Tunisian Revolution and the Middle East--And Now, The Withdrawal From Afghanistan (M.E.T.)

[visionary]

Heavy gunfire around Tahrir Square has been bursting out every few minutes for the past hour or so after the attack on the square.

Neither CNN or AJE is covering it at all though. Too busy talking about the budget.

People watching coverage on Al Jazeera Arabic however can hear large amounts of gunfire in the background of phone calls.

---------- Post added April-8th-2011 at 11:27 PM ----------

Al Jazeera English finally made some mention of it and showed part of one of videos from Tahrir Square...then moved on to other news...

---------- Post added April-8th-2011 at 11:42 PM ----------

What the **** is going on in Cairo right now?

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

Gunfire now coming from multiple areas in downtown Cairo. Heaviest I've heard since the revolution. #Egypt 42 minutes ago

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

just heard a loud cheer from the protesters.. hmmmm... ??

8 minutes ago

and again... a cheer... at least it sounds like a cheer. ut-oh another battalion of huffing & puffing riot police on their way... 8 minutes ago

holy ****. molotv ****tails & gunfire rite outside... 7 minutes ago

molotov ****tails or just large amounts of glass -- not sure, but it was enough to chase the riot police down the street... 4 minutes ago

holy ****ing **** 3 minutes ago

@Tom_Vee too scared to talk right now. huge gun fight right below me. i'm not kidding. 3 minutes ago

---------- Post added April-8th-2011 at 11:51 PM ----------

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

just tear gassed 6 minutes ago

Edited April 9, 2011 by visionary

[visionary]

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/04/20114921821599558.html

Egyptian army breaks up protest with force

Gunfire reported as soldiers storm Cairo's Tahrir Square, where protesters called for prosecution of former officials.

Evan Hill Last Modified: 09 Apr 2011 02:45

The protesters had been joined by perhaps as many as 20 military officers, who had been under orders not to participate. Demonstrators stayed in the square past curfew, which run from 2am to 5am, saying they wanted to protect the officers who joined.

When security forces stormed the square, some of the protesting army officers managed to escape, while others were arrested, witnesses said.

Loai Nagati, a student, told Al Jazeera that military police and central security forces took some protesters and beat them. Speaking while gunfire echoed in the background, Nagati said nobody had been shot. Some of the army officers who joined the protests were arrested by security forces, Nagati said.

Witnesses said ambulances could be heard in the vicinity of the square after the assault.

Amr Bassiouny, who was standing at the square's south entrance near the old campus of the American University in Cairo, told Al Jazeera that hundreds of soldiers backed by eight armoured vehicles entered the square from that direction at around 3am.

The soldiers formed a semi-circle around the south end of the square and advanced toward a tent in the middle, where the protesting army officers had been kept. Soldiers could be seen tearing down the tent in amateur video posted on YouTube.

For 10 or 15 minutes, the protesters and soldiers faced each other, said Sanaa Seif, who had been in the square since 11pm. Protesters chanted "Peaceful, peaceful," and "The people and the army, hand in hand," but then the soldiers moved forward again, firing "non-stop" into the air, she said.

Some security forces beat protesters with wooden batons, but Seif said she didn't see them use tasers or open fire on people.

Most of the protesters fled after the army entered the square, witnesses said. Bassiouny ran to the west side of the square, which leads to Kasr el-Nil Bridge, and found more troops entering from that direction. Seif fled in that direction as well and joined other protesters who attempted unsuccessfully to regroup and come back into the square.

Other Central Security and army forces were stationed to the north, by the Egyptian Museum, which military police have turned into a makeshift detention center in the weeks since Mubarak stepped down. In recent weeks, activists have accused the army of making arbitrary arrests, abusing and torturing prisoners, and subjecting detainees to rapid military justice - all complaints that fueled mass anger against Mubarak's government.

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

brave girl protester in the mix....17 minutes ago

a few lone protesters egging police on near entrance to museum -- not sure why riot police retreated. # of protesters seems small 11 minutes ago

police/army have withdrawn behind their compound @ the museum. not sure why.. but they have.. have pix will post soon. 7 minutes ago

protesters reconvening. few random gun shots. ambulance sirens. 4 minutes ago

protesters just drove massive truck down the street (filled w/ what looked like, wire)??... standing on the truck, cheering, chanting... 2 minutes ago

hearing glass & protesters taking over the streets. it actually does not sound good. 2 minutes ago

protesters torching trucks in #Tahrir square. Sscary feeling descending on #Cairo. 3 minutes ago

OK, I want to get out of here. Now. 3 minutes ago

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

An Army bus is burning in #Tahrir as a few hundred protesters try to rebuild their barricades. Army isn't visible, Police lined near museum 8 minutes ago

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

military trucks burning in #tahrir. We ****ed them and the midan is ours again . Thousands here more coming 4 minutes ag

correction: military left the square on their own and left two large truck that are being burnt. #tahrir 2 minutes ago

---------- Post added April-9th-2011 at 01:02 AM ----------

Seeing some people on twitter complaining about the actions of the protesters, pretty much blaming them for going beyond politics and acting like thugs and vandals.

