Tunisian Revolution and the Middle East

[visionary]

Yeah thats bull****, the people aren't buying the counter revolutionary stuff they know what went on. It was clearly an Army move to try and get their officers back in line. People are losing trust in the Army pretty quickly especially if there isn't a trial soon. Here are a few pics I took for Tahrir square.

Great pictures! Good luck to yourself and everyone out there.
I hope the military doesn't crack down even more tonight.
Stay strong, but be safe too (if possible).




Ok, more on Yemen. This is from a little earlier:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/...7310ON20110409

Yemen recalls envoy from Qatar, row over Gulf plan

(Reuters) - Yemen recalled its envoy from Qatar on Saturday in a dispute over a Gulf Arab plan for Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down, as anti-government demonstrators marched again in Aden and Taiz.

"The ambassador is being withdrawn for consultations," a foreign ministry official told Reuters.

A march by tens of thousands of demonstrators in the southern city of Taiz ended peacefully after army units loyal to General Ali Mohsen, who has backed the protests, stood between the crowd and security forces preventing clashes, residents said.

A protest later in the day by several hundred demonstrators turned violent when they tried to break through a police barricade, and security forces opened fire and used tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Thirteen people were wounded, two critically, and 190 were treated after inhaling tear gas, a hospital doctor told Reuters.

I still haven't found any article about the shooting in Sanaa.

Here's a tweet though:

http://twitter.com/#!/JebBoone

Just back from shooting in #Sanaa. 15 shot, 2 critical, hundreds exposed to tear gas. Shooting was from rooftops. #Yemen #YF 6 minutes ago

Also some people might recall that over the past days there's been some concern about the number of odd tear gas injuries. There was a video a few days ago showing a man apparently having a seizure in response to it and supposedly this was just one example of the hundreds of victims.

Here's some possible new info about that:

http://twitter.com/#!/Hamoud_Saleh

Can anyone with experience tell us what kind of **** Riot are using now on the protesters!! Are these ppl or Test rats!!?? #Yemen #Taiz 4 hours ago via web

http://twitter.com/#!/JebBoone

@Hamoud_Saleh Its very old, expired tear gas 4 hours ago

@Hamoud_Saleh Who knows what expired teargas does. As for the "white liquid" I just think its paint or something, I've sprayed and I'm fine. 4 hours ago

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The latest from yesterday's protests across Yemen.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/mi...152735826.html

Dozens of protesters demanding that Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh end his more than 30-year-old rule were wounded in clashes with security forces in the capital Sanaa as pro-democracy rallies continue.

Riot police with batons were out in force late Saturday, using tear gas and live fire against protesters in the capital, Al Jazeera's special correspondent there reported.

"There have been at least 200 injured according to one medical source, and around 15 of those injuries are from live ammunition," she said.

"There were more than three hours of the constant sound of tear gas being fired, and live ammunition being fired. I could also see that there were snipers positioned on rooftops and they were firing down at the crowd."

Our correspondent said the streets were littered with rocks and gas canisters, as police confrontations with tens of thousands of anti-government protesters continued in the capital.

In Taiz, the other main protest area, security police also used live ammunition and tear gas against some of the 100,000 people who marched there on Saturday.

"We have reports [in Taiz] of over 500 people injured, 40 of those from live ammunition and at least five people are in critical condition," our correspondent said.

She reported a "very heavy handed approach by the authorities" and an upsurge in violence in towns across Yemen.

"The police are becoming increasingly intolerant of protesters. It seems [president] Ali Abdullah Saleh is once again really trying to show his force."

EGYPT

The night passed without any major attacks.
Protesters held the square all night and there was no sign of military or police willing to make a move on them, despite the warnings earlier in the day.

http://twitter.com/#!/meshelmay

protesters are chanting & curfew has ended. #Tahrir. #Cairo
39 minutes ago

Tahrir, 6:30AM http://twitpic.com/4j1ueh 24 minutes ago

Something tells me if this barricade is left like this, it won't be around by the evening: #Cairo http://twitpic.com/4j1v9i 24 minutes ago

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http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/...7390JJ20110410

(Reuters) - Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Sunday that Israel was willing to accept a mutual ceasefire with Hamas militants in Gaza after days of deadly violence.

"If they stop firing on our communities, we will stop firing. If they stop firing in general, it will be quiet, it will be good," Barak told Israel Radio.

The death toll since Israel launched its retaliation for an attack on a school bus that critically wounded a teenager on Thursday has climbed to 19 Palestinian militants and civilians.

Gaza militants have fired at least 120 rockets and mortars at southern Israel in that time, the Israeli army said.

