La Resistance

[Oseato]

(OOC: I'd welcome any official responses or other news articles from another nation, provided they are well written. Please TG me if you are interested.)

VICTORY!
Fighting in Vertou stops as Allied forces pound Vettarian and Ostrian forces.

EVIAN - After a decade of brutal occupation at the hands of their neighbors, the people of Vertou have been liberated from their oppressors. At 1:34 PM local time, Hardenburgher forces announced a cease fire in Vertou that would go into affect across the entire front line. Allied forces, comprised of Morivaine and Rochehautese troops, have been steadily pushing the collapsing Ostrian and Vetterian forces out of Vertou after months of bitter fighting between the two sides. Heavy engagements have worn down both sides, though until the August 13th ceasefire, Allied forces were making steady progress in removing Ostrian influence and forces from Vertou.

A member of the 132e Régiment d'infanterie on patrol near the Ostrian border.

Vertou had been under occupation for the past decade after Vertois forces attempted to liberate the French speaking settlers of the Ardennes border region and were eventually defeated by Hardenburgher forces. The collaborationist government had been established as a puppet government to maintain de facto control of the territory by Vettarian and Ostrian interests. However, the government was swiftly deposed after Allied forces landed to liberate the country. A provisional government has recently been formed out of elements of the former government-in-exile and anti-collaborationist politicians that had remained in the country under occupation.

Luxemburger troops have been dispatched to the border regions to oversee the withdraw of enemy forces from Vertou. A conference has also been scheduled to take place between the conflicting sides in Van Luxemburg in the coming weeks. It is believed that the conference will officially bring the conflict to a close and outline the terms of the permanent peace agreement. Monique Duclerc and the National Union have taken fire from their political opponents over both the end of hostilities and the acceptance of Luxemburger peacekeepers. Many are questioning why it took the government a decade to come to the assistance of the former Morivain colony and allowed it to be brutally occupied for that same period. Many political commentators believe that Duclerc and her party hope to use the agreement to put an end to the debates raging in Assemblée libre surrounding Morieux's role in the conflict.

Languages: French | English | Arabic
© 2011 La Resistance

[Oseato]

PREKONATE INTERVENES IN BOLESLAWIA!
First Citizen Duclerc declares support for Prekonati effort, pledges assistance.

Saint-Lô - With the latest Austlander rejection of Boleslawian efforts to gain independence and self-rule, Prekonati forces have begun to pour into the region to assist their Slavic cousins in throwing off the yolk of Austlander oppression. Troops are known to have crossed the border during the night of the 18th of December as negotiations broke down between the Prekonati officials and the Austlander government. Fighting is expected to intensify and escalate as time goes on, at least until a point where either the Prekonati or Austlander governments have deemed that their goals have been met. In response to these actions, the Morivaine government met Sunday evening in an informal setting in order to formulate a response to this growing conflict.

A carrier leaves Sétif's harbor, preparing for its deployment to the Northern Maredoratic.

Following the meeting, First Citizen Duclerc appeared at Palais de l'État to announce that Morieux will formally recognize the Prekonati claim to Boleslawi and urges all members of the Francophone Organization to meet to begin discussion of a unified political front if the Maredoratic League becomes involved politically in the struggle. The request marks the first time since the unrest in Vertou that the Republic has requested the Francophone Organization discuss an instance of international conflict. Furthermore, the First Citizen announced that the Morivaine Navy would be deploying a "sizable" carrier group to the Northern Maredoratic to reinforce forces already located in Vilaine in order to "secure peace" in the region by other regional governments from intervening in what the Morivaine government is calling an "internal matter."

Many political commentators believe that Duclerc and her party hope to use this conflict to put an end to the debates raging in Assemblée libre surrounding Morieux's role in Maredoratic and insure that the National Union is seen by the Morivaine public as being an active and influential leader on the world stage, an image that has since eroded due to heavy domestic focus of Morivaine politics since the resurgence of the southern insurrection. The National Union, it is said, believes that international conflict will distract the public from the government's inability to stamp out the outlawed Mouvement nationaliste arabe. Others dismiss this analysis, pointing out that the Morivaine government has always maintained a heavy presence in international politics and is simply acting to secure its budding relationship with a growing power of Prekonate. More information will be provided as the conflict unfolds.

Languages: French | English | Arabic
© 2011 La Resistance

[Oseato]

VILAINYE COLLAPSES! FIRST CITIZEN DECLARES EXCLUSION ZONE AROUND CLAIRMONT AND BEAUFORT ISLANDS.
Local Morivaine forces ordered to secure coastal areas and restore order.

Saint-Lô - As the former Morivaine colony of Vilainye has begun to descend into further chaos and violence, the government in Saint-Lô met early Monday morning in an emergency session in order to formulate a response to this growing conflict. The stability of the country has become a major concern for the Morivaine government in recent past, not only due to the historical connection between the two countries, but also due to the growing strategic importance of Morivaine military bases in near Clairmont and the Beaufort Islands. After consultations with the Minister of War and the heads of the major military branches, in addition to the Foreign Ministry, First Citizen Duclerc declared a 200 kilometer exclusion zone around the entirety of the Beaufort islands and a 60 kilometer exclusion zone around Clairmont. It is also been confirmed that there are plans currently circulating in the Ministry of War that provide for possible expansion of the exclusion zones to include portions of the southern coastline.

Airborne officer directs soldiers to new locations after landing in the countryside outside Clairmont.

First Citizen Duclerc informed the assembled press pool that elements of the Republican Navy and the Republican Army were being mobilized from their bases in former Vilainye territory, including the carriers of the Northern Maredoratic Group. The 2e Régiment de Chasseurs has been announced as slated for deployment in support of the 3e and 6e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine currently undertaking operations in former Vilainye. The operation, code-named Condor, will mark the first time major elements of the Republican Armed Forces have been deployed overseas since the liberation of Vertou several years ago.

When asked whether the operations were being specifically conducted to deny the Prekonati military the opportunity to seize key port facilities and other industrial areas around the capital, the First Citizen declined to comment. While both Morieux and Prekonate worked together during the Boleslawia conflict, relations between the two powers have recently cooled to some degree. Many in the government have come to see the rise of Prekonate as a significant threat to Morieux's standing on the global stage. First Citizen Duclerc did confirm that a Morivaine representative would attend the Maredoratic League talks on the Vilainye sitution, but qualified the statement by saying that Morivaine would do whatever it felt necessary to secure its interests in its former colony and would not delay its actions while the League deliberated.

Languages: French | English | Arabic
© 2011 La Resistance

[Oseato]

TREATY OF CLAIRMONT SIGNED!
Morieux to annex Clairmont and surrounding areas in addition to two Beaufort Islands.

Saint-Lô - Early in the afternoon on June 1st, representatives of both the Morivaine and Prekonati governments met outside Clairmont to finalize a peace deal that would recognize Prekonate's claim to most of former Vilainye while Morieux would annex Clairmont and surrounding areas. The treaty comes after a tense few weeks of Prekonati and Morivaine troops staring each other down near the limits of the sixty kilometer exclusion zone around Clairmont that was declared by the government in Saint-Lô last month. Initial reports of violence alone the exclusion zone have proven to be unfounded and untrue.

Gendarmes at the formal change of sovereignty proceedings and flag raising in Clairmont.

The treaty, signed following several weeks of unrest in Clairmont and the peninsula, has resulted in formal annexation of the area to Morivaine in addition to two of three Beaufort Islands, the third of which was ceded to Prekonate as part of the peace deal. Furthermore, half a million ethnic Prekonati currently residing in Clairmont will be exchanged for the same number of Francophone Vilainyians. Details surrounding the governing of Clairmont and the Beauforts is still forthcoming though the treaty does provide many guidelines for joint and unilateral action in the region in order to see that law and order is restored in Former Vilainye.

