EURO ZONE - PORTUGAL: The aid approved by Brussels and the IMF is she a "good" plan?

Not 100, not 80, but 78 billion euros. After two weeks of negotiations, Portugal, the European Union and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reached an agreement Tuesday night on how the international aid plan. It will therefore ultimately less than what had been anticipated in financial markets.

Good news for the Portuguese government, which can boast of being the least helpful of the three countries have received international financial support. "It's a good plan", welcomed the Portuguese Socialist Prime Minister Jose Socrates.He even suggested that the terms negotiated in return for allowing his country to be better off than Ireland and Greece - the other two European states have been helped by the EU and the IMF. What is it exactly?

78 billion euros, is it thousands? The amount is released over three years, close to a few billion, forecasts the Prime Minister of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker. On 24 March he said on France 24 expect a plan of international aid of about 75 billion if Portugal was in demand.

This envelope corresponds to approximately euro cents, the borrowing of Portugal anticipated by the European Union."In 2011, Lisbon has to repay 26 billion in debt coming due," had told France 24, March 24, Celine Antonin, an economist at the French Observatory of Economic Conditions (OFCE). The EU therefore expects that Portugal is obliged to repay 26 billion per year until 2013.

Is it really a "good plan", as said Jose Socrates? "It [the plan] is good because the compromise shows that the EU approves the austerity measures taken by lLisbonne," said France 24 Christophe Blot, an economist at the OFCE specialist and the EU.In short: the "potion" austerity that Portugal will have to drink to its population will be less bitter than the beverage Irish and Greek.

Indeed, Jose Socrates said Wednesday that there would be no decrease in the minimum wage, abandonment of the 13th and 14th month in the civil service, privatization or the Deposit and Consignment: all measures that Ireland and Greece had to be in pain. "Make no mistake, Portugal had already adopted several of these provisions - such as reducing the minimum wage," said Christophe Blot.

Are there counterparts requested in Portugal? Nothing new under the sun. As in "cases" Greek and Irish, EU and IMF require Portugal to slash their deficits.In 2010 it was 9.1% of GDP and should be reduced to 5.9% this year to 4.5% in 2012 and 3% in 2013. "It's about the same as Ireland and Greece, which means that the plan condemned Portugal to the recession in the coming years," said Christophe Blot: "It may be a good plan, but bad news for the Portuguese. " To achieve this, there is no recipe. Lisbon will prepare yet another austerity program with cuts in social spending and a likely tax increase.

Portuguese Prime Minister has however welcomed the calendar. He had indeed set targets for deficit reduction more stringent (4.6% of GDP in 2011, 3% in 2012 and 2% in 2013)."But at the time, it was essentially announcement effect to reassure financial markets and avoid having to apply for financial assistance to the European Union," says Christophe Blot. He said the compromise reached Tuesday night just to ask essentially targets more "realistic".

FOOTBALL: The French federation accused of racial discrimination by a journalistic investigation

Are there too many blacks and Arabs in the French football? That, in essence, the debate which would have appealed to the French Football Federation (FFF) in recent months, according to a survey published Thursday by the site Mediapart.

In the article, the three authors of the survey denounced the holding of hearings in camera on the subject since the end of 2010. These discussions have led to some troubling conclusions, according to Mediapart."For the highest level of French football, the case is heard: there are too many blacks, too many Arabs and not enough white on the land," have said several leaders of French football.

"Several leaders of the National Technical Directorate (DTN) of the French Football Federation (FFF), the coach of the Blues himself, Laurent Blanc, approved in the greatest secrecy, early 2011, the principle of discriminatory quotas informal in training centers and schools of football country, "develops this investigation.

"The 30% figure has even been suggested, January 18, 2011, by the technical director [Francis Blaquart] at a meeting of the DTN. 'But he did not let it be said, has been careful to said Mr.Blaquart "insists Mediapart, who claims to have obtained this information from several reliable sources.

"According to sources inside the FFF, outraged by the process, instructions have been given this direction in recent weeks in various centers responsible for training, including the French National Institute (INF) at Clairefontaine," continues the section.

