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Russia says Assad wants peace, as Syria vows no let-up
02/07 | 23:46 GMT
©AFP/SANA
A handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (L) talking with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the presidential palace in Damascus. Lavrov said after talks in Damascus that Assad was "fully committed" to ending the bloodshed in Syria even as regime tanks pounded the city of Homs for a fourth straight day.
©AFP/SANA
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (L) talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
DAMASCUS (AFP) - Russia said on Tuesday that President Bashar al-Assad was "fully committed" to ending the bloodshed in Syria, as his regime pounded the city of Homs for a fourth day and vowed no let-up.
As several European nations pulled their ambassadors from Syria, a top US senator called for the arming of rebels fighting Assad's rule and Washington said it was exploring options for providing humanitarian aid.
Tank and artillery fire rained on Homs, killing at least 15 civilians, activists said, as the interior ministry vowed to keep up its onslaught against "terrorist groups".
Scene: 'God help us' - appeal from Syria's Homs
"There are about four blasts every five minutes," said Abu Rami, an activist in Homs reached by AFP by telephone from Beirut. "The humanitarian situation is dire. No one can move around."
An interior ministry statement carried by the SANA news agency pledged that "operations to hunt down terrorist groups will continue until security and order are re-established in all neighbourhoods of Homs and its environs."
©AFP/YouTube
An image grab taken from a video uploaded on YouTube allegedly shows Syrian army tanks near Zabadani
More than 6,000 people have died in nearly a year of upheaval in the Middle East country, as Assad's hardline regime seeks to snuff out a revolt that began with peaceful protests in March 2011 amid the Arab Spring.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov flew into Damascus to a hero's welcome on Tuesday, with thousands of cheering, flag-waving Assad supporters lining the route of his motorcade.
Russia, which along with China over the weekend vetoed a UN resolution condemning the government crackdown, has staunchly stood by its last ally in the region, a key buyer of Moscow's military hardware that hosts a strategic Russian naval base.
"We (Russia) confirmed our readiness to act for a rapid solution to the crisis based on the plan put forward by the Arab League," said Lavrov, adding Syria was ready to see an enlarged Arab League mission in the country, Russian news agencies reported.
"We have every reason to believe that the signal that we've brought here to move along in a more active manner along all directions has been heard," he said.
Timeline: Diplomatic moves against Syria
"In particular, President Assad assured (us) that he is fully committed to the task of a cessation of violence, from whatever source it comes."
©Syrian TV
Lavrov says Assad 'committed' to ending violence. Duration: 00:28
The 22-member Arab League deployed an observer mission to Syria in December to oversee a plan to end the bloodshed, but it was suspended a month later amid increasing violence on the ground.
It has since put forward a new plan for Assad to hand his powers to Vice President Faruq al-Shara and for the formation of a national unity government to oversee the preparation of democratic elections.
Shara, a veteran regime diplomat with a career that stretches back to the rule of Assad's late father president Hafez al-Assad, attended Tuesday's talks with Lavrov, the official SANA news agency said.
Lavrov did not specify which of the two Arab plans he was referring to in his comments Tuesday, although SANA quoted Assad as interpreting the reference to be to the earlier one.
Lavrov said Syria was pressing ahead with the reform programme Assad promised in speeches last year and would soon announce the timetable for a referendum on a new constitution to replace the current one that enshrines the dominance of his Baath party.
SANA said Assad would receive the text drawn up by an appointed panel on Wednesday.
US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland voiced scepticism over Assad's promises.
"You can understand that the international community as a whole would be pretty sceptical... instead of focusing on ending the violence, what we seem to have is a re-upping of this same offer that Assad has been making for months and months and months," she told reporters in Washington.
In Washington US Senator John McCain, the Republican candidate in the 2008 election won by President Barack Obama, said it was time for Washington to think about arming the rebels.
©AFP / Louai Beshara
Pro-government protesters wave flags as a convoy carrying Russian FM Sergei Lavrov heads to the presidential palace
"We should start considering all options, including arming the opposition. The blood-letting has got to stop," he said.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said that the US was consulting with allies to discuss how to provide humanitarian aid.
"We are exploring the possibility of providing humanitarian aid to Syrians," he said, admitting that no "mechanisms" currently existed for delivering such aid.
Said State Department's Nuland: "Some of these proposals that people are brooding about could not be done without foreign military intervention -- as we have said, we don't think more arms into Syria is the right answer."
©AFP/YouTube
An image grab taken from a video uploaded on YouTube on February 6, allegedly shows and area being shelled in Rastan
A day after the United States closed its Damascus embassy, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain joined Britain and Belgium on Tuesday in recalling their ambassadors to Syria for consultations.
Turkey, a former Assad ally which shared Western anger over the Russian and Chinese vetoes, said it would launch a "new initiative" with like-minded countries which "stand by the Syrian people, not the regime."
And the six Arab states of the Gulf announced that they had decided to expel Syria's envoys and withdraw their own from Damascus in protest over the "mass slaughter" of civilians.
