The EU should be stronger and more united. Great Britain should belong to the Union.
Die EU sollte stärker und geeinter sein. Großbritannien sollte der Union angehören.
L'UE devrait être plus forte et plus unie. La Grande-Bretagne devrait appartenir à l'Union.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
La Tunisie, un avertissement pour d'autres pays arabes
Des Egyptiens manifestent devant l'ambassade de Tunis au Caire, brandissant des pancartes où l'on peut lire : «Révolution en Tunisie, demain en Egypte». Photo : Le Figaro
LE FIGARO: Certains spécialistes estiment que la «Révolution du jasmin» pourrait créer un effet d'entraînement dans les régimes autoritaires de la région. Mais des disparités locales demeurent.
Faut-il y voir un signe ? Les journaux du monde arabophone étaient nombreux, ce samedi, à saluer le départ du président tunisien Ben Ali sous la pression de la rue. «La révolte populaire des Tunisiens est à présent le nouveau phare du monde arabe», estimait le quotidien algérien El-Watan, tandis que le libanais An-Nahar prévoyait des répercussions « dans plus d'un pays de la région». Vendredi soir, des dizaines d'Egyptiens se sont joints au Caire à un groupe de Tunisiens pour célébrer le départ de Ben Ali, scandant «Ecoutez les Tunisiens, c'est votre tour les Egyptiens !»
Samedi, hormis quelques pays comme l'Egypte ou le Qatar, la plupart des gouvernements arabes restaient prudents ou silencieux samedi après la chute du président tunisien.>>> Par lefigaro.fr | Samedi 15 Janvier 2011
Tunisia Riots: Fears Mount Over Violent Power Struggle
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Armed gangs loyal to Tunisia's ousted president began random shooting sprees on the streets, raising fears that the country's pro-democracy uprising could erupt into a violent power struggle.
As thousands of British holidaymakers fled the North African nation, its cities echoed to the sound of gunfire and looters continued to go on the rampage, despite a heavy security presence.
In the capital, Tunis, gunmen in plain clothes drove around spraying the streets with bullets, in an apparent effort to intimidate protesters off the streets.
At least two people were believed to have been killed, with eyewitnesses reporting bodies left lying in a city centre square. Senior Tunisian military sources said the gunmen belonged to factions still loyal to the country's strongman leader, President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, who fled to Saudi Arabia on Friday night.
"It is certain the presidential police are behind all this," added Taoufik Ayachi, a Tunisian analyst. "They still hope to regain power."
In a symbolic celebration of the end of Mr Ben Ali's rule, cheering crowds tore a portrait of the former president outside the headquarters of his ruling party on Mohamed V Avenue in the centre of Tunis.
"We are very happy to be free after 23 years of prison," said Fahmi Bouraoui, who was drinking coffee in the Mozart cafe, one of a few businesses that re-opened on Saturday morning.
But others feared that such optimism could be short-lived as large parts of the country descended in to chaos. >>> Colin Freeman and Robert Mendick | Saturday, January 15, 2011
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH – EXTRACT: The shooting of Gabrielle Giffords shows why it is time to rethink America's gun laws, says Harold Evans.
…
A law-abiding American citizen is far more likely to die with a bullet in his body than a British citizen. All the comparable Western countries with reasonable gun laws have long had vastly fewer gun homicides. The murder rate per 100,000 people for the US is 5.2. For Australia it is 0.07, for Japan, 0.05, and for the UK 0.06.
THE INDEPENDENT: Rioters burned the Tunisian capital's main train station to the ground and sacked and looted shops in a wave of unrest after the North African nation's president was forced from power by protesters.
The departure of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali after 23 years of iron-fisted rule — demanded by protesters — appeared not to be enough to quell the unrest over soaring unemployment and corruption that has swept Tunisia for nearly a month.
An Associated Press photographer saw soldiers intervening this morning to try to stop looters from sacking a huge supermarket in the Ariana area, 20 miles north of the capital.
