Libyan rebels advance; US drones will provide

A border crossing in the town of Wazen after a battle in the early morning, sent flight reported a small number of Libyan soldiers across the border, the official Tunisian news agency took control of the rebels in the Western mountains. The news agency said 13 of Libyan soldiers, including Colonel and two commanders, were arrested when a rebel spokesman in the eastern city of Benghazi claims that more than 100 had sought asylum.

The fighting in the mountains has escalated in the last two weeks, UN aid workers say that more than 14,000 Libyan refugees - many of them fled on the same of the Berber minority, which is widely used in the area - border, with more than 6,000 per day crossing recently a spokesman for the UN Human Rights Commission said.

While it is not clear that the rebels Wazen withstand, control of the Western region is their success of the first great leap in Colonel Qadhafi, as he crushed the riots which erupted in Tripoli and many other cities and towns of Libya when the uprising broke out two months ago. It opened it import the possibility of the rebels, aid or weapons and offers the first sign of a break of the blockade, which has laid over the Libyan civil war in the last few weeks.

In a move that appears to stop, that deadlock be directed Pentagon said Thursday that President Obama of armed predator had granted powers, drones against Colonel Qadhafi partially bypassed the air strikes by mingling with civilians and the use of unmarked vehicles.

The American military has the predator, a remote piloted aircraft equipped with Hellfire missiles, used to objectives in urban and rural areas in Afghanistan, to meet Pakistan, Iraq and Yemen.

Announcing the deployment, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates described the addition of armed robbers as "a modest contribution" Mission of the NATO attack. But Mr Obama seemed too complicated approval their deployment another sign of the gaps in the ability of NATO, extended carry out combat missions without further and significant American support.

These gaps are significant become, because the United States on 4 April, command of the Libya mission NATO transferred when the American military again reinforced a supporting role. Despite this movement, American planes are significant numbers of bombs, more than you like other countries in the Alliance.

In Misurata, the rebel held port where rebels for weeks for such weapons have pleaded to beat back a siege by Qadhafi forces, said a spokesman for rebel Thursday, that the recent air raids and help shows rebel fighters who take offensive had enabled. The spokesman, Mohamed, whose full Name for the protection of his family was denied, the rebels on Wednesday, said more than 100, the Qadhafi on Thursday soldiers and 51 killed when they also recorded 40 others. "People are celebrating in Misurata,", he said, talking about an Internet connection, because the most telephone service and electricity in the city was cut off.

Among other advances, he who had driven the rebels of away sniper Central Tripoli Avenue had terrorized civilians along the city said.? "There is a pattern of collapse under the Qadhafi troops in and around Misurata," he said.

A spokesman for the military said in the rebel Eastern Benghazi, Colonel Ahmed Bani stronghold, rebel, anti-Qaddafi repeatedly had attacked the Western crossing near Wazen fighter in the past to on Thursday. "This is us a supply line for Tunisia," he said and added that the rebels in Wazen with the leadership in Benghazi were communication.

So far, air strikes against the Qadhafi have NATO forces the rebels continue to control a handful of Eastern cities, the Western commercial port of Misurata, Benghazi and some reports according to the Western mountain towns of Nalut and Zintan enabled. But the Qadhafi forces have maintained a strict control of the Libyan capital Tripoli, and held a violent siege to Misurata and cities held other rebels and rebel leaders have complained in recent weeks bitterly about the relative lack of NATO air strikes.

During the most attention to the most important port cities of Benghazi and Misurata concentrated, has the Western mountainous region stretches from Wazen of to nearby Nalut and Zintan with resistance to Qadhafi simmered. Berbers have long rubbed which has sought to deny their status as a culturally different minority under the Qadhafi Government.

After rebels control of Benghazi on 20 February took over, he was resident of Nalut and Zintan others of Tripoli, Misurata, Zawiyah, Zawarah, Sabratha and other cities in take on the road to the burning of police stations and the headquarters of Colonel Qadhafi local "revolutionary committees." In the following weeks, however, his security forces again a firm grip on Tripoli and gradually of West Florida from other cities, so that Zintan and Misurata as the Western main centres of resistance.

