The Thai forces and Cambodian shock to 3rd day

Fighting erupted again Sunday along the border of Cambodia and the Thailand after two days of clashes that killed at least 10 soldiers and forced the evacuation of thousands of civilians.

A Cambodian soldier stands guard in July last to a gateway to the temple of Preah Vihear on the Thai border Cambodia. (Heng Sinith/Associated Press)

The dispute between the neighbours stems from their competing claims over small strips of land along the border, with nationalist political fuelling tensions. Clashes have erupted several times since 2008, when temple of Preah Vihear 11th century Cambodia was granted the status of A World Heritage Thai objections.

The current round of clashes, which began Friday, are the first border skirmishes reported since February, when eight soldiers and civilians have been killed near the temple of Preah Vihear. The latest fighting took place about 160 kilometres west of here.

Colonel Suos Sothea, a commander Cambodian, confirmed evidence that a battle of artillery began at the border shortly before 10: 00 a.m. local time on Sunday. In Bangkok, the Thai army spokesman colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd reports the same information.

There was no immediate reports of victims.

Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, has called for Cambodia and the Thailand to implement an effective and verifiable ceasefire.

A declaration of an end Saturday said ban believes that the dispute cannot be resolved by military means, so the two countries must engage in a serious dialogue to resolve the underlying problems.

Outbreak of Sunday came after it appeared that calm could have been restored. Witnesses on the Cambodian side said an important border post which had been closed for two days was reopened and Thai media said some some 20 000 civilians who had been evacuated from the combat zone began to move to the House.

Each side accused of the departure of the latest fighting, which involved mainly artillery duels long distance to the other.

Thai villagers seek shelter Saturday in a makeshift refugee camp set up in a school about 30 kilometres from the Thai-Cambodia border. Thousands of villagers were evacuated from the region in cross-border hostilities. (Sukree Sukplang/Reuters)

The Thailand dismissed charges Saturday that he had used chemical weapons against the Cambodian troops.

A statement by the Cambodian Defence Ministry charged that the Thailand had shot 75 and 105-mm shells at "loading of the toxic gas" in Cambodian territory, but has no details. A Cambodian field commander said separately that the Thailand had used two shells of cluster - anti-personnel weapons banned by many countries - and the artillery shells that gave a debilitating gas.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said Thais allegations were not true, and colonel Tawatchai Samutsakorn, Commander of 2nd army region the Thailand, denied that submunitions or toxic gas bombs had been employed by its forces.

Tawatchai said a Thai soldier died Saturday, bringing the victim toll to four dead and 17 injured. Suos Sothea said three Cambodian soldiers were killed Saturday, with victims of Cambodia's two days to six. Suos Sothea said he could not give a precise count of the injured.

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Syrian forces RAID pro-democracy activists - voice of America

VOA News April 24, 2011 made in this citizen-journalism-picture on a mobile phone and Saturday April 23, 2011, obtained by the AP, Syrian protesters against the Government carry the coffin of an activist on Friday during his funeral procession in Quaboun near the city of Damascus was killed, Syria, Saturday, April 23, 2011

Permission groups say imprisonment a top pro-democracy activists after a deadly raid against the Protestants Syrian security forces conducted several raids late Saturday in the vicinity of Damascus,.

At least 12 Saturday killed as Syrian security forces and sniper fire on mourning funerals, one day after the RAID of the bloodiest so far in the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad opened.

Also announced Saturday, two Syrian Parliament members resign they are in protest against the killing of civilians.

Permission groups and witnesses say Saturday's shootings in Damascus suburb which took place the Duma and the southern city of Izraa.? Thousands of people had gathered to protest the deaths of at least 75 people on Friday in two locations.

Friday's deadly crackdown came a day after President Assad ends almost 50 years State of emergency decree signed.? The Decree was part of its efforts to stop unrest by some meet the demands of the demonstrators against the Government.

The associated press reports at least 120 people in two days of violence condemned by world leaders, including President Barack Obama have been killed.

[All VOA blogs...]

Going green
Rebecca Ward's report on the oil spill BP Gulf - to see a year later.

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Assad Forces mass as a Test of Syrian lifted emergency rule

April 22, 2011, 4: 54 pm EDT by Benjamin Harvey, Tamara Walid and Massoud a. Derhally

(Updates with deployment of security forces from first paragraph.) See the EXTRA and puts more Middle East turmoil).

April 22 (Bloomberg) - Syrian security deployed across the country today to protests which could be the first test of lifting of President Bashar al-Assad yesterday of a State of emergency 48 years.The city of Latakia, site of violent protests last week, has been blocked with sand bags, Arabiya television reported, while army units encircling the town of the newspaper Al Watan third, Syria, Homs, which is close to the Governmentreported.Assad has issued the Decree yesterday ending rule of emergency, which has suspended most of the constitutional guarantees, prohibited gatherings, restricts the freedom of the media and of arbitrary detention. He abolished the Supreme Court of State security and approved a measure allowing demonstrations, which require concessions more activists planned to challenge today. "" What they try to do is to test that the lifting of the emergency law means in reality, Chris Phillips, an analyst with the Economist Intelligence Unit in London, said by telephone late yesterday. "" " "A big question will be be how many people out to Aleppo and Damascus, remarkable for having been relatively calm in the city centres, the previous Friday and if they can get large scale demonstrations to go there."Torture, activists said KillingsSome that orders are yesterday of what is necessary to put an end to protests that spread throughout the country there are almost six weeks. A crackdown on dissent has caused the death, dozens of demonstrators while the Government has blamed the violence on criminals and terrorists who seek to weaken the State.At least 130 people were killed in the unrest, according to the New York-based Human Rights Watch. Syrian forces have tortured demonstrators and it is impossible to verify how many remain in detention, said Human Rights Watch. Activists say the number of fatalities exceeds 200. "There are tensions well enough in all cities and presence of heavy security in preparation for the Friday prayer,"Abdul - Karim Rihawi, head of the Syrian human rights League, said yesterday in a telephone interview. "I do not think there is no tolerance for even so peaceful demonstrations" Greatest ChallengeThe protests mark the biggest challenge of rule Assad since he inherited power from his father 11 years ago.Ammar Qurabi, head of the national organization of the Syria for the human rights, said in an interview on the phone that the concessions have been won with blood. "What happened is good, but it is not enough, he said Assad moves yesterday. "The question is not a law, but a dominant environment that characterized the State and its security apparatus, the cancellation"Yassin Al - Haj Saleh, a Syrian writer and activist politics, said in a telephone interview yesterday."moreJosh Landis, a specialist in the Syria, who heads the Centre for studies of the Middle East at the University of Oklahoma at Norman, said that he expected Assad to stifle protests despite the announcement yesterday. "It will crack down hard, as it cannot allow this movement to snowball effect,"said Landis. "He made concessions, but he would not look low."At least 18 demonstrators had been killed in clashes since an address anti-government gatherings April 16 by Assad, Qurabi said this week.Assad accused the conspirators from abroad to take advantage of the unrest to undermine the Syria, mainly because of his anti-Israel groups support. Party Baath of Assad has been in power since 1963.Syria is an ally of the Iran and a power broker in neighbouring countries to the Lebanon, where it supports Hezbollah, a Muslim armed group of Shiites in war against Israel in 2006.

