Court Puts Dominique Strauss-Kahn Under Investigation

Court Puts Dominique Strauss-Kahn Under Investigation

Photo: AP

Former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn (File)

A French court has placed former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn under formal investigation for alleged involvement in a prostitution ring.Strauss-Kahn posted a $133,000 bail to avoid sitting in jail while prosecutors pursue their case. A formal investigation in France is one step short of formal charges.

Prosecutors allege Strauss-Kahn helped supply prostitutes for business clients at a luxury hotel in the northern French city of Lille and had parties with the women.  

His lawyer accuses authorities of inventing the charges because of his fame.

Syria Accepts Annan Peace Plan

Syria Accepts Annan Peace Plan

Photo: AP

Former U.N. Secretary-General and special envoy to Syria Kofi Annan, left, meets with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the Great Hall of People in Beijing March 27, 2012.

International peace envoy Kofi Annan says Syria has accepted his plan to end violence in the country.

A spokesman for Annan said Tuesday Syria's response came in a letter to the U.N.-Arab League envoy.

Annan met with Chinese officials Tuesday in Beijing, including Premier Wen Jiabao, as China pledged to support his mediation efforts.

The plan calls on Syrian government forces and rebels to agree on a cease-fire and engage in dialogue. Endorsed by the U.N. Security Council, the blueprint does not include a Western and Arab demand for President Bashar al-Assad to resign - a requirement that Russia and China oppose.

U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes said Tuesday there is a basic structure in place to discuss with Russia and China what they can do to support Annan.

"I think we felt like we made some progress with regard to Syria in that, despite the differences that we've had -- and they continue with regard to Syria -- there is the framework for cooperation through the Kofi Annan initiative which, again, at the very least, provides a framework for stopping the violence, initiating greater humanitarian access to the people of Syria and initiating a transition in that country," Rhodes said. "Again, we believe very strongly that that transition has to involve Assad leaving power."

In Istanbul, Syrian opposition groups are meeting in an effort to forge a united front before a major conference April 1.  

Opposition member Bassam Jaara said Tuesday the meeting is an important dialogue between different sides of the opposition as they work to revise their structure.

"We want everyone to sign a declaration today produced by the Syrian National Council," he said. "It is a declaration that sets Syria's new identity after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, a Syria that is democratic, plural, civil and guarantees equality to all the Syrian people."

The goal, he said, is to agree to a declaration pledging a democratic Syria that guarantees equality to all Syrians.

Western and Arab nations calling themselves the "Friends of Syria" are due to meet Sunday in Istanbul to discuss support for the Syrian opposition's struggle to end decades of autocratic rule.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will attend the conference after meeting Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah and foreign ministers of five Gulf Arab states in Riyadh later this week. The State Department said Clinton's efforts at both gatherings will focus on ending Syria's bloodshed.

In Syria, activists say fighting killed at least eight people across the country Tuesday, including in the Damascus suburb of Douma, the flashpoint city of Homs and northern Idlib province.  Their reports could not be independently confirmed because Syria tightly restricts foreign reporting.

Fighting was also reported along Syria's border with Lebanon.

Syria's state news agency SANA said the country's parliament has called on Assad to consider delaying parliamentary elections scheduled for May 7 in order to allow for the outcome of a "national dialogue."

The election is part of what the government calls a series of reforms based on a new constitution approved by referendum in February.

The United Nations says more than 8,000 people have been killed in the Syrian government's crackdown on the uprising during the past year. Damascus blames the violence on what it says are foreign-backed terrorists.

Gunman shoots dead two UK troops in Afghanistan

A British soldier and Royal Marine have been shot dead by an Afghan army soldier, the Ministry of Defence says.

The gunman also injured a third UK serviceman when he opened fire at the British military HQ in Lashkar Gah in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan.

Nato said he was then shot dead when its soldiers returned fire.

The British soldier was from the Adjutant General's Corps (Staff & Personnel Support). Next of kin of both British servicemen have been told.

'Tragic event'

A total of 407 British troops have been killed in Afghanistan since military operations began in 2001.

In a separate incident, an International Security Assistance Force soldier has been shot dead by an "alleged member" of the Afghan police in eastern Afghanistan.

Announcing the two UK deaths in a statement to the Commons, Defence Secretary Phillip Hammond said: "Our thoughts, as ever, are with their families, for whom this will be a deeply personal tragedy.

