Advisor of said Japan decline of the nuclear threat: report - AFP

Advisor of said Japan decline of the nuclear threat: report (AFP) - 4 hours ago

TOKYO - The Japanese Advisor special of the Prime Minister on nuclear crisis says that the immediate risk of a leak of major radiation of the power plant of Fukushima decreased, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The Government could not say the situation had been completely stabilized at the factory, but after studying the possibility of a serious deterioration Tokyo was comfortable with the current of the evacuation policy, Goshi Hosono said the paper in an interview on Saturday.

"There is no way Tokyo or Kyoto will be in danger," said Hosono, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister Naoto Kan on the management of the nuclear crisis.

The atomic plant, where the reactor cooling systems have been eliminated, was struck by a series of explosions and radiation leak in the air, ground and sea in the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl world 25 years ago.

The Government imposed a 20 kilometre (12 mile) exclusion zone around the plant, giving legal weight to an exclusion zone for fear of the effect of exposure to radiation on residents long term last week.

More than 85,000 people have left for shelter areas around the plant, including a wider zone of 30 km, where people were said to remain in the Interior and later urged to leave.

Hosono said of the levels of radiation in damaged reactors must be lowered before work would be carried out, and they had to find ways to treat the water contaminated by radiation of efforts to cool the reactors and spent fuel rod pool.

Workers poured thousands of tons of radioactive water at low altitude, in the Pacific Ocean, the concern of contamination of the marine environment concerned neighbouring countries.

"Our objective is very clear: preventing the spread more radiation in the atmosphere and the ocean,"Hosono told the paper."."

"To achieve this, we need to restore stable cooling functions." It is technically extremely difficult. ?

Plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company, said that he does not expect a "cold shutdown" of all the reactors for another period of six to nine months.

Hosono said officials had begun to examine the causes and treatment of the nuclear accident.

"When we look at the accident, it will naturally become clear where the problems were, including issues with the Japan nuclear regulatory policy," he told the paper.

Hosono, Member of the Democratic Party of the Japan to power said that it was not the right time to decide whether the country should turn to non-nuclear energy sources or continue to continue to use atomic power.

I just don ' t think we can make a judgment dispassionate in the current atmosphere, "the cited book telling him."

"For the moment, we must maintain options and let the people decide in time".

DPJ Secretary General Katsuya Okada Friday, said the Government would review its policy of energy in the light of the disaster, but could be established with nuclear energy.

Japan poor in resources, very dependent on oil from the Middle East, brings about a third of its energy needs, nuclear power, but its high-tech companies are also world leaders in numerous environmental and energy technologies.

Copyright ? AFP 2011. All rights reserved. "More".

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The Egypt report: Mubarak denies giving the order to shoot demonstrators - Ha'aretz

Stripped of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said investigators questioning on charges of corruption never awarded order of draw or beat protestors who demanded his eviction, the Egyptian newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm reported, said Radio Israel.

When questioned, Mubarak said that he had asked the army to intervene in violent clashes to safeguard and protect the Egyptian people. Mubarak added that if someone said that he gave the order to shoot at demonstrators, while this person is a liar.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, announcing that he will leave in the next elections, in a televised speech to the nation, February 1, 2011.

Between January 25 and February 11, millions of Egyptians filled the streets of cities across the country, in protest against the railway as a rule show with 30 years of Mubarak. After 18 days, Mubarak has finally succumbed to popular pressure and abandoned the reins of power, to resign from his duties.

Since that time, Mubarak and his family have been to one of their houses located holiday in the Sinai resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh. He has been banned from travelling and its assets were frozen. Many of his senior aides have already been questioned or detained pending investigations.

Mubarak also told investigators that he intended to resign as well before him. He said he was satisfied not to smoke when he wanted, four days after protests started, because he had been advised that protesters wanted only the resignation of his cabinet, and that without him, Egypt would be falling into chaos.

There were conflicting reports coming from Al-Masry Al-Youm on the health of Mubarak, Israel Radio reported. Since the arrest of Mubarak, his psychological condition began to deteriorate. But doctors say that he does not have cancer, or any other deadly disease, and that physical health is good.