-Editors: Karl Maier, Jeffrey Donovan.

To contact the reporters on this story: Benjamin Harvey in Istanbul to bharvey11@bloomberg.net; Tamara Walid Dubai at twalid@bloomberg.net; Massoud a. Derhally to Beirut to mderhally@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew j. Barden at barden@bloomberg.net.

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The Thais, Cambodians temple shock forces

Thai and Cambodian soldiers clashed Friday at a temple in a disputed border area, with reports indicating that four soldiers were killed.

The two sides exchanged fire rockets, machine guns and rifles to a temple in Ta Krabey in the province of Surin of Thailand.

Spokesperson of the Thai army's colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the fighting began at dawn and lasted more than an hour.

SERM Chainarong, the Governor of the province of Surin, said that the authorities are preparing to evacuate approximately 5,000 people in the region.

Ministry of Cambodian defence lieutenant-general Chhum Socheat spokesman three Cambodian soldiers were killed and six wounded, while a Thai army spokesman said one Thai soldier was killed.

Thai lieutenant colonel Siriya Khuangsirikul said both sides "are in the midst of negotiating a ceasefire."

The two countries were locked in an old conflict for several decades on the temples and the land that surrounds them. Nationalist fervor in the two countries has recently fueled the conflict.

In February, at least eight people were killed when the two countries have exchanged artillery and gunfire in the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, which is approximately 250 kilometres from the site of the clash Friday.

Clashes have erupted several times since 2008, where Preah Vihear was designated a United Nations World Heritage site.

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Gaddafi taunts as NATO seeks more Jets strike Forces

April 15, 2011, 4: 21 am EDT by Flavia Krause-Jackson and Patrick Donahue

(Updates with comments of the Minister of French defence in eighth paragraph.) See the EXTRA and places to learn more about the crisis in the Middle East).

April 15 (Bloomberg)--a request by the head of NATO for more attacks on the ground, aircraft to target forces Muammar Gaddafi has been rejected by the United States and the France as the Libyan leader has shown on TV of State pumping his fists in the air through the roof open opening a SUV money in Tripoli.President Barack ObamaU.K. First Minister David Cameron and the French President Nicolas Sarkozy said jointly that allow Qathafi stay in power "would be a perverse betrayal." "As long as Qadhafi came to power, NATO and its partners in the coalition must maintain their operations so that civilians are protected and the pressure on the regime relies," they wrote in a letter published in European newspapers today.The boundaries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization air campaign have become obvious as forces loyal to Qadhafi intensified their assault in the third largest city of the Libya, Misrata and pressed their attack on the rebels near the town of port oil of Brega. The rebels said 47 people were killed in Misrata yesterday by the bombing of regime, Al Jazeera television reported. "" We need a few attack aircraft, ground the Hunter for more accuracy for air - ground missions ", of the NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said yesterday at a meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, 28 of NATO and leaders of other nations allied in Berlin. Only five countries of NATO, led by the France and United Kingdom, are known to be targeting Qathafi ground forces. Ministers held talks today in the German capital. Germany member of NATO has refused to send jets to serve in the mission of the RisesThe Libye.Conflit of oil helped push oil almost the highest in three days in New York. Crude for delivery was at $108.37 may a barrel, up 26 cents, at 3: 19 Singapore time in e-commerce on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices have increased by 27% from a year ago.The call to several fighter planes, which Rasmussen said has not been provided to a specific alliance member, came 10 days after that the United States withdrew its attack aircraft on the ground missions of protection of civilians. Us and French officials said that their Governments do not plan to provide additional combat aircraft and that it belongs to other allies to help. Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said France is already the largest contributor of air power to the mission and cannot send more jets. "Affair'Libya of Europe is"The case of Europe", and it is understandable that the United States is not to play a leading role, Minister of French defence Gérard Longuet said in an interview on LCI television. "The United States has two major obligations with the Iraq and the Afghanistan."The United States completed "strike missions" against army Qathafi earlier this month, depriving the NATO combat aircraft such as A-10 "Warthogs" and combat AC-130, which can be more efficient in the attack missions on the ground and higher-flying fighter aircraft. The United States continues to fly F-16 missions only against decreasing air defenses of the Libya, as well as providing a variety of aircraft from refueling in fuel, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support.The United States made its fair share and see comment of Rasmussen who is seeking a greater role of the United States, said a U.S. official in Berlin who informed reporters under the terms that do not allow the use of his name. NATO did not have a formal additional U.S. aircraft request, spokesman for Pentagon Colonel Dave Lapan said in Washington.Qaddafi must GoObama, Sarkozy and Cameron said that even if the resolution of the Security Council of the United Nations authorizing military action to protect civilians does not reverse Qathafi "it is impossible to imagine a future for the Libya." "with Qathafi to power". "" As long as Qadhafi came to power, NATO and its partners in the coalition must maintain their operations so that civilians are protected and the pressure on the regime relies, "the leaders wrote in the letter which was published on the websites of the Times of London and the Figaro.NATO said yesterday that allies taking part in the conflict set three conditions for end to air strikes on Qathafi forces: to end all attacks by loyalists Qathafi against civilians, withdraw soldiers to bases and for assistance in the country.NATO Ministers met that a rebel drive of seven weeks to push Qathafi of the power has ground to a standstill."Allied SplitAllies are struggling to overcome the divisions on the output of Qathafi, in complaints by Great Britain, the France and the rebel commanders Libya that NATO is not done enough to force"."Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Qathafi us is testing our determination," said yesterday at the meeting. "As our mission continues, maintain our determination and unity grows more important."Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said troops loyal to Qadhafi planting land mines around Misrata, a town 210 kilometres (130 km) is the capital, Tripoli, where he said 250 civilians were killed during the past two weeks. Italy support for establishing a humanitarian corridor to allow aid and supplies to reach the city, said Frattini.Les divisions in NATO are reflected in the fact that only 14 of the 28 members - members of NATO non-Sweden, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates United - are involved in the protective Unified operation to protect civilians.NATO air strikes against military since 19 Qathafi March have not stopped attacks by artillery and snipers isolated on cities such as Misrata, or enabled the rebels to take and hold permanently cities such as the oil port of Ras Lanuf.NATO said in a statement that he stole 58 "strike" strategic missions seeking potential targets on the ground on 13 April, 60 to down on 12 April. It said that its jets destroyed 13 bunkers, a tank and an armoured armoured in the Tripoli region and three multiple rocket launchers near Brega.