"Details of the incident are still emerging but it appears that a member of the Afghan National Army opened fire at the entrance gate to the British headquarters in Lashkar Gar city, killing the two British service personnel.

"The assailant was killed by return fire."

Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said the victims were in the "thoughts of all of us".

Spokesman for the UK's Task Force Helmand, Maj Ian Lawrence, said: "The thoughts and condolences of everyone serving in the Task Force are with their families and friends."

Brig Gen Sherin Shah of the Afghan National Army said the attack, carried out by a member of the Fourth Kandak of 3-215 Brigade, was "a tragic event".

"The incident is still under investigation and it is unclear if the action was planned or influenced by the enemy or if he acted alone, either way it is with the deepest regret that two Isaf soldiers who came to our country to provide security are now dead," he said.

"I would like to convey my deepest condolences to the soldiers' families and the British Army and Royal Marines, especially Task Force Helmand, for their loss."

Earlier a spokesman for the governor of Helmand said the shooting followed a "verbal clash" between Afghan and Nato soldiers, and the Afghan involved was from Kunar province.

The Taliban have claimed that the gunman was "their man".

Tensions

The attack appears to be the latest in a number of "green on blue" incidents - where members of the Afghan security forces turn their weapons on their international colleagues or trainers.

Fifteen Nato military personnel, including eight Americans, have now been killed in such attacks so far this year.

The number of incidents peaked after the burning of Korans by US troops at base in February, which President Obama said was a "genuine mistake".

Tensions were further inflamed by the killing of 17 Afghan civilians, including nine children on 11 March by US Staff Sgt Robert Bales, 38, in their homes in Kandahar province.

Last month, a leaked Nato report said the shootings were a "systematic" problem, detailing widespread collaboration between the insurgents and Afghan police and military.

In the Commons, Mr Murphy questioned the procedures for vetting recruits to the Afghan security forces in light of the incidents.

Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey said "force protection" was kept under review, adding procedures had been changed in light of events.

The decision to partner UK troops with Afghan forces involved "a considerable degree of risk," he said.

But he added: "This is a risk that the last government was right to compute that it is worth taking and it's the only way, frankly, we are going to ingrain the necessary skills and culture into the Afghan forces and complete our mentoring task."

France election: Sarkozy vows ban on militant preachers

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has promised to ban militant Muslim preachers from entering the country.

The measure is part of a crackdown following recent attacks by a gunman who claimed to be a member of al-Qaeda.

Mr Sarkozy said he would not allow militant preachers to attend an Islamic conference due to take place in April.

The first round of the presidential election takes place next month, and Mr Sarkozy is neck and neck in the polls with Socialist rival Francois Hollande.

As part of a round of media interviews in the run up to the polls, he highlighted a forthcoming conference to be held by the Union of Islamic Organisations in France.

"There are certain people who have been invited to this congress who are not welcome on French soil," he said.

He singled out Youssef al-Qaradawi, an Egyptian Sunni Muslim cleric who is based in Qatar.

He holds a diplomatic passport, and requires no visa to enter France. But Mr Sarkozy says he has spoken to the Emir of Qatar, and the cleric will not be allowed to leave for France.

In the past Mr Qaradawi has defended Palestinian suicide bombers in Israel, and attacks on US forces in Iraq. He was denied entry to the UK in 2008.

Election campaign

Mr Sarkozy had been trailing in the opinion polls behind Mr Hollande.

But he has gained ground following the killing last week of Mohammed Merah, a self-proclaimed al-Qaeda supporter who murdered three paratroopers and four Jewish civilians in a series of shootings that shocked France.

In the immediate aftermath of Merah's death Mr Sarkozy announced plans to make it a crime to repeatedly consult internet sites advocating Islamic extremism, and to punish those who travel overseas for indoctrination or terrorist training.

He also attacked the far-right National Front candidate, Marine Le Pen.

She has attempted to link Merah's actions to immigration, but Mr Sarkozy said it made "no sense" to connect the crimes with either immigration or Islam, because Merah was born and brought up in France.

Vama s-a angajat la "omul care nu are nicio treaba cu fotbalul"! Reactia lui Gigi: "Sa suga mielul! E un vagabond!"

