TUNISIE - La fuite chaotique de Ben Ali
LE POINT: Le chef d'État tunisien, qui a quitté son pays vendredi en fin d'après-midi, a atterri à Djeddah, en Arabie saoudite, dans la nuit de vendredi à samedi.

Le chef d'État a quitté son pays, vendredi, au terme d'un mois d'émeutes. Photo : Le Point
Le président Ben Ali, en fuite, a finalement atterri à Djeddah en Arabie saoudite. Cette annonce fait suite à un énorme imbroglio autour de la destination de Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. Peu de temps auparavant, on annonçait qu'un avion, supposé être celui du président tunisien, faisait escale à Cagliari en Sardaigne pour faire le plein de kérosène. Mais, coup de théâtre, selon des sources gouvernementales italiennes, Ben Ali n'était pas à bord. >>> Le Point.fr | Vendredi 14 Janvier 2011

"Der Ceausescu der Sanddünen"
SUEDDEUTSCHE: Betonhart und unerschütterlich erschien die Herrschaft des 74-jährigen Ben Ali bis vor wenigen Tagen. Doch das tunesische Volk hatte die Nase von ihm und seinem Regime voll.

Spötter nannten Tunesiens langjährigen Präsidenten "den Ceausescu der Sanddünen", denn so betonhart und unerschütterlich wie einst die Diktatur des Rumänen erschien die Herrschaft des 74-jährigen Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali noch bis vor wenigen Tagen. Bei seinem Amtsantritt vor 23 Jahren hatte Ben Ali einst "Demokratie" versprochen. Doch nach einer kurzen Periode der Öffnung baute der vormalige Geheimdienstchef sein Land rasch zum perfekten Polizeistaat aus. "Ich weiß alles, bin über alles auf dem Laufenden", lautet ein oft zitiertes Wort des Informatik-Fanatikers.

Dass sein Volk die Nase von seinem Regime voll hatte - das aber wollte er lange nicht wahrhaben. Nach Massenprotesten und Dutzenden von Toten war der Druck nun so groß geworden, dass Ben Ali reagieren musste: Am Freitag entließ er seine Regierung und kündigte Neuwahlen an. Er selbst wollte da eigentlich noch bis zum Ende seiner letzten Amtszeit, bis 2014, die Geschicke des Landes lenken. Am Abend aber teilte das Staatsfernsehen in Tunis mit, Ben Ali sei zurückgetreten und habe das Land verlassen. >>> Von Rudolph Chimelli | Freitag, 14. Januar 2011

Ronald Reagan's Son Claims His Father Had Alzheimer's While in the White House
MAIL ONLINE: Former President Ronald Reagan would have been 100 years old on February 6, and in celebration of the centennial, his youngest son Ron has released a new book about his father.

Titled Ron Reagan - My Father at 100, Ron suggests in the new tome that his father suffered from Alzheimer's disease while in the White House.

'Had the diagnosis been made in, say, 1987, would he have stepped down?', Ron asks in the book released next Tuesday. 'I believe he would have'.

In excerpts of the memoir released by U.S. News, Ron says he saw hints of confusion and 'an out-of-touch president' during the 1984 campaign and again in 1986 where he claimed his father could not remember the names of the familiar California canyons he was flying over.

Mr Reagan was formally diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in August 1994 at the age of 83.

But while some people suggested they knew Reagan had the disease while in office, his four White House doctors said they saw no evidence of it.

52-year-old Ron writes in the memoir that doctors have more of an understanding of the disease now than back when his father was diagnosed and appreciate that the signs of the disease can be in evidence before it is acutally recognised.

'The question, then, of whether my father suffered from the beginning stages of Alzheimer's while in office more or less answers itself', Ron writes. >>> Daily Mail Reporter | Friday, January 14, 2011

Marine Le Pen Posing a Growing Threat to Nicolas Sarkozy
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: France's National Front is set to widen its support base if Marine Le Pen is chosen to succeed her father as the far-Right party's new leader this weekend, posing a growing threat to President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Marine Le Pen is candidate for the Front National presidency against FN second vice-president Bruno Gollnisch. Photo: The Daily Telegraph

The 42-year old mother of three is the runaway favourite to succeed her 82-year-old father Jean-Marie Le Pen, who founded the National Front (FN) in 1972 and will remain its honorary president.