-With the help of Gregory Viscusi in Paris, Jeffrey Donovan in Rome, Tony Czuczka in Berlin, Ola Galal in Cairo and David Lerman, Justin Blum and Zaid Sabah Abd Alhamid in Washington. Editors: Leon Mangasarian, Alan Crawford.

To contact the reporters on this story: Flavia Krause-Jackson in Berlin at fjackson@bloomberg.net; Patrick Donahue in Berlin at the pdonahue1@bloomberg.net

To contact the responsible editors of this story: James Hertling at jhertling@bloomberg.net; Mark Silva in msilva34@bloomberg.net

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Security forces in the Yemen open fire on protesters

SANA, Yemen - clashes broke out late Saturday night between security forces and protesters here, killed a demonstrator and wounding 15, said doctors, in a field hospital at the site.

Security forces opened fire, said 52 protesters more than three weeks of witnesses in the first direct attack on demonstrators in the capital since sniper ago killed. The shooting follows Taiz, where security forces and men in civilian clothes turned deadly about 20 demonstrators, a week of violence in a central city.

Saturday's violence began after a group of about 400 demonstrators tried to March the Presidential Palace in the late evening. They were stopped at a major intersection of security forces over half a mile away from their main sit-in area.

After an hour of a tense standoff, shots began. Plainclothesmen, wielding weapons, were the police standing around and had surrounded the area where the protesters from the site had canceled most important protest. Two water cannon was also the area.

The demonstrators had an area of migrated where protesters guarded soldiers under General Ali Mohsin al-Ahmar, top military leader who broke with the Government last month.

After the shots scattered the protesters temporarily, although some returned, chanted "Peacefulness, quiet" and "There is no God but Allah."

"they first shot and then shot in the air they us", said Mustafa Amrany, a 14-year-old boy who was on the floor of a nearby mechanic shop after exposed to tear gas. He said: "I am not young." I'm here with the protest, "while Ismael Mohamed, mechanics, water poured his burning eyes." Before the violence broke out Saturday, the atmosphere was tense, and at regular intervals the protesters taunts yelled out to the security forces.

"We are escalating our protests," said Ziad Rahim, 23, before the gunfire broke. Most area leaving main protest seemed in their 20s. Many wore t-Shirts with the words "Project martyr" in Arabic.

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Gaddafi forces achieve goals key rebel-held city

Colonel Qadhafi forces began the attack late Saturday morning with barrages of rocket and artillery fire aimed, Ajdabiya's Center. Then, when smoke rose and confusion grew, began a gunfight they sent that troops a contingent of ground in the city.

The attack was more determined and as the ambushes and exchange of rocket and artillery fire last days organized. Barrage after the flood of incoming fire knocked and exploded within the city and loyalist troops advanced behind it. Thick smoke rose and drove from Central Ajdabiya and at noon, the doctors like explosions which shook the streets city hospital were evacuated.

Many of the rebels fled once again streaming north up to Benghazi, the capital of rebel their horns blaring. A rebel fighter, shouting at vehicles as they passed: "Qadhafi's forces are coming!" Go! Go! "Go!"

But a group of lightly armed local residents remained for their homes, fighting stop the loyalists in Istanbul Street in the Centre of the city.

"We killed 10 of them," said Halum said, in the morgue in the late afternoon on the body of his brother, Abdul Ghadir Halum, booth, who had been shot between the eyes. "Our group is divided into two groups on Istanbul Street and fought them." "The firing was very difficult."

During the gun battle was raging, collected the most important rebel group, about 10 km north of Ajdabiya. Evening it started moving past of the city in the northeast of checkpoint, where the fighters parceled and short again a degree of control of the Ajdabiya of Eastern and central areas.

Gunfire was replaced in these areas, but skirmishes on the town of southern and Western sides could be heard. Then restarted the barrages, leads many rebels to flee to the new.

It was confusing, fast-moving and violent on the day, with determination and panic on the display. Brutality showed shortly in the form of mob rule.

