PRESIDENTIAL HAITIAN: Government calls for calm before the announcement of preliminary results

AFP - The Haitian government has appealed for calm Monday in a few hours of the announcement of preliminary results of the second round of the presidential election, fearing violence as those who had followed the results of the first round last December.

Secretary of State for Public Security, Aramick Louis, asked the candidates to urge their supporters "not to violent demonstrations in the streets," regardless of the result which would be announced at 17:00 am (2200 GMT), by spokesman for the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) Richard Dumel.

The second round was between March 20 popular singer Michel Martelly, poll favorite, the University Mirlande Manigat, a former first lady aged 70.

Without waiting for the official publication of results, both sides claimed victory in recent days.

The publication of preliminary results in early December of the first round ranking Michel Martelly, 50, in third place - and thus excluding the second round - had thrown thousands of demonstrators in the streets for several days.

Faced with an outburst of violence that left several people dead, the authorities had to review the results and had returned the singer in the race to the detriment of the government candidate, Jude Celestin.

For supporters of Michel Martelly, there is no doubt that the singer called "Tet Kale" ("shaved" in Creole) will succeed Rene Preval, who was constitutionally barred from claiming a third term.

"It is slow to give results, but the president is none other than Tet Kale," said a man listening to the radio on a street in Port-au-Prince, the capital devastated by an earthquake Earth in January 2010.

"At least we can go out tomorrow," replied another man sitting beside him, explaining that in the case of the announcement a victory for Ms. Manigat, there could be violence.

The PRC had announced last week that the consultation had been tainted by fraud and that several hundreds of minutes sent by different polling centers had been canceled.

Monday, schools remained closed in Cap-Haitien and Les Cayes, the country's largest cities after the capital Port-au-Prince, local radio reported.Les Cayes, a city where violent clashes had taken place particularly in December, armored MINUSTAH, the strength of peacekeeping to the UN, were in position in the streets, and vehicles of the Haitian police

The second round was marked, a few days before the consultation by the return to Haiti of former President Jean Bertrand Aristide, who remains very popular among disadvantaged seven years after being ousted in an armed insurrection, with the blessing France and the United States.

Two months earlier, was the former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier who had returned to the country after 25 years of exile in France."Baby Doc" was sued by the Haitian justice for corruption and embezzlement, while several complaints of crimes against humanity have been filed against him by former opponents to his regime.

Liveblogging: The Libyan insurgents seek a cease-fire under certain conditions

LIBYA: The insurgents are ready for a cease-fire under certain conditions, announced the National Transitional Council (CNT) as the forces of Muammar Gaddafi have consolidated their positions in eastern Libya, especially in south 'Ajdabiya (160 km south of Benghazi). SYRIA: Protests against the ruling Baath Party erupted in Damascus and Latakia Deraa after Friday prayers despite the announcements and promises of power to try to calm the situation. At least 4 people were killed. YEMEN: Supporters and opponents of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh have mobilized massively in Sanaa on Friday when security forces and the army deployed an unprecedented fear of clashes between rival groups.

To follow the events from a smartphone, click here.

INTERNET: The "hacker" that Iran wanted to avenge Stuxnet

He presents himself as a young Iranian 21 years, calls himself ComodoHack and launched last week, a cyber attack that would "potentially could undermine the trust we place on the Internet," in the words of Lawrence Heslaut, responsible for security at Symantec France.

In a message posted Friday on the Web, ComodoHack said he wanted "revenge operation Stuxnet led by the United States and Israel against Iran's nuclear power plants last summer.In broken English, the young man, who claims to have "the capacity of 1 000 hackers gathered," promised that he would attack other computer using the same modus operandi.

What did he do exactly? ComodoHack is one of the first hacker to have managed the feat of creating digital certificates authentication system by hacking Comodo, one of the leading companies in the closed world of certification.

Gmail, Skype or Yahoo

Comodo, like Verisign or RSA, to validate the identity of secure sites whose addresses begin with "https."Without certification, there is no evidence, for example, a site selling online has not been established by a small malignant eager to retrieve the data bank of a surfer.