An announcement from the Ministry of War accompanied the announcement from the Foreign Ministry and the Morivaine Mission in Clairmont, stating that current airborne units will continue their operations along the exclusion zone and will begin police and governmental functions within the area immediately and indefinitely until a functioning civilian government can be formed. A number of military police units have been activated and will be sent to the Clairmont region in order to assist the airborne and local forces in their tasks. Elections, while not officially announced, are rumored to be planned for sometime in the next 3 months after the population exchange and rebuilding effort is completed.

Languages: French | English | Arabic
© 2011 La Resistance

[Oseato]

FMFA ANNOUNCES GROUPS FOR MAREDORATIC CUP
Morieux heads Group A; will face Prekonate, Ruccola, and Milograd.

Saint-Lô - As the 2012 Maredoratic Cup in Ayllon draws near, the Fédération maredoratique de football association announced the group draws for the tournament early Monday morning at a press conference in the Morivaine capital, the headquarters of the regional football federation. Morieux heads Group A and will face Prekonate, Milograd, and Ruccola, in that order. Hopes in Morieux are quite high for Les Rouges, who are expected to be dark horse candidates to win the tournament while teams from Rochehaut, Brunswick-Swabia, and Monirania are the media favorites to win the tournament.

Morivaine football fans are expected to make the short trip to Ayllon in large numbers to support their team.

First Citizen Duclerc is expected to attend at least the first match against Prekonate. Many government officials are expected to cross the border to support their team along with many other Morivaines due to the proximity of the tournament games. The Cup is expected to bring a significant economic bump for Ayllon thanks to the increased tourism and media rights. Many pundits are already attempting to argue about which groups are the most challenging and which offer the path of least resistance. Many Morivaine analysts have stipulated that the group stage might be a place for Les Rouges to excel, given the general quality of opponents. However, many are wondering how good the Morivaine team actually is, given its suspect defensive play during qualifiers over the past year.

Full listings of the groups can be found below:

Group A: Morieux, Ruccola, Milograd, Prekonate
Group B: Ayllon, Ostria, Santheres, Van Luxemburg
Group C: Erusea, Monirania, Roskilde, Akimonad
Group D: Rochehaut, Brunswick-Swabia, Voegen, De Vliggenplaat

Languages: French | English | Arabic
© 2011 La Resistance

[Oseato]

LES ROUGES DOMINATE PREKONATE
Four goal explosion gains Morieux three points.

Valencia - Les Rouges surged ahead of the competition early this week, scoring early and often against an over-matched and out gunned Prekonati team. Scoring began in the 27th minute as Marc Ramé's cross from the right wing found the foot of Jacques Pétain. The captain volleyed the ball straight past the hapless Vytautas Kucera and kick started the Morivaine offense. The Prekonati team seemed to be surging back to challenge Morieux's early goal when Segey Ivanov whipped a corner kick that was headed past Keeper Jean-Pierre Vincent by Prekonati defender Andrzej Olah shortly before half time.

Henri Renard celebrates with Marc Ramé and Gérard Blanc after going up 3-1 in 65th minute

However, the second half saw a flurry of Morivaine goals that quickly put the game out of reach of the Prekonati team, which seemed sluggish in the tropical heat during the second half. Both Henri Renard and Marc Ramé found the back of the net during offensive surges in the 53rd and 65th minutes respectively. Morieux had a lion's share of possession, often going five to ten minutes at a time in possession. The last goal of the game was scored by David Boulleau after he was subbed in for Gérard Blanc in the 75th minute. Boulleau was able to get the ball in space after a long pass from Dieder Pichon, scoring the final goal in the 87th minute of the match.

When one journalist asked Morivaine manager Phillipe Michel about possibly being seen as running up the score, Michel pointed that goal differential is an important part of advancing, should tie breakers be necessary. Many football analysts in Morieux believe that the team's offensive style could help it go far in the tournament, bailing out a sometimes suspect back line. For now though, many believe Morieux's lenient group draw will allow it to pass into the knock out stage with some degree of ease. Morieux's next match is against a Milograd in Valencia.

Match Notes: Gérard Blanc picked up a yellow card in the 37th minute for a poor challenge and was later replaced by David Boulleau. Boulleau's goal marks his 1st international goal for Morieux in 12 appearances. Jean-Pierre Vincent faced 17 shots, of which 3 were on target, one going in for a goal.

Languages: French | English | Arabic
© 2011 La Resistance

[Oseato]

AUX ARMES!
Morivaine troops ordered to mobilize in support of CFDS allies and the General Social Republic of Questers

Saint-Lô - Following the blatant disrespect demonstrated by Karenytenia and its allies in its actions against left-wing protesters, including the use of white phosphorus against peaceful unarmed civilians, the Morivaine delegation to the Commonwealth of Free and Democratic States announced its intentions to join Akimonad and Rochehaut in their efforts to eliminate the forces of the totalitarian and murderous regimes currently operating against all freedom loving peoples in New Heathera, Karenytenia, and General Social Republic of Questers. According, a spokesman for the Ministry of War announced the call up of many reserve divisions and the immediate cancellation of all leave for all Morivaine military personnel stationed at home and abroad. A constant flow of military transports out of military airfields across the country have been reported, as has the departure of the 1st and 3rd Fleets along with their significant contingents of aircraft and escorts.

Airborne officers oversee the loading of gear and supplies onto a Republican Air Force transport.

The mobilization of the Armed Forces of the Republic for deployment along with Akimonadi and Rochehautese forces in New Herthera and Karenytenia marks the first time in several decades that Morivaine troops have been deployed outside of Maredoratica. While unprecedented, the deployment was confirmed and approved by an equally unheard of unanimous vote in the Republican Assembly. Not even the vote to formally declare war against Ostria and Vettaria to liberate Vertou several years ago was unanimous, even though at the time ninety-seven percent of Morivaine population supported the measure at the time. While some troops are still expected to continue operations along with the southern border with Aquileia in order to combat the Islamic militias and drug cartels in the troubled area, a majority of reservist and regular units have been listed in the call to arms by the Ministry of War.

Politicians from the Union nationale, joined the leaders of the Parti syndicaliste, Ligue socialiste révolutionnaire, Movement solidaire in condemning the actions taking place in Karenytenia in a uncommon display of unity against the shocking displays of brutality demonstrated by the Anti-Communist forces in Karenytenia. They vowed to carry on the fight as long as it was necessary to insure that their fraternal socialist parties in Karenytenia were extended the same protections and political freedoms as non-leftist parties in Karenytenia and for the punishment of all parties and officials responsible for the massacre of innocents in Melyn Central Square.

Languages: French | English | Arabic
© 2011 La Resistance

[Oseato]

NEW BEAUVAIS INVADES AKIMONAD!
Premier Duclerc declares blockade of New Beauvais in support of CFDS ally. Condemns embargo of Gholgoth as "economically irresponsible."

Saint-Lô - Première Citoyenne Monique Duclerc called for a region wide blockade of New Beauvais on Sunday, after an amphibious task force from that country launched an invasion of the Akimonadi held Sodor Island. She further stated that Morivaine Republican Air Force and Navy forces have already begun to enforce the blockade with the help of Vertou and Akimonad, as well as confirming that Foreign Ministry officials have approached the Rochehautese government to join in the action. Already a vast call up of military reserves has begun, with the Marine republicaine battlegroups putting to see in the early morning hours of the 26th. Furthermore, sources in the Ministry of War have confirmed that major ground units can be expected to redeploy to Rouchehaut in the near future, augmenting the Parachutist brigade currently stationed there.

The Fraternité preparing to get underway and join the blockade.

So far there has been no comment from the Assembly of the Republic or the First Citizen on any possible ground component to the upcoming war, though with the close proximity of New Beauvais to Morieux it seems almost certain that a secondary ground theatre will be opened. The recently returned Twelfth Corps of the Corps Expéditionaire Morivaine has already been reported to have been dispatched to assist in the Akimonadi efforts to retain possession over Sodor. Numerous squadrons of Rafales and Hermes aircraft have already left for their forward bases in the Beauforts and Vertou's Trasimène Islands. Further departures have not been announced by continue to reported across the country.

