this makes for (Gaddafi), it will be increasingly hard, if not impossible to win," he added.

"In Libya, we are optimistic because the Libyan opposition demonstrated great courage and great skill," saidSarkozy at a press conference in Rome with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

While saying that "the struggle" of the insurgents was conducted "each day more efficiently," he refused to make any estimate on the duration of the conflict.

In the West, 30,000 Libyans fled the Mountain region, on the border with Tunisia, said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), noting that according to the latest arrivals, the border towns of Nalout Wazin and were almost deserted.

In total, more than 600,000 people have fled violence in Libya since mid-February.

In Tripoli, the target of raids since Friday NATO's intensive, five explosions rocked Monday night east of the capital, according to witnesses who were not able to specify the sites covered.

On the night of Sunday to Monday, on President Muammar Gaddafi, in his huge residence located in Tripoli, had been totally destroyed by NATO airstrikes. The raid left three dead and 45 wounded, according to the spokesman of the regime, Ibrahim Moussa.

NATO said Tuesday he had not sought to target the Libyan leader, noting that his mission was to protect civilians, not to impose a regime change.

Libyan television showed footage of Mr Gaddafi, who seem to have been filmed on Monday.Seemingly relaxed, he receives dignitaries of the regime in his tent at his residence.

In Moscow, Russia warned that it would not support any new resolution to the Security Council of UN on Libya calling for an increase of "foreign interference".

In Addis Ababa, the African Union is still trying to find a solution to the conflict, receiving representatives from both sides for a cease-fire. The rebels, however, require the departure of Mr Gaddafi prior to any negotiated solution.

The Italian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that the next meeting of the Contact Group to lead the political aspects of international intervention in Libya to be held May 5 in Rome.

FRANCE - TUNISIA: "I just dreamed of a better life ..."

"I thought I'd be greeted as a hero," Moez admits, lowering his eyes. Disillusionment could not be greater. This 39 year old Tunisian has participated in the revolution that led to the downfall of Ben Ali on January 14 last. But when he arrived in France in early April, "in the country of the revolution of 1789" is the customs that had welcomed him.

Moez is from Gabes, a coastal city in central Tunisia. Long-term unemployed despite his State diploma Technician clothing, Tunisian revolution has restored the desire to dream. He dreams of Europe, the job he could find, the money he could send to his mother, a widow and retired. He dreams of dignity.And he knows that Tunisia will take years to recover from 23 years of dictatorship.

The wind in its sails

In mid-March, so he left Gabes to the nearby city of Zarzis, where he boarded a small fishing boat for the modest sum of 1,500 dinars, or about 800 euros, saved penny by penny for the whole family . Direction the Italian island of Lampedusa.

"We worked 24-hour crossing. There were people weeping, others vomited. With the weight of passengers, the boat sank in the sea and there was water up to their knees" says he.

The 87 passengers on the makeshift boat arrived safely at Lampedusa. Moez believes in his lucky star. "I am a lucky man," continues he repeated.His face is soft and toothless smile.

In Lampedusa, he is greeted by the Border Police who leads straight into a detention center. A week to wait. A week to sleep in the courtyard on the ground without a blanket, no mattress, before being transferred to Cretonne in central Italy.

Moez but the wind in its sails. He escapes and hits the road: a train to Ventimiglia, the French-Italian border, twenty miles on foot to Menton, France. Then up through France Charleville-Mezieres, where authorities arrested him at the station. Police station, photos, fingerprints ... Moez has seven days to leave the territory.It will not wait so much.

After two days, the police come for him at 7 o'clock in the morning at the friend who hosts it. Three cars and eight police officers were mobilized for the occasion.

"All this for me chuckle there before rebelling, I'm certainly not a terrorist! The police stopped us because of our face, our skin color. But we are not thieves . Take the boat, it's dangerous, it is suicide. It's like Bouazizi Sidi Bouzid.But we do it because we dream of a better life not to steal the bread from the French. "

"Europe must react"

After passing through the detention center (ARC) from Roissy, it is returned to where he received his Ventimiglia sesame after one week: a temporary residence for six months.

His papers in his pocket, he tried again through France.But he did not need a week before being stopped and checked by police.

"Moez beats the record of arrests because he has a mouth of an Arab!" summarizes passionately Samia Maktouf, lawyer Franco-Tunisian volunteer at the Paris Bar, who is fighting to get him a work permit.

"Europe should react and stop doing the ping-pong between France and Italy. It is contrary to the spirit of the Schengen agreement not to allow refugees to move freely. We must take steps to the height of the humanitarian tragedy, "continued the lawyer who took over the back of a twenty Tunisians.