On Friday, vote counting took place from a mail ballot among the FN's 24,000 members and the official result is due to be announced on Sunday at a party congress in Tours.

The firebrand Mr Le Pen was in no doubt of the outcome. "I have been unable to enact the programme that I believe salutatory for France, (but) the second stage of the Le Pen rocket is Marine," he told Le Parisien.

His daughter is up against Bruno Gollnisch, 60, a white-haired, bookish euro MP who represents the party old guard, and whose supporters include ex-colonialists, anti-Semites and pagan white supremacists.

One FN party member told the Libération newspaper that a Gollnisch victory would "set the party back 30 years". "It would be the Soviet Union under Brezhnev," he said. >>> Henry Samuel, Paris | Friday, January 14, 2011

David Cameron: No 'Revenge' on Bankers
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Voters must stop seeking to “take revenge” on banks and accept they are vital to the economic recovery, David Cameron has said.

Mr Cameron said he understood public anger over bonuses. Photo: The Daily Telegraph
Signalling he is prepared to defy public opinion, the Prime Minister indicated he will reject demands for punitive action on bankers bonuses and admitted his approach could be unpopular.

Taxpayers are “rightly angry” about bankers getting huge bonuses, Mr Cameron said.

But he insisted he will not court short-term popularity by trying to “hammer” the financial sector.

Instead, he said, the Coalition will try to strike a balance between heeding calls to impose tough rules on the banks and allowing them to get on with lending to British businesses.

“It’s about getting the balance right. It’s not going to be easy and it won’t satisfy everybody,” Mr Cameron said.

"But we’ve got to try to work for that balance rather than just think, let’s take revenge on people because they’ve made us mad as hell."

City investment banks are beginning their bonus season, informing staff about their payments for 2010, with total bonuses expected to be £7 billion.

It emerged yesterday that JP Morgan, a US bank, will pay £1.87 billion in salary and bonuses to its London staff. They will enjoy an average payout of £234,180.

Other large payments will be announced in the coming weeks, including bonuses at state-owned RBS. >>> James Kirkup, Political Correspondent | Friday, January 14, 2011

THE SUNDAY TIMES: Golden goodbye for bank bosses: Outgoing chief executives at HSBC, Lloyds and Barclays will pocket millions from highly lucrative advisory contracts >>> Iain Dey | Sunday, January 16, 2011 (£)

Diana's Niece Charge Over McDonald's Drive-through Queue Rage Assault
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The niece of Diana, Princess of Wales, has been charged with assault in South Africa after a row over a place in the queue to a drive-through McDonald's burger bar.

Lady Amelia Spencer (right) with her twin sister Eliza. Photo: The Daily Telegraph
Lady Amelia Spencer, the daughter of Earl Spencer, the Princess’s brother, is due to appear in court in Cape Town next month over the incident in which a taxi passenger was allegedly knocked unconscious.

The 18-year-old is also understood to be pressing charges after herself allegedly being injured in the dispute which also involved a male friend.

Lady Amelia, who grew up in South Africa with her three siblings from the Earl’s first marriage, is said to have been angered after a taxi cut in in front of her as she waited in the queue at the drive-through in Cape Town on December 22.

She allegedly jumped out of her Mini Cooper car and banged the bodywork of taxi before getting involved in an angry verbal altercation with Ricci Cinti, one of the passengers.

A male friend who was sitting in the passenger seat of Lady Amelia’s car is said to have stepped out and joined in as the row turned into a stand-off on the road.

Mr Cinti, who was on crutches from a sports injury, is understood to have tripped, landed on the ground, hitting his head and briefly being knocked out. >>> John Bingham and Aislinn Laing | Friday, January 14, 2011

Aristocracy isn’t what it used to be: There was a time when ladies were real ladies, and gentlemen, real gentlemen. Today, ladies with titles have forgotten how to be ladies in reality. No longer, it seems. How sad! – © Mark

Motown's Martha Reeves 'Too Honest' for Detroit Politics
BBC HARDtalk: Martha Reeves was one of Motown's biggest stars. With the Vandellas, she enjoyed huge success with songs like Dancing in the Street and Jimmy Mack.

While the glory years for Motown and the city of Detroit ended long ago, Martha Reeves still tours the world.