FFF demented Mediapart ready to publish the evidence

Faced with Brulot published on the website, the FFF was quick to react.Philippe Tournon, Head of Press Service of the France team, told FRANCE 24 that Laurent Blanc was "deeply attached to freedom and [...] resistant to any form of discrimination" and that "[declined] formally being associated in any way to these stories of quotas. "

The Head of Press Office of the France team nevertheless acknowledged the holding of debates on dual nationality for some players trained by the French centers, while attacking an amalgam.

Fernand Duchossoy, president of the FFF, which has also denounced this amalgam, confirmed to AFP that a debate on a related topic was the agenda: "There is an observation, but it is not reflection. This one has plenty of players with dual nationality among youth and then some do not want to go for France. It is a choice, we must assume. "

Despite denials from the rain, the site Mediapart reaffirmed his serenity about the statements reported in its investigation. One of its authors, Fabrice Arfi, explained Thursday night broadcast on RMC: "We are very serene face of denials. We hold the evidence of what we say.And if the denials are too insistent, of course, we shall have to publish the evidence. "

"French football is racist"

The publication of the first part of this investigation has caused an earthquake in the world of French sport. Sports Minister Jouanno Chantal, who "[took] note" of the denial of the Federation, called on relevant authorities to "do it very quickly shed light on [these] allegations."

If the major players in French football still refusing to comment on the remarks relayed by Mediapart, some have followed suit of Internet media to denounce a more general situation.On RMC, Pape Diouf has rebounded on the publication of the article to castigate the state of French football, "French football is a reflection of its society. It is racist and excludes says the former chairman of the Olympique de Marseille. [...] I do not say that [these allegations] are true, but in any case, they fully reflect the reality of time and timing. "

The newspaper The team gathered for its part, the testimony of another symbol of diversity footballing Allen, the former central defender Lilian Thuram for France, who expressed his excitement to sports daily " I am so shocked that I do not know what to say. It is a world falling apart.But I do not want to be in the emotion to respond. I expect to have more elements. So I want to talk to people Mediapart. If this story is true, it does not stop there. "

The Federal Council, held on Friday, said the investigation Mediapart its agenda. The national technical director Francis Blaquart, one of the leaders openly referred to the article, will hold a press briefing following the meeting.

FRANCE: Nicolas Sarkozy defended the proposed bonus to employees

Reuters - A year after the presidential election, Nicolas Sarkozy has confirmed its willingness to share with employees the resumption of dividends in defending its proposed special bonus for staff of all businesses across France.

When the government recently renewed the freezing point index of officials, he reiterated the need at the same time for the state to save money by reducing its workforce, including Education.

A symbolic shift in the Ardennes

To revive the topic of purchasing power, the head of state was symbolically chose the Ardennes, a region of old industry hard hit by the crisis when he mentioned the "France-suffering" and who "gets up early" in a speech marking the campaign that would bring him to the Elysee Palace in 2007."I asked the government to provide a device that will ensure that in the crisis, employees and the French workers have the feeling that reflects their efforts and there is more justice," Has he said to justify its proposed premium.

The terms of this bonus, criticized in advance by the social partners, will be known "in the days to come."

As previously announced, the companies that distribute dividends up will have to negotiate with unions to determine the amount.Budget Minister Francois Baroin, spoke of a magnitude of 1,000 euros.

"For small businesses, the government is prepared to tell all those who would pay an exceptional bonus of being exempt from social contributions," said Nicolas Sarkozy, adding: "Naturally, we do not require but encourage them .

He was speaking to employees of a smelter Vrigne aux Bois, near Charleville, which has weathered the crisis without reducing its workforce even if she has to manage a decline of 35% of its turnover in 2009.She now uses tax-free overtime to meet a workload whose level exceeds that of the pre-crisis.

"France that gets up early is good, but it would still have to have a decent wage"

"As we emerge from the crisis, I would not understand, I will not accept that we do not consider to give additional purchasing power to employees and workers," said Chief has yet to state.

