visionary

I knew something was coming between these guys and Iran.

I said there was some tensions growing a few weeks ago.

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/kuwait/gcc-may-consider-severing-iran-ties-1.786718

Manama: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states could sever their diplomatic relations with Iran, a Kuwaiti daily report said on Saturday citing diplomatic sources.

"A GCC arrangement is currently under way to adopt a significant step on relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran," sources quoted by Al Watan daily said.

"There is a strong inclination towards severing relations with Tehran. The GCC foreign ministers are expected to pass on the recommendation to the GCC leaders," the unnamed sources were quoted saying.

The GCC foreign ministers are particularly disturbed by Tehran's "direct involvement" in the political unrest in the region and its attempt to disrupt security and stability, the report said

I still think a war by them against Iran may not be too far off.

Though I don't expect anything big to happen for a while.

While I like them taking a stance against Iran...I think this is a dumb way of making Iran look like the good guy in this.

Few in the Middle East really think Iran is driving any of these revolutions and to try to shift blame to them and condemn them now of all times, will just make these countries look worse.

I don't remember them making a big deal when Iran was killing their own people a couple of years ago.

To now criticize Iran for sticking up for people in these countries, would send a really bad message.

"It's ok to beat your people to death, just don't criticize us when we do it too."

Oman protests resume

Dozens stage sit-in to demand probes into alleged abuses after clashes with security forces left at least one dead.

Last Modified: 02 Apr 2011 14:56

Dozens of protesters staged a sit-in in the Omani capital of Muscat to demand probes into alleged state abuses after clashes with security forces left at least one person dead and sharply boosted tensions in the strategic Gulf nation.

Saturday's protest coupled with the unrest on Friday in the northern industrial city of Sohar - where the protest movement began more than six weeks ago - suggest that high-level shake-ups and other concessions by Oman's rulers have fallen short of the demonstrators' demands for greater political freedoms.

Witnesses said that security forces detained between 50 and 60 protesters in clashes on Friday in Sohar.

The violence on Friday during a fifth week of protests involved the use of knives, stones, teargas and rubber bullets, Oman's general prosecutor said.

In a sign of worries about more violence, the military has stationed units around government offices and other key buildings in the city, about 200 km northwest of Muscat.

Medical officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief media, said Khalifa al-Alawi, 22, injured by a rubber bullet in Friday's clashes died in hospital.

At least four other protesters were wounded. Activists told Reuters news agency that security forces used teargas and beat some protesters with batons.

Authorities say they used tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets in self defence after the crowds began pelting riot police with stones and brandishing knives, according to a statement by the prosecutor's office.

Protesters, however, claim that police opened fire with live ammunition.

It was at least the third protest-related death in Oman since protests broke out in late February to demand more job opportunities and a greater public voice in political affairs.

The government has failed to halt the wave of rallies, sit-ins and strikes to pressure for changes that include more media freedoms and weakening the ruling system's grip on power. The protest demands so far have not included the sultan's ouster.

Several dozen protesters staged a sit-in outside the chief prosecutor's office on Saturday to demand the release of people detained in recent security crackdowns. The demonstrators also appealed for a judicial investigation into the deaths of the two protesters since February.

Protest leaders have urged more demonstrations in Muscat and other cities around the country.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/04/20114215401513945.html

Battle for Abidjan rages

Reports of carnage emerged with the Red Cross saying at least 800 people were killed in Duekoue town.

Last Modified: 02 Apr 2011 17:51

The fierce standoff between fighters loyal to Laurent Gbagbo, the incumbent president of Cote d'Ivoire, and Alassane Ouattara, the country's internationally recognised leader, has intensified.

Gbagbo's force retook the bridge leading to his presidential palace on Saturday after the opposition had appeared poised to topple him.

The latest fighting follows an alleged massacre of up to a thousand people in a small town in the west.

Pro-Ouattara forces had marched easily into the country's largest city, where they encircled the presidential palace and Gbagbo's home on Thursday and Friday.

They intend to battle Gbagbo's forces in their stronghold. "After the tremendous work throughout the interior of the country, the Republican Forces are reorganised to complete their noble mission," Kouakou Leon Alla, a spokesperson, said.

Even in the face of a rapid military advance by pro-Outtara forces that has taken nearly 80 per cent of the national territory, Gbagbo has rejected calls to step down.

While Ouattara's supporters faced little initial resistance in their swift push south, they now face Gbagbo's most reliable fighters, the roughly 2,500-strong elite Republican Guard, clustered in Abidjan along with remaining regular army troops.

Gbagbo's military spokesman Alphonse Guano made a televised address on Saturday, calling on security forces to report for duty to resist attacks by forces loyal to Ouattara.

Flanked by other soldiers, Guano said the state security forces were "being attacked by opportunistic forces including the United Nations, French forces and rebels".

Marco Oved, a journalist, told Al Jazeera from Abidjan that many were heeding Guano's call.

"We're already starting to see boatloads and carloads of young men gathering on the two main bridges that connect the northern and southern halves of the city," he said on Saturday afternoon.

"These are really the key axis in town, and as long as they're controlled by these crowds, the city will really be on full lockdown."

Gbagbo's allies have also urged people to form a human shield to protect the palace from Ouattara's forces, he said.

An estimated 2,000 soldiers of the Republican Guard "appear to be digging in and fighting to the last minute," he noted, while armed members of the "young patriots," the youth wing of Gbagbo's camp, have evolved into a "force to be reckoned with".