In the Midafternoon as the rebels cars on the city of Alsace in checkpoint searches and continued the fighting, she pulled a man from a vehicle, rushed him to the shoulder far from the road and shot him. Capture of the man and his hasty funeral could be seen a hundred metres away, through binoculars from a few, although the execution was not visible, because the amount to the prisoners was too thick.

Journalists trying to interview the executioners were chased away by gunfire, which the checkpoint and the area nearby, seemingly random swept. The gathered crowd distributed the balls.

Later, after the shots slowed down, said several rebels had shot the man, because he was known, that a Loyalist agent. His name could not immediately be determined.

NATO air raids came in the game in the battle: at least one created a cloud over the city Western districts at 1:25 pm as Colonel Qadhafi troops the city were bombed. But the allied air campaign could again hold the military it, press the rebels, as have been that the case fighting during a week that saw the ragged opposition forces losing their footholds along the coastal road, including the city of Brega.

Mr Halum, clutching a battered assault rifle as he moved the morgue while his brother's body wash was, seemed angry and perplexed. Achieving Ajdabiya, Qadhafi loyalists had crossed about 50 miles of open desert.

"Where NATO?", he said. "The military Gaddafi came from Brega Ajdabiya." "Why not they they?"

Although the air strikes have deprived that Pro-Qaddafi forces use many of their armored vehicles were rebels not they reach and the loyalists have enabled deception and infiltration.

Eric Schmitt contributed reporting from Washington and Kareem Fahim Benghazi, Libya.

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Syrian forces kill 3 such as flare protests: witness - Reuters

By Khaled Yacoub Oweis and Suleiman al-Khalidi

AMMAN | Fri Apr 8, 2011 9: 13 of the EDT

AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian security forces as protests against the rule of Bashar al-Assad flared in several cities after Friday prayers at least three pro-democracy demonstrators in the southern city of Deraa killed, said witness.

Thousands demonstrated in the East of ethnic Kurds for reform despite the President this week offer simple rules that bar many Kurds citizenship, activists said.

Security men opened fire on thousands of demonstrators in Deraa, where protests broke out first last month before spreading across the country in the last three weeks. Residents of Reuters contacted said at least three people were killed.

"I saw pools of blood and three bodies in the street is picked up by relatives in the area of Mahatta," said one of the witnesses, who spoke by phone to Reuters.

"Were the snipers on rooftops." Gunfire was difficult. The injured are taken in houses. No one familiar set his relatives in a hospital under these circumstances, "he added." Many demonstrators fear that she would be arrested, if taken hospitals.

Protests broke even in the Western City of Hims, and gunfire was heard in the District of Damascus Harasta. The suburb of Duma, where the protests have held in recent days, was largely reduced from contact due to telephone lines, local activists said. Media are strongly limited in Syria.

Popular demonstrations have rocked the country for the last three weeks calling for greater freedom. Assad responded with a mixture of violence against demonstrators and gestures towards a reform to the most recent ethnic Kurds.

In the northeastern city of Qamishli, Kurdish youths chanted: "no one Syrian Kurds, not Arabs, one." "We salute the martyrs of Deraa." Demonstrations were concerns that fuel pump unrest could ethnic and religious tensions in the country according to.

Friday demonstrations, which online activists this week that "Friday of the steadfastness" mentioned, tends to see the largest protests against Assad's 11 years in power. In recent weeks security forces have fire, kill dozens opened.

In Deraa people demonstrated just last month against the detention of children, the pro-democracy graffiti inspired by the Egyptian and Tunisian riots on school walls all had.

Sunni Muslims tribes there are the wealth and makes of the minority Alawite treasures belonging to offshoot sect of Shi Shi'ite Islam, which Assad. Mobile telephone lines were cut off been or limited in the last two days, said the residents.

Protesters chanted: "The people want the overthrow of the Government," an echo of the slogans from elsewhere in the Arab world.

REFORMS "DONT GO TO THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM"

The Baath party since 1963 has a coup and execution of Assad's father until his death in the year 2000 in power tolerated no dissent and emergency law to justify used arbitrary arrests.

A central demand of the protesters is to pick up the law.

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Forces hope to use Ivory Coast leader

UN helicopter fire on a controlled by Laurent Gbagbo in Ivory Coast on Monday.Alassane Ouattara forces camp say that they expect to collect Laurent Gbagbo from TuesdayU.N. Peacekeepers are trying to prevent attacks on CiviliansOuattara is internationally recognised winner of presidential elections in C?te d'Ivoire

(CNN) - fighters surrounded the presidential palace of Laurent Gbagbo on Tuesday, hoping to capture the embattled leader.

The fighters, loyal to President Alassane Ouattara, were 80% sure that Gbagbo was still in the residence, said Patrick Achi, a spokesman for Ouattara.

"We do not see why he will not abandon," Achi said Monday, add the new Gbagbo Government by the International Court of Justice have tried search can.

CNN could not independently Achi's claims, which confirm a report included that Gbagbo's TV station was destroyed.

But at least one resident in Abidjan said Gbagbo's Government TV channel since Monday dark had been; early Tuesday, nothing out of the station was transferred.

The man who did not want to use his name, said so many feel insecure and fear shots all over the city like a soundtrack Monday, played.

Uncertainty and fear constant in parts of the Ivory Coast was in recent weeks as screwed a presidential standoff in a civil war has.

The unrest dates back to November when Gbagbo transferred refused power on Ouattara, the International President of the country after elections recognized as.

Supporters of each side are in many cities of the west African country clashed, and have in the past few days the international troops jumped into the fray.

The cause of United Nations to prevent the use of heavy weapons against civilians and United Nations peace-keeping force helicopter to a camp on Monday controlled by Gbagbo, said a spokesman for un.

UN peacekeeping Director Alain Le Roy told reporters of the body takes sides in the conflict, but be after three days of from Gbagbo left four UN peacekeepers seriously injured had.