Asked if Israel was considering a ground offensive into the Gaza Strip to end Hamas's rule there, Barak said all options were on the table, but that it may not be necessary.

"If it will be necessary, we will act, but when it's not necessary, we don't need to," he said. "Restraint is also a form of strength."

Israel carried out a devastating military offensive into Gaza in late 2008 with the aim of ending cross-border rocket fire.

(Writing by Ari Rabinovitch; editing by Philippa Fletcher)

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BAHRAIN
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/midd...tests-april-10

1:18am BAHRAIN - The Interior Ministry has confirmed the deaths on Saturday of two people being held in its detention centers (one death had earlier been reported by the Associated Press).

According to the ministry, Ali Isa Saqer, 31, "created chaos at the detention center and that led to the interference of security forces to bring situation to normal, but he resisted them and sustained various injuries in the process. He was referred to the hospital and died later."

Zakaroya Rashid Hassan, 40, died of complications from sickle cell anemia, the ministry said. This is the second time Bahraini authorities have said a detainee died of sickle cell anemia.

SYRIA
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/midd...tests-april-10

3:00am SYRIA - Al Jazeer has obtained video from Daraa, the scene of the Syrian protests' worst violence, showing Friday's protests and the security forces' heavy handed response. The government has sought to prevent journalists from visiting Daraa.

[YOUTUBE]m2-JY6-I90A[/YOUTUBE]
[YOUTUBE]pqyYh_nv_LI[/YOUTUBE]
[YOUTUBE]uUtosOYQoU0[/YOUTUBE]

7:05am SYRIA An resident in the coastal city of Banias tells Al Jazeera that military has been deployed there after protests yesterday and that gunfire can be heard.

"No one can leave or enter. Schools are closed," she says, adding that people are not going to work.

She says about 6,000 people were protesting in the city yesterday. Cars were set on fire and shops destroyed.

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http://english.aljazeera.net/news/mi...563766482.html

Mubarak hits out at corruption allegations
Former Egyptian president denies holding assets abroad, says will cooperate with investigation.
Last Modified: 10 Apr 2011 14:00

Hosni Mubarak, the former Egyptian president, says that he will cooperate with the country's general prosecutor during a corruption investigation, and defended himself against a campaign of "distortions, lies and incitement" against him.

In his first public message since being forced from office by a popular uprising on February 11, Mubarak said he felt "a lot of pain" due to the "unjust campaign" against him and his family.

"I cannot stay silent regarding the incitement campaign against me," he said in the pre-recorded message that was aired on Al Arabiya television on Sunday.

Mubarak said that he had given up his position as president in "the interest of the country", and that he has "decided to stay away from politics".

He said he had "waited for weeks" for the general prosecutor's office to conduct its investigations, and asserted that he did not own any assets abroad.

"I agree to submit any written letters to help the general prosecutor and foreign ministry to ask any government in the world to expose my assents abroad since I took office," he said. "I want to make sure that the Egyptian people know I only own assets in a bank account inside the country."

He said that he would submit written approval to the authorities to allow them to investigate his own and his family members' possible ownership of assets abroad.

"All the assets I own and my sons are far from any allegations of corruption," he said.

"After the legal process is complete, I reserve the right to legally pursue those who engaged in lies and distortions against me."

The message was recorded at Mubarak's residence in Sharm al Shaikh on Saturday.

Yeah, poke the beehive some more, Mubarak. Brilliant idea!

And is he planning to sue his entire country?

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http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/...d_dest=Twitter

(Reuters) - Egypt's public prosecutor summoned ousted president Hosni Mubarak as part of investigations into the killing of protesters and embezzlement of public funds, the prosecutor said on Sunday.

Mubarak's sons Gamal and Alaa were also summoned in the embezzlement probe, the prosecutor said in a statement, adding that comments by Mubarak on Sunday in which he denied accusations of corruption would not affect the investigations.

Mubarak said on Sunday the allegations against his family were unfounded and he had the right to defend his reputation.

[visionary]

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/af...275630213.html

Air strikes on Gbagbo residence in Abidjan
UN and French helicopters attack Ivorian presidential palace as rights watchdog accuses Ouattara forces of atrocities.
Last Modified: 10 Apr 2011 20:49

United Nations and French helicopters have fired rockets on the residence of Laurent Gbagbo, Cote d'Ivoire's incumbent president, in Abidjan.

Haru Mutasa, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Abidjan, said five helicopters were used in the attack on Sunday and that they flew from a French airbase.

After flying to the Cocody area, where the presidential palace is located, they fired their rockets and returned to the airbase to reload. The process was then repeated.

Two residents from nearby neighborhoods saw two UN Mi-24 attack helicopters and a French helicopter open fire on the residence, the Associated Press news agency reported.