Motivated more by politics than profit, the hacker Iranian authentication certificates issued on behalf of Comodo for Gmail, Yahoo Mail or Skype, instant messaging popular with opponents of the regime in Tehran. With these certificates usurped, cybercriminals was able to create fake Gmail and Skype conversations which he recovered and personal data of users fooled.An amount of information it could then sell to the highest bidder or give generously to the Iranian authorities.

By last weekend, Microsoft, Mozilla (Firefox), Google had, in an emergency, to update their browser to identify and banish the Net certificates. Still, the attack proved that the security of commercial transactions and the confidentiality of conversations is to be engraved in stone digital. Lawrence Heslaut even sees one of the major trends in cybercrime: "Today, criminals are doing everything to confuse the issue between what is true and what is wrong on the Internet."

LIBYA: NATO called to take command of the military intervention

AFP - The international coalition has stepped up pressure Thursday on Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, with new air strikes, when the NATO countries were an agreement to take over military command of operations.

According to a preliminary assessment submitted by a spokesman for the Libyan regime, the raids of the coalition were "about 100 deaths" among civilians since the offensive began March 19.

For its part, the military commander of the coalition, General Carter Ham, said he did not "make sure there were no civilian casualties"."But we're very, very precise and selective in our targets," he said.

The Libyan authorities have indicated they expect raids on centers of telecommunications and broadcasting services in the evening, based on "intelligence information".

In the morning, France had said that the coalition would "continue the air strikes" on military targets, "the time".

On Thursday, a plane of the Libyan forces was destroyed on the ground by a French fighter plane in Misrata (200 km east of Tripoli), said the staff of the armies in Paris.

The coalition has also targeted the region Tajoura, about thirty miles east of Tripoli, according to residents.State television confirmed that "civilians and military sites" of this region had been the target of raids.

In Tripoli, the firing of air defense and several loud explosions were heard Thursday morning and evening, according to an AFP journalist.

The DCA went into action from 1900 GMT and at least one explosion was heard from the center of Tripoli.Two explosions were heard also in Tajoura (30 km from the capital), where a column of smoke coming from a site undetermined.

State television later reported that "civilian and military sites in Tripoli and Tajoura" were targets of "long-range missiles."

The coalition had conducted the night of Wednesday to Thursday of intensive air raids Sabha (750 km south of Tripoli), according to residents.The city, stronghold of the tribe of Gaddafi, is home to several military sites.

Fighting between pro-and anti-Gaddafi also continued in several cities, including Misrata.

The loyalist forces have killed 109 people and injured more than 1,300 since the start of their offensive last Friday, told AFP a doctor.

Snipers were firing on pro-Qaddafi in the afternoon from the roofs of buildings and gunfire rang out, said a spokesman for the rebels.

The coalition strikes were conducted Wednesday against Gaddafi's troops on the ground including Misrata third largest city.

Nearly Ajdabiya, 160 km south of Benghazi, the rebel stronghold in the east, a large number of insurgents were advancing quickly to regain control of this key city, according to an AFP journalist.Fighting was taking place within the city between rebels and pro-Gaddafi.

According to a spokesman for the insurgents in Benghazi, Ahmed Omar Bani, some pro-Gaddafi to Ajdabiya are "ready to go" and the insurgents communicate with them through religious leaders in mosques.

After negotiations with forceps, the NATO countries have reached an agreement in principle to take over military command of operations, replacing the coalition led by France, Great Britain and the United States.

NATO was currently charged with monitoring the embargo on arms sales to Libya.

"The NATO countries agree to start (the process) that will allow him to take over from the coalition on Monday or Tuesday," said one diplomat told AFP.

However, all details remained unresolved. Because Turkey is unhappy with the operating rules prescribed for the no-fly zone, to avoid stressing the bombing against ground targets, according to another diplomat.

Many Western countries insisted that NATO take over completely. But France, fearful of alienating Arab opinion, and anxious to keep a room for strikes without having to always seek the endorsement of NATO countries, has long been very reserved.

According to Paris, the "political leadership" of the intervention will remain outside NATO.It will be ensured by a "contact group" of countries participating in separate transactions, including the Arab League and African Union (AU).