Mubarak was taken to an intensive care unit Tuesday after having suffered a heart attack during interrogation on charges of corruption, AFP reported Tuesday.

Dozens of protesters picketed at the Hospital where Mubarak was taken, denouncing the President and carrying a sign reading "here's the butcher". They had with Mubarak supporters in a massive security presence.

Security two officials said Mubarak arrived under police protection heavy at the main hospital and two doctors at the hospital, he is out of his naked armored Mercedes and was taken to the presidential suite in the building in the shape of pyramid.

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Conservatives fed aid wages: report

Recently published documents suggest that the Fed conservative government compensation of certain members of staff policy, while the country was tackling an economic crisis in 2009.

In one case, salary of a senior aid was raised to 190 000 $ — 35 000 $ more than the maximum rate.

Guidelines of the Secretariat of the Treasury Board to state the maximum salary for staff policy should be exceeded only in exceptional circumstances.

But documents obtained under the access to information legislation suggest that it happened often.

These premiums news comes two days after the Canadian Press has revealed that, go ahead, more employees become eligible for a wage increase and the separation of the benefits.

The Canadian Press also requested a summary of recent instances where a head of Office of a Minister has paid more than the maximum rate.

The Government published a single page of the 51-page summary of wage exemptions.

This page shows a Chief of staff received $190,000 and another of $124,000.

The maxima at the time were $155,600 for a Chief of staff to a full Minister and $121,000 for the chiefs of staff to the Ministers of State.

The Treasury refused to disclose other details, citing privacy and confidence to the cabinet.

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Afghan training mission risk of losses: report

Plan of the Canada to extend Afghanistan mission in three years in a training support role involves high risks and a low chance of success, according to a report published Monday.

Last November, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that Canadian Forces would act in a role of training combat safer until 2014.

But according to the report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Rideau Institute soldiers are likely to be killed or injured attempting a task that is doomed to failure.

According to analysts Michael Byers and Stewart Webb, always training, to pose hazards, and the Taliban have increasingly targeted training facilities all in infiltrating the Afghan army and police.

The report cites dozens of incidents in which staff with the International Security Assistance Force NATO attacked and killed by infiltrators among the Afghan army and police.

In the past six months:

On 29 November, an Afghan police officer killed six of its American trainers in the East of the Afghanistan. The Taliban claimed that he had been a sleeper agent.January 20, an Afghan soldier shot and killed two Italian soldiers the military base.February 18, an Afghan soldier three German soldiers wounded six others on a base in the province of Baghlan.Le 4 April, an Afghan border police officer killed two American trainers within a compound in the North of Faryab province.

The report explains that widespread illiteracy and the high rates of desertion among Afghan soldiers and police and a worsening of security in the country as a whole would condemn the effort to fail.

Even if training efforts are successful to some extent, the potential implosion of "the most corrupt and inefficient Karzai Government" leaves open the question of what sort of the scheme of these soldiers and police would, according to the report.

"Although they admit it, Western Governments more have already given up on the country," said co-author of the report Byers. "The mission of training is clearly an exit strategy that more Canadians will cost their lives".

The decision to extend the mission in Afghanistan beyond 2011 was made without a debate in Parliament, with the consent of the Liberal Opposition. Harper argued that an extension of the mission in a non-combatant role, no parliamentary vote was necessary.

"When we are simply talking about the technical missions or training, I think this is something the Executive can do on its own," said Harper.

Canadian trainers will remain "inside the wire," at their base, Harper said, but the report suggests that the need to provide training on the ground and security for databases will inevitably lead in "mission creep" and the need to engage in fighting with insurgents.

The report argues that attempts to train the Afghan army and police to take over security are a facade designed to facilitate an exit "with honour."

"Which raises the question," according to the report. "Why should Canadian soldiers suffer more victims in a prolonged mission"training", if the decision to abandon the Afghanistan to its fate has already been made."

The authors of the report concern the public debate on the mission in Afghanistan was set aside by the elections.

"Canadians must be aware of the risks of this mission," said Webb.

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives described himself as an independent, non-partisan Research Institute, concerned with social, economic and environmental justice issues.