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/04/20114264023646362.html

Nigeria parliamentary vote aborted

Officials say decision to postpone election to Monday taken after materials failed to reach some polling stations.

Last Modified: 02 Apr 2011 12:15

Nigerian authorities have decided to postpone Saturday's parliamentary elections after organisational problems.

The electoral commission chairman said the election has been postponed to Monday.

"The decision we have taken is weighty indeed but it is an important step in further ensuring the credibility of the 2011 elections," Attahiru Jega, head of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said in a televised address.

Officials say the decision was taken due to voting materials failing to reach some polling stations in the country ahead of the vote in which 73 million people are eligible to take part.

An Al Jazeera team visited many polling stations and found that electoral officers had failed to arrive at some polling stations and ballot papers and other physical electoral materials were missing as well.

Yvonne Ndege, reporting from the capital, Abuja, said there is "huge disappointment" across the country.

"Nigerians were really keen; really looking forward to expressing their democratic will and major questions ... are being asked of the electoral authorities, who have spent hundreds of millions of dollars in public money trying to hold this election, which was supposed to take place in January and is already running at least three or four months late," she said.

Voting had started slowly for the crucial elections, the first in a series of polls set for this month after a campaign marred by violence.

The parliamentary election is to be followed by subsequent polls for a new president on April 9 and state governors on April 16.

SYRIA

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/04/201141132440493496.html

Deaths in Syria as protests continue

Several reported killed in anti-government rallies as security forces respond with live rounds, tear gas and batons.

Last Modified: 01 Apr 2011 15:26

Several deaths have been reported in another day of anti-government protests in several Syrian cities, activists have said.

Protest marches against Baath Party rule broke out in cities in the north and south after Friday prayers, including in the flashpoint city of Daraa.

Hundreds of people took to the streets in and around the capital, Damascus, on Friday afternoon as security forces and ruling party loyalists attacked protesters with batons in Rifaii mosque in the city.

Syrian forces reportedly fired tear gas at protesters in the suburb of Douma, and in the coastal cities of Latakia and Banias.

Al Jazeera's Rula Amin, reporting from Damascus, said at least four people were killed in the afternoon after government forces started using live fire against protesters in Douma.

"Some protesters told us they were there chanting for freedom peacefully," she said.

"The security forces in plain clothes tried to disperse them with sticks ... people started running into the alleys, and then the security forces started shooting at them."

Our correspondent said at least four people were killed and 30 injured in the village of Sanamin, besieged by the Syrian army, when people from nearby villages were barred from paying their respects to those killed earlier in the week.

For the first time, the government acknowledged there were pro-reform demonstrations in cities, but said there was no friction between security forces and protesters.

Syria's SANA news agency said worshippers left mosques in Daraa and Latakia "chanting slogans in honour of the martyr and calling for speeding up measures for reform".

"There were no clashes between worshippers and security forces in these gatherings," the agency said.

Witnesses in Daraa, a southern town that has been one of the main focal points of rising dissent, said hundreds gathered after leaving a mosque shouting "death rather than humiliation" and "national unity".

http://twitter.com/SultanAlQassemi

Syrian News Agency: a group of armed militants opened fire on citizens in town of Homs resulting in the death of a young girl. #Syria about 1 hour ago via Twitter for iPhone

http://twitter.com/acarvin

Watch. RT @nassrf: At the village of #Sanamin, besieged by the #Syrian army

story here: http://goo.gl/RKDzn about 1 hour ago via TweetDeck

EGYPT

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/04/201141144334505497.html

Protesters demand Mubarak face trial in Egypt

Protests dubbed "Friday for rescue of revolution" amid calls for ousted president and former officials to face justice.

Last Modified: 01 Apr 2011 17:02

Thousands of people have gathered on Friday in Tahrir Square in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, calling for ousted president Hosni Mubarak and members of his former administration to face justice.

The demonstration, dubbed "Friday for the rescue of the revolution," was organised by the Youth Revolution Coalition, a group founded by the young activists who started the January 25 protests that led to the end of Mubarak's rule.

The protest called for remaining members of Mubarak's regime to be put on trial, namely Fathi Serour, the former parliament speaker, Zakariya Azmi, head of the presidential palace, and Safwat al-Sherif, the former secretary general of the ruling party.

Al Jazeera correspondent Mike Hanna reporting from the square said the protest was strong message to the supreme armed forces from those protesting in the square.

"They say that the aims of the revolution has not yet been completed," our correspondent said. "There is so much that still needs to be done. The primary call from the crowd at this stage is for action to be taken against those from the previous regime. In particular, Hosni Mubarak himself, as well as those allied with him.

Since Mubarak has a military background, the willingness of the military to put a former soldier on trial is seen by some Egyptians as a test of its commitment to change.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#1614: Back now to the violence in Syria: Witnesses in Douma, near Damascus, said snipers dressed in civilian clothes shot at people from rooftops. Video sent to the BBC by a trusted source showed people running down a street with gunfire crackling through the air.

#1621: Sticking with Syria for a minute, Mohamed in Deraa tells BBC Arabic: "Demonstrations that went out from Al-Omaray Mosque are asking for freedom, nothing else. They were stopped by security forces who fired tear gas. The security divided the demonstrators into two groups. Demonstrators came to support their brothers in Deraa and gathered around the Al-Omary Mosque.