One resident reported seeing smoke rise from the compound. An AP reporter saw the same three helicopters take off from the French military base minutes before he heard explosions coming from the direction of the residence.

Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, said he has given orders to use "all necessary means" to stop Gbagbo's heavy weapons.

"The continued use of heavy weapons against the civilian population and our peacekeepers, as well as the attack against the headquarters of the legitimate government, have compelled me, once again, to instruct UNOCI to use all necessary means to prevent the use of these weapons, pursuant to Security Council resolutions 1975 (2011) and 1962 (2010)," Ban said in a statement.

"We are pursuing our operation to neutralise Gbagbo heavy weapons. We had to stop the operation for a couple of days to evaluate and have realised that there are still some heavy weapons that they had used against civilians and the UN," Hamadoun Toure, a UN spokesman, said.

Human Rights Watch, a New York-based rights watchdog, meanwhile, has accused forces loyal to Ouattara of killing hundreds of civilians, raping Gbagbo supporters and burning villages during an offensive in the country's west.

On Sunday, soldiers loyal to Ouattara smashed a stone they claim gave Gbagbo mystical powers [Reuters]

Daniel Bekele, HRW's Africa director, warned that while international focus appeared to be on Abidjan, violence and rights abuses were occuring across the country.

People interviewed by the group described how pro-Ouattara forces "summarily executed and raped perceived Gbagbo supporters in their homes, as they worked in the fields, as they fled, or as they tried to hide in the bush."

[visionary]

YEMEN

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/mi...319852355.html

Gulf ministers meet to discuss Yemen
Protests against Saleh continue as diplomats meet in Saudi capital to discuss mediation efforts.
Last Modified: 10 Apr 2011 17:20

Gulf Arab foreign ministers, seeking a resolution to the political crisis in Yemen, have urged Ali Abdullah Saleh, the country's president, to ensure a peaceful transition to his deputy.

Meeting in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Sunday, they also called for the formation of a national unity government - headed by the opposition - to prepare for fresh elections and a new constitution, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Yemen said.

More than 120 people have been killed since protests in Yemen calling for an end to Saleh's rule began on February 11, inspired by popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt which toppled long-serving leaders.

The Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) meeting took place as thousands of protesters continued to demand the resignation of Saleh.

The GCC is made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The Riyadh meeting was called to evaluate the official response of Saleh and Yemen's opposition coalition to the GCC mediation effort.

The developments follow a war of words between Saleh and Qatar, which erupted after the Gulf state's prime minister remarked that mediation would lead to the Yemeni leader standing down.

Saleh had initially accepted an offer by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states to hold talks with opposition parties in an attempt to resolve the crisis, but the plan stalled when Saleh took exception to Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr Al-Thani's comments and withdrew Yemen's ambassador from Doha.

A Gulf diplomat earlier said that Yemen, which is not part of the six-member GCC, now wanted assurances that the group would only mediate and not dictate any outcomes.

"If there is a [mediation] meeting it will be under the auspices of the GCC secretariat under one condition that the GCC will not get involved in the final decision," he said.

"The Yemenis won't agree to the talks in Saudi unless they get a promise from the GCC that they won't get involved."

SYRIA

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/mi...216603387.html

Deaths reported in fresh Syria violence
Assad loyalists allegedly open fire in northern port city of Baniyas amid continued anti-government protests.
Last Modified: 11 Apr 2011 03:04

Men loyal to Bashar al-Assad, Syria's president, are reported to have opened fire on a group of people in the northern port city of Baniyas, as widespread protests against the country's leadership continue.

Casualties were unconfirmed following the shooting on Sunday but state television said a security official was killed while the Associated Press news agency, quoting witnesses, reported the deaths of four civilians.

Members of the group that came under attack were armed with sticks and guarding the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq mosque when they were confronted by the Assad loyalists, known as shabbiha, who fired at them with automatic rifles from speeding cars, the Reuters news agency reported.

But the official SANA news agency reported quoting a government source that an "armed group" ambushed an army patrol in Baniyas, killing one soldier and wounding others.

[Redskins28339]

Bahrain

Two days ago I posted a series of tweets describing the brutality in Bahrain. That same lady, Zainab Alkhawaja, will begin a hunger strike shortly. She wrote the following to Obama:

Mr. President,

I write to you from Bahrain, after living through horrible injustice that I would never wish upon anyone in the world. Security forces attacked my home, broke our doors with sledgehammers, and terrified my family. Without any warning, without an arrest warrant and without giving any reasons; armed, masked men attacked my father. Although they said nothing, we all know that my father's crime is being a human rights activist. My father was grabbed by the neck, dragged down a flight of stairs and then beaten unconscious in front of me. He never raised his hand to resist them, and the only words he said were "I can't breathe". Even after he was unconscious the masked men kept kicking and beating him while cursing and saying that they were going to kill him. This is a very real threat considering that in the past two weeks alone three political prisoners have died in custody. The special forces also beat up and arrested my husband and brother-in-law.