Faras Kaya, a spokesman for United Nations Human Rights Commission, said that that many escape to the camp described the escalating confrontation in the mountains around Zintan and Nalut in the last two weeks, since lashed back towards thrown Qadhafi forces artillery in the cities and the rebels. "The Western mountain region in the State of siege for a month or so," said Mr. Kaya. "What clearly is that they have fled due to the increasing violence".

About a quarter of a million refugees have Libya in Tunisia in the last two months, fled he said. At the other main crossing in the vicinity of Mediterranean, most of which were run, he said foreign workers, but the 14,000 who have fled through Wazen were Libyan families.

The deployment of predators following weeks if rebels of a lack of support from NATO have complained to the United States handed over direction of air operations of NATO. Was announcing the addition of weapons, Mr Gates suggested that the United States reduce a gap in the arsenals of other the other Alliance members, fill out, the similar attack not have drones.

"The President said, where we have some unique features, he is willing to use those," said Mr Gates at a press conference of Pentagon, suggesting that the predators would provide "some precision ability."

David D. Kirkpatrick reported from Cairo and Thom Shanker from Washington. Rod Nordland contributed reporting from Benghazi, Libya, and Mona El Naggar from Cairo.

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More advance scramble

Military wife responds toNEWbudget deal: Obama pays visit Lincoln MemorialDemocrats and Republicans in Washington reach a lot a shutdown has occurred to a short-term ShutdownThe deal, avert-Government by April 15Had, 800,000 government workers would be financed furloughed

Washington (CNN) - call it, that covered the sky were and fell a little rain in Washington, D.C. on Saturday.

The bands marched on, young people waved mascot and the audience at the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade inspired other artists.

A Congress agreement late Friday on a short-term funding extension National Park Service staff on the job Saturday and allowed the parade on its planned route to go.

Across the country was a sigh of relief between federal employees, military families and ordinary Americans, who saw no cutoff in federal services.

President Barack Obama, signed the extension, made a quick visit to Lincoln Memorial, where he clearly the country parks and monuments are open.

"Quickly, I would like to say only real, that because Congress his Unterschiede--settle could, why is this place is today open and everyone is able, enjoy their visit,", Obama said. "This is the kind of future cooperation, I hope we have, going forward."

"Enjoy Washington," called the Obama masses after the handshakes, and down the Memorial steps.

Kasey long of Jacksonville, North Carolina, had worried about her family how to manage, if politicians could turn away no shutdown.

"I am just really excited," she said after news of the agreement.

Her husband, a Marine sergeant in Camp Lejeune, overseas is provided and the only breadwinners is the family. The family lived up to the next, and concerned about the rounds to make payroll.

"It needs much stress way of me," said long, with life with their 15-year-old son. "My husband loves what he does and he serves his country."

Not everyone is enthusiastic about the compromise.

The tea party Express was "not impressed", said spokesman Levi Russell, who claimed the group for deeper cuts in the future had to work harder.

If negotiations between Democrats and Republicans had failed, would some 800,000 government employees was furloughed have.

Extension agreed a budget deal and a short-term financing Democrats and Republicans a little more than an hour before a partial Government shutdown would have occurred. The short-term agreement, expenditure of $2 billion, will finance the Government by April 15.

"The Government open," said Obama, signed the measure Saturday. He called "painful" but necessary the cuts.

The President said "Both parties an agreement by which our small businesses, to get the loans they need which can our families to which you applied for mortgages, which, and hundreds of thousands of Americans show at work at home take their salaries on time".

Negotiators limited days frantic closed-door talks and public finger-pointing by agreeing on a framework for a package of $38.5 billion spending cuts for the rest of the fiscal year, which expires September 30.

The budget deal must pass the short-term funding measure expires in both houses, with the expectation that lawmakers will approve it and the President it report it is in.

The House is expected to be given Monday start the budget deal for the rest of the fiscal year, with a vote on Wednesday. The Senate would take the Bill at some point after that, said spokesman Jon summers of Senate majority leader Harry Reid's Office.

It was not only military families, which have been facilitated. Operations of the National Park, the White House visitor center would have concluded without an agreement. Even some Government Web site would Flash replaced by virtual closed character.