He justified his initiative by the fact that the negotiations opened two years ago at his request by the social partners on the distribution of value "have not moved an inch."

"I assure you, I am not a socialist, I am not the left (but) my duty is to think consistently, sensibly and fairly. "

The CEO of the Ardennes Cast, Nicolas Grosdidier, told the press waiting to learn more about this premium to comment while suggesting that a group like his, which employs 800 people and identifies "best year net profit of 1.5% to 2% of sales (170 million euros), would struggle to pay it."France that gets up early is good but it would it be a living wage," said Nadine Baudion for its part, CFDT delegate, stressing that company employees were receiving the RSA ( social income of autonomy) in addition to their compensation.

Speaking later to the Department of Mayors meeting in Renwez, Nicolas Sarkozy stressed the need for France to reduce its deficits "to avoid it is in the situation in Portugal, Greece or the Ireland, and even today the United States, which are under the threat of lowering their ratings.

"I understand your objections, class closures, closures of post office.I ask you to think in French citizens. We need to make savings to avoid the tragedy of a country too much debt, "he said.

The educational community who are concerned about the impact on the coming year of continued non-replacement of staff on two retiring, he replied that the National Education has seen its numbers grow in recent years and that should now reform the organization.

"If it were enough to hire more teachers to solve every problem, there should be no problem in education," he said.

LIBYA: The insurgency took over the city of Brega and continues its westward offensive

The rebels have resumed Saturday Ajdabiya strategic towns in eastern and Brega in Libya, their first major victories since the start of the international military intervention against the forces of the regime of Muammar Gaddafi a week ago.

Strong military support international air cons pro-Qaddafi, the insurgents took control in quick lock Strategic Ajdabiya, 160 km south of Benghazi, a stronghold of the opposition, then the oil city of Brega 80 km further west, according to local journalists.

The forces of Colonel Qaddafi faced since February 15 in an insurgency that has unprecedented attempt to suppress the blood, have deserted their positions under cover of darkness, leaving the Rebels celebrate their reconquest Ajdabiyah drawing in the air and honking.

"The clashes were continuing Friday and then everything stopped around 23:30. And at midnight, the men went to Gaddafi," said one resident, Omar Bashi. "The rebels entered the city shortly after.It was time, we had only rice to eat for several days. "

The fighting, according to the rebellion, nine dead and nine wounded, while outside the city, the bodies of at least 21 fighters pro-Gaddafi were collected, according to medical sources. Other bodies, some charred or dismembered by bombs, still lay in the desert.

"Ajdabiya is 100% under the control of our forces and our forces go after Gaddafi Brega on the road," he said Saturday morning, a spokesman for the insurgents in Benghazi, Chamsiddin Abdoulmolah.

Late afternoon, the rebels claimed to have taken Brega, according to a reporter traveling with them.

"We are in the center of Brega.Gaddafi's forces have retreated and are now al-Bicher (30 km further west) and we move into this area, "said one rebel fighters, Abdelsalam al-Maadani.

Hitherto disorganized and inefficient, the insurgents took advantage of the coalition air support to resume the offensive.

The raids have "prepared the battlefield", and experienced officers and soldiers who joined the rebellion played a major role, "said Abdoulmolah.These soldiers have coordinated their attacks with the coalition, which came into action between the air strikes.

Asked about a Washington Post article claiming that the coalition was planning to send arms to the insurgents, one of their spokesman, Ahmed Khalifa, said that no deliveries had taken place at the moment but that these weapons would be welcome.

Meanwhile, the coalition has not released its pressure. It launched raids Friday night and into the night on the town of Zliten (west) and the Al-Wati (west).It also bombed a military site at Tajura, a suburb east of Tripoli, a target area on a daily basis.

President Barack Obama welcomed the developments, saying that the international mission in Libya was "targeted and being successful.""A humanitarian catastrophe has been averted and the lives of countless innocent civilians, men, women and children, were rescued."

According to an official of the Libyan Ministry of Health, the coalition raids killed at least 114 dead and 445 wounded from Sunday to Wednesday, mainly in Tripoli and its suburbs.

