Tunisian Revolution and the Middle East

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http://www.blottr.com/breaking-news/...nmen-mogadishu

Somali poet shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Mogadishu

Popular Somali musician and poet Warsame Shire Awale, who dared to satirize the Islamist militant group Al-Shabab, was shot dead Monday near his house in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, local authorities said on Tuesday. He is the eighteenth media worker to be killed this year.

Awale was rushed to Daru Shifa hospital but pronounced dead on arrival after he was shot by two unidentified gunmen near his house in Mogadishu. The poet, who worked for privately-owned Radio Kulmiye, had previously received threats for criticizing Al-Shabab for carrying out attacks on civilians.

Monday's murder came less than a day after Radio Shabelle journalist Mohamed Mohamud died at Madina hospital after also being shot by two unidentified gunmen near his house in the Wadajir district of Mogadishu on October 21. His injuries were initially not considered to be life-threatening, but his condition suddenly deteriorated on Saturday. He died at around 8:15 p.m. local time on Sunday.

---------- Post added October-30th-2012 at 01:43 PM ----------

Craziness erupts in Libya once more, as the GNC session for voting on the latest parliament proposal devolves into an argument over something and militia members storm the assembly room again, causing the head of the GNC and other members to go down to the floor to talk to them.

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http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaN...8LVFVG20121031

UPDATE 1-Libya congress approves new PM's proposed government

Libya's General National Congress approved new Prime Minister Ali Zeidan's proposed government line-up on Wednesday but cut its session short as security forces fended off protesters outside.

Zeidan presented a coalition cabinet on Tuesday, drawn from liberal and Islamist parties, to the national congress, which had rejected his predecessor's cabinet line-up.

The assembly had met on Tuesday to vote but its session was postponed after protesters, angry with some of the nominations, stormed its headquarters.

A televised vote on Wednesday showed that 105 congress members voted in favour of the line-up. The congress is made up of 200 members but not all were present.

"The government was approved. Now the session is over due to the mess outside," congress member Suleiman Zoubi told Reuters.

As congress met amid tight security, Libyan security forces briefly fired shots in the air to disperse a crowd of about 100 protesters outside the building, a Reuters witness said.

I'm a bit concerned about the foreign minister who was Libya's ambassador to the US under Gaddafi.
He's not well loved among Libyans here, comes off as being a bit slimy too.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20152538

The new government has representatives from the two biggest blocs in the Congress - the Alliance of National Forces, led by liberal former Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril, and the Muslim Brotherhood's Justice and Construction Party

Mr Zidan said he had tried to strike a balance between Libya's different regions in making the appointments.

According to his list, the defence and interior ministries would be headed by ministers from the eastern city of Benghazi, considered to be the cradle of last year's revolution that ended Muammar Gaddafi's rule.

Two women are also among the ministers proposed by Mr Zidan.

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http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...8A10ZZ20121102

Citing conflicts, Obama renews U.S. sanctions on Sudan

President Barack Obama has renewed 15-year-old U.S. sanctions on Sudan, acknowledging that Khartoum has resolved disputes with South Sudan but warning that Darfur and other conflicts remain serious obstacles to normal ties, the State Department said on Friday.

"The ongoing conflict in Southern Kordofan, Blue Nile, and Darfur continue to threaten regional stability, and the human rights and humanitarian crises there - including the lack of humanitarian access - are very serious," the department said in a statement. Obama signed the executive order on Thursday night.

The order maintains several sets of U.S. sanctions that have been imposed on an annual basis since 1997. The sanctions restrict U.S. trade and investment with Sudan and block the assets of the Sudanese government and certain officials.

Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes in Sudan's South Kordofan and Blue Nile states since clashes between government forces and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) broke out over a year ago.

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http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...8A40BM20121105

Five bomb blasts hit Bahrain capital, two killed

Five bombs exploded in the heart of the Bahraini capital Manama on Monday, killing two people, officials said, in rare attacks targeting civilians during the 21-month-old uprising against the kingdom's U.S.-backed rulers.

The blasts, one outside a cinema, could be a sign that radical elements of the opposition are escalating violence. They took place days after the government said it had banned all rallies and opposition gatherings to ensure public safety.

The victims were Asian street cleaners and one died after kicking a device which then blew up, said the Interior Ministry. It said the bombs were home-made and described the blasts as "terrorist acts" - its term for attacks by opposition activists.