The first meeting of this group is scheduled for Tuesday in London, attended by the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

"More than 350 aircraft" in the coalition are involved in air operations, including just over half are American, said a senior Pentagon official, who said the United States called the Libyan military to "stop to fight "against their own countrymen, and not to obey the orders of Colonel Gaddafi.

The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon lamented his side that the Libyan authorities had taken no steps to fulfill their obligations under the resolution adopted by the Security Council, arguing that violations of human rights, man continued.

The AU called on Friday in Addis Ababa, representatives of Muammar Gaddafi and the rebels to discuss a cease-fire.

Colonel Gaddafi, in power for 42 years, faces from 15 February to a revolt that has left hundreds dead and forced more than 300,000 people to flee.

Here are liveblogging the events of Thursday, March 24 provided by the editors.

CHINA: Beijing acknowledges discontent and wants to tackle inflation

Premier Wen Jiabao said Saturday that his government's priority was to fight against inflation and a recognized public discontent, while setting a growth target of 8% for 2011, in a speech to parliament.

"We have to consider price stability as the priority of our macro-economic control," said the head of government before the nearly 3,000 delegates to the NPC, met for ten days in the Chinese capital, according to the translation his official speech in French.

He described the price rise and inflation expectations "problems which are closely the standard of living of the population, the overall situation and stability of the country."

The aim of rising consumer prices, which reached 4.9% in January over one year was set at "4%" for 2011, against 3% last year, while the objective of growth of gross domestic product (GDP) was maintained at 8%.

China's GDP in 2010 became the world's second largest behind the United States, surpassing that of Japan.

This year, the Chinese government "will continue to pursue a policy of recovery", but by reducing the budget deficit will be contained in "about 2% of GDP."

Priority spending will be devoted to "rural development", "to improve the level of the population and develop the social sectors," according to this discourse that determines the main directions for the country's official year.

"Some issues are subject to strong reactions among the population have not been completely resolved," admitted the Prime Minister.

"The educational resources and lack of quality medical and their distribution is uneven," he detailed.

"The property prices have experienced an excessive increase in some cities," continued Mr.Wen wants to boost the construction of social housing.

He further stressed that "social contradictions raised by the illegal requisition of land and demolition of illegal houses have multiplied," that "food security is poor" and that "some sectors are vulnerable to corruption."

China also wants to continue to "improve the formation mechanism of RMB exchange rate," considered undervalued by its major trading partners, but without making any specific commitments.

Always fight against inflation, it wants to implement "a prudent monetary policy" by limiting to 16% increase in money supply M2 (broad money comprising currency in circulation, deposit accounts and accounts of savings).

The National Popular Assembly (ANP) is the largest parliament in the world. She just basically endorse Communist Party projects and the government.

This body meets only once a year in plenary session for ten days in March.

LIBYA: Police fire on protesters in Tripoli

Forces loyal to the Libyan regime of Muammar Gaddafi opened fire in broad daylight on protesters Friday in Tripoli after the announcement by the opposition of "liberation" of Eastern countries, the international community to stop hurrying bloodshed.

The 11th day of the bloody revolt against the tottering power of M.Gaddafi has accused his opponents of being guided by Al Qaeda, the initiatives are increasing: UN meeting, proposals for sanctions, embargo and establishing a no-fly zone.

The challenge extends west from Tripoli to Benghazi, 1000 km east of the capital, in cities or close to the coastal shores of the Mediterranean, the vast majority of the country, 93% desert, being spared by the fighting.

But while the eastern oil is in the hands of organized armed opposition to a possible step toward Tripoli, Gadhafi pro-government forces fired on protesters in eastern districts of the capital, causing casualties, according to witnesses reached by telephone.

"The police opened fire on protesters without distinction. There are dead in the streets of Soug Al Jomaa," said one resident told AFP.

Other witnesses of suburban neighborhoods, like Ben Achour and Fachloum, reported "heavy fire upon all who are in the street."Similar scenes take place Ghout Achaal in the west of the city.

"They fired on unarmed civilians leaving the prayer," he told AFP capita residential qartier Ben Achour.

The police had deployed around several mosques to prevent demonstrations, witnesses said.