An appeal is likely to remain a dead letter.After the tension between Rome and Paris in recent weeks following the influx of immigrants Tunisian and Libyan, via Italy, France expressed its support for strengthening the provision of temporary suspension of the free movement of Schengen.

"I am a lucky man ..."

For a week, Moez open the walls and just hide all day in the office of his lawyer, legal as well as moral support. And if Samia Maktouf short courts, prefectures and departments to plead his cause, yet it is in the privacy of the office that the solutions are.

Thanks to a Tunisian businessman, Customer Master Maktouf, passing through Paris on that day, Moez spring the firm with a job offer in hand. The interim.Just enough time to recover and return home with dignity. The shining eyes, he whispers quietly: "I am a lucky man ..."

COTE D'IVOIRE - EXCLUSIVE: In Duekoue, massacres disrupt the reconciliation

A week after the arrest of Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo and leaving the arrival in power of his rival Alassane Ouattara, Côte d'Ivoire tries to initiate a process of reconciliation.

Just after taking office effective April 11, the president promised to Ouattara Ivorians that justice in their country would consider "all those who have committed crimes in the same way."

At a press conference, he also announced he would seek the intervention of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to "initiate investigations" into the massacres committed since the presidential election on November 28, 2010 .

If the entire Ivorian territory was the scene of fighting between pro-and pro-Ouattara Gbagbo, the west has been particularly affected.

Caroline Dumay, special correspondent for FRANCE 24, visited the region of Duekoue, where Republican Forces of Côte d'Ivoire, Ouattara of armed support, and their supporters are accused of committing hundreds of crimes.

For now, no clear picture is known. But the government Ouattara evokes the figure of 330 deaths in the region.Red Cross for its part has 800 victims in one of the Carrefour district of the city of Duekoue.

Civilian casualties

According to sources, the number of victims varies from one to three now but one thing is certain: the massacres have occurred. One witness, who requested anonymity, described FRANCE 24 one of the photos he took of a civilian killed before his eyes: "This gentleman here, was killed in front of me. It is a sick . He had surgery. I think it is simply out of the hospital to find something to eat and he was shot in front of me. "

The UN has also condemned these abuses.Officials of the UN mission on site say they have witnessed killings on March 28 last, but said they could not intervene.

The forces of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) are still very cautious about the different assessments published, like Colonel Zeidane, who told FRANCE 24: "I can not comment on this figure of 800.It belongs to those who have advanced to justify this figure. "The UN staff in Côte d'Ivoire confirms nevertheless have proceeded with the burial of 198 bodies.

Ethnic conflict

On site, other witnesses tell of gunmen carried out identity checks in order to sort the population according to ethnicity. Gaetan Mootoo, researcher for Amnesty International, said: "In the vicinity of the bridge Guémon, we found identity cards on the floor.We wonder where do these identity cards and why people heading to a place to protect themselves were forced to show their cards. "

In Duekoue, the neighborhood of Carrefour, like many others, was the scene of heavy fighting. Populated mostly healed, ethnic Christian traditionally considered favorable to Laurent Gbagbo, the sector is now devastated. The majority of residents took refuge at the Catholic mission in the city under protection of a battalion of Moroccan peacekeepers.

This "manhunt" which appear to have been victims Gueré beyond the scope of political confrontation Ouattara Gbagbo.Its causes are ethnic, religious and social.

Cure them, landowners, are accused of having formed militias to terrorize the Dioula ethnic group Muslim neighbor who traditionally cultivated these lands on behalf of Gueré. This repression has resulted in numerous conflicts between the two groups in recent years.

It is currently impossible to determine by whom and for what reasons Duekoue massacres were perpetrated. Several investigations are underway, but Duekoue, as in the surrounding villages, dozens of people are still missing the call.

AWARD: Glencore breaks for good with the legacy of its founder

Since Baar Swiss town of 20,000 inhabitants, the giant commodities Glencore pilot one of the most important steps in its history: its market introduction. This introduction, which should be finalized in mid-May, would allow the group to emerge between 9 and 11 billion euros. Glencore would succeed and the third largest IPO in history for a European company (after those of the German Deutsche Telekom in 1996 and Italy's Enel, 1999).

The company, which acquires its credentials in the financial markets, turn the page of his early years, under the leadership of sour Belgian businessman Marc Rich. There is no doubt that he is behind the success of Glencore.No doubt also that its leaders do not regret the departure in 1993, a man who imagined a time on the top ten most wanted by the FBI.