Police have been targeted by explosions several times this year, as the government has stepped up efforts to quell the uprising that has simmered since democracy protests broke out in early 2011.

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http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middle...=MasterAccount

Saudi Arabia names new interior minister

Saudi Arabia has appointed Prince Mohammed bin Nayef as interior minister, marking a significant move towards a new generation of leaders from the kingdom's ruling family.

Prince Mohammed, a son of the late veteran interior minister Prince Nayef, who died in June, is best known as Saudi Arabia's long-time security chief, and has garnered the praise of Western countries for his role in the campaign against al Qaeda.

He replaces his uncle, Prince Ahmed, who was only appointed as Interior Minister in June.

"Prince Ahmed is relieved of his position as Interior Minister at his own request and Prince Mohammed bin Nayef is appointed," said a royal decree carried on state media on Monday.

The new minister, who had served as assistant minister for security affairs since 1999, effectively led the kingdom's crackdown on Al Qaeda following a wave of deadly attacks between 2003 and 2006.

A main element of his strategy to rout al Qaeda from the kingdom was the introduction of "rehabilitation centres" for former militants.

The move lifts the prince into a critical role for the ruling al-Saud family and one that has until now only been held by the current ruling generation.

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http://www.foreignpolicy.com/article...ahrain_burning

Bahrain Burning

Violence is once again rearing its ugly head in Bahrain. The coordinated detonation of five home-made explosive devices in the capital of Manama on Nov. 5, resulting in the death of two people and the maiming of another, was not some crude attempt to celebrate Guy Fawkes night, but an escalation of bloodshed that threatens to tip the island kingdom into chaos.

The attack appears to be an amateurish attempt to cause terror and mayhem, achieving no result other than killing innocent expatriate labourers. The quality of the explosive devices was poor, suggesting that the attacks were the work of unsophisticated actors working with little institutional support.

The important question to ask is why terrorist actions are now increasing to what appears to be a sustained level. The fact is, this latest attack is the result of a political reconciliation process that is going nowhere and is radicalizing the Bahraini population in the process. The Interior Ministry's Oct. 30 decision to ban all protests and the Nov. 7 decision to strip 31 activists of citizenship are just the latest in a series of measures taken in the kingdom that appear oppressive, and serve only to further harden the political battle lines in this deeply divided country.

There is, fortunately, a silver lining amidst this grim news. Some of the reforms proposed by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), which the monarchy commissioned to investigate the abuses committed during last year's uprising, have been implemented: Security reforms have been comprehensive, and some police units' performance has improved significantly -- instances of police brutality have dropped significantly in recent months.

Furthermore police units still acting irresponsibly will have to face an independent ombudsman who will judge their actions without political or ministry interference. Additionally, five Shia mosques that were inexplicably razed to the ground last year are also in the process of being rebuilt, with two more scheduled for reconstruction, though there are still 32 lying in rubble.

However, the key for Bahrain to emerge from its current crisis is to solve its economic problems -- namely, the lack of jobs and sources of social empowerment for Bahraini citizens, many of whom happen to be Shia. Jobs may not solve the island kingdom's political problems overnight, but they would help build conditions whereby many of Bahrain's poorer citizens can gain some respect and dignity.

I think it's not just economic though, there is a feeling of general inequality and second class citizenship among shias there.

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http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa...=MasterAccount

ECOWAS to wrest northern Mali from rebels

The West African bloc known as ECOWAS is finalising a plan to retake northern Mali from
Tuareg and Ansar Eddin, Unity and Jihad rebels.

At a meeting in the Nigerian capital Abuja, the group, which plans to deploy a 3,300-strong force, is asking the UN to back its plan.

Al Jazeera's Mohamed Adow reports from Abuja.

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http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/poli...elections.html

Kuwaiti Youth Shape Opposition Movement

The decree passed by Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad has reduced from four to one the number of votes that can be cast by a voter. The decision has caused an uproar. The one-vote project and the Dec. 1 elections have triggered massive popular and youth protests, and have reshaped the role of the Kuwaiti political opposition.

The independent youth movements are demanding that the decree be annulled and that the election go ahead according to the previous law, which had five districts and four votes per voter. The Kuwaiti opposition has taken the same position, thus turning the opposition into a majority. At the same time, certain tribal forces have become a numerical minority and are concerned about the Kuwaiti opposition’s increasing strength and about its own base of support in the tribal majority areas.