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Rio Tinto Profits report no blessing for navigation: freight markets

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April 11, 2011, 10:34 PM EDT By Jason Scott

April 12 (Bloomberg) -- Rio Tinto Group and BHP Billiton Ltd. will report record profits this year as Australia ships more iron ore than ever and still fails to meet Chinese demand that has risen sevenfold in a decade.

The biggest ore-exporting nation will send 425 million metric tons overseas, 5.5 percent more than in 2010, according to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, the government’s commodities forecaster. Global seaborne supply of the raw material for steel will fall about 15 million tons short of demand, compared with an 11 million-ton surplus last year, according to Macquarie Group Ltd.

The Sydney-based bank is forecasting a 12 percent jump in prices this year, on top of 2010’s 84 percent advance, showing why analysts estimate that Rio and BHP will report gains in profit of as much as 74 percent. Demand also will strengthen as Japan, the world’s second-biggest ore importer, rebuilds after its worst-ever earthquake. That still won’t be enough to make shipping rates in the spot market profitable.

“Chinese appetite for iron ore isn’t showing any signs of abating,” said Chris Hall, who helps manage $4 billion of assets at Argo Investments Ltd. in Adelaide, including shares of BHP. “Add to that all the steel Japan will need to help rebuild after the earthquake and it’s looking like Australia’s iron-ore exporters are in for a good year.”

Capesize Rates

Record profit for mining companies won’t translate into higher earnings for the shipping lines hauling the material. Rates for capesizes, carriers three times the size of the Statue of Liberty, slumped 56 percent this year because of a glut of vessels, according to the London-based Baltic Exchange, which publishes daily rates for more than 50 maritime routes.

Forward freight agreements, traded by brokers and used to hedge or bet on future transport costs, are pricing in a fourth- quarter rate of $14,979 a day. While that’s 79 percent more than now, it’s still less than the $25,000 a day owners of capesizes valued at $60 million need to cover expenses such as crew and financing, according to HSBC Shipping Services Ltd. in London.

Rates are volatile, rising or falling 10 percent or more in all except two of the last 30 months. The capesize fleet of 1,082 vessels will expand 17 percent this year, compared with a 7 percent gain in demand to ship iron ore, the biggest cargo, according to Clarkson Plc, the world’s largest shipbroker. About 90 percent of global trade moves by sea, according to the Round Table of International Shipping Associations.

Commodities Demand

“With the amount of new ships on order, it will not really be enough to make a massive difference,” said Peter Norfolk, an analyst at Freight Investor Services Ltd., a broker of shipping derivatives in London. “It will help, but I wouldn’t expect it to lead to a significant increase in rates later in the year.”

Investors are already concerned that demand for commodities may weaken as China seeks to restrain growth. The People’s Bank of China raised interest rates for a fourth time in six months on April 5, before a report forecast to show consumer prices climbed 5.2 percent last month from a year before, the fastest pace since 2008.

China’s growth of 9.5 percent this year, compared with 10.3 percent in 2010, will still be three times bigger than the U.S. and five times that of the euro zone, according to the median estimates in Bloomberg surveys of as many as 68 economists.

The anticipated surge in iron-ore exports to Japan may be delayed because the country first has to repair the ports and roads damaged by the magnitude-9 earthquake and 23-foot tsunami on March 11.

Steel Association

While the Brussels-based World Steel Association said March 25 that most of the country’s steel plants are back to pre- disaster level, Japan Iron and Steel Federation Chairman Eiji Hayashida told reporters March 29 that scheduled blackouts to cope with power shortages will affect smelters.

Analysts aren’t anticipating any slowdown in demand. Seaborne supply will expand 4.9 percent to a record 1.1 billion tons this year and prices in the spot market will average $164 a ton, compared with $147 last year, according to Macquarie.

“It’s an extremely tight market and it looks like it will stay that way for a while,” said Jim Lennon, a senior analyst with Macquarie in London. “We see prices trading in a $150 and $200 range for the next two years.”