From 2005 to 2009, she also entered politics and served as a councilwoman in Detroit. Martha Reeves tells Stephen Sackur why she feels she did not fit with politicians who, she says, "have to be dishonest". Watch BBC video >>> | Friday, January 14, 2011

Exit Ben Ali - But Can Tunisia Change?
BBC NEWS AFRICA: Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali came to power in 1987 through a constitutional coup and he appears to have been removed from power through a constitutional coup.

The key here on both occasions was not the constitution but the army.

In 1987 the army moved to secure stability as an increasingly senile and paranoid President Bourguiba threatened to bring the country to a political and economic crisis.

Today it has moved to restore that same stability by removing a president whose person and family have become synonymous with corruption, growing wealth disparities, and political repression.

The question now is whether the interim leadership council will be used to move the country towards a democratic future through meaningful political reforms, free and fair elections, a liberalised media and a new inclusive approach to rule, or whether this is a stalling tactic by the army and the regime elite to quell protests and then restore their grip on power. >>> Prof Emma Murphy*, Durham University | Friday, January 14, 2011

*Emma Murphy is a professor at the School of Government and International Affairs at Durham University and an expert on Tunisian affairs.

Le président Ben Ali a quitté la Tunisie et laissé le pouvoir à son ancien Premier ministre. Le mystère entoure la destination de l'ancien président tunisien. Photo : leParisien.fr
EN DIRECT. La France refuserait d'accueillir l'ex-président Ben Ali
lePARISIEN.fr: La Tunisie a connu vendredi une journée historique. Après un mois d'émeutes, le président Ben Ali a quitté le pouvoir et fui le pays. Mohammed Gannouchi, l'ancien Premier ministre, assurera la présidence par intérim jusqu'à des élections anticipées.

Revivez minute par minute le récit de cette journée. >>> leparisien.fr avec l’envoyé spécial du Parisien à Tunis, Pascal Lemal | Vendredi 14 Janvier 2011

Fresh Fierce Clashes in Tunisia as Cops Fire Tear Gas, Government Dismissed

Tunis: Police Snipers Killing

Channel 4: Tunisia in Turmoil

Arab Bloggers Cheer on Tunisia’s Revolution: فيديو: اليوم في العاصمة: النشيد الوطني التونس

For the Arab World, a Potent Lesson
THE NEW YORK TIMES: BAGHDAD — The reported departure of Tunisian President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, after popular protests in his North African country, electrified an Arab world whose residents have increasingly complained of governments that seem incapable of meeting their citizens’ demands and bereft of ideology save a motivation to perpetuate themselves in power.

“We hope that what happened in Tunisia could happen in other Arab countries where leaders and kings have rusted on their thrones,” said Abeer Madi al-Halabi, a newscaster on New TV, a Lebanese station that supports leftist causes.

Since their beginning, the protests have been closely followed by Arabic-language networks, as well as social networking sites, like Facebook and Twitter. Hours after Mr. Ben Ali’s departure, messages were posted to Facebook celebrating the fall of one of the Arab world’s heaviest handed dictatorships. >>> Anthony Shadid | Friday, January 14, 2011

Web News: Online Mobilization for Tunisia

PM Replaces Tunisia President
Photograph: Al Jazeera English
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH: President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali leaves country following violent clashes in the capital, Tunis.

Tunisia's long-standing president has left the country amid violent protests and the prime minister has taken over control of the government from him.

"Since the president [Zine El Abidine Ben Ali] is temporarily unable to exercise his duties, it has been decided that the prime minister will exercise temporarily the [presidential] duties," Mohammed Ghannouchi, the Tunisian prime minister, said on state television.

Ghannouchi is now the interim president.

Maltese air traffic controllers have told Al Jazeera that Ben Ali is bound for Paris.

During the televised address, prime minister Ghannouchi vowed to respect the constitution and restore stability, and called on citizens to "maintain patriotic spirit ... in order to brave through these difficult moments".

He also vowed to carry out inflation and unemployment redressal policies "exactly" as they had recently been announced by President Ben Ali. >>> Source: Agencies | Friday, January 14, 2011



Ben Ali a quitté la Tunisie, le premier ministre le remplace
Un portrait du dirigeant tunisien visible dans les rues de Tunis vendredi alors que manifestants et forces de l'ordre se sont de nouveau affrontés. Photo : Le Figaro
LE FIGARO: Le président tunisien serait en route pour la France, selon Al-Jazira, mais l'Elysée dit n'avoir «aucune information» à ce sujet. Le premier ministre assure l'intérim pendant une période indéterminée.