At the same time, First Citizen Duclerc universally condemned the embargo of Gholgoth as an "economically irresponsible act of unmeasured proportions." The resulting economic turmoil has yet to fully reach Morieux, as only a small percentage of business is done by Morivaine companies in Gholgoth. However, the tumbling stock markets worldwide have widely effected Morivaine private citizens who have invested heavily in companies effected by the embargo. However, the Première Citoyenne did not entertain any questioning on the possibility of Morivaine involvement in breaking the embargo, leading defense experts to freely speculate as to the possible nature of future Morivaine moves. So far, however, the Assembly of the Republic has come out against any involvement in breaking the embargo until the situation with New Beauvais has been resolved.

Languages: French | English | Arabic
© 2011 La Resistance

[Oseato]

STAY OUT!
Morieux to protest Maredoratic League actionin Milograd.

Luxembourg - Following increased diplomatic sparing between the Republic and Commonwealth of Akimonad and the Prekonati Republic over the status of Akimonadi forces in the reigon, the Maredoratic League has announced its intention to provide increased humanitarian aid to the impoverished nation of Milograd in the form of the armed "Maredoratic Action in Milograd Force," now commonly referred to as MAMFOR. The Prekonati government has issued a strong condemnation of the action taken by the Maredoratic League in the non-aligned and non-member nation of Milograd, claiming that it is unnecessary outside interference clearly aimed at destablizing the region the drawing Prekonate into conflict. Accordingly, the Prekonati government has declared a no-fly zone over Milograd in order to stop any foreign movement into the country.

Morivaine delegate to the Maredoratic League protests the General Assembly's decision to go ahead with the deployment of MAMFOR

The Morivaine Mission to the Maredoratic League has offered its services to the Prekonati government in order to help give it representation in the General Assembly as Prekonate is not a member of the Maredoratic League. Furthermore, the Morivaine delegation has already strong condemned the action, calling it an illegal and unnecessarily provocation in a region that is just now beginning to recover from turmoil and warfare. The Morivaine delegate called for the immediate removal of the Mardoratic Action in Milograd Force and the removal of all armed military forces from Milograd. "Stay out," warned the Morivaine Delegate, "this is neither in line with the principles of the Maredoratic League nor in line with what is best for Milogradians and other peoples of that region."

A statement from the Foreign Ministry has supported these actions as the express wishes of the Duclerc government. The statement also expressed concern at the overstepping of national sovereignty by the Maredoratic League, believing this action to be setting a dangerous precedent for future Maredortic League intervention against targeted governments around the world. The conclusion of the statement reiterated the concern of growing tension in the Milogradian region and the exacerbation of these tensions by the introduction of armed Maredoratic League forces, claiming it could do more damage to the country than it could possibly help.

Languages: French | English | Arabic
© 2011 La Resistance

[Oseato]

"I BESEECH YOU, IN GOD'S NAME, TO CARRY AID PROMPTLY TO THOSE CHRISTIANS AND TO DESTROY THAT VILE RACE FROM THE LANDS OF OUR FRIENDS!"
Pope Innocent IV calls for action in Karamanite Civil War.

Moselle - Following the news of the fall of the Questarian Embassy in the capital city of Corum and the disclosure of the discovery of mass graves in southern Karaman by Morivaine intelligence, the Holy See of Sévérac held a rally at Place Saint-Julien to make an impassioned plea for the Morivaine government and for Catholics around the world to assist in the protection of the Karamanite Christians currently fighting against radical Islamist militants and former government forces. Premier Duclerc, while not mentioning the Pope's comments in her speech to the nation, is said to have been in regular contact with the Pope before she announced the establishment of a safe zone under Morivaine control in the Karaman city of Ortaca.

Pope Innocent addresses the crowd outside Place Saint-Julien.

Karaman has been in a state of civil war for the past year following the removal of General Mehmet Yunnus Pasha's government after mass uprisings. Mehmet Yunnus' government, which had removed the democratically elected government several years before, was well renown for its repressive and pervasive police force and for the establishment of Sharia courts in Karaman. No one force has risen to fill the vacuum left by Pasha's government and a variety of militias continue to claim to be the rightful government of the island.

The Morivaine arms embargo on Karaman has not yet come to vote in the Maredoratica League's General Assembly, however it is being reported by numerous sources in the Ministry of Foreign affairs have claimed that Morivaine diplomats are currently entering negotiations with both the General Social Republic and Prekonate to enact the embargo before the vote takes place. Many critics of the administration have voiced their strong disapproval with the religious rhetoric being used by Duclerc in her speech and have called the Pope's comments "inflammatory in the extreme" believing that the Morivaine government should be more careful to make this a secular issue. Jean Delacroix, the Movement solidaire delegate from Sétif, issued a strong statement condemning Duclerc's actions stating that the moves may cause the start of a Third Intifada by militant elements of the Mouvement nationaliste arabe.

Languages: French | English | Arabic
© 2013 La Resistance

[Oseato]

GENERAL DE MONFORT CALLS FOR SURRENDER
Commander of Republican Forces in Karaman issued an ultimatum to the Commune of Corum giving the city 24 hours to surrender.

Ortaca - In an statement announcing the arrival of the 21e Brigade de Cavalerie and the 17e Bridgade de Chasseur at the outskirts of the capital of Karaman, General Jean-Baptiste de Monfort issued an ultimatum to the Provisional People's Government in the city to surrender to Morivaine forces by 2200 Hours on the 5th of August. When asked about the possible impact of heavy fighting on the many historical sites and people of Corum, the General reiterated his regret that force might become necessary and stated that his staff was well prepared to use precision strikes to minimize the risks of collateral damage in the city. No mention was made of operations being conducted by the Questarians or the Prekonatis, though it was indicated that they are approaching the city if they are not already there.

Members of the 21e Brigade de Cavalerie prepare to move their armored vehicles into action outside Corum.

With the statements made the Maredoratic League and the arrival of Akimonadi and Sondsteader troops, General de Monfort again called for the recognition of his command as the rightful head of the Maredoratic League contingent stating, "It was Morivaine government that called for the emergency meeting to discuss the situation in Karaman, and it should be the Morivaine military that leads the operation. The Maredoratic League's failure to recognize our role in this conflict is a slight that will not be forgotten." The General also stated that he had no plans to liaise with the Akimonadi, Sondsteader, or Erusean forces until such a time when they were placed under his command. "If the Maredoratic League does not want to constructively contribute to the missions currently underway in the Holy Land, I do not feel the need to divert resources and officers to hold their hand through their operation," the General was quoted as saying.

General de Monfort also announced the formal cessation of combat operations in the Ortaca metropolitan area, declaring that the city was finally free from the turmoils of civil war. Heavy fighting was reported in the city of Dalaman as elements of the 13e Brigade Mécanisée have moved north from Narlica to establish Morivaine control. Dalaman, the infamous hometown of General Mehmet Yunnus Pasha, is expected to be the sight of the fiercest fighting of the peacekeeping operation. It has been rumored that the 3e Brigade Parachutiste might be removed from Clairmont to assist in pacifying the city. So far the Ministry of War has declined to comment on the rumor, though sources inside the Ministry have stated that high level discussions regarding the reinforcement of the Karaman mission were taking place nearly around the clock.

Languages: French | English | Arabic
© 2013 La Resistance

[Oseato]

NATIONAL CONVENTION BEGINS CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION
A special committee has been convened by the National Convention in order to investigate claims of improper Papal influence in the Ministry of War.