Rio, based in London, will report earnings per share of $9.73 this year, 33 percent more than in 2010, according to the mean of 16 analysts’ estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Iron ore accounted for 39 percent of revenue last year and 68 percent of its net income, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Rio is the world’s second-largest iron-ore exporter, behind Rio de Janeiro-based Vale SA.

Analysts’ Estimates

Shares of Rio in London have gained 0.9 percent since the end of December, trading at a multiple of 7.5 times anticipated profit. Of 32 analysts covering the company, two rate it a “sell,” according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

BHP, based in Melbourne and the world’s largest mining company, will make $4.08 a share in its fiscal year ending in June, from $2.37 a year earlier, based on the mean of 16 estimates. Its Sydney-listed shares increased 8 percent since the end of December, trading on a price-to-estimated earnings ratio of 12.5 from about 14 last fiscal year. Of 19 analysts with recommendations tracked by Bloomberg, none rate it a “sell.” Iron ore accounted for 21 percent of revenue in its last 12-month reporting period.

Equity Index

Fortescue Metals Group Ltd., Australia’s third-biggest iron ore miner, will more than double profit to $1.44 billion in the year to June 30, the average estimate of 11 analysts shows. Its shares are 2 percent higher this year, underperforming the 5 percent gain in the MSCI World Index of equities.

Mining companies are contending with ores that yield less metal and development costs for new mines that have doubled in five years, according to Macquarie. In Australia, higher production also means spending billions of dollars on new railroads and bigger ports able to handle more ships.

BHP is paying $9.5 billion to increase iron ore and coal production in Australia, including new rail links and extra loading facilities at Port Hedland in Western Australia, already the world’s largest bulk export terminal. Perth-based Fortescue is planning expenditure of $8.4 billion on expansions, including the construction of 340 miles of railroad.

Rio opened it operations center in Perth in June, with more than 400 people managing its network of mines, ports, rail and power lines across the Pilbara about 750 miles north of the city.

The companies also face constraints from weather. Australian iron-ore exports slumped 13 percent in January, the most in two years, because rainfall flooded mines in Pilbara.

Crush and Ship

Almost all the iron ore from Pilbara is high-grade hematite, containing more than 60 percent iron, which is crushed before being loaded onto trains and ships. It can be fed directly into blast furnaces without processing.

World trade in iron ore will rise 4.6 percent to 1.09 billion tons this year, according to Canberra-based Abares. Growth will quicken to 6.8 percent next year, it estimates.

“Iron-ore prices are still holding up,” said Peter Chilton, who helps manage the equivalent of $790 million at Constellation Capital Management Ltd., including BHP shares. “We’re not expecting China to slow down for several years at least. BHP and Rio have performed better than many people said was possible a couple of years ago. They’re benefitting from the out-performance from commodities. While there’s demand for their products, those companies will do well.”

--With reporting by Alaric Nightingale in London. Editors: Stuart Wallace, James Poole

To contact the reporters on this story: Jason Scott in Perth at jscott14@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Poole at jpoole4@bloomberg.net

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Tories under fire in the flight of the G8 report

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A leaked draft report on G8/G20 summit spending that alleges the Conservative government lavished millions on a prominent cabinet member's riding and "misled" Parliament has put Stephen Harper's campaign on the defensive a day before the first leaders' debate.

But Auditor General Sheila Fraser cautioned Canadians on Monday, saying in a statement that only her final report will represent her audit's findings and conclusions when it is tabled in Parliament.

Fraser said the final report cannot be released until Parliament returns, despite all four parties calling for the document to be made public immediately.

"I strongly caution the public to wait until our final report on the G8 Legacy Infrastructure Fund has been tabled in Parliament and made public," Fraser said. "Sometimes during the process of fact validation, additional information is brought to our attention."

The Canadian Press reported earlier Monday that the Conservative government allegedly misinformed Parliament to win approval for a $50-million G8 fund that spread taxpayers' money on dubious projects in a Conservative riding, sparking parties to call for the release of the report.

A chapter of a Jan. 13 draft report, seen by the news agency, said Fraser suggests the process may have been illegal. The Canadian Press said the draft was obtained by a supporter of an opposition party.