L'annonce de nouvelles élections législatives n'aura pas suffi à calmer les manifestants. Face aux troubles persistants, le président tunisien Zine El Abidine Ben Ali a quitté la Tunisie vendredi après-midi. Selon la chaîne de télévision Al-Jazira, il serait en route vers Paris, mais l'Elysée a affirmé vendredi n'avoir «pas d'information» à ce sujet.

Le premier ministre Mohammed Ghannouchi a annoncé dans la soirée à la télévision qu'il assurait l'intérim de la présidence car Ben Ali «n'est temporairement pas en mesure d'exercer ses responsabilités». Mohammed Ghannouchi a lancé à cette occasion un appel à l'unité des Tunisiens, toutes sensibilités confondues, et promis qu'il respecterait la Constitution. >>> Par lefigaro.fr | Vendredi 14 Janvier 2011

LE MONDE: "Des scènes inimaginables il y a quelques jours en Tunisie" >>> LeMonde pour Le Monde.fr | Vendredi 14 Janvier 2011

Ben Ali déserte la Tunisie après 23 ans de pouvoir
LE POINT: Le chef de l'État a quitté son pays, vendredi, au terme d'un mois d'émeutes sanglantes. Le Premier ministre assure l'intérim.

Montage : Le Point
La rue a été plus forte. Le président tunisien Ben Ali a quitté le pays, vendredi. Le Premier ministre Mohamed Ghannouchi a annoncé à la télévision qu'il assurait l'intérim de la présidence jusqu'à la tenue d'élections anticipées.

"Conformément à l'article 56 de la Constitution, j'assume à partir de cet instant la charge de président par intérim", a annoncé Mohamed Ghannouchi, 69 ans. Le nouveau président, filmé dans le palais présidentiel de Carthage, a lu sa déclaration debout, entouré par le président de la Chambre des députés, Fouad Mebazaa, et par celui de la Chambre des conseillers (Sénat), Abdallah Kallel. "Je m'engage à respecter la Constitution et à mettre en oeuvre toutes les réformes sociales et politiques qui ont été annoncées en collaboration avec les partis politiques et les composantes de la société civile", a-t-il déclaré.

Selon des sources proches de la présidence, le scrutin anticipé devrait être ouvert au multipartisme, une première depuis l'indépendance du pays, en 1956. >>> Le Point.fr | Vendredi 14 Janvier 2011

Watch Financial Times video Tunisia riots show a build-up of grievances >>>

Tunisia’s Ben Ali flees the country >>> Heba Saleh in Tunis | Thursday, January 13, 2011

Tunisia: Anti-government Protests Continue

Tunisia Unrest a Wake-up Call for the Region
THE GUARDIAN: Bloody street clashes in Tunis trigger fears of a domino effect that could shake other authoritarian states

A Tunisian demonstrator throws a rock after police fire tear gas during demonstrations in the capital, Tunis. Photograph: The Guardian
Echoes of Tunisia's unprecedented mass unrest are reverberating across the Arab world – which is watching in fascination as one of the most repressive regimes in the regions makes far-reaching concessions to people power.

Protests over rising food and fuel prices triggered emergency economic measures from Jordan to Libya and Morocco this week as dramatic scenes of street clashes in the small north African country fuelled official nervousness about a domino effect that could shake other authoritarian states short on jobs, hopes and freedoms.

"Every Arab leader is watching Tunisia in fear," tweeted one Egyptian commentator. "Every Arab citizen is watching Tunisia in hope and solidarity."

The impact of Tunisia's unrest is all the greater because Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali – known to his long-suffering subjects as "Ben A Vie" ("president for life") – had been seen as one of the most effective of Arab autocrats. His announcement on Wednesday that he will not stand for another term is a huge boost for reform, whatever happens next.

The obvious contrast is with Egypt, the most populous of Arab countries. Hosni Mubarak, 82, who like Ben Ali keeps Islamists firmly out of power and tolerates only weak secular opposition, is seeking another presidential term next year- when he will mark three decades in power.