Saint-Lô - As Morivaine and Questarian troops continue to pacify the Karaman countryside, members of both the Parti Révolutionnaire (PR) and the Mouvement solidaire (MS) have announced the formation of a Special Committee for Wartime Conduct to examine the relationship between members of the Holy See in Sévérac and military officers in the Ministry of War. Sources inside the government say that some members of the National Convention have begun raising questions about the increased amount of aid Christian communities in Karaman being funneled through the Morivaine Mission in Karaman instead of being directed by the government of the National Republic. While exact figures have not yet been released to the public due to concerns for national security, the members of the National Convention stated that a "not insubstantial" amount of funding has been redirected by "unknown members" of the Morivaine Mission.

A spokesperson for the Committee for State Security announced, in conjunction with the National Convention's Special Committee, that it is currently examining a marked increase in the exchange of phonec calls and emails between members of the Ministry of War and officials in the Holy See both recently and immediately before the current conflict in Karaman. When asked by reporters whether the investigation began after the initial comments were made by Pope Innocent, the spokesperson declined to answer stating that "it would be inappropriate to comment on the scope and timing of the investigation before formal hearings begin." Members of the Parti communiste have been extremely vocal in their opposition to the apparent collusion between the Papacy and the Morivaine government in light of the renewed doctrines of Laïcité that were reaffirmed by the government in 2010. A member of the party expressed his mild irritation at the fact that the investigation was limited to the Ministry of War at the present time.

Senior members of the Ministry of War have come under fire recently for their perceived lack of success in Karaman.

The announcement of the investigation comes a time when support for the Morivaine Mission to Karaman has been dropping in the face of continued bloodshed. Fighting has recently picked up in the southern provinces of the island nation, despite the Ministry of War's initial evaluation of the region as one of Karaman's safest. Observers in the region have noted an upswing in Christian fundamentalist activity in opposing the secular National Republic's administration of the region. This violence has begun to take its toll on Morivaine troops, who now have to deal with a second armed insurrection in addition to the Islamist Front in the north and west of Karaman. The Ministry of War has promised not to extend the deployment times of soldiers in theatre, but has announced that it will be sending more troops to deal with this new insurgent activity.

Languages: French | English | Arabic
© 2014 La Resistance

[Oseato]

MINISTRY OF WAR ANNOUNCES LARGE SCALE EXERCISE OFF THE ÎLES MALOUINES
The announcement comes on the heels of the unveiling of the Prekovi-Pollonan basing agreement.

Saint-Lô - Tensions are beginning to mount in the Western Maredoratica as the Ministry of War announced that it is now currently holding large scale combined arms exercises in the waters north of the Îles Malouines. A spokesperson for the Ministry stated that large numbers of Republican Guard, mainly the marine units that formed the backbone of the initial assault in Karaman, have been replaced and redeployed to take part in amphibious landing exercises in conjunction with the Marine republicaine. The spokesperson also mentioned that the Republican Guard would practice seizing "key infrastructure targets" while the Navy practiced anti-submarine monitoring and other similar drills later in the week. The Ministry of War also announced that it would begin expanding the naval and air facilities on the islands in order to "accommodate larger numbers of permanent and temporary forces."

Roche Aviation Prédateurs, Morieux's most advanced fighter, was part of the deployment to the Malouines.

The exercise marks the first time the Morivaine military has undertaken large military exercises near Pollonan waters since the July Crisis during the Second Intifada in the 1980's. While the issue of Pollona's claim to sovereignty over the Malouines continues to be a problem between the two states, relations between the two republics have significantly warmed in recent year due to Pollona's bid to join the Maredoratica League and the willingness of some Pollonan politicians to criticize and challenge the current apartheid system in Pollona. However, the announcement of the treaty between Prekonate and Pollona has caused outrage in Saint-Lô. Members of the Parti Révolutionnaire and some from the Mouvement solidaire released a joint statement criticizing the agreement as a "gross betrayal of the liberal values Pollonan pride themselves on" to allow the Prekovi government to base parts of its military in Pollona. The statement also decried the move as a blatant act of aggression against Morivaine interests and said the move jeopardized the improving nature of Morivaine-Pollonan relations.

The Ministry of War did not release a timetable for the exercises and refused to answer questions about their possible impact on regional tensions, stating that those were questions for the Foreign Ministry and the Committee of Public Safety to answer. While the move is clearly aimed at expressing displeasure with the recent turn of events in Pollona, foreign policy analysts are divided on how far the Morivaine government, particularly under Duclerc, is willing to go to stop the establishment of Prekovi bases on the Pollonan coast. Some believe that Morieux's past good relations with the Prekovi government will cause Duclerc's government to merely continue to protest diplomatically rather than risk any substantial escalation of tensions. However, other analysts believe that this military exercise represents a marked cooling in Prekovi-Morivaine relations that could lead to increased covert operations or even outright conflict in the future.

Languages: French | English | Arabic
© 2014 La Resistance

[Oseato]

COMMITTEE FOR ECONOMIC SECURITY MEETS AS RUMOURS OF QUESTERIAN FLOAT CONTINUE
Speculation about the future viability of the Questarian Pound continues to send economic shockwaves throughout the region.

Saint-Lô - Members of the National Convention's Committee for Economic Security meet this Sunday morning as rumours of the Questarian government could float the Pound-Sterling (QPS) as early as Monday. Markets across Maredoratica have reacted, mostly negatively , to the news that currency of one of Maredoratica's largest exporters could see a massive devaluation amid speculation that it is grossly overvalued at its current trading prices. Many market analysts believe that the QPS could see a drop of more than fifty percent of its current value. Morivaine investors, who make up a large percentage of foreign investors in Questers, have expressed dismay and with some describing their actions as "panicky" and "ill-advised knee jerk reactions" at the news of the possible devaluation.

While some companies have speculated about a possible divestment from Questers, members of the Committee for Economic Security cautioned a "measured and cool-headed" approach to the news out of Jesselton. Olivier de Iberville, PR MC from Oron and spokesperson for the Committee, stated that the Morivaine government would be examining all of its options in an effort to head off any serious economic shocks on Monday. When pressed for specifics, M. de Iberville stated that the Duclerc administration, in conjunction with the bipartisan Committee for Economic Security, was well aware of the situation and was all ready working on a possible course of actions along with the Bank of the Republic in order to "secure the financial stability of Morieux in particular and the region in general." Many analysts believe that the Morivaine government, at the opening of the markets on Monday, will ask the Bank of the Republic to begin increasing its holdings in the QPS in order to stave off the possible effects of a run on the currency.

Olivier de Iberville of the Committee for Economic Secuirty announces Morivaine intention to stabilize the Questarian Pound-Sterling.

Despite the united front presented by the Committee for Economic Security and the Duclerc administration, there remains large sections of the political and economic communities in Morieux that are deeply concerned with the actions being planned and with the Questarians in general. Charles Gagnon, BLD MC for Roche, issued a statement on behalf of a number of his colleagues that called for Duclerc and the Committee for Economic Security to "closely examine the current structure of the Questarian economy" in order to "formulate a proposal for Morivaine aid to Questaria contingent upon constructive economic reforms." The BLD has, for years, called into question the wisdom of Morieux's continued alliance and support for the "economically irresponsible and unsustainable regime in Jesselton." When pressed for an alternative plan for action, M. Gagnon suggested a gradual divestment from Questers that allowed to a stable exit from Morieux's current economic commitments.

Languages: French | English | Arabic
© 2014 La Resistance

[Oseato]

BLD QUITS GOVERNMENT!
Citing disagreements over economic policy, the BLD has left government. No Confidence vote set for Monday.

Saint-Lô - Following a strained meeting of the Committee of Public Safety, Jean-Louis Chauveau, BLD MC for Crécy, announced that the coalition government between the PR and BLD has officially come to an end. In the short press conference, Chauveau denounced the Pound-Purchasing program that was announced by the the Committee for Economic Security and the Bank of the Republic, calling the venture a "needless foreign entanglement" that "only serves to undermine our leadership potential in the Jesselton Pact and outside it."The spokesman for the Committee for Economic Security, Olivier de Iberville (PR, Oron), dismissed Chauvaeu's statements as "completely outdated" and "blindly ideological." He went on to state the the moves taken by the Duclerc government are entirely aimed at stabilizing the world's economic situation, thus preserving confidence in Morieux's image abroad.