(on the other hand this is exactly how most protests go after Police/troops attack crowds of peaceful protesters Personally I don't get what they want them to do, just give in to the military/police and let them arrest, detain, beat, harass, molest whoever they want?)

Anyway, here's a picture of Tahrir Square this morning after protesters started retaking it.

In other news, the military has said the protesters were all Mubarak ruling party remnants. Clearly not the case, and it just makes the military looks worse to lie.

Edited April 9, 2011 by visionary

[visionary]

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

people on streets chanting... about what I'm not sure. The air is full of smoke.. somehow it's calm(er).. 10 minutes ago

the current scene in #Tahrir http://twitpic.com/4il08u

7 minutes ago

http://twitpic.com/4il0r9

directly below me. hope they don't set it on fire.

the finale of a very long night http://twitpic.com/4il3a9

2 minutes ago

[Redskins28339]

BAHRAIN

This is what the Bahraini government is doing to the people they govern. The following are Tweets from @angryarabiya as she describes what happened when Bahraini authorities entered her house.

I did not edit nor alter the tweets. Each double space = 1 tweet.

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

THEY JUST CAME! They took my dad, my dads blood is still on the stairs! They hit my dad so much! They beat him and he cudnt breathe

they broke the doors, all wearing masks. They took my father and husband and brother in law.

they beat up my other brother in law mohammed almaskati, and then threw him in a room and told him not to come out

@ahmadfahmy yes, MY father, MY husband, MY brother in law. they hit me when I went after my dad

we knew they were coming, they had gone to my fathers apartment first and taken my cousin who lives in the same building

we all changed and my father told us to stay calm when they come, he told us not to interfere if they take him so they dont hurt us

we heard door of the building being broken, then the door of the apartment. my father went straight to the door, they started shouting

the one shouting didnt speak arabic, he kept telling my father to get on the floor, my father didn't get a chance to say anything

they held my father from his neck & started dragging him down the steps. they lay him on the floor between the steps & started beating him

He was covering his face while more than 5 men were beating him at the same time, I heard him say he cant breath

I ran after them & told them to stop beating him, I tried to get to my father. they held me & kept shouting at me to shutup

I said "he will go with you, you dont need to beat him" that when I saw my husband & brothers in law being dragged down

One of them grabbed me form my shirt and started dragging me up the stairs, my mum was begging him to let me go

I started shouting "God will show you on Judgement day" I kept shouting "intooon 7a66ab jahanam"

another was shouting, if she doesnt shutup bring her down too.

they pushed me, my mum & sisters in a room, n they shouted at us. one of them closed the door and then opened it real quick in my face.

then they locked the doors on us, and took the men to the lower apartment, lay them on the ground and started beating them

they kept referring to my father as "the target" and my husband "the son in law of the target"

my brother in law Mohd Almasqati who they left here saw that my father was unconscious.

When they unlocked the door, I ran down & saw drops of blood on stairs. My fathers blood, my brave heroic fathers blood

I knelt on the stairs and kissed the spot where I saw them beat him as he said he cudnt breath.

I am sitting in the mess, the door is broken and we cant close it. My youngest sister is trying to clean and weeping.

I will go sit with my mum, she keeps saying be prepared for the worse. If any1 can do anything for my dad, husband & brother in law, plz do

Alkhalifa, YOU CANT BREAK US, U CANT BREAK US. WE WILL ALWAYS STAND STRONG AGAINST YOU.

My father is Human Rights activist Abdulhadi Alkhawaja, my husband is Wafi Almajed, and my brother in law is Hussain Ahmed Hussain.

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

Link: http://chirpstory.com/li/1085

The BBC, Al Jazeera English, the Associated Press, and others reported this story

Edited April 9, 2011 by Redskins28339

[visionary]

BAHRAIN

This is what the Bahraini government is doing to the people they govern. The following are Tweets from @angryarabiya as she describes what happened when Bahraini authorities entered her house.

I saw that yesterday. The government's been doing a lot of arrests and kidnappings in Bahrain. They don't seem to want any kind of dialogue with the people now.