Despite his combative tone returns, the Gaddafi regime was willing to accept an African plan providing for the cessation of fighting and a dialogue for a "transition" democratic.

But at the same time, his forces are still trying to recapture the town of Misrata, rebel stronghold in the west, continuing their bombardment, according to a witness.Since Benghazi, the rebels have asked the international community to come to the aid of Misrata.

And the rebels have rejected the African initiative. "The only way to resolve this conflict is that Gaddafi and his son are brought to justice for crimes against humanity," said Khalifa. Mr.Gaddafi, in power for 42 years, maintains a defiant and refuses to go away.

Military intervention by the international coalition also wants policy, while the leader of the National Transitional Council reaffirmed the opposition grouping does not want to "foreign forces" on Libyan soil.

With the approach of a first meeting of the Contact Group in London on Tuesday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced "a Franco-British initiative" for a political solution. Italy has also announced it would present a plan during the summit.

The conduct of operations, NATO countries agreed to take immediate relay of the Coalition for the no-fly zone, but not for ground strikes.Negotiations should continue on Sunday that Nato will soon take all the operations in hand.

The Russian ambassador to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, whose country criticized the international response, said a ground invasion would be tantamount to occupation.

Find the events of Saturday, March 26 in Libya, Syria and elsewhere in the Arab world with our Liveblogging here.

FRANCE: Nicolas Sarkozy addresses the French tonight's fate still uncertain MAM

The fate of Michèle Alliot-Marie is sealed by the tenors of the majority, leaving the government should intervene Sunday in a reshuffle to the extent uncertain, prior to a statement broadcast by Nicolas Sarkozy on the international situation.

"For MMA, it's done. The President has taken its decision, she goes" Saturday assured a tenor of the majority, confirming information obtained yesterday by the AFP to two ministers.

According to several sources, the head of French diplomacy would be replaced by the Defence Minister, Alain Juppe.This will, in a minister to resign "Sunday Morning", just after his return in the night from a trip to Kuwait.

"The anonymous sources who claim to make decisions in place of Ms Alliot-Marie bind none but themselves," responded the entourage of the Minister to AFP.

When questioned, the Elysee declined to respond. But in late afternoon, Sarkozy, after meeting with three former hostages of the Sahel at the Elysee Palace, received at La Lanterne in Versailles, Prime Minister Francois Fillon. The interview lasted an hour and a half, according to Matignon.The secretary general of the Elysee, Claude Gueant, was also present.

While France has been strongly criticized in recent weeks for its diplomatic policy, Mr.Sarkozy will also attempt to regain control of the reserved area of the Head of State during a televised address Sunday at 8:00 p.m. on the international situation.

Regarding his team, the Head of State is considering various scenarios, according to several government sources.

Circumscribe the redesign to the replacement of MMA? Or take the opportunity to make more extensive changes and try to give new impetus to his government, just three months after the big reshuffle in November and a little over a year of presidential elections?

"Mystery ... The ball will roll on the wheel throughout the weekend," said a tenor of the majority.

"I work. I am 100% mobilized as Minister of Foreign Affairs.I do not comment on rumors in Paris, "said Kuwait Alliot-Marie.

"Regardless of what happens when I landed in Paris," she added, however, as resigned to his dismissal.

According to ministers, the situation became untenable and "we must stop it" because "Michele Alliot-Marie was unscrewed and leads everyone." "The sequence of the French presidency of the G20 is important and as Minister of Foreign Affairs, will be prominent at the side of the head of state. But in his post, the action does not erase image "tarnished by the case to twists on holiday in Tunisia, said one of them.

To replace Mr.Juppe of Defense, several names were circulating this weekend, including the boss of UMP senators, Gerard Longuet, but also former Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, or the interior minister, Brice Hortefeux, which could then give way to Beauvau Claude Gueant.

The reshuffle could also see the arrival of two or three secretaries of state - including liberals and centrists - repeatedly announced and postponed.New Center hoped Saturday that the realignment "will allow a rebalancing policy.

