French press review 18 February 2012

Left-wing Liberation continues with its series of exclusive reports from within Syria and especially the city of Homs, the major rebellion battleground.

They have a rather dramatic photo of a rebel with explosions in the background. Their New York correspondent analyses the UN general assembly vote which condemns the violence.

They also question the Russian and Chinese obstruction to demanding an orderly transition of power in Damascus.

They look at French Foreign Minister Alain Juppé's idea of creating humanitarian corridors. Apparently, Juppé has been pitching the idea to his Russian counterpart. So, perhaps a little insight into the diplomacy going on behind closed doors in the UN.

Le Monde sticks with Syria. In its front page editorial poses the question of whether the events in Syria are pulling the whole region to the brink of civil war.

They draw attention to the fact that part of the Syrian Free Army is based in Turkey and that Iraqi Suni tribes are supplying weapons to the insurgents whilst al-Qaida leaders are also trying to muscle in on the situation. The tension in Syria may have wider consequences than just those of the people of Homs.

Right-wing Le Figaro chooses to focus on some issues closer to home. Their front page photo features British Prime Minister David Cameron who was on a visit to Paris yesterday, mainly to discuss nuclear energy cooperation.

All about 2012 election

But what Le Figaro focuses on is that Cameron is lending his support to Sarkozy. There seem to be no hard feelings between the two after their spat over the EU. Cameron is of course following the German Chancellor Angela Merkel in backing the president in his re-election bid.

In Le Figaro's editorial, they also try to explain the remarks made by Sarkozy in a speech on Thursday when he claimed that the opposition socialists lie "day and night".

That is, apparently, in response to accusations from the Socialist Party that Sarko is like American swindler Madoff amongst other things. So we may be in for a pretty rough campaign of insult-trading.

They also draw attention to yesterday's Celebrations in Bengazhi to mark the one year anniversary of the beginning of the Libyan revolution.

Le Figaro seems to be keen to highlight another of the perceived successes of Sarkozy in pushing for the no-fly zone.

In centrist Le Monde, there is an interesting article about documents leaked from a climate change sceptic think- tank in the US, which reveals some quite untoward practices.

The substantial cache of documents leaked from the Chicago-based Heartland Institute clearly show that the think-tank is not simply trying to do research, but is deliberately trying to propagate climate change sceptic websites.

They are also courting groups which can launch an action at very short notice if there are any new scientific breakthroughs which do not fit in with the Heartland Institute's agenda.

The documents also reveal how well financed this work is and indeed how lucrative it is for people involved. They receive donations of several thousand dollars from figures such as Anthony Watts, a prominent climate sceptic blogger in the US.

And a private consultant, who also works for the US energy department is to receive 100,000 dollars for this work.

THE BATTLE FOR LIBYA

Left-wing Liberation dedicates three pages to examining the new biometric identity cards which are to be discussed in parliament this week.

France already has a system of identity cards, but these new ones if approved will contain digital fingerprints and eye scans.

TheInterior Minister Claude Guéant supports the cards, but the opposition socialists call the cards 'liberticide' or 'freedomicide'. And they are not the only ones worried about these cards.

And Libé highlights several charities and local associations which work with foreigners and they fear that the identity cards will unnecessarily discriminate against these people. They say that, Roma, Asians and north Africans are already discriminated against in penal procedures.

Although, Libé argues, it is not just foreigners. There is already a database on people who have committed offences in France, and 44,5 million French people have files, and that is out of a population of approximately 65 million.

So, the daily is highlighting the dangers of the state having too much information on its citizens.

A little bit closer to home and Aujourd'hui en France is looking at the flu epidemic which is sweeping France, in about half of the country, this has reached epidemic levels and hospitals are starting to see a small rise in the number of patients being admitted due to complicated cases.

And just a quick summary of the main headlines from the main dailies in France, Le Monde and Liberation are keeping Syria on the agenda in Le Monde's editorial and Liberation's exclusive reports.

And Le Figaro is sticking to Sarkozy's election bid, with news that British PM is backing him.