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Contador vows to pursue career despite doping ban
02/07 | 21:39 GMT
©AFP / Javier Soriano
Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador arrives to give a press conference in Pinto near Madrid. Contador said on Tuesday he "totally disagreed" with his two-year doping ban but vowed to pursue his career at the highest level.
©AFP / Javier Soriano
Alberto Contador arrives to give a press conference in Pinto
PINTO, Spain (AFP) - An indignant two-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador said on Tuesday he "totally disagreed" with his two-year doping ban and vowed to pursue his career at the highest level.
"I am going to continue cycling. I am going to continue practicing it cleanly, the way I have my entire life," he told a news conference at a hotel in his hometown of Pinto just south of Madrid.
"My mood right now is not the best but I know this will make me stronger in the future," he added in his first public comments since the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport handed down its sanction on Monday.
"I cannot understand the sanction that has been imposed on me. As for the decision, I totally disagree."
Contador, 29, said his lawyers were looking into a possible appeal, which must be lodged within 30 days.
"My lawyers are looking into all the possibilities. We will continue to fight until the end," he said, wearing a dark jacket and a white shirt unbuttoned at the collar.
©AFP / Javier Soriano
Alberto Contador
Considered the most gifted racer of his generation, Contador was handed the ban following a positive test for the banned substance clenbuterol.
Backdated to August 2010, when he announced the news of his positive test weeks after his third yellow jersey triumph, the ban means Contador can return to competition on August 6, 2012.
As well as ruling him out of this year's Tour de France and the Olympic Games in London, he will be stripped of several wins including his 2010 yellow jersey which will now be handed to runner-up Andy Schleck of Luxembourg.
Contador's determination to carry on means he may compete at the Tour of Spain which starts on August 18, a race he won in 2008.
Contador said he has not yet decided if he will take part in this year's race and his "priority" is to stay with his current team, Saxo Bank.
"I still don't know what my programme will be after my suspension. I have to organise my future but that does not depend only on me. What I know for sure is that I want to continue to win the biggest races," he said.
Contador is one of only five men to have won all three major cycling races.
Two months after his positive test, the Spaniard, claiming he was the victim of a contaminated steak eaten during the Tour de France, had said he would consider quitting if banned.
©AFP / Javier Soriano
Alberto Contador
If he is to find any kind of succour from the CAS decision, it is that doping experts believe he did not ingest clenbuterol intentionally. They deemed the Spaniard was likely a victim of a contaminated food supplement.
Contador said he had committed no crime and yet had been hit with the heaviest penalty of a two-year ban.
The Spaniard said he even gave evidence with a polygraph, or lie detector.
"That is five hours sitting in a chair answering questions like a real criminal," he said.
"There have been speculations, leaks, it has been a real torment. But the hardest thing has been to see my family, the suffering they have had, my wife, for what they have accused me of."
Contador was repeatedly applauded by supporters who chanted his name at the end of the press conference.
He thanked his fans and his sponsor for their support, after Saxo Bank chief Bjarne Riis told the news conference he backed the cyclist "100 percent" because he clearly did not deliberately take drugs.
"We as a team, supported by all our sponsors, continue to support Alberto. Our trust in Alberto is still 100 percent intact," said Riis.
The loss of Contador could have huge ramifications for his team.
Run by Riis, a former Tour de France winner who owned up to cheating with drugs to win the race in 1996, Contador is the team's marquee rider in stage races.
But more importantly, his WorldTour ranking points are crucial.
Affiliation to the WorldTour series -- via a system governed by ranking points, financial viability and sound ethical principles -- guarantees entry to cycling's biggest races.
On his own, Contador has racked up a massive amount of the points required by the team for entry to the series.
The sport's ruling body, the International Cycling Union, was due to ask its licences commission on Tuesday to gauge whether Saxo Bank has the right to remain in the UCI WorldTour.
Sports
Contador vows to pursue career despite doping ...Miro, Dali and Klimt stars of Sotheby's art auction
02/07 | 21:49 GMT
©AFPTV
Key artworks by Miro, Dali, Klimt and many others go under the hammer in London on Wednesday in Sotheby's Impressionist/Modern Art auction. Duration: 01:03
©AFPTV
Key artworks by Miro, Dali, Klimt and many others go under the hammer in London on Wednesday in Sotheby's Impressionist/Modern Art auction.
Video Gallery
Miro, Dali and Klimt stars of Sotheby's art ...Baseball legend fields fantasy world video game
02/08 | 03:15 GMT
©AFP/Getty Images/File / Elsa
Electronic Arts has released a much-anticipated "Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning" video game created by an all-star team put together by World Series champion pitcher Curt Schilling, pictured here in 2008.
©AFP/Getty Images/File / Elsa
World Series champion pitcher Curt Schilling has created a video game called "Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning"
SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Electronic Arts has released a much-anticipated "Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning" video game created by an all-star team put together by World Series champion pitcher Curt Schilling.