The Bloc libéral démocrate has always been a strong opponent of the Jesselton Pact and the General Social Republic of Questers, going as far as to walk out of the National Convention's vote to ratify the Jesselton Treaty in early 2009. M. Chauveau also called for a national referendum on the treaty in 2009 following the electoral victory of Monique Duclerc and the inclusion of the BLD into the government, thought his calls went unheeded. A snap poll of the time suggests that, had the referendum gone ahead, the treaty may have faced considerable opposition, particularly in the more liberal regions of northern Moreiux. Today, polling suggests that most people support the current administration and its choices, though the number supporting a continuing alliance with the Questarian government is only at fifty-nine percent, down nearly fifteen percent from a year ago. M. Chauveau stated that the BLD will continue to oppose the bailout program regardless of the outcome of the no-confidence vote on Monday.

Chauveau announces split with government.

Monday's no-confidence vote marks the first electoral challenge for the the Duclerc administration since it came to power following the 2009 elections. While a general election is currently scheduled for next May, if Duclerc administration loses the vote on Monday early elections will need to be held. Many political analysts believe that the Parti Révolutionnaire runs a risk of having its more conservative members defecting to the BLD during the upcoming vote. With the exit of the BLD, the PR only has a lead of eleven seats over the Mouvement solidaire-Pari communiste coalition. A vote along straight party lines, not taking into account possible defects from the PR, will see the Duclerc administration forced to call for new elections. While Mouvement solidaire leader Claude Yared has yet to publicly announce his party's intentions, Parti communiste leader Malek Zemiri has announced that his party intends to vote against the government as a unified bloc.

Languages: French | English | Arabic
© 2014 La Resistance

[Oseato]

MORIEUX DRAWS GROUPE DE LA MORT
Les Rogues draw toughest path to defending its Maredoratic Cup title.

Windstrand - Perhaps remembering the media controversy surrounding Morieux's fairly lenient group draw on their way to winning the 2012 Maredoratica Cup, FMFA's announcement of the groups for the 2014 Maredoratic Cup finds Morieux in the Group of Death. Les Rouges will face Kampala in their first match, June 28th in Hwitrbrügjh, before facing Questers (June 30th) and finishing with Arnautia (July 3rd). While the Morivaine Men's National Team returns many of the players from the 2012 team, it will also be introducing a few of the upcoming stars such as Ibrahim Melki and Péri Chidiac, who hail from the Setif departments, of the Ligue 1. While many analysts have noted the high degree of team chemistry and talent amongst the current players, many have noted that Morieux's extremely aggressive attacking style might rapidly become a liability as the Cup progresses, as many teams have shifted to a more defensive posture since the 2012 Cup.

Phillipe Michel's team has been in Sondstead preparing for the tournament for the last few weeks out of their temporary base in Windstrand. When asked about the conditions he stated that the climate, both in terms of fan support and temperature, was "perfect" for the Maredoratic Cup thanks to its cooler temperatures and well developed fan infrastructure. It should be a pleasant change from the tropical heat that the teams had to endure during the 2012 Maredoratic Cup which saw many matches played in the southern tropical regions of Morieux. Michel was tighter lipped on the possibility of replacing team captain Henri Renard, after some reports of a lingering hamstring issue surfaced in several Morivaine newspapers, he stated that he would not disclose any injury information to the media before he released his starting eleven a few hours before the match against Kampala. He did state that "we will field our best team on Saturday, regardless of other considerations. We're here to win, plain and simple."

Players were in high spirits in their training session ahead of Saturday's match.

The Group of Death is not the only interesting element of the tournament, however, as 2012 runner-up Rochehaut kicks off its 2014 campaign in a group with Valcluse, Prekonate, and Boaga. The Rochehautese expect a large number of supporters to turn up in Sondstead as they look to avenge their 2-1 final loss from two years ago. Group D also features several interesting match ups, with Lagunia and Berry being the favorites to advance out of group stage, but with a surprisingly good Pollonan team looking to challenge the oddsmakers' decisions. Sondstead, the Cup hosts, and Ruccola headline a rather weak Group A, but could provide for some entertaining football as no team is really favored to win, leaving the group wide open.


Languages: French | English | Arabic
© 2014 La Resistance

[Oseato]

LES ROUGES DOWNS KAMPALA
Morieux bests Kampala for 3-1 win in Group B opener.

Hwitrbrügjh - The Morivaine Men's National Team opened up its 2014 Maredoratic Cup campaign with a convincing 3-1 win over Kamapla as group play began on Saturday. The team initially struggled to start the game, allowing Kampalan striker Stig Gustafsson to score on a laser strike from outside the penalty area in the thirtieth minute. The game was characterized by fairly physical play by both teams as they both attempted to impose their own pace on the game. Kampala continued to seem like the better side until shortly before halftime when a well timed counter by center back Ibrahim Melki and striker Philippe Saadé resulted in Saadé getting in on Kampalan keeper Lars Jernberg and putting the ball in the back of the net in the forty-fourth minute.

Jacques Pétain capped the scoring with a rocket late in the game.

The second half was an all Morivaine affair, with a corner from Péri Chidiac resulting in a Sidney Pirès header in the sixty-third minute. Les Rouges conceded possession to Kampala for large stretches of the game following their second goal. However, the Kampalans, despite this advantage in possession, where unable to break down the defensive line and were only able to put two shots on target in the final half of the game. They also had to contend with continuing Morivaine counterattacks which finally came to fruition in the 85th minute when Henri Renard collected a long pass from Antonie Yacoud and crossed it to Jacques Pétain who blasted a volley past the hapless Kampalan keeper for the final goal of the game.

The victory over Kampala puts Morieux in the driver's seat of this years "Group of Death," as the Kampalans were seen as a possible dark horse to win the tournament. When asked about the importance of the win, Les Rouges manager Phillipe Michel responded that "Of course this is an important win, all of these games are critical to win." He went on to state that he thought the team needed to greatly improve since "not every team will fail to capitalize on an early goal like the Kampalans did today. We're going to have to start a bit quicker and continue to score if we want to advance. We can't afford to go down 0-1 against Rochehaut or Questers or any other team."

Match Notes: Sidney Pirès' goal is his 5th in 47 games with the National Team. Philippe Saadé scored his sixth goal in his last six games going back to the qualification campaign. Jean-Pierre Vincent faced 20 shots, of which 5 were on target with one resulting in a goal. Mathieu Rami and Kampala's Strom Tornlund both picked up yellow cards following a clash turned argument in the box during a Morivaine corner.

Languages: French | English | Arabic
© 2014 La Resistance

[Oseato]

"TOTAL CHAOS"
Morieux and Questers battle to exhausting 4-4 tie.

Rive - "It was total chaos out there. We had it and then we didn't," Morivaine captain Henri Renard's comments summed up the Monday's game against Questers. Both teams scored four times in route to an exhilarating tie that has put the Questarians, momentarily, on top of the group. The Morivaine team seemed to get off to a much better start than it had during its game against Kampala. Philippe Saadé scored in rapid succession in the 16th and 23rd minutes to put Les Rouges in a commanding position. The first goal came on yet another cross from Ibrahim Melki in what was seemingly a replay of the first goal scored against Kampala. His second goal came off a penalty kick as Henri Renard was pulled down in the box by Questarian defender Kevin Butler who received a yellow card for his efforts. While it seemed like Les Rouges would take a comfortable lead into halftime, Questers struck back in the 43rd minute when goalkeeper sent a long pass over the top to Sam Bigley in on goal to make it 2-1.

Les Rouges were left stunned following the late Questarian goal.