After that security stopped people from many villages around Deraa east, west and south. There was live ammunition and tear gas used against demonstrators. It is not over yet, demonstrations are still going on. Security forces are not letting people go anywhere. All roads are blocked."

#1650: Syrian imams and preachers at Friday prayers said the country was facing a "conspiracy" hatched by major foreign powers, the state-run news agency Sana reported.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#1540: A witness in Douma, Syria, who asks to remain anonymous, writes: "There were around 3,000 people taking part in the protest. I was there with my friends and witnessed everything, they were shooting live fire on us. People ran away to hide behind corners. There were clashes between people and the police.

I saw about 10 people being killed and many wounded - they must be about 100. We had to escape to a safe place. I am with my friends now. We've got videos and now we are going to upload them."

SYRIA

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#1348: A quick update from Syria, where protests are ongoing in the central city of Homs, the largely Kurdish north-east of the country, and the southern city of Deraa. In Deraa - a focal point of the recent unrest that has seen dozens killed - marchers have been chanting: "We want freedom".

#1353: Reuters quotes witnesses in the Douma suburb of Syria's capital Damascus as saying that at least three protesters have been killed by security forces.

#1356: One eyewitness in Douma, who wants to remain anonymous, said security forces have now blocked off access to the hospital in the area and are arresting the injured. We'll give you more details as we get them.

Protesters are being beaten and attacking by security forces in parts of Damascus. Many are injured and possibly some are dead, according to Al Jazeera English.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#1417: More from Syria, where the state news agency says there have been protests in Deraa and Latakia calling for accelerated reforms. But it says there have been no confrontations between protesters and security forces, and reports calm elsewhere in the country. There's no mention of the reported deaths in the capital, nor the alleged use of tear gas to disperse demonstrators in Deraa.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#1405: As if the unrest reverberating around the Mediterranean coastline wasn't enough, the region has just been hit by more shockwaves in the form of a magnitude 6.2 earthquake centred beneath the island of Crete.

Major protests in Egypt, Syria, and Yemen today!

YEMEN

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/04/20114110141210680.html

Tens of thousands of people have gathered in Sanaa, the Yemeni capital, both for and against president Ali Abdullah Saleh, raising fears of a confrontation between the two sides.

State television showed pictures on Friday of thousands of people on the streets near the presidential palace, waving flags and banners in support of the country's leader.

At the same time the opposition movement told Al Jazeera that they have hundreds of thousands of people, in over 15 provinces in Yemen, on the streets demanding Saleh end his 32-year long rule.

"They said it was the biggest protest that they'd seen in the seven weeks or so that they have been coming out every Friday," our correspondent in Sanaa, who cannot be named for security reasons, said.

"This really is turning into a battle or competition between the opposition and president Saleh as to who can get more people out on the streets."

But our correspondent added that some had cast doubts over the pictures of Saleh's supporters, saying that while Al Jazeera had been able to "go to Change Square and see those protesters and see the authenticity of them ... we're having to rely on state television for the pictures of the pro-Saleh camp, and the authenticity of those pictures is being questioned".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#0847: Tensions are building in Yemen's capital Sanaa, where our correspondent says anti-government protesters are heading towards the university, while those backing the president are gathering in Tahrir Square. There have been reports that government and opposition representatives met late on Thursday and agreed to avoid confrontation, our correspondent adds.

#1104: AFP reports from Yemen that President Ali Abdullah Saleh has vowed to defend his people. Mr Saleh is addressing a huge rally in the capital, Sanaa.

#1154: Back to Yemen, where another beleagured leader, President Ali Abdullah Saleh has been addressing his supporters in the capital, Sanaa. He has told them: "I swear to you that I will sacrifice my blood and soul and everything precious for the sake of this great people."

#1157: Mr Saleh's opponents, who have been occupying a square outside Sanaa university for weeks, say he is a "traitor" to the country. "The Yemeni people are in revolt. We, the army and the police are united under oppression," Reuters quoted protesters as saying.

#1159: Reuters quotes a Yemeni cleric as saying during prayers at the protests: "I say to you, Saleh, while you sit terrified in your palace, that the people are on to your tricks. You [protesters] represent the oppressed, the poor and the imprisoned."

SYRIA

#1139: From the Syrian capital Damascus, the BBC's Lina Sinjab says there are reports of widespread protests across the country, mainly in the north-eastern cities of Hassakeh and Qamishli where a heavy security presence is trying to disperse protesters.

#1142: "In Damascus, there is a heavy security presence around main mosques and protesters are reported to be locked inside the mosques," says our correspondent. "In one of them they are chanting 'the one who kills his people is a traitor' and 'we are all Syrians', to defeat claims by the government that there is sectarian violance."

#1221: A quick update on protests in Syria, where eyewitnesses in the southern city of Deraa have told the BBC that hundreds of people had left a mosque after Friday prayers to join a march. Security has been stepped up in the capital Damascus. Activists have promised what they call a Day of Martyrs to honour the dozens of people who've been killed in two weeks of protests. On Wednesday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad failed to calm public anger when he addressed the nation blaming the demonstrations on a foreign conspiracy.

IVORY COAST

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/03/201133141618292780.html

Fighting intensifies around Gbagbo home

Reports of attack on incumbent's residence follow hours of fighting in Cote d'Ivoire's main city.

