COTE D'IVOIRE: Laurent Gbagbo says Desmond Tutu's desire to see the country "heal its wounds"

AFP - Former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo has "insisted he had to heal the wounds" of Côte d'Ivoire, told journalists on Monday the South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, after meeting Mr.Gbagbo in Korhogo (north), in his house arrest.

"We had a brief but cordial exchange, we were pleased to note that former President (Laurent Gbagbo) has expressed the desire to see the country return to normalcy," said Archbishop Tutu, after meeting the president fallen for 45 minutes.

The archbishop was with the former Secretary General Kofi Annan and former President of Ireland and former High Commissioner for Human Rights UN, Mary Robinson.

"In his speech (Mr.Gbagbo) has insisted that he had to heal the wounds of the country. That's what we came to encourage. As you have seen, he looks healthy, he told us himself. He looks relaxed and he requested a Bible, "said the Nobel Prize for Peace.

It is the first known visit by officials from Mr.Gbagbo since he is under house arrest in Korhogo.

Dressed in a blue shirt and black pants, smiling, the former president shook hands with three members of the group known as Elders (Elders) and told them "thank you for coming," noted a AFP, while the press had been allowed to attend the beginning of the meeting.

Promoting "healing and reconciliation"

Members of the Elders arrived Sunday in Abidjan with the objective of promoting "healing and reconciliation in Cote d'Ivoire after a post-election crisis more than four months resulted in the arrest of Lawrence Gbagbo came to power and Alassane Ouattara, who won the election on November 28.

Arrested with his wife Simone and a hundred people and detained at the Golf Hotel in Abidjan, the headquarters of Mr. Ouattara, M.Gbagbo was transferred on April 13 in Korhogo, where he has been under house arrest.

His wife, for his part was transferred April 22 to Odienné (northwest).

The hearings by the Ivorian justice the former head of state, his wife and about 200 former officials of his regime under house arrest throughout the country to begin Wednesday.

However, the Ivorian Minister of Justice Ahoussou Jeannot Kouadio, who also made the trip on Monday in Korhogo, told AFP that the date of commencement of the hearing of the former president was "not certain" Mr. Gbagbo himself has said that its lawyers were "not available".

The deposed head of state is accused of being responsible for abuses, extortion and incitement to hatred.

Nearly 3,000 people were killed in more than four months of crisis and fighting in Ivory Coast, authorities said.The United Nations reports, more than 1,000 dead.

FRANCE: Strong abstention and thrust of the National Front in the first round of cantonal

AFP - The first round of cantonal last election by universal suffrage before major electoral events of 2012, was marked on Sunday by a surge of FN, behind which the UMP, big loser, and an increase in left background record abstention.

The second round will take place, according to a recording made by the AFP in France to 394 duels, mostly against the PS (204), but also facing the UMP (89), FCP (37) or other candidates, from left or right. There will also be five triangular UMP-PS-FN.

The party of Marine Le Pen, came in first in 39 townships, has qualified in the quarter of districts still to be filled Sunday.In the boss's own stronghold of the UMP, Jean-Francois Cope, the presidential party is overtaken by the FN.

On nearly 99% of ballots counted, the PS obtained 25.04% of votes, the UMP 17.07%, 15.18% of the FN, the Left Front over 9% and Europe-Ecology Greens 8, 28%, according to the Ministry of Interior.

Minister Claude Gueant has credited the "presidential majority" of 32.5% through the addition of voice to the right that has outraged FN and PS.

The final rate of abstention is at 55.6%, a record for this type of election.

Ms. Le Pen hailed a success "historic" for his party, almost elbow to elbow with the UMP, which many label candidates of the majority preferred to that of various right because of the unpopularity of Nicolas Sarkozy .

The FN, which had no general counsel, has to replace the UMP in the political landscape, predicted the companion of Ms. Le Pen, Louis Aliot.

The breakthrough of far-right party confirms recent polls by Ms. Le Pen, a possible presidential nominee.The positioning of each other compared to the FN has also supplied all the comments.

"We let our voters' freedom of choice" when the UMP is absent in the second round, said Jean-Francois Cope, denying the vote as the Republican front FN.

A position condemned by the Left, which sees "an ambiguity guilty," as David Assouline (PS). Same side of the modem tone: "The position of the UMP is irresponsible, he must vote for the candidate who is against the FN," said his spokesman Yann Wehrling.

The majority also the official position of UMP raised eyebrows and promises of tough debates.The President of the Radical Party, Jean-Louis Borloo, has called for "to block the FN.

Minister Valerie Pecresse said that "personally" in case of FN with the duel, she would vote for the left.

The number one PS Martine Aubry was again accused President Sarkozy of "damaging the Republic" and being "instrumental in the scoring of the National Front." Following a meeting with Cécile Duflot (EELV) and Peter Lawrence (PCF), the three leaders called together at the rally.

Ms. Duflo has also called for "to block the FN" wherever it is present."The UMP has taken a beating and the FN has made the pockets," quipped Jean-Luc Melenchon (Left Party).

