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

[visionary]

http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE74P0FO20110526

NAIROBI (Reuters) - African Union troops in Somalia are slowly tightening the noose around the nerve-centre of rebel operations in the capital, but seizing control of Mogadishu will not bring peace to the Horn of Africa nation.

A two-week offensive has seen the peacekeepers advance close to the southern and western edges of Bakara market, the capital's economic hub that has served as a human shield for the al Qaeda-affiliated Islamist insurgents.

Controlling Bakara is a crucial step towards expelling al Shabaab militants from Mogadishu, depriving them of a key source of funding and a base from which they can strike key government positions with mortars.

The 9,000-strong peacekeeping force, known as AMISOM, has designated Bakara a "no fire zone", which means it will avoid using heavy weapons in the dense, heavily populated area.

It is reluctant to fight its way through the market's labyrinth of alleyways, instead hoping to pressure the militants -- who are reportedly digging trenches to bolster their defences -- to surrender the bazaar....

YEMEN

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/26/yemen-edges-closer-civil-war?CMP=twt_gu

The blown-out windows in the gothic-style mansion overlook a sandbagged courtyard strewed with 4x4s, fallen trees, stray dogs and empty bullet casings. The crack of machine gunfire competes with the steady boom of mortars as men hurry in and out the building ferrying food and ammunition to their comrades inside.

A few days ago this extravagant fortress perched atop a hill in the east of the Yemeni capital was the tranquil abode of Sadeq al-Ahmar, leader of the Hashid, the country's wealthiest and most powerful tribe. Now it is a bullet-pocked, crumbling garrison shrouded in black smoke from mortar fire, and home to hundreds of Kalashnikov-wielding tribesmen who are battling it out in the streets with President Ali Abdullah Saleh's security forces in an effort to end his three decade-long rule.

The sound of gunfire and exploding mortar shells has echoed through Sana'a for four days now since Saleh refused on Sunday to accept a Gulf Co-operation Council-negotiated resolution to Yemen's four-month crisis that would have eased him out of power with immunity. More than 100 people have been killed.

After a brief lull on Wednesday night, fighting seemed to intensify on Thursday as the two sides, now separated only by a few residential blocks, fired anti-aircraft missiles at each other as they scrambled for control of government buildings and the airport, their battle slowly encroaching further towards the centre of the city.

A huge explosion rang out just after midday, rattling the windows of houses across the capital after a stray shell hit a munitions depot. A defence ministry official said at least 28 people, most of them civilians, had died. A few hours later Suhail TV, the country's only opposition television station was taken off air after its headquarters was shelled by government forces. Overall more than 40 people were reported killed in San'a yesterday.

In an act that suggests the president's patience is running thin, Saleh ordered the arrest of Ahmar, whose men now control of several ministry buildings near his compound including the trade and tourism ministries, as well as the offices of the state news agency Saba.

The tribal chief remained defiant. In an interview with al-Jazeera on Thursday he called Saleh a liar and said he had captured 70 government troops. "I'm protected by Hashid and other tribesmen and even by army soldiers, I have 70 soldiers captive.

Ali Abdullah Saleh is a liar, liar, liar. We are firm. He will leave this country barefoot," he said. Back at Ahmar's fortress, his guards were bracing themselves for another night of fighting. "This started as self-defence but now we're fighting for his downfall," said Sheikh Mohammed al-Farasi, a scrawny man with bloodshot eyes loading his AK-47 with cartridges.

"There's no bigger shame for a tribal leader than having his house attacked. The only way this can end is if Saleh goes, the tribes have said enough is enough."

Attempts at mediation have thus far failed. On Tuesday a sheikh sent by Saleh to try to defuse the situation was killed when Ahmar's house came under heavy fire from government forces.

Wow! Saleh is a ****ing moron, or maybe he just doesn't give ****.

I don't know why they haven't tried to move on the palace or wherever Saleh is.

I'm also curious what Ali Mohson is going to do with all his defected military troops in Sana'a.

So far he's stayed out of these clashes. If he gets involved, things could really intensify.

Of course, I'm not sure any of these guys are popular among the opposition or the youth protesters in Yemen.

Edited May 27, 2011 by visionary

[visionary]

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2011/05/201152735818658155.html

Clinton in Pakistan on surprise visit

US secretary of state arrives in Islamabad on Friday, amid straining relations between the two countries.

