The President of the Central African Republican Francois Bozize has appealed to France and the United States for help to stop a rebel advance that threatening the capital Bangui. Thomas Fessy has more.
There's a precarious coming in the capital Bangui, a feeling of anxiety with the people there not knowing what is going to happen next. The rebels have been sending contradictory messages, announcing twice the suspension of their operations on the ground in less than a week. But they have continued to advance and taken over major towns in the center of the country. The government has acknowleged that its troops were not able to face the rebel coalition and it's asked for external help. France, the former colonial power has insisted that it would not intervene to save president Bozize's regime but to secure its nationals only.
Shares in the troubled Spanish bank, Bankia, have falled by a fifth after a government report said the lender had a negative value because of huge losses on bad loans. The report, valuing the bank at MINUS 5.6b dollars, indicated its losses were worse than expected. Bankia is one of four Spanish banks due to receive financial assistance from the European Union.
The former economy minister in Argentina has been found guilty of concealing and illicit financial transaction after the discovery of a paper bag containing 50,000 dollars in her office bathroom. Felisa Miceli was sentenced to four years in prison.