Bay Ledger News Zonebill@blnz.comtag:www.blnz.com,2009:countries/francetag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/22/Stalking_invisible_enemy_Malis_mountains_0b02

In the furnace of the Ifoghas mountains, a purgatory of dust and sharp black rock straddling the Mali-Algeria border, soldiers hunt down a ghost-like enemy, invisible but ever present.

2013-03-22T09:03:54ZAFP Global Editionby Kenzo Tribouillardtag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/22/Women_white_march_defend_Algeria_17cc

Covered from head to toe in white, their faces partly masked by embroidered triangular cloths, Algerian women marched through the capital Thursday to defend their traditional Islamic dress.

2013-03-22T07:02:41ZAFP Global Editionby Beatrice Khadigetag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/22/Frances_Sarkozy_charged_probe_illegal_bc32

Former president Nicolas Sarkozy has been charged with taking financial advantage of France's richest woman, as part of a probe into illegal party funding that could shatter his hopes of a political comeback.

2013-03-22T06:38:56ZAFP Global Editionby Odile Duperrytag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/22/World_hopefuls_stay_focused_before_e761

With just over a year to go until the World Cup, some of Europe's leading nations are hoping to take a major step towards sealing their places in the finals in Brazil in a busy week of qualifying.

2013-03-22T04:01:25ZAFP Global Editionby Andy Scotttag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Frances_Sarkozy_charged_probe_illegal_bc32

Former president Nicolas Sarkozy has been charged with taking financial advantage of France's richest woman, allegations connected with a probe into illegal party funding that could shatter his hopes of a political comeback.

2013-03-22T03:05:06ZAFP Global Editionby Odile Duperrytag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/After_Boateng_Italy_looks_long_9f6f

It took a defiant gesture to reignite the debate on one of Italian sport's biggest demons, but the fight to rid football of racism in Serie A could be just beginning.

2013-03-22T02:26:23ZAFP Global Editionby Justin Davistag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Frances_Sarkozy_charged_with_taking_4e97

Nicolas Sarkozy's hopes of a political comeback lay in tatters Friday after the former French president was charged in connection with a criminal probe into illegal party financing.

2013-03-22T01:23:35ZAFP Global Editionby Odile Duperrytag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Sarkozy_comeback_dream_tatters_after_9f8e

Nicolas Sarkozy's hopes of a political comeback lay in tatters Friday after the former French president was charged in connection with a criminal probe into illegal party financing.

2013-03-21T23:32:54ZAFP Global Editionby Odile Duperrytag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Sarkozy_charged_with_taking_advantage_9dd8

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy was on Thursday charged with taking advantage of the elderly L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt, his lawyer told AFP, adding that he would immediately appeal.

2013-03-21T21:58:36ZAFP Global Editionby Odile Duperrytag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Sarkozy_charged_with_taking_advantage_3b59

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy was on Thursday charged with taking advantage of the elderly L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt, his lawyer told AFP, adding that he would immediately appeal.

2013-03-21T21:25:01ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Chad_rebel_group_resume_fighting_7ef6

The main rebel coalition in Chad, the Union of Resistance Forces (UFR), said Thursday it was resuming its fight against President Idriss Deby Itno's regime.

2013-03-21T20:47:56ZAFP Global Editionby Patrick Forttag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Microsoft_releases_data_government_requests_472d

Microsoft said Thursday it received 75,378 law enforcement requests for data in 2012 in the tech giant's first report on the sensitive subject.

2013-03-21T20:16:24ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Mali_soldier_killed_first_Timbuktu_4115

A Malian soldier died in Timbuktu's first suicide bombing as the city came under assault overnight, triggering clashes in which 10 Islamist fighters died, military officials said Thursday.

2013-03-21T20:02:06ZAFP Global Editionby Serge Danieltag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/French_Jewish_students_take_legal_c30d

A Jewish student group has announced it was taking further legal action against Twitter over the global networking site's failure to respond to a French court order to hand over data to help identify the authors of anti-Semitic tweets.

2013-03-21T18:27:46ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/launch_Syria_chemical_weapons_inquiry_ce18

The United Nations will investigate whether chemical weapons have been used in the Syria conflict, UN leader Ban Ki-Moon announced Thursday.

2013-03-21T18:26:32ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/French_fashion_firm_develops_suit_0197

French fashion label Smuggler on Thursday said it had produced a suit that can block electromagnetic waves produced by mobile phones.

2013-03-21T18:23:02ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/What_butler_crucial_Sarkozy_back_ca36

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy was unexpectedly hauled back before a judge Thursday over claims he accepted envelopes stuffed with cash from France's richest woman to illegally finance his 2007 election campaign.

2013-03-21T18:11:47ZAFP Global Editionby Odile Duperrytag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Poet_climber_ascends_embassy_Paris_8f20

A self-styled "poet climber" on Thursday managed to sidestep security, climb on to a roof adjacent to the US embassy building in Paris and spend two hours there before being helped down by fire fighters.

2013-03-21T17:49:20ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Cyprus_brinksmanship_could_spin_control_8fce

As the EU raised the spectre of a eurozone exit for Cyprus, experts warned on Thursday of the consequences of brinksmanship from Brussels to Moscow in the race to fix new bailout terms.

2013-03-21T17:41:29ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Bosque_hints_that_Valdes_Villa_8d28

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque has given a strong indication that the Barcelona duo of Victor Valdes and David Villa will start the World Cup qualifier with Finland on Friday.

2013-03-21T17:35:52ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reporter