Last Modified: 27 May 2011 04:32

Hillary Clinton has arrived in Islamabad on Friday in a surprise visit amid tense relations between the countries since the US raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

The US secretary of state is to meet with Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari, army chief General Ashfaq Kayani and the chief of Pakistan's powerful intelligence agency, Ahmad Shuja Pasha, the state department said on Friday.

Clinton, who is accompanied by the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, is expected to push for an investigation into bin Laden's time as a fugitive in Pakistan.

She better be careful with all those attacks going on over there.

[visionary]

YEMEN

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/27/us-yemen-idUSTRE73L1PP20110527

(Reuters) - Yemeni tribesmen said they wrested a military compound from elite troops loyal to President Ali Abdullah Saleh outside the capital Sanaa on Friday as increased fighting threatened to tip the country into civil war.

Yemeni fighter jets could be heard breaking the sound barrier as they swooped over the capital, the scene of fighting between forces loyal to Saleh and the rival Hashed tribe led by Sadeq al-Ahmar, close to the Islamist opposition party Islah.

Tribes outside the capital said they were also fighting government troops at two other military bases.

Fighting in Sanaa eased off later on Friday after mediation efforts under which the al-Ahmar tribe evacuated government ministry buildings they had grabbed during clashes this week in return for a ceasefire and troops pulling out from their area.

"We are now in mediation and there has been a ceasefire between the two sides ... But if Ali Abdullah Saleh returned (to fighting) then we are ready. We are steadfast and victorious," Sadeq al-Ahmar told protesters in "Change Square."

"We wanted it (revolution) to be peaceful but Saleh, his sons and his clique wanted war. We will not leave them the opportunity to turn it into a civil war. There is mediation going on now," Ahmar told Reuters

Tribal leader Sheikh Hamid Asim told Reuters fighters killed the commander of the military compound and a separate tribal source said the Yemeni air force dropped bombs to prevent the tribesmen from seizing an arms cache at the site.

Further bombing sorties by the air force could be heard near Sanaa during the course of the day.

If confirmed, the Republican Guard's loss of a military base to tribesmen armed with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades would be an embarrassing setback for Saleh, whose security forces have been drawn into pitched street fighting in the capital this week that has killed nearly 100 people.

In Geneva, the U.N. human rights commission said the dangerous surge of violence in Yemen over the past few days was extremely alarming, especially given that the government and the opposition were so close to a power transition agreement.

"We're deeply concerned that the government may be pushing the country to the brink of a civil war, said commission spokesman Rupert Colville.

[visionary]

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/05/201152711313435236.html

Protesters pack Cairo square over reforms

Thousands return to Tahrir Square for "day of anger" demonstrations, pressing military rulers for speedier reforms.

Last Modified: 27 May 2011 13:47

Thousands of protesters have returned to downtown Cairo's Tahrir Square for what they called a "second revolution", calling for Egypt's military rulers to speed up the pace of democratic reforms in a country that is still charting its political future.

Protesters streamed into Tahrir Square - the symbolic heart of protests that toppled Hosni Mubarak on February 11 - carrying banners reading "Egyptian revolution is not over".

Youth groups that had helped to launch the uprising against Mubarak have dubbed Friday "the second day of anger".

In a Facebook call, the Coalition of the Revolution Youth, which consists of several movements behind the Egyptian uprising, urged protesters to rally for "an end to political corruption."

A large banner hung over the flag-waving crowd, demanding a new constitution "now and not later".

But Muslim Brotherhood, the country's best organised opposition movement, said on Thursday it was "very concerned" by Friday's protest.

The group, that decided not to participate in the demonstrations, said the revolution had achieved many of its goals, including not only the ouster of Mubarak, but also his referral to trial along with his sons and associates.

The call to protest can therefore "only mean that the anger is directed at the people themselves or at the army," said the group, urging protesters not to divide the people and the military.

Al Jazeera's Ayman Mohyeldin, reporting from Cairo, said that the Muslim Brotherhood had given several reasons why they did not believe this was an appropriate time for them to participate, even though they did support the right of public protests and peaceful demonstration.

"The Brotherhood disagrees with the protesters' demands that the constitution be rewritten prior to the elections," he said.

"While some of the protesters are calling for a civilian council to be sitting alongside the military council currently ruling the country, the Brotherhood disagrees with this."

"They say there is already a national referendum that was held several weeks ago in which an overwhelming majority of people agreed to having a constitution amended by an incoming parliament that would be elected in September. They don't want to see that overruled by the military leadership of this country."