Bad stuff going on in Yemen today too.

In Taiz I'm seeing reports that more people were shot by security forces again.

In Sanaa peaceful marching protesters were heavily teargased and then laid into by plainclothes security goons who also harassed and robbed reporters.

AIl this news is getting so depressing. Between Gaddafi's forces being close to entering the heart of eastern Libya and all the people getting attacked and killed by their government in Middle Eastern countries, Israel and Gaza, Gbagbo's indefinite holdout, Nigeria continually moving back their elections and now bomb attacks going on there....

Edited April 9, 2011 by visionary

[visionary]

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/04/20114914714209594.html

Syrian security forces 'fire on funeral'

Fresh violence is said to have erupted as residents in Daraa bury those killed in Friday's protests.

Last Modified: 09 Apr 2011 14:56

Syrian security forces opened fire on mourners near the old Omari mosque in the southern border city of Daraa following a mass funeral for dead pro-democracy protestors, witnesses told the Reuters news agency.

The witnesses said security forces used live ammunition and tear gas to disperse thousands of Syrians who were chanting freedom slogans after assembling close to the mosque in the old quarter of the city near the border with Jordan on Saturday.

This comes after residents in the Sunni district of Latakia said security forces used live ammunition in the early hours of Saturday to disperse a pro-democracy protest by hundreds of people there.

Protests have spread across Syria, challenging the rule of President Bashar al-Assad, and dozens of demonstrators have been killed.

A Syrian rights group - the National Organisation for Human Rights - has said at least 37 were killed across the country on Friday alone.

The group said that 30 people were killed in the southern city of Deraa, the centre of protests. Three more people died in the central city of Homs and three in Harasta, a Damascus suburb, as well as one in Douma.

"Probably the protests yesterday were the most widespread since they began less than a month ago," Al Jazeera's Rula Amin said from the capital Damascus.

"People [in Daraa] are telling us thousands are expected to take part in the funerals of those who were killed and they insist on their version of events that it was the security forces who shot at their sons."

"What is happening in Syria is a flagrant violation of [human rights]," the National Organisation for Human Rights said in a statement.

"The Syrian security committed [in Daraa] what could be called a crime against humanity ... It fired indiscriminately on protesters and killed and wounded tens of them."

---------- Post added April-9th-2011 at 02:27 PM ----------

Pictures from Yemen:

http://yemenrightsmonitor.blogspot.com/2011/04/faces-of-tagheer-square-sanaa-by-raja.html

[visionary]

Al Jazeera English television has been reporting for about a half hour now that Gbagbo's forces in Abidjan have launched attacks on the hotel where elected president Ouattara has been staying under UN protection. The UN troops were able to push them back, but now there are reports of mortar fire on the hotel from farther away.

At some point it seems like the UN/French forces will have to bomb Gbagbo's compound and end this.

LMAO! A few minutes after I reported this, Reuters mentioned it on twitter.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/09/us-ivorycoast-outtara-un-idUSTRE7382SU20110409

"Mortars targeting Golf Hotel," the official said in a text message, on condition of anonymity. "Now."

The U.N. official said there were no fatalities at the hotel in Ivory Coast's main city and that the mortar fire appeared to be coming from the presidential palace area in Abidjan.

That seems like a long distance. Take them out in any case.

Edited April 9, 2011 by visionary

[jpyaks3]

Just got back from Tahrir Square, lots of people still there. Protests are probably going to continue for a while, there was barbed wire/blockades set up at all entrances to Tahrir Square. Definitely a different feeling then before.

[visionary]

Just got back from Tahrir Square, lots of people still there. Protests are probably going to continue for a while, there was barbed wire/blockades set up at all entrances to Tahrir Square. Definitely a different feeling then before.

Any comment on what happened last night and military explanation today?

I'm seeing different opinions on twitter.

Personally I don't put much stock in the military after their lies and statements today.

(in other news, I just added a bit more info from Reuters on the Abidjan mortar situation in my post above)

---------- Post added April-9th-2011 at 03:53 PM ----------

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

Tahrir right now.. 9PM http://twitpic.com/4ius8y

21 minutes ago

Cairo museum/army compound right now http://twitpic.com/4iuvr2

15 minutes ago

earlier today... http://twitpic.com/4iuyqv

5 minutes a

Tahrir barbed-wire (& adorable child) http://twitpic.com/4iuz8t 8 minutes ago

Though it was not a nice time, this is 1 of my fave pix from this AM http://twitpic.com/4iv02j 7 minutes ago

Edited April 9, 2011 by visionary

[jpyaks3]

Any comment on what happened last night and military explanation today?