When Marc Rich founded in 1974, at age 40, his trading company in raw materials - Marc Rich + Co - he already has the reputation of a trader of genius. During the oil embargo decided by the Gulf States in 1973, he plays on his own - or almost - from OPEC.This Belgian then succeeds in buying oil in Iraq and Iran to sell twice as expensive in the United States.

Paranoid and hunted by the FBI

In early 1980, Marc Rich was able to get their hands on 40% of global aluminum market and "undertaker" also a large market share of the money. Marc Rich also sells, for years, oil to South Africa - while the country is on the blacklist of the world trade because of apartheid.It is with a lot of such shots, not always legal, Marc Rich made his company one of the major players in commodity markets. His methods earned him strong enemies.

But his crime, at least in the eyes of Washington, is to buy millions of barrels of oil to Iran crisis of American hostages in 1979. A fact which earned him a weapon to be prosecuted by U.S. authorities in 1983 for violating the embargo and tax evasion.Marc Rich refuses to appear and becomes hunted by the FBI, which is considered as one of the ten most wanted criminals in the world.

He continues to lead his company from the canton of Zug, Swiss tax haven, but would have lived from this time in a permanent state of paranoia, according to Daniel Ammann, a journalist who has devoted a biography called "The King of oil" , released in November 2010.

The wildest rumors begin to circulate about his lifestyle, as reported by the newspaper The Observer in May 2001. It would have to build a tunnel under his office to avoid being assassinated on his way to his favorite restaurant.In addition, Marc Rich never moves without a dozen bodyguards - all former Mossad.

The shot of (the) presidential pardon

A lifestyle wearing. In 1993, he ended up making a bad transaction that makes it lose hundreds of millions of dollars. Marc Rich is then obliged to sell its stake in Marc Rich + Co's co-shareholders, who pushed him toward the exit.

It seems so out of business and devotes part of his fortune, estimated by Forbes at $ 800 million to charitable and cultural activities. But the FBI did not forget it either. At least until the end of the term of Bill Clinton in 2001. While it does have a few more hours at the White House, he grants his forgiveness to everyone's surprise.He explained later that he received several requests by influential people, including Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.

BELARUS: President Lukashenko sees foreign forces behind the bombing of Minsk

At least 12 people were killed and more than a hundred injured Monday night in an attack on the subway in Minsk, in the center of the capital of Belarus, President Alexander Lukashenko does not exclude that the explosion could have been organized "from abroad".

"A terrorist attack occurred around 5:54 p.m. today at the station Oktyabrskaya" said Assistant Attorney General Andrei Chved, following an emergency meeting convened by Mr Lukashenko a few hours after the tragedy.

"I told you we would not let us live in peace," saidLukashenko was quoted by the Ria Novosti agency, during the meeting with senior officials of the country.

"I do not exclude that this 'gift' comes from abroad, but we must also look at us," added the President who instructed the authorities to do everything to solve this case.

"The head of the KGB, you are personally responsible for the investigation," he said, addressing the chief of security.

The initial balance of 11 dead was increased to 12 after the death of one of the wounded into the night, said Monday morning the KGB, saying that a total of 149 people needed medical treatment and 22 of them are in serious condition.

"The culprits must be found as soon as possible.Return the entire country, "said Mr Lukashenko, according to Ria Novosti.

The blast occurred at a gas station near the Belarusian presidency, said a witness told AFP.

Shortly after the explosion, black smoke coming out of the Oktyabrskaya metro station and passengers escaped from the underground, face bloodied, some with tattered clothes, witnesses said.

"There are many wounded, we are not able to give figures," said emergency medical services in the city.

Television images showed smoke-filled subway station, the wounded on the ground or leaning against the pillars, while others fled.

"People are evacuated from the station.The resort itself is very smoky. There are many wounded exits, "he told a correspondent of the newspaper online naviny.by Belarus, who was on site.

"People go out in blood the underpass leading to the subway, they have their hands and face covered in blood.Smoke coming from the underground, "he added.

Belarus, ruled with an iron fist by Alexander Lukashenko in power for 16 years, had not undergone major attack in recent years.

In July 2008, an artisanal craft had exploded in the center of Minsk on the feast of the independence of this former Soviet republic, making about fifty wounded, according to news reports.

The explosion occurred on Monday amid political tensions in Belarus, where many opponents were arrested in late December after the controversial re-election of Mr Lukashenko.

The re-election with over 80% of the votes of Mr.Lukashenko on December 19 had caused a major opposition demonstration in Minsk, denouncing massive fraud.

The rally was dispersed and manhandled by police and more than 600 people were arrested.