Since their arrest, 3 days ago, we have heard nothing. We do not know where they are and whether they are safe or not. In fact, we still have no news of my uncle who was arrested 3 weeks ago, when troops put guns to the heads of his children and beat his wife severely.

Having studied in America, I have seen how strongly your people believe in freedom and democracy. Even through these horrible times many of the people supporting me are Americans who never thought their government would stand by dictators and against freedom-loving people. To the American people I send my love and gratitude.

I chose to write to you and not to my own government because the Alkhalifa regime has already proven that they do not care about our rights or our lives.

When you were sworn in as president of the United States, I had high hopes. I thought: here is a person who would have never become a president if it were not for the African-American fight for civil liberties; he will understand our fight for freedom. Unfortunately, so far my hopes have been shattered. I might have misunderstood. What was it you meant Mr. president? YES WE CAN… support dictators? YES WE CAN… help oppress pro-democracy protesters? YES WE CAN… turn a blind eye to a people's suffering?

Our wonderful memories have all been replaced by horrible ones. Our staircase still has traces of my father's blood. I sit in my living room and can see where my father and husband were thrown face down and beaten. I see their shoes by the door and remember they were taken barefoot. As a daughter and as a wife I refuse to stay silent while my father and husband are probably being tortured in Bahraini prisons. As a mother of a one-year-old who wants her father and grandfather back, I must take a stand. I will not be helpless. Starting 6pm Bahrain time tonight I will go on a hunger strike. I demand the immediate release of my family members. My father: Abdulhadi Alkhawaja. My husband: Wafi Almajed. My brother-in-law: Hussein Ahmed. My unlce: Salah Alkhawaja.

I am writing this letter to let you know, that if anything happens to my father, my husband, my uncle, my brother-in-law, or to me, I hold you just as responsible as the AlKhalifa regime. Your support for this monarchy makes your government a partner in crime. I still have hope that you will realize that freedom and human rights mean as much to a Bahraini person as it does to an American, Syrian or a Libyan and that regional and political considerations should not be prioritized over liberty and human rights.

I ask of you to look into your beautiful daughters' eyes tonight and think to yourself what you are personally willing to sacrifice in order to make sure they can sleep safe at night, that they can grow up with hope rather than fear and heartache, that they can have their father and grandfathers embrace to run to when they are hurt or in need of support. Last night my one-year-old daughter went knocking on our bedroom door calling for her father, the first word she ever learnt. It tore my heart to pieces. How do you explain to a one-year-old that her father is imprisoned? I need to look into my daughter's eyes tomorrow, next week, in the years to come, and tell her I did all that I could to protect her family and future.

For my daughter's sake, for her future, for my father's life, for the life of my husband, to unite my family again, I will begin my hunger strike.

Zainab Alkhawaja
11th April 2011

Link: http://angryarabiya.blogspot.com/201...ent-obama.html

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http://english.aljazeera.net/news/af...114812183.html

French forces detain Ivorian leader
French special forces have detained Laurent Gbagbo, the incumbent president, in Abidjan.
Last Modified: 11 Apr 2011 13:34

French special forces have detained Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo, the French ambassador in Abidjan and a Gbagbo adviser in France have said.

"Gbagbo has been arrested by French special forces in his residence and has been handed over to the rebel leaders," Toussaint Alain told Reuters.

A spokeswoman for forces loyal to his rival presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara also confirmed the arrest .

"Yes, he has been arrested," spokeswoman Affoussy Bamba told Reuters.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/af...442914400.html

Earlier on Monday, a column of more than 30 French armoured vehicles and tanks were seen advancing towards Gbagbo's residence.

Residents told the Associated Press that they had seen at least 10 armoured vehicles flying the French flag driving through the area around Gbagbo's residence, with two tanks seen taking up positions at a key intersection.

Forces loyal to Gbagbo were seen fleeing the area, as the French forces advanced.

Meanwhile, forces loyal to Ouattara attacked positions around the state television station [which is still controlled by Gbagbo] and his home.

A French military representative denied that French operations had been co-ordinated with Ouattara's forces.

Clashes between French and pro-Gbagbo forces were also reported from around the nearby Plateau business district.

UN spokesmen are now saying on AJE that Gbabo has been taken into United Nations custody and protection. He is no longer in power.