Conservative candidate John Baird, who served as transport minister and later government House leader, told reporters that statements such as "Parliament was misinformed" do not appear in a later draft of the auditor general's report, which he said he had seen. Baird said "it's common" for versions of reports to be changed substantially.

"I told you what was not in the report. I don't have the authority to release subsequent drafts. I haven't seen the final draft," Baird said.

"We are very comfortable to ask for the report to be made public so people can come to their own conclusions and their own judgments. I think that is being open. I think that is being incredibly transparent."

But CBC News has learned that while the reference to misleading of Parliament was removed, the changes in the final report were not substantial.

"I have spoken to someone who has read several versions of this (auditor general's report) right up to the final one, who says there's not really a big substantial change," the CBC's Greg Weston said on Power & Politics with Evan Solomon.

"There may have been that change, that one change, but there’s a lot of other stuff in that report. … There is a lot of damning information in that report."

The QMI news agency later in the day published what it said was a February draft of the report, and as Baird said it did not contain the words "Parliament was misled," but did have as one section title: "The funding request was not made in a transparent manner."

According to The Canadian Press, the Jan. 13 draft reveals that then-Industry Minister Tony Clement, the mayor of Huntsville and the general manager of Deerhurst Resort chose the 32 projects that received funding — with no regard for the needs of the summit or the conditions laid down by the government.

Tony Clement at Land of the Lakes public school in Burks Falls, Ont., during a candidates' meeting in the riding of Parry Sound-Muskoka. Dave Seglins/CBC

Clement said Monday on Twitter that he was glad Fraser indicated the leaked document was not her final report, which is the version that represents her findings.

Later, Clement told CBC News: "It is pure politics by the opposition. It is acknowledged that this report was illegally leaked to (a) political party. It is no coincidence that this came out the day before the leaders' debate."

Meanwhile, Huntsville Mayor Claude Doughty said during a news conference that there were no private meetings with Clement and Deerhurst, which was sold in January of this year for a reported $26 million to Skyline International Development, which has corporate offices in Toronto.

There were never any "discussion of merits of the G8 application discussed at private meetings between myself and the leadership of Deerhurst and Tony Clement. I had no authority to determine G8 funding," said Doughty.

CBC News has learned Fraser wrote a scathing letter on Friday rebuking the Conservatives for recycling an older and unrelated quote by her in a separate parliamentary report by Tory committee members on the costs of the G8/G20 summits in Ontario last summer.

The Conservatives' report, presented to the Commons the morning Parliament was dissolved last month, quotes Fraser giving high marks to the Harper government for prudent spending on the summits.

The tabled report quoted the auditor general as saying: “We found that the processes and controls around that were very good, and that the monies were spent as they were intended to be spent.”

But in her letter addressed to members of the Commons committee, which was received by the clerk and members on Monday, Fraser said the quote had nothing to do with the summits, and was taken not from parliamentary evidence, but was a comment she made in 2010 on security spending by a previous Liberal government after the Sept. 11, 2001.

“The comments attributed to me in the [Conservative] report are completely unrelated to G8/G20 spending,” Fraser writes in her letter. “I would appreciate it if the report could be modified as it is clearly erroneous.”

Earlier Monday, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff called the allegations contained in the report "an absolute scandal" and asked the report to be released immediately.

"We knew that they wasted $1.2 billion on a G8/G20 summit. We knew that they have been spraying money around like drunken sailors in Tony Clement's riding What we didn't know is that they lied to Parliament. What we didn't know is they may have broken the law," Ignatieff told reporters in Ottawa.

"This is not me telling you this. This is the Auditor General of Canada, Sheila Fraser, a respected public servant."

The Liberal leader said the G8 spending is about a broader issue of trust, adding that Harper now has "no choice" but to release the report immediately.

"He has to release this report today, and he has got to explain to Canadians how he could have so scandalously abused public money, and so scandalously misled Parliament and so scandalously disobeyed the law."

The findings are contained in a draft of a confidential report Fraser was to have tabled in Parliament on April 5, according to The Canadian Press.

The report was shelved when Stephen Harper's minority government was toppled and is not due to be released until after the May 2 election. Despite the government's defeat, the opposition parties — the Liberals, NDP and Bloc Québécois — called last week for the auditor general's report to be released on the original date.