Twenty-two opponents are still in custody and five have fled abroad, including one of the presidential candidates, Ales Mikhalevitch, who received political asylum in the Czech Republic.

Dozens of opponents, including several presidential candidates, have been charged with "organizing mass disturbances" in the wake of these events and could face up to 15 years in prison.

The Belarusian government had estimated that the April 5 December demonstration against the reelection of Mr. Lukashenko was an attempted coup "plotted with representatives from abroad".

USA: last-minute compromise on the cuts in the federal budget

An agreement on costs was concluded last minute Friday night in Washington between Democrats and Republicans in Congress to avoid the paralysis of the U.S. federal government, barely an hour before the deadline, set at midnight.

President Barack Obama responded quickly, acknowledging that the agreement would mean budget cuts "painful", but considering that the U.S. should live within their means.

"As in any meaningful compromise, both sides had to make tough decisions and concede on issues that were important to them," he added after a day of suspense over whether to continue government operations the first world power after Friday midnight (0400 GMT).

The Republican chairman of the House of Representatives John Boehner, who announced the agreement, welcomed the arrangement which he said will "reduce spending and keep our government in working order."

The agreement includes $ 38.5 billion in budget cuts over the level of current expenditures.It funds the administration for the remainder of fiscal year 2011, until 30 September.

In the process, the Senate approved a provisional budget law for seven days, the time to put up and vote the final agreement. The House also had to rule on the night of Friday to Saturday on the measure before sending it to President Obama for promulgation.

After the difficult birth, the head of the Democratic majority in the Senate, Harry Reid, has welcomed an agreement "historic."

His main opponent in the Senate, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, has approved the trial of Mr.Reid, immediately recalled that the fight was not over between the two parties in Congress.

"Once we complete this process by the end of next week, we will have a broader discussion on how to save thousands of billions," he said, referring to the forthcoming debate on the budget 2012 of President Obama .

He added that raising the U.S. debt ceiling by more than 1,400 billion was to be accompanied by measures "significant" to solve the problem of the debt record.

This highly sensitive debate should take the elected members of both chambers for much of May.

Before the announcement of the budget agreement Friday night on Capitol Hill, politicians have shown themselves impatient with the impasse persisted.

"We're not going to lie and betray the Americans as has happened many times here in Washington," Mr. Boehner was launched to the press.

Before the Senate, Mr. Reid accused the ultra-conservatives of the "tea party" to be responsible for the situation and try to "put forward (their) extreme social agenda" by putting pressure on Republican leaders.

The closure of administrative services would mean the suspension of 800,000 federal employees.Tourists were turned away at the doors of museums and national parks, visas were not issued and the tax forms being processed.

The biggest obstacle was a controversial measure introduced by Republicans in the draft budget bill eliminating funds for family planning, abortion and women's health. The measure does not appear in the agreement announced Friday night.

COTE D'IVOIRE: Laurent Gbagbo continues to negotiate his departure

Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo out Tuesday still refused to concede defeat despite the collapse of his regime and demand a cease-fire of his army, reeling from strikes in France and the United Nations before the advancing forces Alassane Ouattara.

While France and the United Nations require him to sign a document in which he relinquished power and recognizes his rival as president, he warned that he was not concerned.

"I do not recognize the victory of Ouattara.Why do you want me to sign it? "He said Tuesday during an interview on French TV channel LCI.

After days of fighting with heavy weapons that have made "dozens of deaths" according to the UN in Abidjan, and a bloody post-election crisis of four months, the guns are virtually silent in the Ivorian city.

"There is a ceasefire but there is sporadic gunfire from youth groups who are not" fighting forces, said the UN mission ONUCI.

Some heavy weapons fire rang out in the Cocody district (north), which houses the presidential residence.

The people, the vast majority holed up at home, remained suspended on the announcement of the end of the era Gbagbo, while television TCI camp Ouattara broadcast excerpts from "The Downfall", a film about the last days of Adolph Hitler.

"Entrenched" according to the UN in a bunker in the basement of his residence, to which had converged in the morning fighters president recognized by the international community Alassane Ouattara Laurent Gbagbo insisted.

"I find it absolutely astounding that the life of a country hinges on a gamble of foreign capitals," he dropped.

"I go to worship and pray for the wisdom that lives in each other, so that we discuss," he said this fervent evangelical Christian.

"Whether we sit down and discuss it, but it does not sit, because it relies on foreign forces," he said.

"Me, I'm not a kamikaze, I love life. My voice is the voice of a martyr, I do not seek death, but if the death happens, it happens," he further explained.

There are currently "negotiations" about Laurent Gbagbo but "not yet reporting," said the French presidency told AFP. Same story on the side of the UN.

