Strauss-Kahn divides French political return, Parisien, says - Bloomberg

Dominique Strauss-Kahn should return to the French political scene, according to 49 percent of those interviewed by the French daily Le Parisien. It should not return to politics, the survey shows, said a total of 45 percent.

Harris Interactive conducted the survey for Le Parisien, examination of 1000 adults online between July 1 at 8 p.m. local time through July 2. That was after the former head of the Monetary Fund International, was charged with sexual assault and attempted rape of a woman of House Hotel in New York on 14 may, was released on its commitment. The case against him was dismissed and his next hearing is scheduled for July 18. Strauss-Kahn has pleaded not guilty.

To contact the reporter on this story: Alan Katz in Paris at the akatz5@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Mike Harrison at the mharrison5@bloomberg.net

French Afghanistan hostages home, thin but grateful - Reuters India

Television journalists France 3 Herve Ghesquiere (R) and Stephane Taponier of waves at a press conference after their arrival at the military airport of Villacoublay near Paris on June 30, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Jacky NaegelenBy Thierry Chiarello

PARIS. Thursday, June 30, 2011 3 pm IST

PARIS (AFP) - two French television journalists held hostage in Afghanistan by the Taliban during 18 months arrives back in France on Thursday, pale and Ghent but visibly exalted as they were welcomed by the French President and their families.

France television 3 Herve Ghesquiere reporter and cameraman Stephane Taponier, whose long test became a national cause among the French public, were released Wednesday after a sudden breakthrough in the negotiations.

They were blocked up to 24 hours a day with only two toilets short morning and evening breaks. Inadmissible or windows covered means that little light from the Sun, they have seen.

"We had to be very solid and very strong." We actually structure our time, not get bogged down in boredom and despair, "Ghesquiere said to journalists at a military airport near Paris.

"One day, Stephane said that the difference between us and the regular prisoners is that a prisoner can count the days of his sentence, whereas we could count them, but we knew when he was in the end," said Ghesquiere.

"They were very long days," said Taponier. "But we knew that the most important thing was to follow our morale".

Seized about 60 km (37 miles) outside Kabul, December 30, 2009, Ghesquiere and Taponier captivity was the longest of any French hostages since the crisis of the Lebanese hostages in the 1980s.

The French Government denied any ransom was paid for the release of two men and their Afghan Reza Din interpreter. Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said details revealing negotiations could damage efforts to free the other French hostages in Africa.

SARKOZY REMAINS LOW PROFILE

President Nicolas Sarkozy could get a lift to his low popularity of release of the hostages, 10 months before the election presidential, but he and his wife Carla Bruni greeted the pair of television cameras.

Sarkozy telephoned Ghesquiere girlfriend tell him of his release, his capture while she was at a demonstration to mark the anniversary of 18 months of his capture.

The pair said they were treated well and never beaten or bound. Meals consisted of small portions of local food.

"We didn't have much to eat and it is always the same thing," Ghesquiere said. "When you have nothing to do, you really live to eat." It was really hard. Food seems unimportant, but it is really essential.

The France, who has lost 63 soldiers outside its quota of 2 000 troops in Afghanistan, said this month that he would follow the United States by bringing home its soldiers at the beginning.

The France still has eight nationals detained abroad, three Yemen, four in the region of the Sahel and in Somalia.

(Written by Catherine Bremer; editing by Robert Woodward)

Young people with swords took hostages at school Sydney Morning Herald (French)

17 Year old armed two swords Monday raided French nursery school and took 20 children hostage, officials said.

Later, he published most of them but was still held hostage five or six at the school of the town of Besançon, said Mayor Jean-Louis Fousseret city.

Police negotiators have been in contact with young people by telephone, and an elite police specializing in hostage situations unit has surrounded the school, he said.

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The man "would in implementing armed with two swords and stating that he wants that something", but not a did not say what exactly that Fousseret said.

The class from which he took his hostage consisted of children aged four to six years, said Mayor.

Minister of education Luc Chatel went to the city, said responsible.

Tennis star Hingis marries French showjumper (AFP) (Yahoo!)

Geneva (AFP) - Star retired tennis Martina Hingis married French born Thibault Hutin, in Paris, said magazine Switzerland celebrity, Schweizer Illustrierte.

According to the website of the magazine, grand slam old aged 30 years and 24 year-old driver champion held their civil marriage Friday in the presence of close family.

"Our marriage was a surprise to many, but it was long planning in advance," Hingis said the magazine, which says that it will publish exclusive photos of the event on Monday.

Pair intends to organize their wedding day next summer, said the magazine.

Hingis won five Grand Slam singles titles before retiring in 2007, when she was suspended for two years for testing positive for cocaine at Wimbledon. She refused to take the medication, but has not entered the prohibition, which ended last September.