PARIS,  Jan. 31 (UPI) -- A week after Ivorian rebels and government forces cobbled a peace
deal in Paris, the agreement appears in tatters and France's image has shifted from
hero to traitor in the West African country.
After a brief hiatus following four days of rioting, pro-government demonstrators again
took to the streets of Ivory Coast's commercial capital of Abidjan Friday. Many headed
for the city's airport, where at some 500 French nationals have either left the country,
or plan to do so in the coming hours.
One soldier suffered serious face wounds Friday, as pro-government "young patriots"
pelted stones at Abidjan's airport, French news media reported. Other French soldiers
joined Ivorian forces to try to secure airport runways.
The French Foreign Ministry in Paris has suggested all non-essential French nationals
leave the country in the coming days. Paris also dispatched 130 policemen Thursday, to help restore calm to the city.
The new wave of unrest in Ivory Coast marks a major diplomatic setback for the
government of French President Jacques Chirac,nike free shoes, who only Sunday was basking in
praise, for having saved the West African powerhouse from turmoil.
But the peace deal shepherded -- critics say strong-armed -- through by the French
government in Paris last week, now appears seriously compromised.
In recent days, top Ivorian officials and opposition parties have backtracked on a
critical part of a peace pact reached at the Marcoussis soccer center outside Paris: To
hand key defense and interior ministries to northern rebels, who control roughly half of
Ivory Coast.
Indeed, earlier this week, the Ivorian Interior Minister called the deal "null
and void."
And -- despite a warning by Chirac to "respect his engagements" -- President Laurent
Gbagbo has postponed a national address to explain the peace agreement, after
minimizing it as a series of "proposals."
One of the few encouraging signs came Friday, with the arrival in Abidjan of Ivory
Coast's newly designated prime minister, Seydou Diara. But whether Diara will
succeed in forming the national unity government agreed to in Paris, remains
anybody's guess.
"France is heading down a trapped alley," said Jean-Francois Medard, an analyst at the
Center for African Studies in Bordeaux, summing up the French predicament regarding
its former West African colony. "But once France saw the country splitting in two, I
don't think we could have avoided getting involved, and stopping the process."
But, Medard added, "stopping the process, and resolving the problem are two different
things."
Nonetheless, France is facing criticism at home and abroad for its role in the Ivorian
peace agreement.
Earlier this week,Supra Vaider, Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade said West
African leaders were not consulted about the deal to offer two key ministerial positions
to the rebels.
Wade's acknowledgment reinforces arguments by Gbagbo supporters that
the deal was pushed through by Paris -- in tacit recognition, they argue,Nike Free 3.0, that guns, not
ballot boxes, are the way to secure power in Africa.
France's Socialist Party, which has long held close ties with Gbagbo, also criticized
Chirac's conservative government for "sinning by optimism," in pushing through the
Marcoussis agreement.
But a number of experts argue France had little choice. African countries and the
international community have so far lacked the ability or the will to intervene in the
Ivorian turmoil.
"African troops were not available when they were needed, or able to deal with this
urgent crisis," said Daniel Bourmaud, an African politics professor at the Sorbonne University in Paris.
Indeed, a West African peacekeeping force was supposed to take over from French
troops in October. The changing of the guard has yet to happen.
Now, Bourmaud says, "France is very badly prepared and is forced to improvise,
without having any really coherent doctrine" to deal with the Ivorian conflict, much
less other African concerns.
For his part, Jean-Gabriel Senghor, a prominent lawyer and nephew of former Senegalese president
Leopold Senghor, blames Africa -- not France -- for the Ivorian troubles.
"We see that West African leaders were not up to resolving a problem with West
African consequences," Senghor said, during an interview in Paris. "Before criticizing
France, we need to criticize West Africa, for not being able to resolve its own
problems."
Last Sunday, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said he would bring up the Ivorian
conflict at the United Nations Security Council next week. But its unclear whether the
discussion will translate into concrete, multilateral peacekeeping assistance.
"The international community should be much more involved in Ivory Coast," said
Medard, of the African Studies Center. "France finds itself very much alone there."
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The study found that more Republicans than Democrats hold stock in defense companies, but that the Democrats who are invested had significantly more money at stake. In 2006, for example, Democrats held at least $3.7 million in military-related investments, compared to Republican investments of $577,500.
 
 
 
According to the report, presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and John McCain did not report any defense-related holdings on their filings; Hillary Rodham Clinton did note holdings in such companies as Honeywell, Boeing and Raytheon, but sold the stock in May 2007. All candidates three are members of the Senate.
 
 
 
 
 
 
"He has a 24-year Senate record of working and voting in the best interests of our men and women in the military, not of any defense contractors," Wade said.
 
 
WASHINGTON -- Members of Congress have as much as $196 million collectively invested in companies doing business with the Defense Department, earning millions since the onset of the Iraq war, according to a study by a nonpartisan research group.
 