A rare dissenting voice to right, Claude Goasguen (UMP) saw this result "a warning" launched his party "and Nicolas Sarkozy," whereas in the majority, the word was clear: to relativize the national scope election and call for mobilization.

As for results, the former first lady Bernadette Chirac was re-elected by one vote in the first round in Corrèze. Michel Mercier, one minister in the running, was re-elected in the Rhone.

On the county, the right seems distressed in the Jura.The suspense continues in the Pyrenees-Atlantiques and the Charente-Maritime, other departments may fall into the hands of the Left, which already controls 58.

FOOTBALL: Real Madrid is still the richest club in the world

Real Madrid Football Club is the world's richest for the sixth consecutive year, according to the annual report released Thursday by consulting firm Deloitte.

With 438.6 million euros in revenue for the 2009-2010 season, ahead of Real Madrid FC Barcelona (398.1) and Manchester United (349.8).Followed Bayern Munich (323), Arsenal (274.1), Chelsea (255.9), AC Milan (235.8), Liverpool (225.3), Inter Milan (224.8) and Juventus (205).

The French club is the richest Olympique Lyon, 14th with 146.1 million euros, followed closely by Olympique de Marseille (15th, 141.1).

The top twenty ranking from all five major championships: England (7), Italy (4), Germany (4), Spain (3) and France (2).

While the top six rankings remain unchanged, Manchester City jumped from 20th to 11th place with 152.8 million against 102.2 a year earlier.

Combined revenues of the twenty wealthiest clubs exceeded for the first time the 4 billion euros in fiscal year 2009-2010 ($ 4.3 billion, up 8% over the previous year).

"This shows the impressive strength of the sport in a global crisis," said Deloitte.

DENMARK: The perpetrator of a cartoonist Muhammad found guilty of terrorism

The Somali Geele Mohamed was found guilty of attempted "terrorism" and murder against the Danish Mohammed cartoonist Kurt Westergaard said Thursday the judge of the court in Aarhus.

"The Court finds that a murder attempt at his home on January 1, 2010 against Kurt Westergaard, a man who personifies the cartoons of Muhammad should be seen as an attempt to frighten the population and a high degree of destabilization structures of society, "said the magistrate Ingrid Thorsboe.

This verdict has been "made unanimously by the jury," she said.

The sentence of up to life imprisonment must be imposed Friday.

In the evening of 1 January 2010, Mohamed Geele now aged 29, had burst into the home of the draftsman in Viby, near Aarhus, armed with a hatchet and a knife, shouting that he wanted to kill him because he had insulted the Prophet and Muslims.

Kurt Westergaard, 75, had taken refuge in a bathroom safe, forcing the attacker to give up his project before being shot by the police arrived on the scene.

WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM: The crisis in the eurozone stirred debates in Davos

AFP - The euro zone has again stirred the spirits in Davos (Switzerland), where it appeared more than ever torn by differences over the means to end once and for all with the debt crisis in Europe.

The euro zone should it find its salvation in a stronger European integration, for example by organizing a real union of transfers of wealth from richer countries to poorer? Or should it move towards a debt restructuring - ie reduction in their practice - starting with those of Greece?

This is essentially the dilemma presented by a senior member of the eurozone to a gathering of EU ministers and policy makers gathered for an informal lunch on the occasion of the great mass of Davos.

Between these two options, Europe hesitates.Yet despite the relative calm in the markets, "time release", according to some European leaders, speaking on condition of anonymity, as is the rule in most discussions at Davos.

The first option, advocated by the so-called devices that have an interest, such as Greece, Portugal and Spain, was clearly rejected by Germany, the main donor in Europe.

It promotes respect for the rules and conditions its support to drastic measures of fiscal consolidation.

On the other hand, a debt restructuring is advocated by many economists, who believe that some countries in the euro area, starting with Greece will have no choice because of the massive debt which they are victims.

The subject remains taboo in Europe and all rumors or press reports suggesting that eventuality, including Germany, are immediately denied.

"This will cause" terrible injuries ", held Friday a senior European official. This option was again rejected Thursday by the Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou.

"We're not trying to direct us towards a restructuring. We have a very clear path, a roadmap out of our debt problem," saidPapandreou before an audience of decision makers from around the world during the 41st World Economic Forum (WEF).

Greece, recalled his Prime Minister, did what was necessary, and it now has the solidarity of its partners. "This is not only of Greece, not even of solidarity, it concerns the conditions for stability" in Europe, argued on this subject a high EU official.

But solidarity is organized around the Fiscal Stabilization Fund, created last spring, and which must be sustained in 2013. But then again, opinions differ.Some European officials recommended a doubling in private, citing the need for "liquidity, massively beyond what is necessary" to calm markets.

It now has 440 billion euros in loan guarantees, a lending capacity of about 250 billion. European Commissioner for Economic Affairs, Olli Rehn confirmed Friday in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that lending capacity would be increased, but not the total amount.

A decision is expected in March, during an EU summit.

The ultimate path that would forget the debt crisis, is that of growth.But Europeans are still lagging behind with a modest increase of 1.5% expected in 2011 in the euro area, against 4.4% for the entire planet, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).