France also 350 peacekeepers to the country over the weekend and took control of the airport in Abidjan, the French Ministry of Defense said Sunday. The existing UN peacekeeping mission around 7,500 troops joined the new French troops already in the country.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday that had 800 people to death in the Western cocoa-producing town of Duekoue was shot dead. A UN officials the 330 Friday's death toll.

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Forces hope to use Ivory Coast leader

UN helicopter fire on a controlled by Laurent Gbagbo in Ivory Coast on Monday.Alassane Ouattara forces camp say that they expect to collect Laurent Gbagbo from TuesdayU.N. Peacekeepers are trying to prevent attacks on CiviliansOuattara is internationally recognised winner of presidential elections in C?te d'Ivoire

(CNN) - fighters surrounded the presidential palace of Laurent Gbagbo on Tuesday, hoping to capture the embattled leader.

The fighters, loyal to President Alassane Ouattara, were 80% sure that Gbagbo was still in the residence, said Patrick Achi, a spokesman for Ouattara.

"We do not see why he will not abandon," Achi said Monday, add the new Gbagbo Government by the International Court of Justice have tried search can.

CNN could not independently Achi's claims, which confirm a report included that Gbagbo's TV station was destroyed.

But at least one resident in Abidjan said Gbagbo's Government TV channel since Monday dark had been; early Tuesday, nothing out of the station was transferred.

The man who did not want to use his name, said so many feel insecure and fear shots all over the city like a soundtrack Monday, played.

Uncertainty and fear constant in parts of the Ivory Coast was in recent weeks as screwed a presidential standoff in a civil war has.

The unrest dates back to November when Gbagbo transferred refused power on Ouattara, the International President of the country after elections recognized as.

Supporters of each side are in many cities of the west African country clashed, and have in the past few days the international troops jumped into the fray.

The cause of United Nations to prevent the use of heavy weapons against civilians and United Nations peace-keeping force helicopter to a camp on Monday controlled by Gbagbo, said a spokesman for un.

UN peacekeeping Director Alain Le Roy told reporters of the body takes sides in the conflict, but be after three days of from Gbagbo left four UN peacekeepers seriously injured had.

France also 350 peacekeepers to the country over the weekend and took control of the airport in Abidjan, the French Ministry of Defense said Sunday. The existing UN peacekeeping mission around 7,500 troops joined the new French troops already in the country.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday that had 800 people to death in the Western cocoa-producing town of Duekoue was shot dead. A UN officials the 330 Friday's death toll.

View the original article here

Forces hope to use Ivory Coast leader

UN helicopter fire on a controlled by Laurent Gbagbo in Ivory Coast on Monday.Alassane Ouattara forces camp say that they expect to collect Laurent Gbagbo from TuesdayU.N. Peacekeepers are trying to prevent attacks on CiviliansOuattara is internationally recognised winner of presidential elections in C?te d'Ivoire

(CNN) - fighters surrounded the presidential palace of Laurent Gbagbo on Tuesday, hoping to capture the embattled leader.

The fighters, loyal to President Alassane Ouattara, were 80% sure that Gbagbo was still in the residence, said Patrick Achi, a spokesman for Ouattara.

"We do not see why he will not abandon," Achi said Monday, add the new Gbagbo Government by the International Court of Justice have tried search can.

CNN could not independently Achi's claims, which confirm a report included that Gbagbo's TV station was destroyed.

But at least one resident in Abidjan said Gbagbo's Government TV channel since Monday dark had been; early Tuesday, nothing out of the station was transferred.

The man who did not want to use his name, said so many feel insecure and fear shots all over the city like a soundtrack Monday, played.

Uncertainty and fear constant in parts of the Ivory Coast was in recent weeks as screwed a presidential standoff in a civil war has.

The unrest dates back to November when Gbagbo transferred refused power on Ouattara, the International President of the country after elections recognized as.

Supporters of each side are in many cities of the west African country clashed, and have in the past few days the international troops jumped into the fray.

The cause of United Nations to prevent the use of heavy weapons against civilians and United Nations peace-keeping force helicopter to a camp on Monday controlled by Gbagbo, said a spokesman for un.

UN peacekeeping Director Alain Le Roy told reporters of the body takes sides in the conflict, but be after three days of from Gbagbo left four UN peacekeepers seriously injured had.

France also 350 peacekeepers to the country over the weekend and took control of the airport in Abidjan, the French Ministry of Defense said Sunday. The existing UN peacekeeping mission around 7,500 troops joined the new French troops already in the country.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday that had 800 people to death in the Western cocoa-producing town of Duekoue was shot dead. A UN officials the 330 Friday's death toll.

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Forces storm home of the leader, who did not go

New: A spokesman for Laurent Gbagbo refuses to say where he is chosen yet not his rival covered the President forces still, with no intent "no other choice," an Ouattara SaysGbagbo of spokesman for SayGbagbo of born Ouattara, fight, go tell, he loves lifeEditor's note: Read more about the final match for C?te d'Ivoire.

(CNN) - forces loyal to C?te d'Ivoire elected President Alassane Ouattara stormed the residence of his rival Laurent Gbagbo Wednesday, an Ouattara spokeswoman said potentially heralds end of a bloody conflict in the west African country.

You are in Gbagbo's residence but have not entered it yet, Affoussy Bamba said from the main city Abidjan. She discovered heavy weapons in the residence, she said.

A spokesman for Gbagbo, Ahoua Don Mello, confirmed the residence was attacked and expressed surprise at the attack.

Gbagbo is ready, African Union proposals for a transfer of power to discuss, but can not speak of surrender before discussions even begin, his spokesman said.

He would not confirm that Gbagbo is in the residence, is under attack, but said he was in Abidjan.

"they get him and kill him try," Mello said.

Hundreds of people have rejected since Gbagbo, the results of the elections in November in the country producing cocoa was killed. The United Nations and the African Union told Prime Minister, Ouattara, Gbagbo, beaten, who was running for re-election.