The second half started much as the first had ended, with the Questarians connecting on another long pass to their forward, this time Edward Spear who crossed it to Gary Pearson for the equalizing goal in the 55th minute. The crowd, decidedly pro-Morieux in temperament, all ready silent from the equalizer, was left stunned when Questers' William Ward scored ten minutes later off of a set piece to give them a 3-2 lead. Phillipe Michel quickly removed Dieder Pichon from the center midfield in favor of the more defensive minded Yann Cabella in order to cope with the intensely aggressive Questerians who continued to push their attacks forward. The substitution had the desired effect, calming the game until the 83rd minute when a Morivaine corner resulted in a goal off the head of Ibrahim Melki. Three minutes later, it looked like a genius move as Cabella dispossessed Edward Spear and provided service forward to Henri Renard who slotted home a rocket of a shot to give Morieux a 4-3 lead.

While many in the crowd were celebrating, the Questerians continued to push their attack. They controlled a lion's share of possession in the final ten minutes of the game, constantly pushing forward in large numbers even at the risk of further Morivaine counterattacks. Les Rouges bunkered in, turning away shot after shot until the fifth minute of stoppage time when a Questarian shot sailed off the bar and outside the penalty area. Without taking a touch, Edward Spear volleyed the ricochet past the Morivaine defense into the back of the net, tying the game at one. The final whistle sounded only fifteen seconds later. The tie leaves both the Questarians and Les Rouges with four points, though the Questarians are officially ahead on goal differential. Both teams await the results of tomorrow's game between Kampala and Arnautia in order to further determine their chances of advancing.

Match Notes: Edward Spear currently leads the running for the "Golden Boot" with four goals. Philippe Saadé scored his second and third goals of the tournament before being subbed out in favor of Michel Saivet in the 73rd minute. The 95th minute goal by Questers marks the latest equalizing goal in Maredoratic Cup history.

Languages: French | English | Arabic
© 2014 La Resistance

[Oseato]

DUCLERC SURVIVES!
Duclerc's Parti Révolutionnaire strikes unity-government deal with Mouvement Solidaire as economic crisis deepens.

Saint-Lô - In a first for the Third Republic, the Parti Révolutionnaire has agreed to form a unity government with Mouvement solidaire, announcing it after the MS voted en masse to support Duclerc in Monday's no confidence vote. The vote, 616-309 in favor of the government, saw large defections from both the Parti révolutionnaire and Mouvement solidaire to the Bloc libéral démocrate due to a variety of concerns. Political insiders have stated that the opposition to the unity government is now a hodgepodge of interests, ranging from opposition to economic policy in the case of the BLD and defecting PR members, to refusal to cooperate with the PR on ideological grounds in the case of MS members. The communists, ever obstructive, voted in continued opposition to the entire system and issued several sweeping statements about the continued plight of the working and Islamic classes in the face of liberal institutions. The deal insures that Duclerc and the PR will remain the majority party in government until new elections are held next May.

Duclerc and her ministers left the National Convention in an upbeat mood after gaining the support of the MS.

Jean-Louis Chauveau, BLD MC for Crécy, decried the agreement at a press conference after the vote, stating that the deal was "blatantly anti-democratic" and "against the express wishes of the people." Analysts believe that, if the vote of no-confidence had passed, the BLD would have enjoyed a higher level of support at the polls than either the PR or the MS. As it stands it is now the largest opposition party, though it will be significantly outvoted by the new government. The deal also means that the BLD opposition to the measures taken by the Committee for Economic Security will continue to be followed through on, despite a lack of real public support for the Pound Purchasing Program. Many economists, however, have come out in support of the measures in an attempt to educate the public about the dangers of the current economic situation.

The vote also provided a boost to the spirits of the economy as the Moselle and Saint-Lo exchanges recovered some of their recent losses following the announcement of the results. However, news wasn't all good for the markets, as rumblings of bank insolvency in Pollona continue to cast a pall over the economic landscape. So far, reports of Morivaine negotiations with the Pollonan government over possible economic support remain unconfirmed, with both sides denying any discussions were taking place. The economy is predicted to stabilize somewhat now that the Questarians have promised to repay all bonds denominated in Écu, though further instability in Alisna could wipe out the minimal gains made so far this week.

Languages: French | English | Arabic
© 2014 La Resistance

[Oseato]

SURVIVE AND ADVANCE
Morieux clinches spot in the knockout round with impressive 6-2 performance against Arnautia.

Bankstead - In a dominating display of their attacking prowess, Les Rouges downed Arnautia 6-2 to clinch a berth in the knockout stage of the 2014 Maredoratic Cup. Former players and analysts initially questioned the ability of the Morivaine team to rebound following the stunning and draining 4-4 tie against Questers earlier this week. However, these concerns were certainly answered as Les Rouges scored early in often to quickly put away Arnautia and advance one step closer to hoisting the Cup once again. Both Henri Renard and Philippe Saadé pressed the Arnautians heavily in the opening fifteen minutes of the match, cutting out passes and firing a few shots off target before Saadé dispossessed a defender and sent a through ball to Renard who was making a run on goal. Caught out of position and with most of the Arnautian team already committed to a counterattack, Renard faced little opposition, chipping the ball over Arnautian keeper Timóteusz Baráth for the first goal of the game at the seventeen minute mark.

The players celebrating their 6-2 victory and the advancement to the knockout round.

Despite the early start by Renard, Philippe Saadé was the player who stole the show. After having a free kick denied several minutes earlier, Saadé got revenge in the thirty-second minute, scoring on a curling near post free kick from twenty meters out. He scored again ten minutes later, leading a counterattack down the left side of the pitch after a long pass from goalkeeper Jean-Pierre Vincent. Displaying the creative style he is known for at Olympique Moselle in Ligue 1, he pushed the ball ahead through defender Rápolt Vastagh's legs, got in on goal and blasted it by the keeper for the third goal of the game. However, Arnautia quickly responded with their first goal of the game right before the halftime whistle when Krisztián Zártvölgyi headed home a cross from Jusztin Kunhalmi in the forty fourth minute.

The Arnautians seemed like they would make of game of it in the second half, with Rajmund Lóvasz launching a thirty-five meter wundergoal to make the score 3-2 in the fifty-sixth minute. However, as before, Saadé and Renard pressured the Arnautian defense into several mistakes, leading to a penalty in the sixty-fourth minute when Boleszláv Benkő, in an effort to stop Saadé from scoring, tackled him down in the box. Saadé made short work of the penalty, slamming it into the top right of the goal, outside the reach of the diving keeper. After that the Arnautians weren't really able to win consistent possession for the rest of the game. Les Rouges kept a high line, passing the ball quickly amongst themselves in the Arnautian half. Ibrahim Melki scored in the seventieth minute after being played through on a ball by Jacques Pétain, sending a swirling and diving ball past the keeper. The final goal came in the 90th minute when, in an last ditch effort to score, all eleven Arnautian players moved up to take a corner. The corner was punched out by Vincent and fell to Auguste DeRosier, who had come on for Saadé earlier in the game, with no defenders in front of him. He rapidly pushed the ball to the Arnautian half of the circle before calmly rolling the ball the length of the Arnautian half and into the goal before any Arnautian defenders could get back to clear it. The Morivaine bench erupted in cheers as ball rolled into the net, while the exhausted Arnautians merely lay on the ground exhausted.

Phillipe Michel, speaking after the game, gave high praise to the Arnautian team for battling as hard as they did, saying, "I know many picked [the Arnautians] to finish last in this group, but they played extremely well," Michel expressed relief at "surviving" the of the Group of Death and was happy to see his players rebound so well after the exhausting tie with Questers. "We didn't play great in every match," Michel commented, "but we did enough to advance and that's what needed to do."

Match Notes: The six goals scored in Thursday's game marks the most Les Rouges have ever scored in a Maredoratic Cup Finals match, replacing the 1958 5-0 win over Van Luxemburg during group play. Dieder Pichon received his second yellow card of the group stage and will miss the Quarterfinals. Philippe Saadé's six goals in group stage are the most of any Morivaine player. The victory marks Phillipe Michel's 150th career win as Les Rouges' manager.