A helicopter circled low over the capital, apparently acting as a spotter for fires or pillaging. Gunfire was heard crackling anew in the mid-morning. >>> Elaine Ganley and Ben Bouazza, Associated Press | Saturday, January 15, 2011
Patrick Cockburn: Troubles Like These Are Brewing All Over the Middle East
THE INDEPENDENT: Is it a real revolution in Tunisia or will another member of the ruling elite succeed in replacing President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali who took flight yesterday?
It is a crucial question for the rest of the Arab world where other corrupt police states face the same political, social and economic problems as Tunisia.
A striking feature of the whole Middle East for more than 30 years has been the unpopularity of the regimes combined with their depressing ability to stay in power. Most have found ways of preventing revolutions or military coup d'etats through ferocious security services protecting rickety state machines that mainly function as a source of jobs and patronage.
In Tunisia, Mr Ben Ali, along with other Arab leaders, presented himself as an opponent of Muslim fundamentalism and therefore won tolerance if not plaudits in Western capitals.
But the revolution that is brewing across the Middle East is of a traditional model springing from high unemployment, particularly among better educated young men, and a ruling class unable to resolve any of their countries' economic problems. The most obvious parallel with Tunisia is Egypt where the sclerotic regime of President Hosni Mubarak clings to power. Read on and comment >>> Patrick Cockburn | Saturday, January 15, 2011
As Tunisia Events Play Out Live, The Middle East Watches Warily
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Middle East governments watched uneasily as events in Tunisia snowballed to a stunning climax Friday, while millions of their citizens followed on satellite television and the Internet the sudden departure of Tunisia's long-time leader amid growing street protests.
Tunisia's strong-man president, President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, fled the North African country yesterday after a month of popular protests gained strong momentum in recent days. His departure was broadcast to the region across a collection of media outlets, such as al Jazeera, that hardly existed a decade ago, as well as on the Internet and social networks such as Twitter and Facebook.
Scores of Arab Facebook users have changed their profile pictures to the Tunisian flag and sent congratulatory messages to the Tunisian people. One message asked, "can we Egyptians dare to dream of freedom next?"
Immediate official reaction was limited around the region. Qatar, a small Gulf emirate that has tried to exercise a voice in the region despite its tiny population, released a statement saying: "Qatar respects the will and wishes of the Tunisian people."
Response from other regional players was muted. Some of these countries, especially Egypt, Syria and Iran, share similar festering social and economic problems similar to those in Tunisia: high youth unemployment, lack of affordable housing and political freedom.
Last week in Algeria crowds of young people rioted over rising food prices and concerns about jobs. On Tuesday, the Jordanian government attempted to pre-empt possible public outcry by cutting fuel taxes and imposing food price controls. And on Wednesday, Egypt's trade minister was quoted in local press as saying he ruled out a "Tunisia Scenario" in his country.
On Thursday, the Arab League held a hastily called special session on the developments in Tunisia during their regular meeting in Qatar, reflecting concern about the instability there, according to an Arab official.
Mr. Ben Ali arrived early Saturday in Saudi Arabia, after what appeared to be a scramble to find a country to host him. >>> Margaret Coker, Summer Said and Jay Solomon | Friday, January 14, 2011
Jordanians March Against Inflation
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH: Thousands vent anger in Amman and other cities against government's inability to rein in prices and poverty.
Thousands of Jordanians have taken to the streets of the capital Amman and other cities to protest against rising commodity prices, unemployment and poverty.
The protesters are calling on the government headed by Samir Rifai, the prime minister, to step down.
Demonstrators, including trade unionists and leftist party members, carried national flags and chanted anti-government slogans in downtown Amman.
They called Rifai a "coward" and demanded his resignation.
"Prices, particularly gasoline and food, are getting out of hand,'' Buthaina Iftial, a 24-year-old civil servant, said.
"We're becoming poorer every day,'' she said, holding a poster with a piece of Arabic flatbread attached.