When asked whether the Conservative government leaned on Fraser to change the draft report, Baird laughed and said the auditor general "is not someone that is pushed around."

But shortly after Baird spoke, the Bloc Québécois said the auditor general's office confirmed the final report has been released to the Privy Council Office —the bureaucratic support arm of the Prime Minister's Office — meaning Harper can order it released if he chooses.

"We are prepared to help facilitate the release of the final version of the report in any way necessary," said Nina Chiarelli, acting director of communications for Harper.

An olympic-size hockey arena and aquatics centre in Huntsville, Ont., was funded by G8 funds, but was never used and never slated to be used for the actual summit last June. Dave Seglins/CBC

NDP Leader Jack Layton said the leaked report bolsters his party's call for a public inquiry on the G8 and G20 summits.

He said there are ongoing questions about human rights violations at the protests in Toronto at the G20 meeting.

On the G8 legacy project funding, Layton said it shows "that the priorities of this government continue to be wrong."

He said the Conservatives put their own political interests and the interests of their "buddies" ahead of the interests of Canadian families and small businesses.

"This is all a part of the culture of secrecy," Layton said in reference to Harper's government.

Layton said the Conservatives have established a pattern of trying to withhold information from the public.

"They don't like to release information about what they do," he said, adding that Harper goes to great lengths to "hide the truth."

"We have a prime minister that is incredibly secretive," Layton told reporters at a news conference in Ottawa.

Layton and Ignatieff both want the full report released before Tuesday night's debate.

Duceppe told reporters Monday he also wants the report released before the leaders' debate on Tuesday.

"We need to know exactly what happened before the debates," Duceppe said.

"It is unacceptable, we want clarity on this. Mr. Harper must show transparency on this."

Baird disputed that report when he met with reporters on Monday in Ottawa. He said the final decisions for which projects received money were made at Infrastructure Canada, which he headed as transport minister in Harper's government.

“Those three individuals didn’t make the final decisions,” Baird said. “I did.”

The auditor general's report analyzed the $1-billion cost of staging last June's G8 summit in Ontario cottage country and a subsequent gathering of G20 leaders in downtown Toronto.

The demand for Fraser to release her office's report into the G8 summit has incited debate over what government agencies can release reports during election campaigns.

Fraser is an independent officer of Parliament, so her duty is to report directly to the institution. When the election was called, Parliament was dissolved, so there is currently no one to receive the report.

Kevin Page, the parliamentary budget officer, released a report into the cost of the military mission in Afghanistan during the 2008 election campaign.

However, unlike the auditor general, Page is not an independent parliamentary officer. Instead, he is an employee of the Library of Parliament, which means he does not have the same restrictions on when he can release his findings.

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Special report: how not to pay no tax

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The bunker of Côte d'Ivoire of Gbagbo assault troops: report

Officials on both sides of the fight in Ivory Coast say strongman Laurent Gbagbo is perforated in its private bunker, bombarded by forces of the opposition.

A diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case said forces Ivorian internationally recognized choir leader Alassane Ouattara attacked the new compound where Laurent Gbagbo drag down with his family.

Reuters News reported shortly after 5: 30 and that the soldiers had stormed Gbagbo's residence.

"Yes, they are entering the home of Gbagbo, they he did not yet, but they are in the process, they are in the building," Affousy Bamba, a spokesman for the forces Ouattara, told Reuters.

Gbagbo representative Toussaint Alain, speaking to the Associated Press in a telephone interview from Paris, said Gbagbo's residence was bombed by the French army. He said firing the French forces of two Puma helicopters and on the roof of the residence of the French Ambassador in the vicinity.

"France will be held responsible for the death of President Gbagbo, his wife and family members and all those who are inside the residence, which was bombarded by the French army," he said, adding "there is a real danger" that Gbagbo and others could be killed in the operation.

French military spokesman Thierry Burkhard denied that drawing of the French forces at Gbagbo's residence, saying no French or operation of the United Nations was in progress. France has helicopters patrolling Abidjan, help guide land forces and rescue the people trapped in dangerous areas, he said.