The title is the first video game from 38 Studios, which Schilling started in 2010 after finishing a baseball career that included World Series championships with the Philadelphia Phillies, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Boston Red Sox.
"I could not be more proud of all of the heart, passion and talent the team has poured into creating the first title in the world of Amalur," Schilling said in a release.
"This is the beginning of a long and fantastic journey," he continued.
"We are deeply committed to the (role-playing game) community and plan to continue to serve up a lot more story-based and action-packed content in the near and long term."
The roster of talent for the Amalur team featured bestselling author R.A. Salvatore; comic book star Todd McFarlane and veteran game designer Ken Rolston.
Game makers created a dazzling fantasy realm where players shape heroic destinies with magic, swordplay and more in a title praised by reviewers for combining rich storyline action with "visceral action combat."
Players customize in-game personae in a world "filled with extraordinary landscapes, mysterious cities, colorful characters and fantastic creatures."
Versions of "Reckoning" tailored for play on Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 videogame consoles or on personal computers powered by Windows software were priced at $60 a copy. The game will be released in Europe on February 10.
More information was available online at reckoning.com.
People
Baseball legend fields fantasy world video ...Senegal opposition protests, Wade defiant over third term
02/07 | 20:59 GMT
©AFP / Seyllou
Opposition activists take part in a protest denouncing Senegal President Abdoulaye Wade's attempt to be elected for a controversial third term in office in Dakar.
©AFP / Seyllou
Opposition activists take part in a protest in Dakar
DAKAR (AFP) - Senegal's opposition ratcheted up pressure on President Abdoulaye Wade to renounce his bid for a third term in office with a thousands-strong protest march, as the leader paraded through the capital.
As election campaigning heated up ahead of February 26 polls, Foreign Minister Madicke Niang summoned US Ambassador Lewis Lukens to a meeting, a statement said.
Both the foreign ministry and embassy remained mum on details of the meeting, but it came after Wade recently lashed out at comments by Washington urging power to pass "to the next generation".
An interview with Lukens was published in the opposition newspaper Le Pop on Tuesday, in which he says it was "regrettable that Wade has chosen to compromise the elections, to put the security of his country in peril by insisting on seeking a third mandate."
Embassy spokeswoman Sara Devlin said the details of the meeting could not be divulged and "we do not see this as out of the ordinary."
©AFP / Seyllou
Youssou N'Dour speaks to opposition activists
Wade, 85, who has slammed comments from Washington and Paris on his candidacy, made his way through the suburbs in a convoy, standing in an open-roofed car waving to onlookers as campaign music blared.
Some applauded wildly, others looked on and some shouted: "You must lower the price of rice."
"I am very satisfied to see I am still very, very, very popular," said Wade.
Asked later about his push for a third mandate, after he introduced a two-term limit in the constitution in 2001, Wade said: "Two mandates, three mandates, ten mandates, this is not very important.
"This must be a question for the Senegalese people, and not for foreigners, from France or United States," he said, adding that his predecessors Leopold Sedar Senghor and Abdou Diouf had served 40 and 20 years respectively.
©AFP / Seyllou
Supporters of barred Senegal opposition candidates stage a rally in Rufisque yesterday
His tour of the capital came hours after the streets thronged with with more than 5,000 opposition supporters chanting and carrying banners reading "Get out old man!" during a three-hour march.
The opposition protesters dispersed without incident after a tense face-off at a police blockade preventing them from entering the central Plateau district where they had planned to push on to the interior ministry, blocks away from the presidential palace.
Senegalese music icon Youssou Ndour, whose bid to stand in the February 26 presidential election was rejected by the west African state's top court, attended the march along with several opposition candidates.
Dozens of police were out keeping a close watch on the march, the latest in a wave of protests in the run-up to the election in a country generally regarded as one of Africa's most stable democracies.
Opposition protests last week descended into riots, leaving four people dead as tension flared over Wade's third term candidacy which the opposition says is unconstitutional.
©AFP / Seyllou
Alioune Tine, coordinator of the M23 opposition movement
The Constitutional Council on January 27 upheld Wade's assertion that he could run again because the constitutional cap was only introduced in 2008, after his latest reelection.
Eight opposition candidates as well as Ndour have decided to wage a common campaign for the vote.
During an M23 meeting on Monday, one of the candidates, Cheikh Tidiane Gadio, Wade's former foreign minister, said if the president took part in the vote the opposition would refuse to recognise him.
"If Abdoulaye Wade persists, we will not recognise him, nor recognise his government and we will organise a campaign for the recognition of a national transition council which we will create," he said.
Wade was first elected in 2000 after 25 years in opposition.
But initial euphoria over his election has given way to fatigue over corruption, electricity cuts, rising fuel and food prices while Wade focuses on big legacy construction projects using what a US diplomatic cable published on Wikileaks refers to as "pie in the sky" rhetoric.
He is also accused of trying to groom his son Karim Wade as his successor.