Ouattara's powers have steadily on Gbagbo last week, was closed amidst claims of massacres by both sides.

An Ouattara said Gbagbo Representative leave she had no alternative, but the attack attack began on Wednesday.

"Negotiations with Gbagbo have failed," said Mamadou Toure. "Gbagbo decided not to arise, so that Ouattara's forces were left with no other choice." "Goal is to get it without damage of the residence."

"President Alassane Ouattara have to decide what happens next" added Toure that the country's Embassy in Paris and says he is in direct contact with Ouattara's forces.

Various Ouattara representatives said Gbagbo "will be put" CNN Wednesday.

The conflict between his troops and Ouattara seemed traced Gbagbo to surrender Tuesday after four months, but then he.

It "seems, as he lost it's meant... his mind, that there is something wrong with this guy," Patrick Achi said Ouattara spokesman.

Ouattara's page directly on Gbagbo militants, put their weapons is, said the schmerzhaftesten.

"We can sit and wait for it appropriate" to the "humanitarian catastrophe" with views of the city, Abidjan, Achi said. The city of 5 million people "no more electricity, no more hygiene and facilities on the road" had, he said.

Ouattara's Abidjan forces entered on Thursday after an offensive, which swept across the country. When they arrived, the sporadic escalated violence that plagued Abidjan in the war for months after the elections.

Ivory Coast Ambassador to the United Nations said Tuesday he thought Gbagbo "know all about it."

"His forces were defeated." He alone now ", said Youssoufou Bamba."

Bamba said Gbagbo before court should go "because he has committed so many crimes" against civil and peaceful demonstrators.

Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who was most important negotiators in C?te d'Ivoire of the African Union, said, however, Ouattara and others should take into account, so that safe passage for Gbagbo Angola, South Africa or any other country.

Leading by President Barack Obama on down demanding were international Gbagbo step down immediately for the, most of the country.

The political chaos and violence has demanded at least hundreds of lives. In one of the bloodiest events even the International Committee of the Red Cross reported the killings of 800 people last week in the city of Duekoue-producing Western cocoa.

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said Wednesday that all that remained, would leave to discuss such as Gbagbo.

"We have to ensure United Nations his physical well-being and that of his family, an important point is requested, and then organise on the terms of his departure," Juppe said on French radio. "This is the only links to negotiate".

Gbagbo denied in an interview on Tuesday, he planned, fight, go is called a man who "loves life."

"I am not a kamikaze..." I for death doesn't look, "he told France's LCI television."CNN's Saskya Vandoorne and Sarita Harilela contributed to this report.

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Gaddafi forces using civilians as human shields, says France - the guardian

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe: 'Risk of collateral damage on the civilian population of Misurata obviously hampered operations.' Photo: Ian Langsdon/EPA

Muammar Gaddafi's forces use civilians as human shields, to NATO air attacks slide, said France after rebels the Western-led coalition accused their attacking of Misratah continue to stand by government troops.

The French Foreign Minister, Alain Juppe, conceded, that the position of the rebel held town - under shelling and sniper fire from the army was daily - unbearable but said it was a little more that could be done immediately.

"We have formally requested, there will be no collateral damage for the civilian population," he told Radio France info. "This makes more difficult operations course."

The head of the French armed forces gave a similar response to complaints by rebels, that the pace of air strikes has waned since the NATO for the control of Libyan operations from the United States, France and the United Kingdom on 31 March.

"I would like to purchase from Kagi, things accelerated, but as you know, protection means not somewhere fire from civilians in the vicinity of them," said Admiral Edouard Guillaud radio Europe 1. "This is exactly the problem."

He said, NATO was operations at Misratah, concentration in the rebel of port area, keep and at the same time try to prevent the transit of new weapons on Gaddafi's power base in Tripoli.

The comments followed a scathing rebuke for the Alliance of General Abdel Fatah Younis, leader of the ailing rebel forces. He said: "NATO blesses us every now and then with here and as a bombing, and that's that let people of Misratah die every day." "NATO has disappointed us."

Younis, formerly Gaddafi's Interior Minister, had said a significant slowdown of operations since NATO took over: "The NATO response is very slow." An official gets another and then by the official on the head of NATO and by the head of NATO in the field commander. "It takes eight hours."

He denied the NATO argument to limit the bombing of Misurata: "Nato says Gaddafi's forces are hiding among the civilian population." But we tell them that there are no civilians in the areas where the Gaddafi forces, left positioned. We call on them civil property is to destroy the snipers and armed gangs. "

After a first rapid to and fro that quickly provided for the rebels pushed back further, the battle for control of the country in a near stalemate between Tripoli and the rebels based in the eastern city of Benghazi has stuck werdeneine of NATO a no-fly zone and attacks on Gaddafi's forces managed implementation.

Resupplied Government saw the recent fighting, according to rebels, forces push to the East of the oil port of Brega.

Pick-up trucks loaded with machine guns and rocket launchers while several families fled the fighting in cars loaded with their belongings they passed in the opposite direction West of Ajdabiyah headed.

Hossam Ahmed, a defector from Gaddafi's army, said the front line was 25-37 (40-60 miles) West of Ajdabiyah, say that retreat "was not full withdrawal", it is back and forth.

Ajdabiyah, gateway to Benghazi, is about 80 km east of Brega.

How other rebels at the western gate of Ajdabiyah Ahmed expressed frustration about the lack of NATO actions. "There were no air strikes." "We hear the sound but it not a bomb", he told Reuters.

Another rebel, Khaled al Obeidi said: "what did NATO, which bombed the NATO?"

So far, almost one-third of the Gaddafi's said air strikes military capacity away have, Brigadier General Mark van uhm, senior NATO staff officer, in Brussels. He also said that remaining government troops were often hidden in areas populated: "when the people are used as shields we not to participate."

In the midst of the blockade it has increasing focus on diplomatic efforts, such as for example promoting key Gaddafi loyalists to unsubscribe.