Although Gbagbo is squeezed, and his army is quickly dissolved him out of bunker is not easy. Forces internationally recognized choir leader Alassane Ouattara received strict instructions to take him away safely, said several members of the cabinet of the President.

After the Tuesday evening newscast, Ouattara private television channel showed the fall film, which recounts the last days of Adolf Hitler in a bunker in Germany.

The slope of luxurious composed of Gbagbo, dozens of his soldiers was seen going into a church where they were stripped of their uniforms and abandoned their weapons. Earlier, three top generals of Gbagbo stated that they had ordered their men to stop fighting, the Organization of the United Nations said in a statement.

Developments spell game on a man who refused to accept defeat in elections last year and took his country to the brink of civil war in his attempt to preserve power. Its security forces are accused of the use of guns, mortars and machine guns to mow opponents in the four months since Ouattara was declared winner of the contested vote.

President Laurent Gbagbo of C?te d'Ivoire speaks at a press conference at the headquarters of his party in Abidjan on November 9, 2010. ReutersBut analysts say Ouattara is fully aware that, while he won last year's elections with 54% of the vote, Gbagbo has received 46 percent - which represents almost half of the electorate. A diplomat who speaks frequently Ouattara said that the leader is aware of the danger involved at this stage, because if Gbagbo is killed he can mobilize his supporters.

Choi Young-jin, the top Envoy of the United Nations in C?te d'Ivoire, said by telephone that the assignment of Gbagbo was "imminent."

"He accepted of [the] principle to accept the results of the election, so it doesn't have many cards in its hands," Choi told Associated Press Television News. "The key element, that they negotiate is Mr. Gbagbo goes where.

Then, just as it seemed about to resign, Gbagbo, in her first interview in months, insisted lost that he did not intend to relinquish power.

"I won the election and I do not negotiate my departure", he told French television LCI by telephone of his bunker. "I find it absolutely amazing that everyone plays this... game of poker."

Observers veteran of the nation on the western edge of Africa say that the turn of events could have been taken from a biography of Gbagbo.

In Abidjan, he long was called Le Boulanger, French Baker, because it rolls of persons in the flour, a reference to a popular expression, which means to manipulate and deceive others. The elections that took place finally last year was supposed to take place five years earlier.

"To put an end to this violence and to prevent more bloodshed, former President the Gbagbo must withdraw immediately and directly to those who are fighting in his name to drop their weapons."-US President Barack Obama

Gbagbo has been assigned for many extensions that people in his country have lost count of how many times the survey was deferred.

"I believe that it plays for the moment," said a senior diplomat who has closely followed events and spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to speak to the press. "His goal is always to buy himself has just one more day.".

Foreign Minister Alain Juppe of France said Gbagbo had to abdicate in writing and must formally recognize Ouattara, internationally backed-up winner of the November election.

After amassing on the outskirts of the city Monday, forces loyal to Ouattara seized the presidential residence where Gbagbo was hidden in the night. They moved the Organization of the Nations United agreed to proceed with a resolution of the Security Council giving their peacekeepers the right to leave heavy artillery Gbagbo.

Mi - 24 helicopters, assisted by the French troops bombed the outside perimeter of the compound. Those who live nearby, said the earth shook with each explosion.

The US President Barack Obama said Tuesday that the role of the United Nations was needed to end the conflict. The forces of the Ouattara had taken more than three-quarters of the campaign between Monday and Wednesday of last week, but then faltered when they reached Abidjan, where Gbagbo had created a protective RADIUS, inhabited by his faithful soldiers.

"To put an end to this violence and prevent more bloodshed, former President Gbagbo must withdraw immediately and to those who are fighting in his name to lay down their arms directly,"Obama said in a statement.""

Ivory Coast gained its independence from the France in 1960, and some 20,000 French citizens still lived there when a brief civil war broke out in 2002.

French troops were then tasked by the United Nations with monitoring of a cease-fire and the protection of foreign nationals in C?te d'Ivoire, which was once an economic star and is still one of the only countries in the region with the four-lane highwaysskyscrapers, the escalators and the wine bars.

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