The current dispute and the Kuwaiti political movement associated with it is full of vitality and is interacting with the Kuwaiti changes over the past 20 years. Over the past two decades, there has been an increased community awareness among Kuwaitis. New social forces have emerged, such as a middle class that spans all segments of society and is adversely affected by bad management, lack of economic transparency and corruption. Also over the past 20 years, the role of the tribal regions has changed. The people there have become more educated to confront their marginalization. There is now a large sector of society whose progress has become linked to its ability to build a political system that achieves accountability and puts the right person in the right place, promotes freedoms, improves democracy and respects the rights of all of society's components....

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http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa...=MasterAccount

ECOWAS agrees to Mali intervention force

West African leaders at an emergency summit have agreed on a 3,300-strong force to wrest control of northern Mali from Islamist fighters, as fears grow over risks they pose to the region and beyond.

"We foresee 3,300 soldiers for a timeframe of one year," Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara, the current ECOWAS chairman, told journalists on Sunday after the summit.

The troops would come primarily from ECOWAS, but possibly from countries outside the bloc as well, he said.

The summit in the Nigerian capital Abuja was aimed at setting out a blueprint for military force in Mali's north that would be transferred to the UN Security Council via the African Union.

Discussions also involved the potential training of 5,000 Malian troops, according to Ouattara.

Ouattara said he hoped UN Security Council approval could come in late November or early December, which would allow the force to be put in place days afterward.

"We have countries that are offering battalions, others companies," he said.

ECOWAS countries he named were Nigeria, Senegal, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Togo.

From outside of ECOWAS, "Chad could also participate. We have had contacts with other countries - Mauritania, South Africa."

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http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp...8b3038a92e.671

Obama tells Abbas of opposition to UN move: Palestinians

US President Barack Obama told Mahmud Abbas on Sunday that his administration opposes a Palestinian bid for non-state membership of the UN, the Palestinian leader's spokesman said.

"There was a long telephone conversation between president Mahmud Abbas and Barack Obama," Nabil Abu Rudeina told AFP. "Obama expressed the opposition of the United States to the decision to go to the UN General Assembly."

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http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...8AC0H620121113

Rivals of Iraq's Maliki try to block third term

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's rivals have started campaigning for term limits in an attempt to block the Shi'ite leader running for a third term in 2014, opening up a new battle in the country's fragile cross-sectarian government.

Since the last American troops left Iraq nearly a year ago, the country's Shi'ite, Sunni Muslim and ethnic Kurdish parties have been caught up in a power-sharing stalemate that has left key oil and investment laws paralyzed in parliament.

Kurdish parties, the Sunni-backed Iraqiya bloc and even some rivals in Maliki's own Shi'ite coalition failed earlier this year to trigger a vote of no confidence against a prime minister whom they accuse of consolidating power at their expense.

Those same factions have now handed a proposed law to parliament that would limit the mandate of prime minister to two terms, challenging a leader well-known for his skilful maneuvering through Iraq's shifting alliances.

"A proposed law was presented to the parliament with the support of more than 130 lawmakers," said Amir al-Kinani, a lawmaker with Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's Sadrist bloc and a member of the legal committee.

Maliki's opponents would need a simple majority in the 325-seat Council of Representatives to pass the law. But in a country of often fickle political loyalties and divided parties securing that support faces huge challenges.

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http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...8MDCKK20121113

UPDATE 2-Jordan lifts fuel subsidies, sparks protests

Jordan lifted fuel subsidies on Tuesday, aiming to reduce the budget deficit and secure a $2-billion IMF loan, but sparking public protests as gasoline and other prices soared.

More than 1,000 people hit the streets in the capital Amman and small protests erupted in several provincial towns after Islamist and tribal opposition groups said they would demonstrate. Authorities increased security measures across the country.

The move, announced by the cabinet and which takes effect after midnight, is the first major rise in petrol prices since street protests early last year, inspired by the wave of Arab unrest, pushed Jordanian authorities to expand social spending and freeze major fuel price hikes.

The price rises range from more than 50 percent for bottled gas used for cooking, 33 percent for diesel and kerosene for transport and heating and a 14 percent on lower grade petrol.

The government, mindful of public fury that exploded into street clashes in the depressed south of the country after price hikes in 1989 and 1996, had been reluctant to raise fuel prices.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour told state television that the price hikes were now unavoidable.