Gigi Becali si Dinu Gheorghe s-au certat in ultimul hal pana sa ajunga sa lucreze impreuna! Citeste aici cele mai aprige replici pe care le-au schimbat!

Dinu Gheorghe despre Gigi:

- "Omul asta nu are nicio treaba cu fotbalul, nu are nici o functie la Steaua, e suporter doar"

- "Gigi Becali vorbeste mai mult de jucatorii altor echipe, probabil ca fotbalistii lui nu au valoare, daca nu vorbeste de ei. Asta e Gigi Becali, atat gindeste el"

-"Gigi Becali e singurul personaj din fotbalul nostru care, indiferent ce spune, ramane nepedepsit"

"Declaratia lui Gigi Becali este aceea a unui amator. Nu se face asa ceva, sa te apuci sa vorbesti despre un fotbalist ca nu are valoare, ca de aia l-ai dat. Ce ar fi sa zic si eu acelasi lucru despre basculanta de jucatori pe care i-a luat el de la Urziceni. A spus ca isi taie capul? Mai bine sa mai taie o oaie!" 

Gigi Becali despre Dinu Gheorghe:

- "A zis Dinu Gheorghe sa tai o oaie? Atunci sa suga el mielul! Nu stau sa ma cert cu el, e sclavul lui Copos"

- "Vorbeste ca un vagabond! E un om care a capusat pe toata lumea"

 "Eu nu vorbesc despre cocaina din zarzavatul lui de la vama, da?!"

"Pe Dinu Gheorghe il credeam prieten, dar el in loc sa se apropie isi da importanta. E un dobitoc! Eu nu vreau cearta, vreau sa fiu prieten, dar cind incepe cu asemenea lucruri, poate-l injur, poate ca data viitoare cind il prind la cafenea il scuip. Si uite asa au devenit buni prieteni

Traian Băsescu: Boldea este localizat, nu avem interes să îl reținem în străinătate

Preşedintele Traian Băsescu a declarat azi că autoritățile române l-au localizat pe deputatul fugar Mihail Boldea. Președintele a precizat că statul român nu are interesul să fie reținut de autoritățlie străine ci, să se întoarcă în țară unde să fie arestat de cele din România. Dacă Boldea ar fi reținut de autoritățle străine, statul român ar trebui să declanșeze proceduri prin care să ceară prin ordin judecătoresc repatrierea lui Boldea, fapt ce ar putea îngreuna procesul.

Sursa: RĂZVAN VĂLCĂNEANȚU

Președintele Băsescu a spus că deputatul Mihail Boldea este "perfect localizat" şi că "în orice moment" se poate declanşa operaţiunea sa de reţinere. 
Preşedintele l-a contrazis pe ministrul de externe Cristian Diaconescu care afirmase că Boldea nu este o problemă importantă. "N-am să vă spun cum a spus ministrul de Externe că nu este o problemă importantă (cazul Boldea -n.r.). Este o problemă extrem de importantă pentru noi pentru că e vorba de un cetăţean român. Vă pot spune că este perfect localizat. În orice moment de poate declanşa operaţiunea de reţinere a sa", a declarat preşedintele Băsescu.

Traian Băsescu a susţinut, totodată, că o eventuală declanşare a operaţiunii de reţinere a deputatului Boldea nu este în interesul României deoarece ar putea atrage după sine posibilitatea ca Mihail Boldea să fie reţinut şi pus în detenţie pe teritoriul unui alt stat.

'Nu avem nici un interes să se producă o reţinere a domnului Boldea pentru că este în interesul nostru ca un cetăţean român, care a plecat legal, să fie protejat de riscurile arestării de către alte state, pus în detenţie şi să înceapă lungul proces de trimitere de acte pentru ca un judecător, mai devreme sau mai târziu, în funcţie de cum funcţionează justiţia, să îl extrădeze. Obiectivul nostru este ca domnul Boldea să vină prin intermediul autorităţilor române pentru a preveni o detenţie pe teritoriul unui stat străin', a mai explicat preşedintele.

Traian Băsescu a spus că "obiectivul" este ca deputatul fugar să fie adus în ţară prin intermediul autorităţilor române, pentru a preveni "detenţia în străinătate".