Police and plainclothes officers formed rings around the demonstrators to contain the protests. There were no reports of arrests or violence. >>> Source: Agencies | Friday, January 14, 2011
Michael Bublé – Home (Spanish Subtitles)
Ben Ali trouve refuge en Arabie Saoudite
LIBÉRATION.fr: Le président tunisien en fuite Zine El Abidine Ben Ali est en Arabie Saoudite avec sa famille, a confirmé un communiqué du palais royal cité par l’agence officielle saoudienne SPA.
«Le gouvernement saoudien a accueilli le président Zine El Abidine Ben Ali et sa famille dans le royaume» et ce «en considération pour les circonstances exceptionnelles que traverse le peuple tunisien», indique le communiqué.
Son arrivée à Jeddah, une ville saoudienne sur la mer Rouge, avait été annoncée peu auparavant à l’AFP par une source saoudienne.
Ryad exprime «son soutien à toute mesure bénéfique au peuple tunisien frère» et apporte «sa solidarité totale avec ce peuple et espère la cohésion de tous ses enfants pour surmonter cette conjoncture difficile», selon le texte.
Plusieurs rumeurs avaient précédemment fait état de l’atterrissage de l’avion transportant le président en fuite à Malte, puis en Italie.
L’identité des membres de sa famille qui se trouvent avec lui en Arabie saoudite n’a pas été précisée. Selon des informations non confirmées, son épouse Leila Ben Ali serait arrivée avant lui à Dubaï où elle avait déjà séjourné fin décembre. >>> Source AFP | Samedi 15 Janvier 2011
* Jahiliyyah is the term used by Muslims to describe a state of pre-Islamic chaos.
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
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
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
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
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
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
AlJazeera English: Inside Story – Pakistan’s Blasphemy Law
Australia Floods: Residents Warned Against Entering Flooded Suburbs
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: As Brisbane's flood deadly dangers held a world class city its its grip, one man succumbed to an unfortunate ending.
Officials last night revealed that an unnamed 24-year-old man was swept into a storm drain while inspecting his father's flooded property in Durack, just south of the city, during the inundation.
The man's body was found by police after being washed through the drain and surfacing on the other side. He has not yet been named.
His death prompted Anna Bligh, the state's premier, to reissue warnings about entering the murky floodwater.
"Right now we don't want to see any more loss of life and we don't want to see any injuries," she said.
"I do understand how keen everybody is to get back into their houses, to go out and have a look at what's happened to their neighbourhoods but these are still rapidly moving, swirling, dangerous waters." >>> Bonnie Malkin, Brisbane | Thursday, January 13, 2011
PARIS MATCH: En réaction au mouvement de protestation inapaisable et sans précédent depuis qu'il est au pouvoir, le président tunisien Ben Ali a fait de nouvelles annonces, concernant des baisses de prix et les droits de l'Homme. Il a aussi promis qu'il ne se représenterait pas en 2014. Jour historique ou simple manipulation du pouvoir? Sur place, les réactions de Tunisiens se contredisent.
«Je vous ai compris», a rabâché Zine el Abidine Ben Ali tout au long de son discours. «Je comprends les Tunisiens, je comprends leurs demandes. Je suis triste de ce qui se passe aujourd'hui, après 50 années au service de ce pays, mon service militaire, tous les différents postes, 23 années de présidence», a déclaré le président tunisien, qui s'exprimait pour la troisième fois depuis le début des émeutes il y a près d’un mois. Quatre jours seulement après avoir pris la parole à la télévision nationale, annonçant tout une série de mesures pour résorber le taux de chômage –cause initiale de la colère du peuple-, notamment la création de 300 000 emplois avant la fin 2012, celui qui dirige le pays d’une main de fer depuis 1987 a réitéré, faute d’accalmie. Cette fois-ci, le président fondateur du Rassemblement constitutionnel démocratique (RCD) est allé beaucoup plus loin, annonçant qu'il ne briguerait pas un sixième mandat en 2014. «J'ai dit en 1987 qu'il n'y aurait pas de présidences à vie. Je le répète à présent: pas de présidences à vie, a-t-il lancé. Je refuse de toucher à la Constitution, je ne changerai pas l'âge inscrit dans la Constitution», à savoir 75 ans alors qu’il en a 74.