Last Modified: 01 Apr 2011 11:34

Forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara, Cote d'Ivoire's internationally recognised leader, continue to battle loyalists of his rival Laurent Gbagbo in the commercial capital of Abidjan, having seized control of state television overnight.

Heavy fighting raged on Friday in the neighbourhoods close to the presidential palace as well as near Gbagbo's home and state TV broadcaster, as armed forces loyal to Ouattara tried to install him to power.

Residents, locked up in their homes, reported barrages of heavy arms fire punctuated by detonations throughout Thursday night.

On the peninsula where the presidential palace is situated, witnesses told the Reuters news agency that buildings were shaking with each explosion.

Patrick Achi, a spokesman for Ouattara said the fighters had breached the city limit overnight and were waging battles at the palace and the residence.

Achi said the forces, who are former rebels who fought in a civil war a decade ago that left Ivory Coast divided, had seized Radio Television Ivoirienne, or RTI, the government-owned broadcaster late on Thursday.

from CNN.com website

http://www.cnn.com/

"Elected Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara's forces have taken control of the state TV station, his spokesman says."

http://gulfnews.com/news/region/syria/syria-regime-declares-friday-a-working-day-1.785902?sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4d95084bf54faae8,0

Dubai: The Syrian government announced that today will be a working day for public offices and schools after a Facebook group ‘The Syria revolution 2011' called for massive protests.

The group has been a driving force behind protests which erupted in the country on March 15 calling for widespread reform.

Syria yesterday officially announced the formation of a judicial committee to form new legislation to lift Syria's emergency laws in force since 1963. However, hopes of reform were quickly dashed by President Bashar Al Assad's speech on Wednesday. Shortly after, 25 protesters were reportedly gunned down in Latakia

Pro-Ouattara forces converge on Abidjan

Advance comes as French forces deploy and Cote d'Ivoire's army chief seeks refuge in the S African embassy.

Last Modified: 31 Mar 2011 17:2

Cote d'Ivoire's Alassane Ouattara said forces under his command were "at the gates" of Cote d'Ivoire's main city Abidjan and called on the remaining loyalists of his rival Laurent Gbagbo to switch sides to prevent further suffering.

Heavy gunfire was heard throughout Abidjan on Thursday as pro-Ouattara forces converged on the city. It was not clear whether the troops had already entered Abidjan.

"I call on you to serve your country [...] It is time to join your brothers in the Republican Forces," Ouattara said in a statement on his television station on Thursday.

The statement was aired soon after South Africa said that Gbagbo's army chief had sought refuge in its embassy in the country.

Ouattara's government has declared an overnight curfew in Abidjan from Thursday through to Sunday, a senior official said. It also ordered the closure of Cote d'Ivoire’s land, air and sea borders until further notice, according to an interior ministry statement seen by Reuters.

Marcel Amon Tano, Ouattara's chief of staff, said the curfew was needed "for security reasons" and would run from nine o'clock in the evening through to six o'clock in the morning each day.

Seyi Rhodes, a journalist in Abidjan, said the fighting in the city had flared up again after a short lull in the afternoon.

"Most of the shooting is happening in area of the two bridges which link the south part of the city with the north part," Rhodes told Al Jazeera, adding that "these (bridges) are vital arteries which the rebels will need to capture in order to take the presidential palace".

Guillaume Soro, the head of Ouattara's parallel government, told Reuters news agency that Gbagbo has just 2 to 3 hours left in power.

"Two or three hours and I think it will be finished … the game is over for Gbagbo. It is finished," Soro said in Yamoussoukro, the country's official capital which fell to pro-Ouattara forces on Wednesday.

A source at the UN Department of Peacekeeping told Al Jazeera that the UN cannot confirm reports that UN forces have taken control of the airport in Abidjan.

"The civilian authorities at the airport have communicated with United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) that they wish to have an orderly transition of power to Ouattara when they arrive, which appears to be imminent," the source, who did not want to be named, said.

The UN source also said that intense fighting is taking place in and around the National television building, at the presidential palace, and on the road to the presidential residence.

"Gbagbo's forces have dissolved, only leaving a few special forces teams guarding the palace and presidential residence," the source said.

Al Jazeera Enlgish reported a few minutes ago that UN forces (French or a UN coalition?) have taken control of the airport in Abidjan in the Ivory Coast.

AJE says they have heard reports that French forces, helicopters and tanks are patrolling the city of Abidjan. Rebels are outside the city.

There are also reports that Gbagbo has begun arming brainwashed youth militias in the city to fight for him in case the military stands down or leaves.

There's been a ton of Ivory Coast coverage in the past 15 minutes or so.

Ghagbo's military chief has defected and fled the country to South Africa.

Also a lot of casualties are not being taken to hospitals and medical centers.

The rebels seem to be very organized and well trained (but then they have been fighting for years)

-------------------------------------------

I found some videos of the shootings of protesters in Latakia Syria yesterday.

Be warned, you will see people shot dead and badly wounded.

http://twitter.com/acarvin

Graphic video of dead protester. "Who is this, what's wrong? Is he dead? Oh God, carry him, Oh God..." http://youtu.be/tXvuLQTaJSA #syria about 3 hours ago via TweetDeck

More graphic footage from yesterday's killing of protesters in Latakia: http://youtu.be/NXQO5O8VhaM #syria 29 minutes ago via TweetDeck

This is the main video of the Latakia shootings as far as I can tell; very graphic, incl head and gut shots. http://youtu.be/kF4N-tzgReA 21 minutes ago via TweetDeck

Actually, I'm...not comfortable posting them here. Check the links Carvin provides if you want to see what the Syrian government has been doing to people who protest.