Gaddafi apparently tried to play the same game. Libya's official Jana news agency said that he had sent a message to Obama "colonial after the withdrawal of America of the Crusader Alliance against Libya". The United States played a key role in early air strikes before NATO took over.

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UN and France beat leader's forces in Côte d'Ivoire

France, which showed a newfound muscularity of military strikes against Colonel Muammar el-Qaddafi defending forces in Libya, heavy artillery attacked and Mr Gbagbo said armored vehicles to residence and presidential offices, two centres of power, a French military spokesman Monday night.

The United Nations said that it had created also in helicopter strikes against Mr Gbagbo forces in two of its basis, to prevent that they have the types of heavy weapons, which has been given during the crisis to civilians and United Nations staff.

By early Tuesday, Mr Gbagbo has been in a bunker under his residence and negotiated a possible surrender by the French Ambassador, according to Alain Lobognon, a spokesman for the Prime Minister, Guillaume Soro. Forces support Mr Gbagbo rival, Alassane Ouattara, were several hundred metres away.

The international attacks coincided with a renewed attack by local troops loyal to Mr Ouattara, the man of the United Nations, the African Union and other international organisations as the winners of last year presidential election acknowledged.

With the attacks in progress, Mr. Soro, who is Mr Ouattara, Prime Minister Monday, Mr Gbagbo declared rule now just hours away was from end.

"Our armed forces have made significant progress," Mr Soro said in a telephone interview. "In a few hours it will be over everything." "We came into the city Abidjan today, and I think that it will be soon."

Mr Gbagbo long urged international officials to resign, but Secretary General Ban Ki-moon took pains to say that the United Nations "no party of the conflict." He said that it had taken measures just because loyal to Mr Gbagbo "Bazookas, mortars and heavy machine guns against the civilian population" had used forces

He noted that Mr Gbagbo patrols shot United Nations forces and attacked the company's central in Abidjan "with heavy caliber snipers and mortars and bazookas" wounding four peacekeepers.

France, Ivory Coast of former colonial ruler, has deployed more than 1,500 soldiers in the country and played last month begin a crucial role in the rally of the United States and their allies of airstrikes in Libya.

In a statement Monday France said that it had joined the operation in C?te d'Ivoire at the request of the United Nations, with the intention of "neutralizing heavy weapons used against the civilian population and the United Nations staff in Abidjan."

Peacekeeping deadly fire with Pro-Gbagbo above have been forces, but represented a remarkable increase in the international efforts to Mr Gbagbo step down past the latest military commitment since the election in November the year losing to enforce.

Yet, it also Mr Gbagbo risks a strengthening most potent weapons propaganda:, which is he by foreign forces, particularly the French and the United Nations, is singled out in an attack on Ivorian sovereignty. These ideas, every night for months in the national television, thousands of Gbagbo repeatedly have supporters and soldiers, by you them a passion, it over and over map aroused.

Until now but bear no resemblance to the reality on the ground these instructions.

Mr Soro dismissed in advance evidence to suggest that the French and the United Nations was offensive undue foreign interference. "they have a mandate to protect of the civilian population," he said. "Gbagbo has committed many crimes against the civilian population, so this is absolutely appropriate."

Hard have pits, Mr Gbagbo, loyalist troops to protect a former University historian, which turns autocrat in the course of a long political career in a hard line.

On Monday the city in a renewed push entered more than 2,000 fighters support Mr Ouattara, to oust him his spokesman said.

"This is the final assault," said the spokesman, Apollinaire Yapi. "I would say this is the General offensive we expected." "So far, the raids were Gbagbo's forces to test."

Other Ouattara officials decided that Monday military measures added to the pressure on the Mr Gbagbo.

"Front is open," said as rental Sindou, consultant Mr Soro. "The operations have begun." "Very quickly, we will restore security in Abidjan continue."

As during Monday's attack intensified the fighting, residents described an intimidating universe of the sustainable gunfire and booms and a fourth according to out just day unable to coach.

Some languages running and of food. "We are lying flat;" the guns does not stop, "A resident said the Cocody neighbourhood, where Mr Gbagbo, speaking on condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisals." He was not only his own five children, but also seven of a related protect. "It's very, very hard," he said.

Mr Soro said the United Nations and French attacks the combat would cut: "The election results must be respected." "The rule of law must be restored."

Dan Bilefsky carried coverage of the United Nations.

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Forces: surround Palace Côte d ' Ivoire

UN helicopter fire on a controlled by Laurent Gbagbo in Ivory Coast on Monday.Alassane Ouattara forces camp say that they expect to collect Laurent Gbagbo from TuesdayU.N. Peacekeepers try to prevent attacks on CiviliansSecurity "deteriorated dramatically," which is United Nations of chief SaysOuattara internationally recognised winner of the presidential election in C?te d ' IvoireEditor's Note: background context and explainer on what the cause of the conflict in C?te d'Ivoire

(CNN) - forces loyal to President Alassane Ouattara have surrounded the residence of the rival Laurent Gbagbo, a spokesman for Ouattara told CNN Monday night.

He said Patrick Achi is about 80% sure that Gbagbo still inside the Presidential Palace and Tuesday is gathered.

"We do not see why he will not abandon," Achi said, adding the new Gbagbo Government by the International Court of Justice have tried search can.

CNN could not independently Achi's claims, which confirm a report included that Gbagbo's TV station was destroyed.

The United Nations said that it does not know what could happen in the Palace.

UN helicopter to a camp on Monday the use of heavy weapons against civilians and UN peacekeepers to prevent controlled by Gbagbo triggered, said a spokesman for un.

"The security situation dramatically forces Ouattara faithful and the loyal has deteriorated with an escalation of the conflict to Gbagbo", said Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Monday.

UN peacekeeping Director Alain Le Roy told reporters of the body takes sides in the conflict, but after three days the fire of Gbagbo forces and the four United Nations peacekeeping forces severely injured had left.

