FOOTBALL: Opposed to the final Lille, PSG dream to keep "his" Coupe de France

AFP - The Cup of France offered Saturday at the Stade de France a gala final between the two teams most spectacular Ligue 1: Lille in contention for the double, and Paris St Germain, the defending champion and a true expert the test in search of a ninth trophy.

Before you plunge into the deep end of the championship and look to a possible third crown, Lille will want first to end a long drought and could even raise the Cup, 56 years after their fifth and final victory.

If Lille could have without the services of one of his masterpieces of the medium, Florent Balmont (thigh tear), he can always count on the young Belgian Hazard (20 years) and a true specialist in the Cup person Mickaël Landreau.

The guard, who lifted the trophy twice with Nantes (1999, 2000), has never lost a final and has even done by hand this week in L1 by stopping a penalty kick against the Greens. After releasing his first club in 8th-finals (1-1 ap, 3 tab 2), it could close the loop by crucifying PSG, where he played from 2006 to 2009.

With 8 trophies to their credit, the Parisians are in fact very far from the record of wins in the Coupe de France held by the enemy Marseille (10).

While the capital club is back to the forefront after several lackluster seasons, a new coronation at the Stade de France after he won in 2010 against Monaco (1-0 aet) Boost without doubt struggling with training Lyon return to the Champions League for the first time since 2004.

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.

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.

Yemen: President Saleh loose new ballast but the challenge continues

Dropped by a portion of his army, the President of Yemen Ali Abdullah Saleh on Tuesday proposed to resign in early 2012, but the opposition rejected the offer insisting on his immediate departure.

Earlier, President Saleh, in power for 32 years, warned against the risks of civil war in his country including the capital Sana'a is the setting for Monday in a deployment of military units rival tanks.

In south-east, in the city of Moukalla a first incident on Monday night between elements of the regular army and presidential guard units had two killed, witnesses and medical sources.

This tension redoubled concern the United States, said Tuesday the U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Washington has so far seen the president Saleh as an ally in the war against terrorism and Al Qaeda affiliates.

Of the likes of Osama bin Laden are active in Yemen and were involved in attempted attacks against the United States in 2009 and 2010. Washington provides an annual grant of $ 150 million in Sana'a to combat them.

"The instability and diversion of attention vis-à-vis AQPA (Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) is certainly my primary concern in this situation," said Gates, after a trip to Moscow.

To overcome this crisis, the head of state, whose term expires in 2013, proposed "holding parliamentary elections before the end of 2011, followed by election by members of a president in early 2012," according to a senior Yemeni official, who requested anonymity.

But the opposition immediately rejected this offer: "The Yemeni people calling for the immediate departure" of the president, said his spokesman Mohammed al-Sabri."Only one thing can satisfy the people, and that the resignation of this man," he added.

In Sanaa, the military and officials have continued to succeed in front of the demonstrators University Square, the epicenter of protest, to announce their allegiance to the "youth revolt".

The challenge, launched in late January, has gained momentum after the death March 18, 1952 people in an attack against demonstrators in Sanaa attributed to supporters of the regime.

Representatives of members of the Arab League have condemned Tuesday the "crimes against civilians" and urged the Yemeni authorities to meet the demands of the population to "peacefully".

Protesters on Monday received the support of the army chiefs, including General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, head north-east which includes the capital.

Armoured units loyal to General Ahmar were deployed around the Central Bank, the headquarters of the General People's Congress (GPC ruling party) and other vital facilities in Sana'a.

But the tanks of the presidential guard, headed by the president's son, Ahmed Saleh, and special forces, commanded by his nephew Tarek Saleh, took up positions around the presidential palace.

A Moukalla, clashed Monday night soldiers under the command of the Eastern Military District, General Mohammed Ali Mohsen, who joined the protest, members of the presidential guard.

A soldier of the regular army and a member of the presidential guard were killed, medics, and three soldiers wounded, including an officer of the regular army.

Mr.Saleh, 69, warned that any conspiracy to precipitate his departure would lead to Yemen, a poor country of 24 million, to civil war.

"Any attempt to take power in a coup would lead to civil war," he said on television before military leadership, whereas the divisions within the army were "harmful" to the country.

LIBYA: France recognizes the Libyan National Transitional Council

AFP - France said on Thursday the National Transitional Council (CNT) of Libya, which includes opposition to the regime of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, as the only "legitimate representative of the Libyan people" and will soon send an ambassador to Benghazi, said the Elysee.

"France has recognized the Transitional National Council as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people," he announced to the press an emissary of the CNT, Ali Essaoui after a meeting with Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysee.