En outre, pour réagir aux protestations concernant la cherté de la vie, l’homme fort du pays a promis une baisse des prix sur les produits de première nécessité tels que le sucre, le lait et le pain. Autre mesure importante: après la mort de dizaines de manifestants abattus par la police, qui tire à balles réelles pour disperser la foule, Ben Ali a ordonné aux forces de l’ordre de cesser l’usage d’armes à feu contre les manifestants. S’exprimant en arabe tunisien plutôt qu’en arabe littéraire, ce qui est symbolique car contraire à ses habitudes, il a assuré qu’il n’avait pas été informé de la gravité de la situation, selon Afrik.com. En réponse enfin à l’énorme besoin de liberté qui s’est finalement exprimé dans les rues tunisiennes –alors que tout est partie de l’immolation par le feu d’un jeune diplômé désespéré par le marché de l’emploi- le chef d’Etat s’est engagé à faire respecter la liberté de la presse. Il a promis de rouvrir les sites qui avaient été fermés, et de laisser leur liberté d’expression aux opposants. >>> Marie Desnos, Parismatch.com | Vendredi 14. Janvier 2011
THE INDEPENDENT: The Liberal Democrats are making a final attempt to persuade David Cameron to rein in bankers' bonuses amid growing public anger over the imminent payout estimated at £7bn.
Liberal Democrat MPs believe that Mr Cameron, rather than the Chancellor, George Osborne, has emerged as the main obstacle to tough action against the bankers. They are furious that Downing Street signalled a climbdown this week while talks continued with the big banks on a new settlement covering bonuses and lending to small businesses and first-time buyers.
"You don't wave the white flag in the middle of tough negotiations," Baron Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay, a Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman, told The Independent yesterday. "This is the moment of truth on fairness for our Coalition. We can't allow a bonus bonanza in the age of austerity." >>> Andrew Grice, Political Editor | Friday, January 14, 2011
Tunisia Riots: Thomas Cook Evacuates Tourists
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Thomas Cook, the British tour operator, is evacuating about 1,800 tourists from Tunisia, as unrest spreads across the country.
The company said it had not seen any specific problems for travelers in Tunisia but was asking everyone to leave as a precaution. The evacuation, which was coupled with the cancellation of flights from Britain to Tunisia, was likely to hit the North African nation's tourism industry, a mainstay of its economy, hard. >>> | Friday, January 14, 2011
WikiLeaks Cables: Tunisia Blocks Site Reporting 'Hatred' of First Lady
THE GUARDIAN: US embassy warns Tunisian anger over corruption and unemployment, as well as 'intense dislike' for president's wife, threaten country's stability
Zine el Abidine Ben Ali and his wife, Leila Trabelsi. US embassy cables released by WikiLeaks said she was mocked by the president's opponents. Photograph: The Guardian
Tunisia has blocked the website of a Lebanese newspaper that published US cables released by WikiLeaks describing high-level corruption, a sclerotic regime, and deep hatred of President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali's wife and her family.
Deeply unflattering reports from the US embassy in Tunis, released by WikiLeaks, make no bones about the state of the small Maghreb country, widely considered one of the most repressive in a repressive region.
"The problem is clear," wrote ambassador Robert Godec in July 2009, in a secret dispatch released by Beirut's al-Akhbar newspaper. "Tunisia has been ruled by the same president for 22 years. He has no successor. And, while President Ben Ali deserves credit for continuing many of the progressive policies of President Bourguiba, he and his regime have lost touch with the Tunisian people. They tolerate no advice or criticism, whether domestic or international. Increasingly, they rely on the police for control and focus on preserving power.