The latest from Al Jazeera English on the Ivory Coast is that the rebels are in control of the port city of San Pedro and have reached the outskirts of Abdijan.

SYRIA

Syria moves to scrap emergency law

State media says committee set up by president to study abolition of decades-old law will finish work by April 25.

Last Modified: 31 Mar 2011 11:45

Syria is to set up a judicial committee to study the abolition of its emergency law, in force since 1963, the state news agency said.

Thursday's announcement came a day after Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, blamed "conspirators" for anti-government protests in a speech in which he was widely expected to unveil reforms demanded by protesters but simply said "staying without reforms is destructive to the country".

"Under a directive by President Bashar al-Assad, a judicial committee has been formed to prepare a study with the aim of abolishing the emergency law," read a brief report on the SANA news agency.

"The committee should finish its work by April 25," it added.

Saying Wednesday's speech by Assad disappointed many protesters, Al Jazeera's Cal Perry in Damascus, the Syrian capital, hinted that it would take some time to lift the emergency law.

"The president can't just unilaterally lift emergency law - it's quite a complicated process," he said.

"I think even a Syrian legal expert would take some time to explain the steps that go into that. It has to go through parliament and in a number of other places as well."

More protests are expected after Friday prayers, said our correspondent.

I saw reports of more protests in Latakia yesterday after the speech and some of them being shot dead by the security forces. I think I saw a video or two on CNN and maybe twitter. I'll have to check to see if I can find more information.

Some very important news today from the Ivory Coast!

The rebels have taken nearly all of the country except for Abidjan and the coast, they have even taken the capital, although that is not Gbagbo's place of power. At the moment they are close to entering a major port town on the western front. On the eastern front they are approaching Abdijan (although there has already been fighting there).

Here's some earlier news from today:

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/03/201133010262614616.html

The UN Security Council has unanimously approved a resolution demanding an immediate end to the escalating violence in Cote d'Ivoire, as fighters supporting the nation's internationally recognised leader parade through the streets of the capital.

Wednesday's council vote comes five days after France and Nigeria introduced a draft resolution expressing "grave concern" that Cote d'Ivoire could relapse into civil war.

The resolution urges all Ivorian parties to respect the election of Alassane Ouattara as president. It condemns president Laurent Gbagbo's decision not to accept Ouattara's election and urged him "to immediately step aside".

The resolution also slaps a travel ban and asset freeze on Gbagbo, his wife, and three key aides.

Ouattara's military spokesman confirmed on Wednesday that his forces had entered the capital of Yamoussoukro but told The Associated Press news agency that pockets of resistance still existed.

With the sounds of gunshots cracking over the telephone line, a woman at the downtown Hotel La Residence said rebel forces were doing a victory tour of the city, shooting into the air. Residents came out in the streets to welcome them, she said.

Still many believe a final bloody battle over the presidency is destined for the commercial capital of Abidjan.

Guillaume Soro, Ouattara's prime minister, said on Wednesday that Gbagbo has "a few hours" to relinquish power peacefully and there is no room for any further negotiations.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/03/201133010262614616.html#

Ouattara forces seize Cote d'Ivoire towns

Forces loyal to internationally recognised winner of presidential election continue their advance towards capital.

Last Modified: 30 Mar 2011 11:55

Forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara, the internationally recognised winner of Cote d'Ivoire's presidential election, say they have seized control of another two central towns in their advance toward the country's capital.

Captain Leon Alla, a defence spokesman for Ouattara, said pro-Ouattara forces took control of Bouafle early on Wednesday and Sinfra on Tuesday.

Heavy gunfire was heard early on Wednesday in Bouafle, which is midway between the cocoa producing hub of Daloa and the country's capital Yamoussoukro.

Residents of Tiebisso, 40km north of the capital, also reported fighting.

"Since about 6 o'clock this morning, we are hearing gunfire in Bouafle," Alain Zagole, a resident of the town, told the Reuters news agency by phone.

"Machine gun fire and often heavy detonations. It is as if there are clashes," he said.

In the past few days, forces loyal to Ouattara have stepped up their military campaign - moving from their strongholds in the north into the government-controlled south.

Earlier this week, they reportedly seized the towns of Daloa, Bondoukou and Belleville and were fighting for the town of Duekoue.

Marco Oved, a freelance journalist in Abijdan, said the seizures represent rapid victories for pro-Ouattara forces against fighters loyal to Laurent Gbagbo, the country's incumbent leader who has refused to step down.

"They've moved hundreds of kilometres often from the west into the centre of the country, and the east into the centre," he told Al Jazeera.

---------- Post added March-30th-2011 at 12:18 PM ----------

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/03/20113301394489875.html

Bahrain's Shia opposition leader has demanded that the Saudi-led force that was invited into the country to help quell anti-government protests should leave the country.

Ali Salman said on Wednesday that foreign troops must leave because the opposition rejects "any military intervening for any party" in Bahrain.

About 1,500 troops from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states entered Bahrain two weeks ago on the Sunni monarch's invitation.

Bahrain's king also declared emergency rule and cracked down heavily on protesters who have challenged the royal family's monopoly on power.

Iran, the main Shia power in the region, strongly condemned the deployment. But Salman on Wednesday also said Iran should not interfere.