I'm seeing different opinions on twitter.

Personally I don't put much stock in the military after their lies and statements today.

(in other news, I just added a bit more info from Reuters on the Abidjan mortar situation in my post above)

People are not happy with the Army, but it was interesting because there was a lot of heated discussions between people, nothing out of control but just general political discussion between groups was pretty prevalent. There was literally no Army anywhere near the square so I think the Army is backing off and letting the people protest for now. I think the Army decided to crack down because there were Army officers in the protests and they couldn't let that happen but they kind of realize they ****ed up and are stepping back to try to preserve what support they have left.

Edited April 9, 2011 by jpyaks3

[visionary]

People are not happy with the Army, but it was interesting because there was a lot of heated discussions between people, nothing out of control but just general political discussion between groups was pretty prevalent. There was literally no Army anywhere near the square so I think the Army is backing off and letting the people protest for now. I think the Army decided to crack down because there were Army officers in the protests and they couldn't let that happen but they kind of realize they ****ed up and are stepping back to try to preserve what support they have left.

Thanks for the reply. Much appreciated.

That's kind of what I figured.

Although I just read that the military has said they will use force to clear protesters in Tahrir today if necessary.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/04/20114921821599558.html

Speaking at a news conference on Saturday, a senior military officer blamed trouble in Tahrir Square on "elements that backed the counter-revolution", a reference to people loyal to the administration of deposed President Hosni Mubarak.

"Tahrir Square will be emptied of protesters with firmness and force to ensure life goes back to normal," the council's Major General Adel Emarah said.

Responding to Emarah's remarks, protester Zain Abdel Latif in Tahrir said: "If they use force we will use force. This isn't Libya, where the army can just attack us."

"The military council is part and parcel of the corrupt regime. It is made up of heads of the army that have benefited from Mubarak and his 30 years of robbing the Egyptian people," said Abdullah Ahmed, 45, a protester in Tahrir.

Might not want to quote all those pictures by the way.

(Not to be confusing, but I just edited this post to add stuff I saw on AJE website)

---------- Post added April-9th-2011 at 04:33 PM ----------

I'm seeing reports on twitter that Yemeni security forces have used machine guns to fire on protesters in the capital Sanaa.

I'll see if I can find an article about this.

Edited April 9, 2011 by visionary

[jpyaks3]

Thanks for the reply. Much appreciated.

That's kind of what I figured.

Although I just read that the military has said they will use force to clear protesters in Tahrir today if necessary.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/04/20114921821599558.html

Might not want to quote all those pictures by the way.

(Not to be confusing, but I just edited this post to add stuff I saw on AJE website)

---------- Post added April-9th-2011 at 04:33 PM ----------

I'm seeing reports on twitter that Yemeni security forces have used machine guns to fire on protesters in the capital Sanaa.

I'll see if I can find an article about this.

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.

Edited April 9, 2011 by jpyaks3

[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/2011/04/09/us-yemen-idUSTRE7310ON20110409

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

[visionary]

The latest from yesterday's protests across Yemen.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/04/201149124152735826.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

Edited April 10, 2011 by visionary

[visionary]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/10/us-palestinians-israel-barak-idUSTRE7390JJ20110410

(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)

[visionary]

BAHRAIN

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/middle-east/live-blog-middle-east-protests-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/middle-east/live-blog-middle-east-protests-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.

m2-JY6-I90A

pqyYh_nv_LI

uUtosOYQoU0

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.

[visionary]

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/04/201141013563766482.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? :pfft:

[visionary]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/10/us-egypt-mubarak-summons-idUSTRE7391SY20110410?WT.tsrc=Social%20Media&WT.z_smid=twtr-reuters_%20com&WT.z_smid_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/africa/2011/04/201141014275630213.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/middleeast/2011/04/201141014319852355.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/middleeast/2011/04/201141011216603387.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.

Edited April 11, 2011 by visionary

[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/2011/04/letter-to-president-obama.html

[visionary]

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/04/201141113114812183.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/africa/2011/04/201141113442914400.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/middleeast/2011/04/2011411113334453950.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/middleeast/2011/04/201141183150760920.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.

Edited April 11, 2011 by visionary

[visionary]

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/04/2011411135325204241.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

Edited April 11, 2011 by visionary

[visionary]

YEMEN

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/04/2011411113334453950.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/middleeast/2011/04/2011411143055997548.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.

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

Edited April 11, 2011 by visionary

[visionary]

Intriguing inside analysis of Yemen's situation.

Countering worries of instability and islamist motives.

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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.

Edited April 12, 2011 by visionary