This information was immediately confirmed by the Presidency of the Republic, making France the first country to recognize the NLC as the sole representative "legitimate" of the Libyan people.

"Based on this recognition, we will open a diplomatic representation, so our embassy in Paris, and an ambassador of France will be sent to Benghazi," said Mr. Essaoui."The ambassador will be installed temporarily in Benghazi, before returning to Tripoli," he added.

The next exchange of ambassadors between Paris and Benghazi was also confirmed in the wake of the Elysee.

This recognition comes on the eve of a special summit of Heads of State and Government of the European Union (EU) in Brussels on Friday, in which Nicolas Sarkozy will propose a "comprehensive plan" on the Libyan crisis.

"There will be a strategic plan to be proposed by France tomorrow (Friday) before the European Council," said another of the emissaries of the Libyan opposition received by Nicolas Sarkozy, Mahmoud Jibril.

"The president told us that there was a comprehensive plan that would be proposed and adopted to address the situation but at a European level, to work for the Libyan people and save the Libyan people's sufferings and massacres perpetrated against him, "said Mr. Jibril, whose remarks were translated into Arabic.

The Elysee Palace confirmed that the plan would be presented Friday to the member countries of the EU, without giving further details.

Nicolas Sarkozy is the first Head of State or Government of 27 to receive official representatives of the Libyan opposition.After the interview, he escorted the three emissaries of CNT on the steps of the Elysee Palace and shook hands at length to reporters.

The French initiative contrasts with the withholding expressed so far by the EU, whose foreign minister Catherine Ashton on Wednesday refused to Strasbourg to support the application of CNT to be recognized as the sole legitimate authority in Libya, yet supported by the European Parliament.

TUNISIA: A Polish priest murdered by extremists near Tunis

Insecurity in Tunisia and the risk of pushing fundamentalist were illustrated Friday with the murder of a Polish priest found murdered "by extremists" near Tunis, officials said, and the attack of street prostitutes by Islamists who wanted to set fire to the center of the capital.

This is the first murder of both a religious and a foreigner since the fall of the regime of Ben Ali on January 14.

The priest, aged 34, was found dead "murdered" on Friday in a private school in the region Manouba, told AFP a source close to the Tunisian Ministry of the Interior.

It is "a fascist terrorist group with extremist orientations who is behind this crime, given the way he was murdered," the ministry said in a statement without specifying whether this was the Islamists.

Marek Rybinski was found murdered in the garage of a private religious school where he was responsible for accounting.He was assaulted before being murdered, the ministry said cited by the official news agency TAP.

An outbreak of fever had arisen in the Islamic afternoon in Tunis: dozens of them have attempted to set fire to a street where prostitutes work.

"The Islamists have tried to enter the street Abdallaah Guechi to burn," he told AFP Tunisian policeman under cover of anonymity. A major brothels in Tunis is located in the street near the Medina.

"Residents have prevented them from returning to this street until the arrival of agents of security forces who blocked the entrance prohibiting passage.They then managed to disperse the demonstrators, "said the policeman.

This area was flown for several hours by several army helicopters.

"Some groups have tried to enter the street but the police already knew that protesters were coming.They blocked the exits and now the street is guarded by the police and the army, "said one trader.

The Islamists had earlier expressed in the inner city, shouting "No to places of prostitution in a Muslim country."

"We demanded the closure of this street, we are in a Muslim country and we must apply what Islam requires," said one of them, Hamza, 21.

Last week, the Tunisian Jewish community had expressed its concern to the government after anti-Semitic incidents at the Great Synagogue of Tunis.

"Here we are vigilant," he repeated Friday the president of the community Roger Bismuth."It is the work of Salafists, the most extreme Islamists trained by the Wahhabis, but there is no soil in Tunisia for the development of Salafism," he added.

Aware of the prevailing security vacuum after the fall of the regime, the government decided last week to recall reservists retired for five years who joined the army on Wednesday.

The government is confronted daily with the instability of many armed robberies, demonstrations of Tunisians desperately calling on welfare and illegal immigration of thousands of Tunisians parties seek employment in Europe.

In an attempt to ease social tensions and meet the demands of a population exasperated by unemployment (14%, double that for young people), the government announced Friday a series of welfare measures aimed at emergency most disadvantaged (financial allocations, tenure of construction workers, allocation of free health care cards).

He also called on social partners to begin negotiations in the private and public key demand of the powerful trade union UGTT, according to his spokesman Baccouch Taieb.

Finally, the government passed a general amnesty for political prisoners. A decree-law shall be announced in "coming days".