He told reporters that "we don't want Bahrain to turn into a conflict zone" between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Meanwhile, Bahrain is expanding the crackdown on the opposition, detaining a prominent blogger, his family and a social media editor said.

Amira al-Hussaini, a Middle East and North Africa editor at Global Voices Online said police took Mahmoud al-Youssef, the "godfather of the Bahraini blogging community," into custody early on Wednesday. Two other internet activists were also said to be arrested.

Al-Youssef has for years criticised the Bahraini government for curbing freedom of expression, al-Hussaini said.

He has supported the Shia-led protests and advocated political reform through dialogue between the government and the opposition.

Al-Youssef's brother, Jamal, confirmed the arrest. He said his brother was taken into custody from his home in Duraz, an opposition stronghold northwest of the capital Manama.

http://twitter.com/acarvin

Egypt's military rulers say presidential election will happen by November at the latest. - AP 15 minutes ago via TweetDeck

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

1705: Some news now from Kuwait: Parliamentary sources say the cabinet is expected to resign on Thursday, Reuters reports. We'll bring you more details as we get them.

Daraa is surrounded by military and Al Jazeera reporters tried to get in with acredited ids and are told by military not to come in and that all journalists are not allowed in Daraa today. He said even Syria state television is being disallowed from entering the city.

The reporter says he has never seen this heavily reinforced a checkpoint in Syria before.

Bashar Assad is giving his speech to the parliament in Syria, and is getting quite an exuberant reception from them.

People keep standing up and making small speeches, apparently supporting him and the government.

This seems like some sort of political theater. :mad:

I'm not sure people in Daraa and Latakia or even Damascu will be too happy about this speech today.

People on twitter are making fun of his lack of mustache and calling that "real change and reform".

This sounds more like a defiance speech so far than a conciliatory one.

We've seen this before too much lately.

He keeps claiming that he speaks for all Arabs and not just Syria.

Seems every dictator in the Middle East seems to think so.

And yet they have no problem blaming other nearby countries sometimes all of them of causing the chaos in their country.

---------- Post added March-30th-2011 at 07:51 AM ----------

http://twitter.com/jonathanshainin

That's serious reform! RT @AliaMalek #Syria hey, Bashar shaved his mustache

Wise move by Bashar -- everyone knows that if Saddam had shaved his mustache, he'd still be in power today. 1 minute ago via web

http://twitter.com/HalaGorani

If every sycophant in the room gets up to compliment the president, this might take a while. #Syria 6 minutes ago via web

He's now talking about revolutions in other countries and saying it is all linked to Syria.

He says there may be some actually calling for reform in this country.

But that other elements are taking cover from them and are using it for evil purposes.

He gets another round of applause from his lackeys and scum in the parliament.

http://twitter.com/KMFlower

Assad: not all events a conspiracy from abroad (but just most of them)...

Now he's saying the reason for a lot of these attempts and actions in Syria is to destabilize the country, split the country and aid Israel.

Oh, boy...

They are using tweets to different sects to incite each other to violence and coordinating with others. There are groups that work to falsify stories and push this.

Wow...he just got applause for saying that Daraa was a border area.

This is getting ****ing ridiculous.

---------- Post added March-30th-2011 at 07:53 AM ----------

I have a feeling that unless there's some obvious and real reforms stuffed amidst this political fear mongering bull **** there's going to be some major riots today.

---------- Post added March-30th-2011 at 08:05 AM ----------

http://twitter.com/blakehounshell

This time the camera panned to the MP before she started speaking... 4 minutes ago via Twitter for Mac

http://twitter.com/glcarlstrom

Assad argues that these "reforms" would have been implemented anyway, without protests; otherwise the government "would be yielding." 6 minutes ago via TweetDeck

He says that the emergency law reform bill has been in the process for a long time now.

In the year 2011 everything will be new.

These reforms are in place and have been for a long time now, and there are no real hurdles.

We have to avoid making these reforms a reaction to the current crisis.

They have to be from ten years in the past and ten years in the future.

He's talking about Tunisia and Egypt. Not saying anything about freedom, just economic stuff.

---------- Post added March-30th-2011 at 08:24 AM ----------

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/middle-east/syria-live-blog-march-30

1:55pm President Assad:"Some people on some satellite channels will come and say these reforms are not enough, don't get upset with these satellite channels, they fall into the same traps all the time, they lie and they start to believe their own lies.

And **** just finished his speech.

Ooops, I mean "Bashar"...silly me.

Someone let me know if they can figure out what reforms he announced.

---------- Post added March-30th-2011 at 08:25 AM ----------

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#1323: As President Assad finished his speech, lawmakers started chanting: "God, Syria and Bashar!" The president responded to this by saying: "God, Syria and Its People!"

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/03/201132975114399138.html

Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, has accepted the resignation of the country's government, following two weeks of anti-government protests that have gripped Syria.

"President Assad accepts the government's resignation," an announcement on state television said on Tuesday.

Naji al-Otari, the resigning premier, has been chosen by Assad as caretaker prime minister.

The government has little power in Syria, where power is concentrated in the hand of Assad, his family and the security apparatus. Otari has been prime minister since 2003.

The 32-member cabinet will continue running the country's affairs until the formation of a new government.

A new cabinet is to be formed in 24 hours, sources have told Al Jazeera.

Assad is to address the nation on Wednesday, according to a senior official, in his first speech in two weeks of unprecedented dissent.