According to a source familiar with the matter, another stumbling block was the destination of M.Gbagbo: Does it remain on his land or the fierce nationalist will he forced into exile?

According to the French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, "two generals close" to Mr Gbagbo were currently "trying to negotiate terms of surrender."

President Barack Obama called the former strongman from Abidjan to "resign immediately", arguing "strongly" strikes the UN and France on Monday on its last strongholds.

The shelling on the heavy weapons of the pro-Gbagbo had precipitated the collapse of his regime after more than a decade of power and eight days in a lightning offensive of the pro-Ouattara, from the north.

Foreign Minister Mr.Gbagbo and among close relatives, Alcide Djedje played a key role in the epilogue in progress.

He went to the Ambassador of France, whose residence adjoins that of Mr. Gbagbo, to negotiate a cease-fire "on demand", he said, the incumbent.

The Chief of Staff of the army loyal to Mr. Gbagbo, General Philippe Mangou shortly thereafter told AFP that his forces had "asked the commanding general UNOCI a cease-fire.""We stopped the fighting," he added.

The former opponent of the "Father of the Nation" Felix Houphouet-Boigny, who became president in 2000 in a ballot already challenged, has never conceded defeat in the presidential election of November 28, 2010, a vote yet certified by the UN.He always refused to resign or go into exile.

But the fierce resistance of his troops in Abidjan, which were before the crisis about 5 million people, has plunged the city into chaos.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has reported "dozens of deaths" in recent days of fighting with heavy weapons.

The humanitarian situation "has become absolutely dramatic in Abidjan," the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs United Nations.

The UN has estimated that "hundreds" the number of people who perished in massacres last week in Duekoue, in the West - the balance sheets show, according to sources, 330 to a thousand people - and revealed the existence of a mass grave containing 200 bodies.The forces pro-Ouattara have been particularly singled out.

The African Union condemned the "misuse" and "violations of human rights" and again called for "mandatory protection of the civilian population."

A controversy has finally broken out on strikes UN and France.

The chairman of the AU, the head of state of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema, has condemned Russia and said their study "legality".

Conversely, Nigeria has supported this commitment. For Senegal, another key ally of Mr. Ouattara, the intervention was responding to a request from West Africa.

AFGHANISTAN: New deadly protests against the burning of the Koran

AFP - Four people were killed and 32 wounded Saturday in Kandahar (southern Afghanistan) during a demonstration against the recent book burning of a Quran in the U.S. in the aftermath of a deadly attack against the UN in north at a similar event, according to a doctor.

"Four bodies were brought to the hospital.Thirty-two people wounded by bullets or stones, were admitted to our hospital, "he told AFP Dr. Abdul QAYOUM Pukhla, doctor at Mirwais hospital in Kandahar.

The AFP correspondent in Kandahar had previously seen two bodies, worn by men who described themselves as protesters, but did not elaborate on the identity of the dead or the circumstances of their deaths.

The protesters, now several thousand, were divided into several groups around Kandahar, the largest city in southern Afghanistan and former capital of the Taliban regime, where heavy gunfire continued to be heard, "said correspondent AFP.

One group headed for the provincial governor's offices, the other that the local offices of the UN Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). The two groups were blocked for an hour for the police, quite far from the complex, UNAM.

The police, massively deployed, now banned vehicles and pedestrians to circulate, including journalists.

From the roof of a building, he saw smoke rising from several parts of the city.

According to the AFP correspondent, a large crowd is coming from the suburbs (well, any) of the city, former capital of the Taliban regime, and attempts to head downtown.

In town, the protesters marched chanting "Death to America" ​​and "Death to (Hamid) Karzai," the Afghan president."They have insulted our Quran," shouted one of them.

An Afghan journalist was attacked by protesters, who hit him and broke his camera, according to the AFP correspondent.

"Around 9:00 (4:30 GMT) a peaceful demonstration against the burning of the Koran in the United States began.Destructive elements have infiltrated the crowd and tried to create violence, "he told AFP Zalmai Ayoubi, spokesman of provincial authorities.

"The situation is under control of the police," he said.

Seven employees of foreign UN, four Nepalese and three Europeans, were killed Friday in the attack on UN offices in Mazar-I-Sharif, the largest city in northern Afghanistan, during a demonstration against the recent public burning of the Koran by American fundamentalist pastor.

The attack was the deadliest against the UN in Afghanistan since the invasion of that country by an international coalition in late 2001 to overthrow the Taliban regime.

Five Afghan demonstrators were also killed, according to the governor of Balkh province, including Mazar-i-Sharif is the capital.