Heavy weapons are close to the Presidential Palace and can be countered by Tuesday, Le Roy said.

Gbagbo refuses, makes on Ouattara, transferred, recognised it international as President of the country to elections.

The fighting a "heavy load" civilians took over, said the Secretary General in a written statement.

"In the last few days, loyal to Mr Gbagbo forces have intensified and escalated their use of heavy weapons such as mortars, bazookas and heavy machine guns against the civilian population in Abidjan," he said.

The French President Nicolas Sarkozy a letter to the Secretary General Monday his reject decision on French troops, who join military operations conducted by UNOCI, the United Nations in C?te d'Ivoire have mission.

"I think like you, that the protection of civilians in C?te d ' Ivoire threatened an urgent need, which the entire international community is together with the political efforts to resolve the current crisis in a way that respects the sovereign choice of the Ivorian people" Sarkozy wrote.

"These forces also the headquarters of the United Nations operation in C?te d ' Ivoire (UNOCI) in the Sebroko hotel with heavy caliber snipers and mortars and bazookas have targeted", the Secretary-General said. "Four peace-keeping forces have injured in the attacks was."

Several other peacekeepers were wounded sent to the protection of civilians in attacks on UNOCI patrols and convoys transporting wounded in Abidjan, city, he said.

Meanwhile France called his in Abidjan, to the Embassy or a hotel for their safety, come as a battle for the city came forward.

"Our Ambassador in Abidjan a message to the French-speaking community and you to inform them of this decision statements to follow issued,", said spokesman of the Foreign Ministry Bernard Valero Monday.

The shift from Abidjan's 12,000 French nationals is voluntary he said.

France one sent additional 350 peacekeepers in the country over the weekend and took control of the airport in Abidjan, the French Ministry of Defense said Sunday. The existing UN peacekeeping mission around 7,500 troops joined the new French troops already in the country.

Foreign journalists reported, targeted and put under the microscope. A group of journalists from the French television station France 2 fired on Gbagbo's forces as she tried to leave the Novotel hotel in Abidjan, according to the channel and, not their name used two journalists, to ensure their safety.

Since then have Gbagbo forces patrols were the rooms remain foreign journalists there to leave, that said sources to prevent.

A journalist in the city, said Sunday that many people were afraid that their homes were abandoned but forced, from car, to get water.

Seyi Rhodes, staying at a hotel in Abidjan, C?te d'Ivoire is said people risk were, to a water pump of close shot to. He saw, French journalists under fire as she drove through the city, he said.

Much of the city has no electricity, he added, calling it "a really heavy-handed tactics, the people out there on the street."

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton required Sunday, that Gbagbo step aside immediately.

"Gbagbo C?te d'Ivoire urges in lawlessness,", she said, using the French name for the country. "He must now leave you can to put an end to the conflict."

She called also "on the powers of the President to respect the rules of war Ouattara and stop attacks on civilians."

The International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday that had 800 people to death in the Western cocoa-producing town of Duekoue was shot dead. A UN official of casualties set so far to 330 on Friday, and the investigation continued Tuesday.

The massacre occurred last week between Monday and Wednesday as Ouattara of Republican forces, led an offensive by the country to Abidjan, said Guillaume Ngefa, the Deputy human rights Director of the United Nations Mission in C?te d'Ivoire.

He blame 220 deaths on forces loyal to Ouattara. Ngefa said Pro-Gbagbo forces killed 100 people.

Other groups have different estimates of the number of deaths.

Ouattara camp said it "firmly such accusations and participation is the Republican armed forces of C?te d'Ivoire in possible abuses denied."

But his Ambassador to the United Nations said Monday evening that he welcomed an international investigation because Ouattara believes in the rule of law.

"If some troops we have committed a crime, they will react in court,", said Ambassador Youssoufou Bamba.

Ouattara denied the UN Secretary General, that his troops were responsible, but said he had launched an investigation.

Ngefa said, so far, 320 bodies have been identified, and the actual number could be much higher. He said the dead civilians as mercenaries also included.CNN's Aliza Kassim, Niki Cook, David Wilkinson, Claudia Dominguez, Carey Bodenheimer, Elise Labott, Karen Smith and Moni Basu contributed to this report

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Search US Japan forces for missing tsunami victims - voice of America

VOA News-April 01, 2011 Japan self defense force members search for the victims of 11 March earthquake and tsunami in Miyako city, Miyagi Prefecture, 26 March 2011

Thousands of Japanese and American forces joined together Friday in a final three-day sweep for the still missing search for Japan the 9.0 earthquake and devastating tsunami three weeks ago affected.

The operation includes 120 aircraft and 65 ships and covers the three prefectures beat most of the disaster, the 11,400 people killed and more than 16,500 missing links.

The Quake and tsunami also cooling systems on the nuclear power plant in Fukushima, which you licking different forms of radiation.

In an address Parliament Friday criticised the plant operator Tokyo electric power company Prime Minister Naoto Kan, with inadequate defense against a tsunami.? But the Japanese leader the public that there is no risk of contamination outside the 20-kilometer exclusion zone around the nuclear power plant imposed.

Nuclear industry experts from the United States, are France and elsewhere in Japan Friday and it, heading TEPCO to provide support. Specialized robots are also helping, where it too dangerous for people is sent.

Radiation leaking crippled left nuclear power plant in nearby water, beef and even corpses Fukushima of Japan's earthquake and tsunami is detected.

Authorities are considering what corpses in the vicinity of the plant, say with 1000, it can be too dangerous to collect them, because of fears that the bodies with radiation contaminated are.? Police sources to warn that the families of the victims burned the body, such as the tradition in Japan is, it could publish more radioactivity in the environment.

And TEPCO says that radioactive iodine in the groundwater beneath one of the reactors at levels found 10,000 times higher than normal.? Japan's Kyodo News Agency says that this is the first time, the radiation in the ground water was found.

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