The AJE reporter in Abidjan says that Ouattara's private tv station now reports that Gbabgo is being given medical treatment.


http://english.aljazeera.net/news/mi...334453950.html

Yemen's Saleh 'welcomes' Gulf proposal
President Saleh accepts initiative saying he is ready for a 'peaceful' transfer of power in 'a constitutional way'.
Ali Abdullah Saleh, Yemen's embattled president has welcomed Gulf "efforts" to end his country's political crisis, according to a statement from his office.

"In compliance with statements (he) made several times ...the president has no reservation against transferring power peacefully and smoothly within the framework of the constitution," said the presidential statement on Monday.

But it fell short of saying clearly whether he accepted a direct Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) proposal calling on Saleh to step down and ensure a peaceful transition of power to his deputy, Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi.

Al Jazeera's correspondent reported from Sanaa "This has always been his position - the key words are 'within the constitution' which could either mean through elections at the end of the year or if he chooses to resign it must be accepted by parliament.

"In which case, as we saw with emergency law few weeks ago, he can easily swing to make sure they don't accept his resignation."

Mahjoob Zweiri, professor of Middle Eastern history at Qatar University, told Al Jazeera "It is very difficult to say that what he (Saleh ) is saying now is a positive response to the (GCC) initiative."

Opposition leaders will be meeting later on Monday to discuss the terms of the GCC plan.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Najib Ghaniem, a senior member of the opposition Islah party, said that "We are only interested in the end to the agony of our people.

"If this initiative means that Saleh steps down, then all issues can be put on the table to discuss later on."

Saleh has been in power since 1978 and faces fierce protests demanding his departure since late January.

"The opposition has accepted the initiative in principle and they are discussing it. But the youth in Taghyeer square have not accepted it yet," Zweiri added.

Al Araybiya reported earlier that Saleh had accepted the mediation, but now the opposition had rejected it, assumedly because it offered him immunity again.



---------- Post added April-11th-2011 at 10:31 AM ----------




http://english.aljazeera.net/news/mi...150760920.html

The army has been deployed in Syria's coastal city of Baniyas after several people were killed by men loyal to Bashar al-Assad, the president, residents have said.

An eyewitness from Baniyas told Al Jazeera on Monday that the army had been deployed inside the city after initially sealing it off.

The resident told our correspondent that the city is calm but tense. Funerals are scheduled to be held for four people killed on Sunday.

The witness "did confirm that armed gangs were shooting at army and residents at the same time [Sunday]. Residents alleged the gunmen were loyalists of the regime," our correspondent said.

"A statement was issued on behalf of the people of the city, the veracity of which has yet to be confirmed, desperately asking for help, from the army and from human rights groups, from anyone."

State television first confirmed the death of one security official but it revised it to nine while the Associated Press news agency, quoting witnesses, reported the deaths of four civilians.

People said that most of the army forces were killed by the military security forces as they refused to shoot the population, Al Jazeera correspondent said. However, it has yet to be verified.

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http://english.aljazeera.net/news/mi...325204241.html

Egyptian blogger jailed for three years
Maikel Nabil found guilty of insulting the military and spreading false news.
Last Modified: 11 Apr 2011 14:47

An Egyptian military court has jailed a blogger for three years for criticising the armed forces, ruling the country since president Hosni Mubarak''s ouster in February.

"Regrettably, the Nasr City military court sentenced Maikel Nabil to three years in prison," Gamal Eid, Nabil''s lawyer, told the AFP news agency on Monday.

"The lawyers were not present, the verdict was handed out almost in secret," he said.

Nabil was found guilty of "insulting the military" and of publishing false news.

His lawyers said they would appeal the ruling.

The verdict is likely to cause concern among Egypt's large network of bloggers who had hoped the overthrow of Mubarak in a popular uprising would usher in a new era of freedom of expression.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) last week had called for the charges to be dropped.

It said Egypt's armed forces "should drop all charges against (Nabil) for his Internet posts critical of the military".

"This trial sets a dangerous precedent at a time when Egypt is trying to transition away from the abuses of the Mubarak era," Sarah Leah Whitson, HRW's Middle East and North Africa director, said.

This is the first trial of a blogger by a military court since the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces assumed control after Mubarak resigned on February 11 following 18 straight days of anti-regime protests.

Military police arrested Nabil, a campaigner against conscription, on March 28 after he wrote blogs criticising the military, HRW said.