 
 
 
 
Earning dividends from companies tied to the military "could be problematic" for lawmakers who oversee defense policy and budgeting,moncler, noted the center's Lindsay Renick Mayer. Avoiding every company with a military contract,louboutin, however,abercrombie, would not be easy for an investor.
Spokesman David Wade said Kerry, who staunchly opposes the war in Iraq, is one of many beneficiaries of family trusts that he doesn't control. Wade also noted that Kerry does not sit on the Appropriations Committee, which has direct control of the defense budget.
 
"I don't pretend to speak for other offices, but I am fairly certain that no member would consider their personal finances when voting on issues as important as sending our men and women in uniform into harm's way," said Blunt spokesman Nick Simpson. The Lockheed Martin stock was given to Blunt's wife by her mother, he said.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
An aerial view of the Capitol building in a file photo. [Agencies]
"So common are these companies, both as personal investments and as defense contractors, it would appear difficult to build a diverse blue-chip stock portfolio without at least some of them,louboutin," Mayer wrote
 
 
 
The center's review of lawmakers' 2006 financial disclosure statements suggests that members' holdings could pose a conflict of interest as they decide the fate of Iraq war spending. Several members earning money from these contractors have plum committee or leadership assignments, including Democratic Sen. John Kerry,louboutin pas cher, independent Sen. Joseph Lieberman and House Republican Whip Roy Blunt.
Overall, 151 members hold investments worth $78.7 million to $195.5 million in companies that receive defense contracts that are worth at least $5 million. These investments earned them anywhere between $15.8 million and $62 million between 2004 and 2006, the center concludes.
 
Lieberman, I-Conn., chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and a member of the Armed Services Committee,mercurial, held a considerably smaller share at $51,000. A spokesman said the senator, who supports continued operations in Iraq, is "careful to make his policy decisions based only on what is best for the country."
 
 
 
 
 
A spokesman for Blunt,louboutin pas cher, R-Mo., a senior member of House GOP leadership who held at least $15,000 in Lockheed Martin stock in 2006,louboutin pas cher, said the insinuation that lawmakers' votes might be affected by their portfolios is "offensive." Like Lieberman, Blunt has been a fierce supporter of the war.
 
 
 
 
It is unclear how many members still hold these investments and exactly how much money has been made. Disclosure reports for 2007 aren't due until this May. Also, members are required to report only a general range of their holdings.
 
 
Not all the companies in which lawmakers invested are typical defense contractors. Corporations such as PepsiCo,louboutin, IBM, Microsoft and Johnson & Johnson have at one point received defense-related contracts,abercrombie, notes the report by the Washington-based Center for Responsive Politics.
 
Kerry, D-Mass., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is identified as earning the most — at least $2.6 million between 2004 and 2006 from investments worth up to $38.2 million.
 
 
 
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Perp-walk The parading of criminals in handcuffs before the cameras. It made the news only as some of the nation's most distinguished faces began appearing there.

Scott Tucker Leawood released his team use two Honda-powered Lola entries for your LMP2 division with the 2011 season. Tucker who's going to be the manager and new driver of Stage 5 Motorsports has become setting records for his Level 5 staff. He's been named because Rookie in the Year as well as won 5 events for taking over this LMPC concept.
 
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“We got our time for it to evaluate who the most beneficial partners will be, ” Tucker mentioned. “Both Lola along with Honda are extremely strong professional motorsports organizations that contain proven receiving traditions and goals in which align adequately with ours with the 2011 season. ”
 
Scott Tucker Leawood, whose home is Leawood, KS is very pleased how a season is usually starting. He declare they, him and also his team, have dedicated plans with the 2010 year. He team with Frenchman Christophe Bouchu stumbled on finish fourth from the ALMS LMP Challenge. Bouchut is probably the most profitable endurance drivers on earth.
 
“I’m excited again to become driving with regard to Level 5 Motorsports and also Scott Tucker Leawood, ” Bouchut mentioned. “We enjoyed significant amounts of success in our first season inside the American Le Mans Series recently. We’ve really come together as a new team as well as I be expecting more nutrients in 2011. ”
 
Tucker as well as his group added Luis Diaz involving Mexico to help his crew. Diaz picked up the LMP2 championship just last year and can be a veteran from the American Le Mans line. He provides 8 surface finishes under the belt possesses driven in GRAND-AM Rolex Expensive car Series along with won a few Daytona Prototype contests.
 
“It’s a great honor to join Scott Tucker Leawood and his Levels 5 Motorsports business, ” Diaz explained. “They possess proven they're a world-class team. With my own experience throughout ALMS, I hope I can help Scott along with the team get a champion in one more class this season. ”
 
Tucker is looking forward to racing with Bouchu in addition to Diaz since new business friends. They should go on to be able to race in the American The Mans Collection.
 
Lola models have above 50 years to construct winning cars. They have been around in Formula A single, CART or IndyCar, USAC, and IMSA. Lola gained podium finishes in 9 events final season within the ALMS. They will paired your Lola B11/40 having a Honda electrical power plant to be a powerful force from the upcoming year.
 
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