Hundreds of people Tajoura, a neighborhood in Tripoli, protesting against the regime, according to witnesses.

Proponents of the "Guide" in power for over 40 years are concentrated in Tripoli, where the militia would have Khamis than 9,000 fighters, tanks and aircraft, according to unconfirmed reports.

Sign that power seeks to stem the wave of protest, the official Libyan television announced an $ 400 Libyan families, and the 150% increase of salaries of certain officials.

At Tobruk in the east, an event attended by a thousand people. The protesters waved flags of the Libyan monarchy of King Idris Sanusi who has become a symbol of the insurgency. "Free Libya, Gaddafi outside," "The people want the fall of the regime," they have launched.

Musratha third largest city, about 150 km east of Tripoli, was deserted by loyalists to Mr.Gaddafi, but clashes took place on an air base nearby that have caused many deaths, "said one resident told AFP.

Heavy fighting murderers had opposed these days Musratha supporters of the regime "supported by African mercenaries" and protesters, according to several witnesses.

To the west of Tripoli, in the city of Zawiyah (60 km), "terrorists" have murdered several soldiers, according to state news agency Jana, while the newspaper based in Benghazi Libya Quryna 23 people were killed in the assault by security forces against the city.

That the inhabitants of this town spoke Thursday Mr.Gaddafi charged that AA in an audio message on television, Al Qaeda orchestrating the insurgency by giving his view of "hallucinogenic pills" to opponents.

Two days earlier he had vowed to suppress the insurgency, warning of possible "butcher".The violence has already caused several hundred deaths, from 300 to a thousand different sources.

Abroad, the outrage is growing against his regime, increasingly isolated after being abandoned by his peers and several relatives and Arab diplomats, including ambassadors to Libya and UNESCO Paris, and al-Gaddafi -Dam, close adviser and cousin of Colonel Gaddafi.

Paris and London have proposed to the Security Council of the United Nations which meets at 20:00 GMT in New York a draft resolution calling for "a total embargo on arms," "sanctions," and "referral to the ICC for crimes against humanity, "the French foreign minister Michele Alliot-Marie.

The countries of the European Union and NATO are preparing also to establish a no-fly zone to prohibit Libya Libyan military planes to fly, if the UN gives green light, according to a diplomat.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay expressed concern over "brutal and shocking situation."

Faced with the chaos in Libya, evacuations in difficult conditions by land, sea and air continues, several European countries, foremost among them Italy concerned about a humanitarian crisis due to the exodus of tens of thousands foreigners and Libyans.

The World Food Programme UN has warned that the food supply chain in Libya "was in danger of collapse."Food imports can no longer in ports and distribution is compromised because of the violence.

MOROCCO: Five persons died on the fringes of protests in the city of Al-Hoceima

Five people were killed and 128 were injured, including 115 members of security forces, during disturbances that followed the events, otherwise largely peaceful, which took place Sunday to Morocco, officials said Monday.

"The charred bodies of five people were found inside one of the bank branches burned by the troublemakers in the town of Al Hoceima" in the north, "said Interior Minister Taib Cherkaoui In a statement to press.

An investigation is underway, added the minister, adding that 120 people were arrested following disturbances in a half-dozen Moroccan cities.Minors arrested were handed over to their families.

Thousands of people marched Sunday in several cities in Morocco to demand political reform and limiting the powers of the king, responding to a call at home by young people on Facebook and taken up by various NGOs and organizations.

The interior minister argued that "democratic practice" of Morocco and the "right to freedom of expression in the country", have ensured that the demonstrations Sunday "took place in a peaceful atmosphere imbued serenity and discipline. "

The minister said some 37,000 people have participated in these gatherings.

But trouble erupted after demonstrations in the cities of Tangier, Tetouan, Larache, Al Hoceima in the north and Marrakech in the south Guelmin well as Sefrou (center).The Minister attributed the violence to "troublemakers, including minors and habitual criminals."

A Larache, the "troublemakers," he said, have invested a customs building and seized drugs and liquor that were seized by customs.

Cherkaoui has finally stated that 33 public buildings, 24 banks, 50 shops and private buildings and 66 vehicles were burned or damaged.