"Corruption in the inner circle is growing. Even average Tunisians are now keenly aware of it, and the chorus of complaints is rising. Tunisians intensely dislike, even hate, first lady Leila Trabelsi and her family. In private, regime opponents mock her; even those close to the government express dismay at her reported behaviour. Meanwhile, anger is growing at Tunisia's high unemployment and regional inequities. As a consequence, the risks to the regime's long-term stability are increasing." >>> Ian Black, Middle East editor | Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Tunisia's Youth Finally Has Revolution on Its Mind
THE GUARDIAN: We've become used to gossiping about the regime and feeling that we're plotting. But now we see the time to rebel has come
I am part of the new generation that has lived in Tunisia under the absolute rule of President Ben Ali.
In high school and college, we are always afraid to talk politics: "There are reporters everywhere," we are told. Nobody dares discussing politics in public; everyone is suspicious. Your neighbour, your friend, your grocer might be Ben Ali's informer: do you or your father want to be forcibly taken to an undefined place one night at 4am?
We grow up with this fear of activism; we continue studying, going out and partying, regardless of politics.
During high school, we begin to find out the intricacies of the "royal" family and hear stories here and there – about a relative of Leila [Trabelsi, the president's wife] who took control of an industry, who has appropriated the land of another person, who dealt with the Italian mafia. We talk and discuss it among ourselves – everybody is aware of what's going on, but there is no action. We quickly learn that Tunisian television is the worst television that exists. Everything is relayed to the glory of President Ben Ali, who's always shown at his best. We all know he dyes his hair black. Nobody likes his wife, who has a wooden smile: she never seemed sincere. >>> Sam | Thursday, January 13, 2011
BBC: Hezbollah and its allies have threatened to quit the Lebanese cabinet unless their demands over a UN tribunal probing the murder of ex-premier Rafik Hariri are met.
The move would automatically bring down the government, ministers have warned.
Tension has been high in Lebanon, amid indications that Hezbollah members could be indicted by the UN tribunal.
The US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, told the BBC's Kim Ghattas that there was no reason to expect the tensions to lead to violent unrest.
Mrs Clinton said the US will "continue to support the integrity of an independent sovereign Lebanon". Watch BBC video >>> | Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Lebanon's Vines on the Frontline
It is estimated that Lebanon's winemaking tradition dates back 5,000 years. Photo: BBC
BBC: Lebanon's history dates back to Noah - the first winemaker mentioned in the Bible - and the winemaking tradition has defied many conflicts over the centuries.
One day not so long ago, I was driving from Damascus in Syria to Beirut.
After the border, the road winds down the Anti-Lebanon mountains. Ahead is the Bekaa Valley, laid out down below like a giant's play-mat.
On that morning, the road through the Bekaa was jammed.
The Lebanese army was rounding up some suspects and had put up a roadblock.
Dozens of soldiers with automatic weapons were outside a building and on the roofs opposite, while some of their colleagues pulled bearded, handcuffed men towards an army lorry.
The mood in the traffic jam was philosophical.
Military roadblocks and checkpoints are part of the scenery in Lebanon. So are contrasts that the Lebanese accept but which might surprise some foreigners. Almost Provence >>> Jeremy Bowen, BBC Middle East editor | Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Persecution of Muslim Converts to Christianity in Germany
Tunisia Riots: Reform or Be Overthrown, US Tells Arab States Amid Fresh Riots
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Riots by youths protesting against Tunisia's 50-year dictatorship clashed with police in the country's capital as the United States warned its Middle Eastern allies to reform or be overthrown.
Police in Tunis opened fire and shot tear gas in the air as stone-throwing youths breached a curfew and surrounded government buildings.
At least three people were reportedly killed, bringing to more than 60 the number said by human rights groups to have died in a wave of unrest in what was previously seen as one of the Arab world's most stable and prosperous countries.
Four more people had already been shot and killed in Tunis's suburbs on Wednesday night.