As for the companion of MMA, the Minister of Relations with Parliament, Patrick Ollier, his fate seems outstanding and not necessarily tied to that of his companion.

Campaigning Sunday for his fief cantonal Rueil-Malmaison (Hauts-de-Seine), he merely said he would "when the situation" arises.

EGYPT: The army wants a revised constitution within 10 days

AFP - The military, in power in Egypt since the fall of President Hosni Mubarak announced Tuesday that it gave ten days at a commission of jurists that it has appointed to revise the Constitution.

"The commission must finish work later than ten days," the military said in a statement.

The committee members, lawyers, met for the first time on Tuesday before the head of the Supreme Council of the armed forces.

The commission is to amend sections 76, 77, 88, 93 and 189 and to cancel Article 179, said the supreme council of the armed forces in a statement read by a presenter on state television.

The Committee may decide to amend other items if it deems it necessary "to ensure democratic and transparent presidential and legislative elections" continued army.

Section 76 deals with very restrictive conditions of candidacy for the presidential election, section 77 places no limit on the number of presidential terms and 88 sets the mode of election monitoring.

Section 93 limits the possibilities of appeal after the parliamentary elections and Article 179 allows the president to order that civilians accused of terrorism are brought before a military tribunal.

Article 189 stipulates that only the last President of the Republic and President of Parliament may propose constitutional amendments.

Hu Jintao conceded that there is "much to do" on human rights

AFP - Human Rights were invited Wednesday to the state visit of Hu Jintao to Washington, which saw the president and his Chinese counterpart, Barack Obama displayed the determination to overcome the "friction" commercial on the bottom of juicy contracts.

"China recognizes, but also respects the universality of human rights but at the same time we believe that we must take into account different national circumstances in terms of human rights," saidHu during a joint press conference with Bush.

"China is a developing country with a very large population and also a developing country which is undergoing crucial reforms," he added, while admitting, after being repeatedly asked by American journalists, that " much rest (has) to China "on it and promising to improve the situation.

For his part, Obama has ensured he was "very open" to signify to Mr. Hu's American views "on the universality of certain rights, freedom of expression, religion and association."He also wanted "dialogue between China and the Dalai Lama to resolve differences while preserving the religious identity of the Tibetan people," while hundreds of activists demonstrating in front of this because the White House.

However, the name of jailed Chinese dissident and Nobel Peace Liu Xiaobo was not pronounced during the press conference.

45 billion worth of contracts

Obama, who met Hu for the eighth time in two years and participated with him at a summit with leaders of major American companies, said he hoped the two countries could put behind them the "friction" of the past and "We remove the old stereotypes."

Mr.Hu, for his part promised that his country would boost its domestic demand and consumption, treating American companies duly registered in China on an equal footing, and praised the "bright future" of trade between the two countries.

Washington has also announced the signing of contracts in China valued at $ 45 billion with U.S. companies, including an order for 200 Boeing aircraft with a total value estimated at 19 billion responding to the desire to see Obama Americans enjoy more of the economic expansion of China, which could have been a double-digit growth in 2010, according to unofficial statistics.

The apple of discord currency, intellectual property, nuclear

At the press conference, Mr.Obama did not ignore the points of contention, as the undervaluation of the Chinese currency, again claiming an "adjustment". However, he praised the "flexibility of China's currency" and layout of Beijing in the fight against intellectual property theft.

But MM.Hu and Obama have also said their points of convergence, especially on nuclear issues of North Korea and Iran, saying the Chinese president also hoped for more cooperation between Chinese and American militaries.

Leaders must be found in the evening for a very formal state dinner, only the third in two years of President Obama.

Invited, on ABC, to say if the two giants of the early twenty-first century were friends or foes, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that "if we are rolling out the red carpet for President Hu, is that we feel that we can better answer this question, advancing. "

"My hope is that we have a normal relationship," she added, while the leader of the Democratic majority in the Senate and an ally of Mr. Obama, Harry Reid, left reflected the distrust of many Americans toward China in calling Hu a "dictator", before retracting.