If Ben Ali, 74, is on his way out, that will be a democratic advance and a ringing wake-up call for a region where a trend towards republican dynasties – in Syria, Libya and Egypt – sits alongside the hereditary monarchies and emirates of the Gulf and Morocco. >>> Ian Black, Middle East editor | Friday, January 14, 2011

Related here, here, here, here, and here

Tunesiens Präsident Ben Ali ist zurückgetreten
SUEDDEUTSCHE: Nach tagelangen blutigen Unruhen hat der autoritäre tunesische Präsident Ben Ali sein Amt aufgegeben und das Land verlassen. Zuvor hatte er die Regierung aufgelöst und den Ausnahmezustand ausgerufen. Das Militär hat den Flughafen der Hauptstadt Tunis abgeriegelt.

"Ben Ali, raus!" heißt es auf Protestplakaten in Tunis. Auch an diesem Freitag demonstrierten Tausende gegen den Präsidenten Ben Ali. Bild: Sueddeutsche
Tunesiens Präsident Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali hat nach tagelangen gewaltsamen Protesten gegen ihn das Land verlassen. Dies berichtete der Sender Al-Dschasira am Freitag. Ministerpräsident Mohamed Ghannouchi erklärte, er habe vorübergehend das Amt übernommen.

Er werde die Verfassung respektieren und die Stabilität im Land wiederherstellen. Der Präsident sei derzeit nicht in der Lage, sein Amt auszuüben. Zudem plane er vorgezogene Parlamentswahlen innerhalb der kommenden sechs Monate, hieß es in dem Bericht der amtlichen Nachrichtenagentur TAP weiter. Er äußerte sich jedoch nicht, ob er selbst zurücktreten werde.

Ben Ali hatte am Freitagnachmittag die Regierung aufgelöst, Neuwahlen innerhalb von sechs Monaten angekündigt und den Ausnahmezustand ausgerufen. Anschließend hatte die Armee die Kontrolle über den Flughafen der Hauptstadt übernommen und ihn abgeriegelt. >>> AFP/dpa/dapd/Reuters/liv/segi | Freitag, 14. Januar 2011

Tunisian President Forced from Power as State of Emergency Declared
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Tunisia's president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali forced out after days of rioting. as troops surround airport.

Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi has gone on state television to say he is assuming power in Tunisia.

The country's airspace was shut down as weeks of unrest escalated.

"I can confirm that the army is at the airport. Armoured vehicles are surrounding the airport," an official source said when asked about rumours that members of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's circle were about to flee the country. "The airspace is closed too."

Thomas Cook had begun to evacuate 1,800 tourists from Tunisia on Friday as the unrest that has killed at least 23 people spread.

Tunisian authorities released opposition leader Hamma Hammami of the banned Tunisian Workers' Communist Party, three days after arresting him, the party said in Paris.

Earlier, the Tunisian government declared a national state of emergency, banning public gatherings and authorising security forces to fire on anyone refusing to obey orders. >>> \ Friday, January 14, 2011

Tunesien: Soziale Unruhen sprengen Regierung
DIE PRESSE: Präsident Ben Ali beugt sich dem Druck der Massen und kündigt die Auflösung der Regierung an. Außerdem verhängt er den Ausnahmezustand über das ganze Land.

Unter dem Eindruck der entfesselten Volkswut hat der tunesische Langzeit-Machthaber Zine el Abidine Ben Ali am Freitag seine Regierung entlassen und vorgezogene Parlamentswahlen angesetzt. Außerdem hat das autoritäre Regime den Ausnahmezustand verhängt. Dieser gelte für das ganze Land. >>> Ag. | Freitag, 14. Januar 2011

EU entschuldigt sich bei Kirche für falschen Kalender
KRONEN ZEITUNG: EU-Kommissar John Dalli hat sich bei der Kirche für die Fehler bei der Erstellung des EU-Schülerkalenders entschuldigt. Die EU-Kommission hat fünf Millionen Euro für Kalender ausgegeben, in denen weder Weihnachten noch irgendein anderer christlicher Feiertag verzeichnet ist (siehe Infobox). Die Feiertage anderer großer Religionen sind in dem Kalender hingegen aufgeführt. >>> | Donnerstag, 13. Januar 2011