President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, 74, who has been in power since he overthrew his predecessor in 1987 sacked the interior minister on Wednesday but failed to quell calls for his resignation.
On Thursday night Mr Ben Ali attempted to pacify protesters by saying in a television address that he would not change the constitution to allow him to run again when his term expires in 2014. He also ordered his security forces to stop using firearms against protesters and said prices for sugar, milk and bread would be reduced.
However, as the president was speaking, promising an end to force, two people were killed as police opened fire on protesters, witnesses said.
Hillary Clinton ended a tour of the Gulf with a warning that leaders who failed to carry out political and economic reform risked being cast aside.
"In too many places, in too many ways, the region's foundations are sinking into the sand," she said.
"Those who cling to the status quo may be able to hold back the full impact of their countries' problems for a little while, but not forever.
"If leaders don't offer a positive vision and give young people meaningful ways to contribute, others will fill the vacuum."
Protests over unemployment and food prices have also broken out in Algeria, Jordan and even Saudi Arabia in recent weeks, all countries with a high proportion of young people, many well-educated but jobless. >>> Richard Spencer, Middle East Correspondent | Thursday, January 13, 2011
THE AUSTRALIAN: IN a modest office in the drab Paris suburb of Nanterre, a tall, confident blonde sketches out her hopes of beating Nicolas Sarkozy in the French presidential election early next year.
Marine Le Pen, 42, daughter of Jean-Marie, France's far-right bogeyman, is predicting coming second in the first round and knocking out the President in a replay of 2002 when her father stunned Europe by eliminating Lionel Jospin, the Socialist and favourite. "I think the surprise can be repeated and I am not the only one to think it," Ms Le Pen told The Times.
A few years ago, that would have sounded preposterous but the prospect is now serious, not least in the eyes of Mr Sarkozy's own camp as the unpopular President struggles to regain favour. Jean-Francois Cope, the new leader of Mr Sarkozy's Union for a Popular Movement (UMP), sees Le Pen fille as "a major danger for our political family and the political life of France".
A less frightening but still formidable version of Jean-Marie, 88, Ms Le Pen is to be anointed by a congress this weekend as leader of the party that her father founded in 1972. She will then launch a presidential campaign on a tide of popularity never seen by her rabble-rousing father.
With her softer, modern discourse, Ms Le Pen is enjoying a political windfall because the hobbyhorses of the National Front (FN) - Muslims, immigrant-related crime and globalisation - have gone mainstream. "Time has proved us right in a quite spectacular fashion," said Ms Le Pen. "Our old themes, opposition to the euro, the EU, immigration, have taken on a different light. People are saying that this party that was stigmatised was right." With a touch of the apocalypse beloved of her father she added: "This touches the future of European civilisation." >>> Charles Bremner, The Times | Friday, January 14, 2011
Imam Criticized for NY Mosque Embarks on U.S. Speaking Tour
Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf. Photo: Reuters
REUTERS: The New York imam whose proposed Muslim cultural center and mosque near "Ground Zero" has stirred opposition is embarking on a U.S. speaking tour where he intends to correct misperceptions about his aims.
"The sentiment around Muslims and Islam, about who we are and what we are about, is something that cannot wait and must be dealt with," Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf said.
"We want to make it clear who we are and where we stand," he said. "We are part of this narrative for the worse, and we need to be part of it for the better."
But opponents say Rauf's debut in Detroit on Saturday before the Islamic Society of North America is indicative of his extremism, and his tour of universities and religious institutions amounts to blatant fund-raising for a widely condemned project. >>> Andrew Smith, Chicago | Thursday, January 13, 2011
THE ECONOMIST: Most of the Arab media are glum about the prospect of South Sudan’s secession
THROUGH the lens of the Muslim Brotherhood’s slick Arabic-language website, the referendum on the future of South Sudan looks rather different from its portrayal elsewhere. The looming partition of Sudan is not, it says, the logical outcome of five decades of civil war. It is the fruition of a century-old Western ecclesiastical plot to close Islam’s gateway into Africa, and the start of a plan to break other Arab countries into feeble statelets so as to grab their riches. >>> Cairo | Thursday, January 13, 2011
Tunisie: levée de la censure sur les sites internet bloqués
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Les sites internet qui étaient bloqués en Tunisie, notamment Dailymotion et Youtube, étaient de nouveau accessibles jeudi soir, peu après la promesse du président Zine El Abidine Ben Ali de garantir "la liberté totale" de l'information et de l'accès à l'internet.