The National Park Service was ready, 17,000 employees of furlough Saturday morning, said spokesman David Barna.

People enjoy the National Park Saturday were relieved that they do not have to leave camps or be held it, enter.

Barna said "It is side," CNN. "Everyone is very pleased."

Before the agreement, said Fred V his rafting business in Grand Canyon had stood to lose$ 60,000 on Saturday.

Arizona raft of Adventures offers 16-day rafting tours, which include 227 km of the Colorado River and arranged and heavily regulated by the Federal Government. You can not only delay and a few days later reschedule, said V.

A Herunterfahren--the first since 1996-cost would probably have the Government millions of dollars to wind-up work, construction sites to secure and numbers possible overtime from working restore that would accumulate during a shutdown.

In the long run a shutdown would, throw Obama warned fragile back the country's economy into recession.

Austin Flor, 25, Augusta, Georgia, a video titled "My letter to Congress" adopted earlier this week. He said members should cut their own salaries before significant budget cuts.

"Now is not the time to play political games," said Flor.

Late Friday, Flor said: "I am happy that she reached a deal." "Hopefully this will lead a long term contract."

If voters control of the House of representatives Republikaner--including many supported by the fiscally conservative tea party-was in November the GOP vowed that pressure spending cuts would be a large part of their agenda. With the Democrats on the Senate and the White House has the threat of a shutdown since then came forward.

Unable to reach a long-term agreement, Congress has funded measures since the Government with a series of temporary required more resolutions issues. The Congress approved the last March 17.

This measure expired at midnight Friday.

This week talks suggest even tougher negotiations in Congress an increase in the country's debt ceiling and the fiscal year 2012 budget in the coming months take.

FreedomWorks, a nonprofit of conservative, who supports the tea party movement, said people expect future budget battles.

"The battle lines are clearly drawn is, and it is up to the Republicans to make the tough austerity measures", said spokesman Adam Brandon.

Reid called the business difficult but important "for the country."CNN's Chris Lawrence, Charley Keyes, Jennifer Liberto and Phil guest on this report helped

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Côte d ' Ivoire bonds advance on 4-month high as Gbagbo leave gauze country - Bloomberg

C?te d ' Ivoire distressed dollar bonds rose to a four month high as Laurent Gbagbo said that he can leave the country, according to internationally recognized President, elect Alassane Ouattara loyal troops surrounded resident.

The west African country's 2032 bonds a year ago jumped 7.7% to 55.438 cents on the dollar, its highest level since Dec. 2, based on data from Bloomberg. 14 Percent in the past has blamed collected, two days after Gbagbo surrendered troops. Fighting was reported today to his residence.

The incumbent operator, their refusal, the results of the country's November 28 Elections led the war, C?te d ' Ivoire can leave, he said in an interview carried out last night and today on LCI, a Paris-based TV news channel. With Ouattara no political agreement has been reached, said he.

"Gbagbo exit looms, and I would say it is now a matter of hours or at most a couple of days", said Anne Fruhauf, Africa analyst for Eurasia Group in London, in a telephone interview. His departure not immediately order in Abidjan, which would restore the commercial hub, is a city "flooded with weapons, militias, a panic civilians and rebels, really, need for restraint", she said.

The country's $2.3 billion of bonds have since April, according to the 9 percent of their value fall up to 43 percent to 35 cents on 16 March lost. The country has been in default after missing, interest payment due end of January as Gbagbo and Ouattara a $ 29 million locked in a political standoff.

The UN put the death toll from violence after the elections on the 494 before the fight began after Abidjan. At least 800 more were killed in the Western City of Duekoue, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Gbagbo began negotiating an exit after French and most of his army of heavy weapons destroyed United Nations troops.

The United Nations, the United States, the African Union and the European Union Ouattara recognize, 69, a former deputy managing director at the International Monetary Fund, as the winner of the Nov 28 Election. Gbagbo, 65, refuses to step down, claimed voter fraud.

The reporter on this story contact: Jason Webb in jwebb25@bloomberg.net in London.

The editor responsible for this story contact: Gavin Serkin at the gserkin@bloomberg.net

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