"If the move was delayed we would have faced a catastrophe and insolvency," he said.

https://twitter.com/AlexanderPageSY

CONFIRMED: protesters in Thiban now witnessing a crack down by security forces tear gas being used ridiculously
3:34 PM

BREAKING: I'm watching this: 100s of protesters now resisting crackdown by CSF at dawar al dakhlieh
3:44 PM

BREAKING: large anti government protest just by Hibba tishreen hospital in the capital Amman getting out of control
3:46 PM

Activist @omas7 has disappeared in middle of attack launched by jordan'ian CSF at dawar al dakhlieh amman Jordan
4:56 PM

BREAKING: thousands of protesters withstanding crackdown calling for fall of the system and the king to go DawarAlDakhlieh
5:00 PM

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...washingtonpost

Protests break out in Jordan, mention king by name

Almost two years after the Arab Spring began toppling dictatorships, Jordan is still there, ruled by a pro-Western Hashemite monarchy. There have been a number of will-they-or-won’t-they moments since then, including right now.

As of this writing, protesters are amassing in Amman, the capital, in a demonstration that was initially sparked by cuts to fuel subsidies but have come to more directly address the country’s governing system, including King Abdullah himself. For the moment, you can watch a video stream here.

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https://twitter.com/pdanahar

Israel has carried out an attack in Gaza on individuals as yet unknown though rumours are it maybe a senior Hamas official
9:04 AM

BBC's @JonDonnison in Gaza & heading to location of israeli air strike on car hit we think not far from our bureau there
9:06 AM

Hamas has told BBC Ahmed Jabari was targeted but unclear if he was killed or injured. Israel also confirmed he was targeted
9:12 AM

Killed, injured or missed the attack on Hamas' Ahmed Jabari in Gaza will lead to an upsurge in fighting
9:16 AM

Hamas confirming to BBC that Ahmed Jabari, head of its military wing, military chief of staff killed in Israeli air strike
9:21 AM

https://twitter.com/alihashem_tv

Qassam brigades announces an open war with Israel after the assassination of its deputy commander Ahmad Jaabari
9:28 AM

Israeli channel 1 said that the assassination of JaabarI is only the first step
9:30 AM

https://twitter.com/petersbeaumont

Things that will no longer happen. Hamas now would seem to have v little interest in controlling other Gaza factions....
9:38 AM

What is different this time if things really escalate, is that Egypt's has Muslim Brotherhood led gov not Mubarak. Different dynamic
9:40 AM

Question is why Israel chose to light this fuse now. Either elections in Jan or poss of UN Gen Assemb vote on Pal observer status later Nov.
9:41 AM

https://twitter.com/raghda44

Ahmed Jabari becomes the most senior Hamas official to be killed since an Israeli invasion of Gaza 4 years ago
9:42 AM

Holy ****....this is getting crazy.
https://twitter.com/alihashem_tv

Israel channel 10: Israeli internal front calls on the Israelis close to Gaza to go to safe shelters
9:50 AM

breaking Israel tv said moments ago that a second high profile commander was also killed
9:52 AM

the Israeli army names Jabari assassination 'Operation Pillar of Cloud'
10:05 AM

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http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...8AH0BN20121118

Three killed as Egyptian soldiers, residents clash over land

Three people were killed and 12 injured in a firefight between soldiers and armed residents over a disputed island in the Nile west of Egypt's capital Cairo, a security source said.

An army statement said the authorities were clearing the island, which the army says it owns and is a centerpoint for its operations to keep Cairo secure, after armed-residents raided it on Friday night forcing guards out.

Residents exchanged fire with security forces from buildings overlooking the island, at Giza, injuring four soldiers.

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http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...8AJ1FW20121120

U.N. envoy rules out international action in Mali for now

The U.N. envoy to the troubled Sahel region on Tuesday ruled out an international military option in Mali before next summer, saying everything should be done to avoid war.

European leaders are growing increasingly anxious that Mali could turn into a platform for militant attacks, including in Europe.

African leaders put the finishing touches to an international intervention plan to retake Mali's north from a patchwork of armed groups, some of them linked to al Qaeda.

France, Spain, Italy and Belgium have indicated willingness to take part in the mission, an EU official said.

But Romano Prodi, recently appointed envoy, played down the idea of imminent action during a trip to Rabat, a Moroccan foreign ministry official said.

"He said that military action in north Mali will not be possible before September or October next year," said the official, who asked not to be named.