Des utilisateurs ont très vite célébré la disparition du censeur du ministère de l'Intérieur, qui se faisait appeler "Ammar 404". >>> AFP | Jeudi 13 Janvier 2011
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: More than 370 people have died and hundreds are feared dead as a result of floods and mudslides in Brazil in the worst natural disaster to hit the country for decades.
Three towns situated in the mountains north of Rio de Janeiro were devastated after up to 10 inches of rain - the equivalent of a month's rainfall - fell in 24 hours.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing cars, animals and human corpses carried away by torrents of water, while bodies recovered were stored in schools and churches.
Survivors in the towns of Nova Friburgo, Teresopolis and Petropolis tried desperately to claw away mud with their hands in a search for signs of life after the mudslides struck at around 3am (5am GMT) on Wednesday.
"We were like zombies, covered in mud, in the dark, digging and digging," said Geisa Carvalho, 19, of Teresopolis.
"The recovery of bodies doesn't seem to end," added Ricardo Figueiredo, 52, who has spent his summers in the area since he was born. "If you walk through the streets you see only expressions of desperation, people shouting, stretchers passing by." >>> Robin Yapp, São Paulo | Thursday, January 13, 2011
THE GUARDIAN: Ten thousand sign petition for rightwing talkshow host to be removed amid accusations that he has whipped up hatred in the wake of the Arizona shooting
Glenn Beck has had to defend his record. Photograph: The Guardian
A protest was staged against rightwing talkshow host Glenn Beck today, calling for his immediate removal from Fox News.
The organisers, Jewish Funds for Justice (JFSJ), a charity that campaigns for social change, delivered a petition with 10,000 signatures.
In the wake of the Tucson shooting, the TV and radio personality has had to defend his record against accusations that he has whipped up hatred within the public discourse.
For a media figure who has been variously lambasted as a liar, buffoon, clown, bigot and racist Beck is no stranger to the vitriol that currently passes in America as public debate. In fact, he's built a multimillion dollar empire out of it.
So the protest rally that was staged outside the News Corporation headquarters in New York today probably troubled him as much as water flowing off a duck's back.
The petition was part of a groundswell of opinion that when it comes to Beck, arguably the most extreme of America's multitude of rightwing talk hosts, enough is now enough. >>> Ed Pilkington in New York | Thursday, January 13, 2011
Paedophilia 'Culturally Accepted in South Afghanistan'
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: British forces were advised by a military study that paedophilia is widespread and culturally accepted in southern Afghanistan.
Older, powerful men boosted their social status by keeping boys as sexual playthings and the practice was celebrated in song and dance, a military study claimed.
British officers in Helmand requested the study to help them understand the sexual behaviour of locals and Afghan comrades after young soldiers became uneasy they were being propositioned.
American social scientists employed to help troops understand the local culture reported that homosexual sex was widespread among the Pashtun ethnic group in southern Afghanistan.
Strict separation of men and women, coupled with poverty and the significant expense of getting married, contributed to young men turning to each other for sexual companionship.
"To dismiss the existence of this dynamic out of desire to avoid western discomfort is to risk failing to comprehend an essential social force underlying Pashtun culture," the report said.
The study, called 'Pashtun Sexuality', said that as well as willing sex between young men, "boys are appreciated for physical beauty and apprenticed to older men for their sexual initiation". >>> Ben Farmer, Kabul | Thursday, January 13, 2011