Iată cele mai importante declarații făcute de șeful statului:

• Vă pot spune că este  o inițiativă a  președintelui Obama , din 2009, care a  fost  andosată de Consiliul de Securitate ONU devenind un summmit de importanță majoră la nivelul ONUReprezintă  răspunsul adecvat la adresa  păcii și securității, amenințate de riscuri nucleare, militare și civile
• La summitul de la Seul vor participa  56 de delegații, atât naționale, cât și globale în general
• Principalele teme ale sumittului sunt legate de cooperarea internațională  privind  acordarea de asistență în gestionarea securității  nucleare, amenințări și capacități naționale de prevenire și combatere a riscurilor nucleare
• Unul din obiective: analizarea progreselor fiecărui stat de la primul summit.
• Aș vrea să fac câteva mențiuni legate de premisele  în care se desfășoară acest summit. Dacă privim derularea unor programe  nuclaere din unele state  precum Iranul sau Coreea de Nord. O altă premisă este  legată de creșterea  riscului utilizării armelor nucleare în conflictele  regionale.
• Un element important de mediu este legat de lipsa consensului la nivel global  privind întărirea regimului de neproliferare. Sunt multe state care nu au ratificat acest tratat.
• Alte realități ale lumii de azi, sunt legate de faptul că pe teritoriul unor state se află mii de  tone , deșeuri radiocative, Ele sunt gestionate în cea mai mare parte de firme  private, ceea ce mărește riscul ca aceste materiale să ajungă în mâna  teroriștilor.
• Obiectivele acestui summit sunt importante: Unul se referă la realizarea de progrese tangibile ale statelor față de 2010 , dar și la summt-ul din 2014 față de realitățile din 2012.Această notă de pragmatism  este  esențială.
• Promovarea de noi măsuri concrete pentru creșterea securității nucleare. La nivelul Europei se fac teste de stres la nivelul centralelor nucleare.
• Reconstruirea încrederii cetățenilor față de securitatea nucleară. Acest obiectiv este câștigat numai dacă statele  informează cu privire la nivelul de securitate cu privire la propriile instalații nucleare.
• Convenirea unor modalități de abordare a terorismului nuclear. Să avem grijă ca reziduurile rezultate în urma proceselor nucleare să nu ajungă în mâna unor grupări teroriste.
• Din UE au fost invitate  15 state printre care și România. Vă pot spune că România face parte din clubul celor 30 de state care dețin  tehnologia întregului ciclu al combustibulului nuclear.
• Cazul Boldea: este  o problemă extrem de importantă pentru noi. E  vorba despre un cetățean român. Vă pot spune că este  perfect localizat. În orice moment se poate declanșa operațiunea de reținere a lui. Nu avem nici un interes să se producă vreo reținere. Este în interesul nostru că un cetățean care a plecat  legal să fie protejat de posibilitatea arestării de alte state.
• Obiectivul nostru este ca domnul Boldea să vină prin intermediul autorităților statului român în țară pentru a preveni arestarea  lui pe teritoriul altor state.

Preşedintele României, Traian Băsescu, va participa în perioada 26 – 27 martie a.c., la Seul, Republica Coreea, la cel de-al doilea Summit privind Securitatea Nucleară, la invitaţia omologului sud – coreean, preşedintele Lee Myung-bak. La Summit, vor fi reprezentate peste 50 de state şi 4 organizaţii internaţionale, respectiv ONU, AIEA, UE şi INTERPOL, se arată într-un comunicat al președinției.

Obama and Hu to co-ordinate on North Korea rocket launch

The two leaders are in Seoul for a conference on nuclear security

Continue reading the main story

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China and the US have agreed to co-ordinate their response to any "potential provocation" if North Korea goes ahead with a planned rocket launch, the White House says.

North Korea says the long-range rocket will carry a satellite. The US says any launch would violate UN resolutions and be a missile test.

US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao met on the margins of a nuclear summit in South Korea.

The launch is scheduled for April.

Its timing - between 12 and 16 April - is intended to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of North Korea's late Great Leader Kim Il-sung.

'Destabilising'

The White House said Mr Hu indicated to Mr Obama that he was taking the North Korean issue very seriously and was registering China's concern with the government in Pyongyang.

Continue reading the main story

"We both have an interest in making sure that international norms surrounding non-proliferation, preventing destabilising nuclear weapons, is very important," Mr Obama said ahead of the meeting.