Languages: French | English | Arabic
© 2011 La Resistance

[Oseato]

"COMMITTED TO PEACE"
Duclerc announces the end of all military exercises off the coast of the Malouines.

Saint-Lô - Amid increasing tensions across the Alisnan continent, First Citizen Duclerc has announced that the Morivaine military assets sent to participate in military exercises off the coast of the Îles Malouines will begin to return to their home bases this weekend. The exercises have been an ongoing point of contention between the Pollonan and Morivaine governments following the Pollonan decision to allow Prekonate to base significant military assets in the country. The Duclerc government stated that this is "to show that we are committed to peace in Alisna" following recent negotiations between Liberec and Saint-Lô to combat economic instability across the region. Despite this, the Duclerc did confirm that "several units that participated in the exercise will be permanently transferred to the region" but stated that major troop increases were unlikely. "The carrier Égalité and her attending group has already begun its trip back to Sétif, and many of the Republican Guard's marine formations will also be returning home within the next few days," continued the statement.

Carriers have formed the backbone of the Morivaine military in Alisna since the Karaman conflict began

With the situation in the General Social Republic still showing sparks of instability as a wave of politically motivated assassinations wracks the troubled nation and new intelligence pointing to large formations of Lagunian military units mobilizing on the Questarian border, First Citizen Duclerc expressed her sincere wishes for peace in the region and calls the end of the military exercise a "critical first step" toward promoting a more understanding atmosphere in Alisna. She called the Lagunian mobilization of its militias "criminally reckless" and hoped that the Lagunian government would reconsider its decision to continue to escalate tensions. She further stated that "Morieux will continue to honor its treaty obligations to defend Questers even amid its current political turmoil." When asked if that included the deployment of military assets to Questers, Duclerc confirmed that the option was on the table should the Laguanians not withdraw.

In a separate statement, the Ministry of War announced that the expected visit of the carrier Fraternité to the Questarian port of Easthampton, scheduled for later this week, will be postponed until the current crisis is resolved in order to "protect the Fraternité's ability to conduct any and all necessary operations in fulfillment of the Jesselton Treaty." The Fraternité, and its sister ship Unité has spent the last six months supporting the anti-terrorist operation in Karaman and as well as patrolling the Karaman coast in order to deter piracy. The Fraternité was supposed to make its scheduled port visit to replenish its warstocks and participate in several drills focused on humanitarian relief work along with its Questarian counterparts. The War Ministry stated that despite this delay the carrier will still be capable of operating at maximum efficiency "should the situation demand it" and that the Ministry was also preparing to move the Unité into the area should the situation call for it.

Languages: French | English | Arabic
© 2014 La Resistance

[Oseato]

"SOMETIMES YOU NEED A BIT OF LUCK"
Les Rouges advance past Sondstead after penalty kicks.

Beckin - Despite the odds-makers confidence in Les Rouges' ability to easily put away the clearly outmatched Sondsteadish team, Sunday's game proved to be much closer affair. Les Rouges came out fast, getting off nearly ten shots on keeper Gustaf Älexssünr before the Sondsteaders were able to get off a shot of their own. However, despite strong possession by the Morivaine forwards and constant pressure against the defense, Les Rouges were uncharacteristically unable to put the ball in the net. Their possession almost paid off several times, however, as Älexssünr punched out several shots that were destined to find their way into the goal. By the end of the first half, Morieux had taken twenty shots (nine on goal) to Sondstead's four shots (two on goal) with both sides failing to find the opening goal in the first forty-five minutes.

The players congratulate each other following the victory on penalty kicks.

The second half continued in the same manner as the first, with Morieux controlling possession in the Sondsteadish half for long stretches of time, piling up shots but unable to break the deadlock. Les Rouges manager Philipe Michel decided to force a change of pace in the sixty-fifth minute, removing defender Mathieu Rami in favor of forward Auguste DeRosier and shifting his formation to a 2-4-4 in order to take advantage of the accumulated possession. Despite the tactical change, Les Rouges continued to struggle to find the net, putting several more shots on goal without anything to show for it. The game changed suddenly in the seventy-fifth minute when a Sondsteadish counterattack, taking advantage of the high line of the two remaining Morivaine defenders, found Gamal Karimi in on goal. Jean-Pierre Vincent was able to make initial save, but the rebounding ball found Swen Ärtemssünr who lashed it into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead, electrifying the home crowd and stunning the Les Rouges.

Following the goal, Les Rouges pressed even harder, holding the ball an astounding sixty-eight percent of the second half. They generated another ten shots on target following the goal, along with seven corners. Finally in the first minute of injury time, Philippe Saadé broke the Sondsteadish defense, turning onto his left foot from thirteen yards outside the penalty area and blasting a curling shot around a diving Älexssünr, tying the game at one a piece and forcing extra time. Despite the equalizer, the game continued much as it had, with Morivaine chances going begging as the Sondsteadish defense conceded possession and corners to the attacking Morivaines, who were still unable to find a winning goal. Their best change came in the hundred and seventh minute, when Saadé played Ibrahim Melki through on goal, but had his shot blocked by Älexssünr. After two hours of play, the game was forced to penalty kicks.

Gamal Karimi was the first to step to the penalty spot, cheekily chipping the ball over Vincent as he dove to his right and touching off a roar of approval from the local fans. Saadé quickly followed up, expertly placing the ball in the top left corner of the net, out of the reach of the keeper. Ärtemssünr also stepped up and calmly put the ball in the upper corner of the net past the diving Vincent. Henri Renard stepped up to the spot and blasted the ball to the left, beating the keeper but needing the post to knock the ball in for the goal. Vincent then made a diving save on Osgar Sarman's penalty kick, sending it just around the right post to give Les Rouges an advantage. Auguste DeRosier made it 3-2 in favor of Morieux as he caught the keeper guessing wrong. Kristjan E̊sbjussunr kept his team in it by sending a slow roller down the center of the goal after Vincent dove to the right and was unable to put a boot on it. Morieux's advantage continued as Ibrahim Melki, emulating Saadé's kick, placed his shot in the top left of the goal and freezing Älexssünr on his line. Finally, Tom Markussunr, needing to score in order to continue the shootout, slammed his shot off the crossbar and out to midfield, giving Morieux the victory 1-1 (4-3 Pks).

Interviewed after the game Philipe Michel stated that they were lucky that both Sarman and Markussunr's shots didn't go in but that "sometimes you need a little bit of luck to win a game like this." He defended his decision to change the formation to a 2-4-4 pointing out that his substitute, Auguste DeRosier, was one of the four Les Rouges players to score during the penalty kicks. When asked he would do it the same way if given the chance, Michel laughed and stated that he would definitely think about it a lot more if faced with the choice a second time. Captain Henri Renard commended the Sondsteader team and fans for their passion and determination after the game, stating that it was "one of the best football atmospheres in Maredoratica." When asked about the lack of success of the Morivaine attack, Renard shrugged away concerns, stating that "sometimes the chances don't fall for you but you have to keep trying. We're through to the semi-finals and hopefully we'll have better luck finding the net next game."

Match Notes: The victory marks the first time in twenty years that Les Rouges won on PKs. Saadé's seven goals ties Thierry Delfour's Morivaine record for most goals scored in a single Maredoratic Cup with seven. Morieux will face Berry in the next semifinal match in Eästerkjikjh on July 8th.

Languages: French | English | Arabic
© 2011 La Resistance

[Oseato]

ONE GAME MORE!
Les Rouges through to final with 2-0 victory over Berry!