---------- Post added April-11th-2011 at 11:17 AM ----------



Latest news from the Ivory Coast is that the UN forces did not arrest Gbagbo. According to the UN, Gbagbo actually surrendered to Ouattara's forces and came peacefully. Ouattara's tv station showed footage of Gbagbo looking sad, tired, and weak, sitting next to some other men who were arguing with him, supposedly in the Golf Hotel where UN and Ouattara people have been staying. The tv station also called for Gbabgo's fighters to join the Republican army in the dialogue for the peaceful future of the Ivory Coast

[visionary]

YEMEN

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/mi...334453950.html

Yemen's opposition rejected a Gulf Arab initiative for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down, because it appeared to offer him immunity from prosecution, while Saleh himself welcomed the plan.

"Who would be a fool to offer guarantees to a regime that kills peaceful protesters? Our principal demand is that Saleh leaves first," Mohammed al-Sabry, an opposition spokesman, said on Monday.

Saleh had welcomed "efforts" by members of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) to end his country's political crisis, according to a statement from his office earlier in the day.

"In compliance with statements made several times ... the president has no reservation against transferring power peacefully and smoothly within the framework of the constitution," the statement said.

The response did not make clear whether Saleh accepted the proposal - put forwad by the GCC on Sunday - for him to step down and ensure a peaceful transition of power to his deputy, Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi.

A GCC statement on Sunday talked of "the formation of a national unity government under the leadership of the opposition which has the right to form committees ... to draw up a constitution and hold elections".

It said all parties should "stop all forms of revenge .. and [legal] pursuance, through guarantees offered" - wording that appeared to offer Saleh assurances of no prosecution for him or his family once he leaves office.

Diplomatic sources said Saleh has dragged his heels for weeks over US attempts to get him to agree to step down and end protests crippling the country.

SYRIA

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/mi...055997548.html

Students rally in Syria's capital over deaths
Students gather outside capital's university to express solidarity with protesters killed campaigning for democracy.
Last Modified: 11 Apr 2011 16:20

Hundreds of students have rallied in Damascus, the Syrian capital, to express solidarity with pro-democracy protesters killed over the weekend.

The rare demonstration on Monday at Damascus University reportedly turned violent when security forces beat up and arrested several protesters who were shouting for freedom and unity, witnesses told the Associated Press news agency.

Ammar Qurabi, head of Syria's National Organisation for Human Rights, told the AP news agency that one student had died after he was shot in the demonstration.

Video footage posted online showed what appeared to be plainclothes security forces beating protesters and forcefully pulling others away as they marched inside the campus.

An activist in touch with students who witnessed the demonstration corroborated the footage, but spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.

"The Syrian people are one!'' the students shouted in the video.

Abdul-Karim Rihawi, the head of the Syrian Human Rights League, said Fayez Sara, a well known Syrian writer and journalist, was detained at his home on Monday, while several other activists had been picked up in the past few days.

Bastard Assad seems to be losing his grip on his people, city by city and area by area.

[visionary]

Intriguing inside analysis of Yemen's situation.

Countering worries of instability and islamist motives.
[YOUTUBE]tzLHjTuX1Qg[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]oNtvtuVfQXU[/YOUTUBE]


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12985617

11 April 2011 Last updated at 09:42 ET
Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo: From democrat to dictator
By Phil Clark Lecturer, School of Oriental and African Studies

Very interesting article. Too much in there for me to just copy and paste, so I suggest giving the whole thing a read, if you want to know more about the IC situation.

I'll give a brief overview:

Bgagbo started out as a teacher and a union leader and an activist for human rights and democracy while the first dictator president of Ivory Coast was becoming more and more autocratic. Bgagbo was jailed and exiled and became an enemy of Ouattara who was the first president's prime minister near the end of his reign.

The first president was replaced after his death by another man who came into power through a coup, and this man eventually lost an election to Bgagbo but stayed in power anyway.
Bgagbo through the help of his political support and that of his militia overthrew him.

Afterward he became increasingly dictatorial himself and quickly began persecuting foreigners and migrants and cracking down hard on them in the name of crushing rebellions. He used religion and ethnicity as a weapon against the northern Muslim population and his enemy Ouatarra.

I read another article this morning I think where it mentioned how he had called upon his loyalists at times over the years to cleanse parts of Ivory Coast of migrants because they were hiding rebels and spies.

[visionary]

EGYPT

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/mi...755944186.html

Hosni Mubarak hospitalised
Former Egyptian president taken to hospital in Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh
Last Modified: 12 Apr 2011 17:22

Hosni Mubarak, the former Egyptian president, has been hospitalised at the Red Sea port of Sharm el-Sheikh, where he has been staying since he was ousted from power by a popular uprising on February 11.

"He has been under house arrest in Sharm el-Sheikh ever since he was ousted from power. We are still not sure of what condition he is in, but the former president has been complaining that he's been unwell for some time now," reported Zeina Khodr, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Cairo, on Tuesday.