He is expected to elaborate on a string of reforms announced last week, amid a wave of dissent and protests demanding reform and more freedoms in the country, which has been ruled by the Baath party since 1963.

More than 60 people have died since March 18 as security forces cracked down on protesters, Human Rights Watch has said.

---------- Post added March-29th-2011 at 01:30 PM ----------

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/03/2011329154436206976.html

UN: Gbagbo forces behind Abidjan 'atrocity'

World body says forces loyal to incumbent Ivorian president opened fire on civilians, killing about a dozen.

Last Modified: 29 Mar 2011 16:18

The UN peacekeeping mission in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) has released a statement saying forces loyal to Laurent Gbagbo, the country's incumbent leader, opened fire on civilians in Abidjan on Monday, killing about a dozen people.

The organisation said that in another incident, a group of pro-Gbagbo youths put a tyre around a young man and burnt him alive in the Riviera area of the city, and that another group "savagely attacked" two UN staff.

"With the increase in human rights violations and barbaric practices, there are grounds for wondering whether President Gbagbo is still in charge of his forces and supporters," Tuesday's statement said.

"UNOCI believes it is imperative to end this spiral of violence by finding a definitive solution to the political impasse which stemmed from the post-electoral crisis."

Gbagbo's camp was not immediately available to comment on the UN statement.

The UN statement came as forces loyal to Ouattara, the internationally-recognised winner of the country's presidential elections in November, seized the towns of Daloa, Bondoukou and Belleville.

On Monday, pro-Outtara forces took control of the town of Duekoue.

A source in the pro-Gbagbo military said Daloa and Duekoue had fallen, but fighting continued in parts of Duekoue.

"The combat was very violent in Daloa the whole night, but we couldn't keep our positions ... It has fallen into rebel hands," the source said.

The capture of Daloa and Duekoue, potentially open up a route to the major exporting port of San Pedro and the area the supporters of Outaeea now control produces about 600,000 tonnes of cocoa a year, half of Cote d'Ivoire's output.

San Pedro ships out about that amount each year.

Today in Syria there is a massive pro-Assad crowd in Damascus and it seems people have come from everywhere in Syria and even Lebanon to support him.

Also the Syrian government has told Al Jazeera that the government will resign on Tuesday and a new cabinet will be announced. (isn't that what Mubarak did at one point?)

SYRIA

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/03/28/syria.unrest/index.html?hpt=T2

In Daraa on Monday, forces filed into the city's main square before dawn, tearing down the tents and anti-government signs of about 100 protesters who were staying there overnight, according to one eyewitness.

The forces fired shots into the air and turned water cannons on the protesters, the witness said, leading to a clash with hundreds of nearby residents who rushed to the square to defend the demonstrators.

The resulting confrontation lasted about 30 minutes, reportedly without injuries or arrests, according to the witness.

Another witness said the army was blocking the city on three sides and that security forces, surrounding government buildings and the Al-Omari mosque where some protesters remained, had opened fire. The witness was not aware of any injuries.

Syria's state-run news agency said the government denied firing on protesters, calling the allegations "completely false."

Political dissident Aman Aswad, who is in Daraa, said the city is extremely tense. "People are sitting at home scared, watching the updates on TV," he said.

In Latakia, another eyewitness said mysterious men in black shirts carrying sophisticated weapons terrorized residents overnight, firing into the air and banging on the doors of homes.

"We do not understand who these men are but government officials say they are members of a 'foreign group,'" the witness said. "We all think they are lying about this because every time one of them is captured and handed over to the police he is released."

Hundreds of government troops have also filtered into the Latakia and are guarding public buildings and other important sites, the witness said.

CNN could not independently confirm the accounts because the Syrian government has yet to grant access to the network.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

#2024: Reports from Syria say security forces in the southern city of Deraa have fired tear gas at hundreds of anti-government protesters. Witnesses said the protesters were calling for more political freedom. President Bashar al-Assad is expected to announce changes in the next few days after more than a week of unrest across Syria, including the lifting of the country's decades-old emergency law.

Ghayth Armanazi, a Syrian and former Arab League representative in the UK, tells the BBC: "I think change is inevitable. Syria is now at a crossroads and the focus of attention is on the announcement expected in the next few days about the reforms that have been solemnly promised by the government."

#2031: Mr Armanazi says President Assad is a reformer. "When he took over the presidency, he was faced with a political machine and a bureaucracy rooted in a mindset that existed in the 1970s. He had to struggle hard to push through his reforms.

He is a reformist, he is a modernist. He is now taking over the reins of power much more firmly than ever before. I believe the events of the last few days will strengthen his hand against those who do not want to see political and economic reform. I think the announcements will represent a momentous achievement, and that Syria will be on the road to a much better future."

#2035: However, a former member of the Syrian parliament who was jailed for five years for demanding political freedoms has said the president will simply replace the emergency law with equally repressive anti-terrorism legislation. "Assad is being subjected to internal and external pressures.

He has prepared a plan to give the impression to public opinion that he has begun reforms," Maamoun al-Homsi told the Reuters news agency. "With regards to lifting emergency law, this is misleading and a trick. Lifting it will not prevent raiding homes in Syria." The new legislation "could include a clause against any group or person carrying out actions that would affect national security", he warned. "And it would be under the guise of terrorism."