Windstrand - Smarting from the criticism of their performance against host nation Sondstead from newspapers across Morieux, Les Rouges came out in Tuesday's game looking to vindicate themselves and continue their title defense against the well disciplined Berrians. However, the game began in similar fashion as the quarterfinal, with Les Rouges finding room to run but unable to find the back of the net. Ibrahim Melki put a header over the bar in the twentieth minute, followed by a shot off by the post by Renard in the twenty eighth minute. Most of the first half, however, was spent with a tenacious Berrian defense constantly disrupting and dispossessing the Morivaine attack in short spurts, conceding some control over the pace of play while still keeping Les Rouges uncomfortable.

Henri Renard applauds the fans after the match.

Les Rouges finally found the net in the fifty ninth minute when, after a foul on Henri Renard twenty-five yards from goal, Philippe Saadé blasted a shot over the wall and beat keeper Martin Darmian. The goal opened up the game more, as the Berrians attacked with ferocity in an attempt to find an equalizer. Jean-Pierre Vincent saved several shots and at one time stopped back to back shots after the Berrians volleyed a rebound that Vincent had punched out. In the eightieth minute a shot by Victor Robert was partially blocked by Vincent but started to spin back towards the net, looking like a sure equalizer, before Antoine Yacoud cleared it off the line. The game was sealed five minutes later when Jacques Pétain pulled down a long pass from Vincent and raced down the far side of the pitch, beating the Berrian defense that had pushed forward to attack. He sent a shot past at goal from the corner of the penalty area and just under the bar to make the game 2-0.

After the match Les Rouges spent a significant time on the pitch, singing with the remaining Morivaine fans in the stands and chatting with their Berrian counterparts when they informed that they would be facing the Questarians in the final, a rematch of the dramatic 4-4 tie in group stage. Saadé, hearing the news, merely shrugged it off saying, "We should have beaten them the first time. We'll be ready." "My heart goes out to the Rochehautese, though, I know they really wanted to get another shot at us," he continued with a smile, "Perhaps in 2016?" Henri Renard downplayed the result, stating that "we still have room to improve, particularly when it comes to defending against the Questarians." Some analysts believe that Philipe Michel may tweak his formation to allow for a more defense posture given the results of the 3-5-2 formation against Questers in group stage.

Match Notes:The game on Friday will be the first time in 1996-1998 that Les Rouges have made back to back appearances in the Maredoratic Cup Final and they will attempt to win back to back Maredoratic Cup titles since their 1956 and 1958 titles. Vincent recorded his first clean sheet of the tournament with 7 saves, his first clean sheet since the 3-0 victory over Traxa in qualifying.

Languages: French | English | Arabic
© 2011 La Resistance

[Oseato]

BACK TO BACK!
Les Rouges secure ninth Maredoratic Cup title with a dominating 8-1 victory over Questers!

Windstrand - The Maredoratic Cup final featured only one more goal than the group stage match between Morieux and Questers and the Questarians came out in their same attacking style early. However, that's where the similarities ended. Les Rouges manager Philipe Michel clearly remembered the havoc in his defensive line caused by the highly aggressive Questarians in group stage and started the game in a 4-4-2 formation that saw defender Yann Cabella start in place of attacking midfielder Dieder Pichon. The dividends paid off nearly immediately, as a hard Questerian attack was halted by a Yann Cabella challenge before being passed forward. Philippe Saadé then led a determined Morivaine counterattack in the fifteenth minute, dribbling the ball deep into the Questarian box before passing the ball back out to Jacques Pétain who blasted the shot home for the 1-0 lead. The Questerians continued their attacks, but found it much more difficult to move the ball forward than they had in the previous match. Another Questarian shot on goal resulted in Vincent playing the ball long to Saadé who got in on the keeper and toe poked it past him for the second goal of the game shortly before half.

Les Rouges celebrate their first back-to-back Maredoratic Cup finals victories since 1956-1958.

The Questarians seemed to get back into the game after the first half, scoring on a corner kick headed home by Edward Spear in the fiftieth minute. Their momentum was short lived, however, as Matheiu Rami dispossessed Spear in the center circle three minutes later and found Saadé streaking toward the goal. Saadé volleyed the pass out of the air and into the side net to put Les Rouges back up by two. Five minutes later, Saadé again found the net, this time heading a cross from Renard past a diving Duncan Kitchen for the 4-1 lead. The Questarians then subbed in back-up goal keeper Terrence Buckley in hopes of stymieing the Morivaine tide. However, the game rapidly got out of hand as Renard and Ibrahim Melki both added goals in the seventieth and seventy-third minutes to put the game well outside the reach of the Questarians.

Les Rouges, however, where not done scoring. Melki added another goal, this time off of a free kick, in the eighty-third minute. The game took an ugly turn in the eighty-fourth minute when William Ward, taking exception to what he perceived as a lack of sportsmanship on behalf of Melki and the other Morivaines, came in studs up on Henri Renard after he had passed the ball. The Prekovi referee, Jaroslav Svoboda, immediately sent Ward off with a red card. The message was shrugged off by the Morivaines, who put another goal in the net in the ninetieth after the Questarians had brought up their keeper in a last ditch effort to score on a set piece. Renard possessed the ball at the midfield circle and launched the ball lazily at the goal, rolling in before any Questarians could get back to defend it.

After the match, the team celebrated with the mostly pro-Morieux crowd, but also applauded and congratulated the tired Questarians on their unlikely run to the championship game. Philipe Michel called the Questarians "remarkable" and "natural competitors" and stated that he thought the future of Questarian football was "quite bright." Philippe Saadé had other things on his mind after the game, stating "this is just the beginning for this team. We've made it our mission to challenge the Rochehautese's position for most Cups won. We'll see what happens in 2016, but that's our goal right now."

Match Notes:The Maredoratic Cup final is the first time that Morieux has faced a group stage opponent in the championship game. Saadé's three goals is just the third time a Morivaine player has scored more than two goals in a championship, the other two accomplished by Thierry Ardeois in 1956 and 1958. The nine combined goals sets a Maredoratic Cup record for most in a knockout round game.

Languages: French | English | Arabic
© 2011 La Resistance

[Oseato]

SPECIAL REPORT: ESTENIA DETONATES FIRST HYDROGEN BOMB!
The Confederation of Estenia confirms that it successfully tested its first hydrogen bomb on Thursday!

Murin - The government of the Confederation of Estenia confirmed that it has detonated its first thermonuclear weapon in its nation's history on Thursday morning, the 17th of July. It also confirmed that the test took place in the Mugahara Desert, though the exact location is still classified, in an effort to keep the fallout and other adverse effects of atmospheric nuclear testing from affecting any local populations. Experts agree that, given the nature of the seismic activity in the area, the blast was somewhere between ten to fifteen megatons in size. Others have questioned why the Estenians decided to test such a large weapon, though some believe that it could have been an accidential byproduct of mixing amounts of lithium-6 and lithium-7.

The Estenian government released this image of the blast.

While the Estenian government has not been engaged in any serious conflict or regional rivalry that one might point to to explain the sudden testing of nuclear weapons, the Estenian government stated that it would continue testing nuclear weapons in order to deter any nation from acting aggressively toward the Confederation. Estenia's neighbors have so far declined to comment on the test, but many express hopes that cooler heads will see the test as merely scientific in nature and not the opening of a nuclear arms race. Given the remote location of the test and the precautions of the Estenian government to avoid any possible contamination of urban centers, it is likely that the vent will pass without major diplomatic incident.

A spokesperson for Morieux expressed his concern with any intentions to continue atmospheric testing, but called the Estenian decision "an issue of national sovereignty" and that they were "well within their right to test their weapons in their own territory." Morieux hasn't tested a nuclear weapon since detonating its fifth thermonuclear weapon one week before it ratified the 1961 Maredoratic Treaty Against Proliferation of Nuclear Armaments. Under the treaty, Morieux has been allowed to maintain and update its stockpile of a little more than 1,700 nuclear weapons. The Ministry of War would not confirm the exact specifications of the Morivaine nuclear weapons as they related to the hypothetical specifications of the Estenian weapon tested, citing natural security concerns.

Languages: French | English | Arabic
© 2011 La Resistance