Egyptian security officials told the Associated Press news agency that Mubarak arrived under heavy police protection at the hospital, which was being picketed by pro-democracy activists.

Mubarak has kept a low profile since he stepped down from the presidency, but released an audio message earlier this week saying that he would cooperate fully with the prosecutor-general's investigations into allegations of corruption committed by his himself and family members.

Mubarak had been expected to be questioned by investigators for the first time on Tuesday in connection with corruption allegations and violence against protesters during the uprising.

The public prosecutor issued the summons on Sunday.

Mubarak's sons Alaa and Gamal have also been summoned for questioning.

"He was supposed to travel to Cairo to be questioned about his wealth, about his assets, by the prosecutor-general here, but he said that he was unable to travel.

Now whether or not its a coincidence that he falls ill just days after the prosecutor-general decided to summon him as well as his two sons, Gamal and Alaa, for questioning about their wealth and their assets ... in fact, at this hour, ministry of justice officials are questioning his sons," Khodr reported

Reuters is now reporting that Mubarak had some sort of heart incident while being questioned today!

SYRIA

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/mi...342295758.html

Syrian security forces attack village
Witnesses say security forces opened fire on villagers in Bayda, as opposition delegation meets vice-president.
Last Modified: 12 Apr 2011 17:46

Syrian security forces have fired upon people in the village of Bayda, near the town of Baniyas in the country's northeast, injuring at least one person, witnesses have told Al Jazeera.

On Sunday, security forces in Baniyas killed at least four pro-reform protesters and left another 17 wounded, human rights groups have said.

"Security forces and armed men are firing machine guns indiscriminately at [Bayda]," a witness said on Tuesday.

"The gunfire against Bayda is intense like the rain. At least one person was injured," another witness said, describing the violence in the village, which is 10km south of Baniyas.

"What we are hearing from residents [in Bayda] is that there has been a campaign of arrests, those who have been detained are taken to the main square ... and eyewitnesses say they are being brutally beaten," reported Al Jazeera's Rula Amin from Damascus.

"In Baniyas ... the city is still sealed, tension is very high ... and [there is a] heavy security presence."

"The goal of the attack is probably the arrest of Anas al-Shukri [one of the leaders of the opposition movement]," a human rights activist, who wished to remain anonymous, said.

The AP news agency reported that pro-government armed men were also attacking the village of Beit Jnad, near Baida, on Tuesday.

Haitham al-Maleh, an opposition activist, said attackers were using automatic rifles in the two villages.

A resident from a third village nearby said he could hear the sound of heavy gunfire coming from the two villages.

"Some residents of the two villages took part in the anti-regime protests in Baniyas," the resident said, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of government reprisals.

Also on Tuesday, Khalil Matouk, a human rights lawyer, told AFP that Ghiyath Oyun al-Sood, secretary-general of the Democratic People's Party (a banned communist party) had been arrested while shopping near his home in southern Damascus.

Meanwhile, about 600 Kurds held a one-hour long peaceful protest demonstration in the village of Ain Arab in the northern part of the country, Radif Mustapha, the head of the Rased Kurdish human rights group told AFP. The protesters were calling for reforms and the release of political prisoners.

Al Jazeera's Amin reported that an opposition delegation from the city of Daraa, where protests against the government first began several weeks ago, had met with the country's vice-president on Tuesday.

"The people of Daraa had a delegation led by the imam of the Omari mosque [where protests started] ... met with Syria's vice-president Farouk al-Sharra. This is a very significant step.

"The people we spoke to, including this imam, told us that they met the vice-president, they gave him their list of demands, some have to do with Daraa - like pulling out the heavy security that's stationed there, releasing all prisoners - and some demands have to do with all of Syria, like lifting the state of emergency law, giving them more political freedoms and to stop the heavyhandedness of security forces in their daily lives."

YEMEN

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/mi...147534399.html

Yemenis decry immunity for president
Tens of thousands hold protests against mediation by the GCC aimed at ending political crisis.
Last Modified: 12 Apr 2011 17:57

Tens of thousands of Yemenis have held protests against a mediation proposal by Gulf nations aimed at ending the political crisis in the country.

Demonstrations were held across Yemen on Tuesday objecting to the proposal because it offers Ali Abdullah Saleh, Yemen's president, immunity from prosecution.

Protesters in Yemen have for months been calling for Saleh to step down over the country's lack of freedoms and extreme poverty.

The mediation proposal, which was put forward by the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), called on Saleh to transfer power to his deputy, but gives no specific timeframe for him to leave office.

It also included immunity from prosecution for Saleh and his family.