#2038: A senior diplomat in Damascus also told Reuters that he doubted President Assad, who authorised a brutal crackdown on a Kurdish uprising in 2004, would scrap the emergency law without replacing it with "something just as bad".

---------- Post added March-28th-2011 at 04:07 PM ----------

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/03/2011328133647412221.html

Pro-Ouattara forces claim Cote d'Ivoire town

Fierce fighting has broken out in Cote d'Ivoire's western town of Duekoue between forces loyal to Laurent Gbagbo, the incumbent president, and his internationally recognised rival, Alassane Ouattara, residents and combatants say.

Rebels who took control of the north of the country during the 2002-3 civil war and are now backing Ouattara said on Monday they had taken Duekoue, which has been under Gbagbo's control for nearly a decade.

Duekoue lies in a region that produces around 250,000 tonnes of cocoa a year in the west African nation, which is the world's top grower.

"The town of Duekoue has been under our control since 7am (0700 GMT). We are conducting search operations throughout," said Lacine Mara, a spokesman for pro-Ouattara forces in the west.

Gbagbo's forces confirmed the fighting, but said they remained in control of at least part of the town.

"Our men have been in combat since about 2am (0200 GMT) this morning with the rebels, who tried to take the town. We control one part and they control the other," said Yao Yao, operations chief of Gbagbo's Front for the Liberation of the Great West (FLGO) militia.

A Reuters reporter in the main city of Abidjan also reported shooting and heavy arms fire on Monday, from areas where pro-Ouattara fighters seeking to oust Gbagbo are pushing towards the city centre.

I'm seeing some reports that Syrian troops are keeping people from protesting in Daraa and Latakia. They have the city square in Daraa blocked off and are discouraging people from gathering.

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/middle-east/syria-live-blog-march-28

2:55pm Syrian forces have reportedly opened fire to disperse hundreds of protesters in Daraa calling for an end to emergency laws, but demonstrators regrouped despite a heavy troop deployment, a witness said.

The demonstrators had converged on a main square chanting: "We want dignity and freedom" and "No to emergency laws", the witness said.

He also said security forces fired in the air for several minutes, but protesters returned when they stopped.

Security forces had in recent days reduced their presence in the city, but residents said on Monday they had returned in strength.

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/middle-east/syria-live-blog-march-28

10:35am Turkey's prime minister says Syria is working on reforms, including lifting emergency rule and restrictions on political parties.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he had spoken to President Bashar Assad twice in the past three days and advised the Syrian leader to "answer the people's calls with a reformist, positive approach.''

I did not get a 'no' answer.

:mad:

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/03/2011328111747469782.html

Bahrain's Foreign Minister has denied reports that Kuwait would mediate to resolve Bahrain's political crisis.

Wefaq, the island's leading Shia opposition group, said on Sunday it would accept an offer by Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, Kuwait's Emir, to mediate between Bahrain's ruling Sunni Muslim al-Khalifa family and the Shia opposition groups.

The Gulf Cooperation Council, a regional political and economic bloc made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, had welcomed the mediation move on Sunday.

The oppositon party is hoping to re-open a dialogue with the government in an effort to end the political crisis in Bahrain.

A British newspaper report says the opposition is no longer insisting on certain conditions for talks, including the sacking of the cabinet, or a new assembly to rewrite the constitution.

Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Khalifa, Bahrain minister of foreign affairs said on his Twitter page there were no plans for a Kuwaiti-led dialogue.

"Any talk about Kuwaiti mediation in Bahrain is completely untrue, there were previous efforts that were not answered, but these were ended by the act of National Safety (martial law)."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

EGYPT

#1135: In other developments in the region, Egypt is to hold a legislative election in September, the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has said, as reported by Reuters. But a date for a presidential election has yet to be set, Mamdouh Shaheen, a member of the military council, says at a news conference.

#1154: More on those newly announced Egyptian elections (1135 entry): Egypt will lift its emergency laws before the polls in September, the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces says. Egypt's emergency laws have been in place since 1981.

#1337: Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has now confirmed that former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and his family are under house arrest, the AFP news agency reports. The council also denied that Mr Mubarak had fled to Saudi Arabia.

SYRIA

#1239: Syrian President Bashar Assad will announce important decisions that will "please the Syrian people" in the next two days, Vice-President Farouq al-Shara has told Lebanese Hezbollah's al-Manar television, Reuters reports. The station did not give further details.

#1255: Syrian security forces have opened fire on hundreds of demonstrators chanting against emergency laws in the southern city of Deraa, a witness is quoted as saying by Reuters. The demonstrators had converged on a main square in the city, chanting: "We want dignity and freedom" and "No to emergency laws", the witness said.

YEMEN

#1342: Meanwhile in Yemen, officials say 78 people were killed by an explosion at an explosives factory in southern Abyan province after it was briefly taken over by Islamist militants and then looted by locals, according to the Associated Press. Another 27 people were critically injured.

#1425: Doctors in Yemen now say the death toll from the explosion at an ammunition factory in the southern town of Jaar, in Abyan province, has risen to at least 110, the Reuters news agency reports. More bodies are expected to be recovered, they add. The dead include women and children.

There are many reports of gunmen running around the area shooting people.

Yemen is blaming Al Queda, but reporters and residents of that area have said there is no

indication that Islamic terrorists are behind this.

#1419: Tunisia's Interim President, Fouad Mebazza, has meanwhile named a new interior minister, according to the official TAP news agency. It said Habib Sid would replace Farhat Rajhi.