But a US national security official cast doubt on any change in Chinese policy, the Associated Press reported.

"China has expressed those concerns before and North Korea has continued on with its behaviour," deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said, according to AP.

"Therefore, China needs to look at whether it needs to be doing more above and beyond the types of messages and warnings it's been giving to the North Koreans."

The North is making the transition from the rule of late Dear Leader Kim Jong-il to his son Kim Jong-un

Mr Hu said the North Korean issue was "very complicated and sensitive", the official Xinhua news agency reported.

"We do not hope to see a reversal of the hard-won momentum of relaxation of tension on the peninsula," Mr Hu said, according to Xinhua.

On Sunday, Mr Obama criticised China for not being tough enough with North Korea, saying Beijing's approach was not working.

Earlier, Mr Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said North Korea risked further sanctions and isolation if it did not cancel its launch plans.

South Korea has warned it will shoot down the rocket if it strays over South Korean territory.

"We are preparing measures to track the missile's trajectory and shoot it down if it, by any chance, deviates from the planned route and falls into our territory," a defence ministry spokesman said.

The launch site is in north-western North Korea, not far from the Chinese border.

Deal suspended

Last month, Pyongyang agreed to suspend long-range missile tests and uranium enrichment.

The April 2009 launch sparked UN Security Council resolutions

The agreement was part of a deal for the United States to supply 240,000 tonnes of food aid to North Korea.

It also agreed to allow UN inspectors in, the US said.

That deal has now been suspended.

The overture from Pyongyang came three months after Kim Jong-un came to power in North Korea, following the death of his father, Kim Jong-il.

North Korea last carried out a rocket launch three years ago, in April 2009, which it characterised as a test of satellite technology. It said the rocket made it into orbit, though the US and Japan said they had detected no such object.

The UN Security Council then passed resolutions prohibiting the North from nuclear and ballistic missile activity.

Foreign officials said there were no indications that a satellite had reached space and that the launch was a cover for Pyongyang to test long-range missile technology.

Pyongyang responded to the UN resolutions by walking out of nuclear disarmament talks and carrying out a nuclear test weeks later.

OFICIAL! Becali s-a inteles cu Dinu Gheorghe! Steaua are manager nou! Plan diabolic sa il aranjeze pe Copos! "Ba, vorbesti serios?"

Gigi Becali confirma stirea zilei! Dinu Gheorghe a refuzat Rapidul ca sa vina ca manager general la Steaua.

"L-am luat pe Dinu Vama, e manager sportiv! Acum e momentul, asta i-am zis, daca te mai duci iar la Rapid, ai stampila pe tine, nu mai vii la Steaua niciodata! Asta e momentul, trebuie sa vii la Steaua!

Mi-a zis: "Ba, vorbesti serios?" Normal ca vorbesc serios! 

Si s-a dus la Copos, i-a pus niste conditii sa nu le accepte, erau imposibile, ca sa nu se duca la Rapid! Hahahha!", a spus Becali la gsptv

Copos e disperat dupa ce a aflat ca Dinu Gheorghe ajunge la Steaua: "Nu te duce acolo, faci cea mai mare greseala!" Reactia lui "Vama"

George Copos a aflat care este motivul pentru care Dinu Gheorghe i-a spus "pas", aseara, la negocieri.

Copos l-a chemat ieri pe Dinu Gheorghe in Poiana Brasov sa il convinga sa se intoarca in Giulesti, dar s-a lovit de un refuz categoric.

"Noi ne-am inteles in absolut toate privintele cu domnul Dinu Gheorghe, din pacate chiar nu stiu ce s-a intamplat aseara. Inseamna ca dansul are o problema.", spunea Copos in aceasta dimineata.

Intre timp s-a aflat si "problema" lui Dinu Gheorghe - oferta lui Gigi Becali pentru postul de manager la Steaua.

Deocamdata nu este nimic confirmat oficial, iar "Vama" neaga ca ar putea sa ajunga in Ghencea pana la finalul sezonului: "Nu am ce sa comentez, nu este nimic adevarat", spune Dinu Gheorghe, care este sfatuit si de Copos sa isi ia gandul de la Steaua.

"Vama nu s-a nascut sa conduca Steaua. Ar face cea mai mare greseala daca s-ar duce acolo",a declarat patronul Rapidului pentru www.sport.ro