"The initiative does not clearly mention the immediate departure of the head of the regime and it did not touch on the fate of his relatives who are at the top military and security agencies that continue killing the peaceful protesters," the anti-government Civil Alliance of the Youth Revolution said in a statement.

The alliance, which includes 30 youth groups, said the GCC proposal was an attempt to abort the revolution.

Swaziland

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/af...937925784.html

Police disperse Swaziland protesters
Water cannons fired on pro-democracy demonstrators challenging the rule of King Mswati, Africa's last absolute monarch.
Last Modified: 12 Apr 2011 12:07

Police in Swaziland have fired water cannons at pro-democracy protesters and detained people on the streets to prevent demonstrations in sub-Saharan Africa's last absolute monarchy.

Simantele Mmema, a spokeswoman for the Swaziland National Association of Teachers, said on Tuesday that more than 1,000 protesters who were singing and chanting in a teacher's training centre were dispersed by police using water cannons.

Mmema said teachers left the centre and were marching to the centre of Manzini, the economic hub of southern Africa's usually peaceful mountain kingdom.

An online campaign has tried to rally support for the demonstrations, which come exactly 38 years after the current Swazi king's father, King Sobhuza II, banned political parties and abandoned the country's constitution.

A police spokeswoman, Wendy Hleta, said union leaders were being questioned over threats to overthrow the government they allegedly made to foreign media.

COSATU, the biggest trade union federation in neighbouring South Africa, said police arrested seven labour leaders on Tuesday morning.

A South African radio station said one of its reporters had been detained in the country, where she was sent to cover planned pro-democracy protests.

Talk Radio 702's report followed a statement from a pro-democracy group in the country that several activists had been arrested ahead of planned protests.

King Mswati III, who has 13 wives and a fortune estimated at $100m in a country where 70 per cent of people live on less than a dollar a day, has refused to loosen the monarchy's grip on power.

Forbes magazine lists the 42-year-old king among the 15 richest monarchs in the world. He assumed the throne in 1986 at the age of 18, has a penchant for fast cars, luxury palaces and extravagant parties.

Police commissioner Isaac Magagula said the police, the army and correctional services were ready to face down "evil" protesters.

"Such evil will not be tolerated," the Times newspaper, a privately owned publication, quoted him as saying.

Police have been raiding activists' homes since last week, with four key protest organisers arrested on Monday.

Last week the national organiser of the banned Swaziland Youth Congress, Mcolisi Ngcamphalala, said he was held and tortured by police for 24 hours.

---------- Post added April-12th-2011 at 03:31 PM ----------

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/...73B1D120110412

Egypt state TV says Mubarak in intensive care

(Reuters) - Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was taken to an intensive care unit after suffering heart problems, state television reported.

Mubarak was admitted to hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh, where he has been staying since leaving office, after being taken ill during questioning over the killing of protesters and embezzling of public funds, state TV said.

[visionary]

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/mi...849525309.html

Egyptian army clears Cairo's Tahrir Square
Traffic begins to flow in central thoroughfare as protesters dispersed after five-day sit-in.
Last Modified: 12 Apr 2011 20:40

Soldiers and police have moved into Cairo''s iconic Tahrir Square to end a five-day sit-in by protesters demanding that the country''s ruling military council step down and that Hosni Mubarak, the country''s former president, and his allies be prosecuted more swiftly.

Traffic began flowing in the central Cairo thoroughfare by early Tuesday evening.

Earlier, hundreds of soldiers took positions in the middle of the square, and military vehicles were seen at every entrance to the normally busy thoroughfare.

Protesters had earlier closed the square to traffic by setting up barricades.

Troops with machine-guns detained several young men, pushing them into police vans, while others broke down the barricades and rolled up coils of barbed wire.

Men were also seen picking up debris from across the square, which had been the focus of an 18-day popular uprising against Mubarak, who was forced to resign from office on February 11.

A youth coalition that had been involved in the uprising said that it had persuaded the remaining protesters to reopen the square because they were causing more harm than good by staying.

"We met with the [ruling] military council yesterday and discussed opening Tahrir. We agreed to end the protest and give the army a chance to proceed," said Mohamed Sukri, a member of the Revolutionary Youth Coalition.

"The military council thanks the youth of the January revolution for returning Tahrir Square to normal," it said in a statement.

Mohamed Zaidan, a protester who was at the square when the army arrived, however, gave a different account.

"We didn''t agree with anyone to clear Tahrir," said the 25-year-old Zaidan.

"We were attacked by rock-throwing people who wanted to force us out and then the army came, didn''t speak to us and suddenly moved in to force us out of the square."

Al Jazeera English is reporting that Egyptian authorities are apparently now continuing to question Mubarak and his sons at the hospital where he is currently being treated.