Also, the military said in a statement on Thursday that it would steer clear of protests in an effort to avert any unrest.

It warned in a statement on its Facebook page of "suspicious elements who will try to pit the military against the people," and said it "decided to have completely no presence in areas of protests to avert these dangers".

Mohyeldin said there there was a bit of anxiety at the military's absence at today's protests at Tahrir Square.

"It has triggered an alarm bells with some others protesters, as military was giving green light for people to potentially disrupt the peaceful protests. There were others who felt it was a good step on the military to avoid any friction between the military and protesters as there has been some tension as of late," Mohyeldin said.

Mohamed ElBaradei, the Egyptian Nobel Peace Prize winner and a reform leader, said that he was "seriously concerned about the absence of security forces".

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/05/20115276283221873.html

Court finds Ratko Mladic fit for extraditiion

Serbian judge says Bosnian Serb general is fit to stand trial at The Hague for alleged war crimes.

Last Modified: 27 May 2011 12:58

Ratko Mladic, the wartime Bosnian Serb general accused of genocide, has been ruled fit to stand trial at The Hague for alleged war crimes, a Serbian judge has ruled.

"Mladic's lawyer was delivered the extradition papers and he has until Monday to appeal," judge Maja Kovacevic said on Friday.

The 69-year-old had undergone tests by a medical commission "which has determined he is fit for further proceedings" Kovacevic said.

Milos Saljic, Mladic's lawyer, said he would appeal against the extradition, and that his client was not able to be handed over until his health was stable.

A judge had earlier suspended the interrogation of Mladic, who appeared frail and haggard at a court appearance on Thursday.

The general's son, Darko Mladic, said his father had suffered two strokes during his 15 years on the run, and has a partially paralysed right hand and can barely speak.

"We are almost certain he cannot be extradited in such a condition ... He is in very bad shape," he said.

Darko added that Mladic's "stand is that he's not guilty of what he's being accused of".

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/05/201152791250989274.html

Fresh fatalities as Syrians brave crackdown

More deaths reported as several towns witness renewed demonstrations against president Assad's one-party rule.

Last Modified: 27 May 2011 15:25

At least three people have been killed in Qatana, a suburb of the capital Damascus, after Syrian security forces used live fire to disperse hundreds of anti-government demonstrators, activists say.

According to Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr reporting from neighbouring Lebanon, there were also reports of five protesters being shot dead in Dael, a southern town located 10km from Deraa, and one other in Zabadani, a town not far from the Lebanese border.

The killings came amid renewed demonstrations after midday prayers on Friday, dubbed "day for the Guardians of the Homeland" by pro-democracy advocates in an effort to reach out to the army to join their 10-week uprising.

As prayers ended, demonstrations were reported to be taking place in Idlib, in the country's north west, in Deir al-Zur in the north east, and in Qamishli, Amouda and Ras al Ain in the Kurdish areas in Syria's north.

An eyewitness to the early morning attacks in Dael told Al Jazeera that the secret police opened fire on a crowd of around 3,000 locals who were returning to town from a peaceful march to the army barracks on the outskirts.

He said the crowd was chanting, "The people and army are one hand".

The march had passed off peacefully, until the secret police opened fire on the crowd as tanks entered the town, he said.

Khodr, our correspondent, said the number of casualties had been low in comparison to previous Friday protests, "a sign that the Syrian government is realising that it cannot stop these protests by relying [only] on a security option" without dialogue.

She has been reporting from Beirut as Al Jazeera is banned from entering Syria.

She said pro-democracy activists viewed the latest protests as a success since people took to the streets in cities like Homs and Baniyas despite a military siege.

But the demonstrators did not achieve any of their goal, which was to "get the army to switch sides" and stop shooting at protesters, she said.

Interesting, although it seems as if it was the security forces and secret police who were shooting people this time, or are they part of the army too?

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/05/2011527141919400884.html

Deadly blast hits UN vehicle in Lebanon

At least one Italian peacekeeper has reportedly been killed after an explosion blew up a UN vehicle he was travelling in southern Lebanon, reports say.

The explosion occurred on a highway leading to the southern port city of Sidon, a Reuters photographer said on Friday.

The attack happened on the same day the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was commemorating the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers to honour colleagues who lost their lives in the line of duty.

Lebanese security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly, said three peacekeepers were wounded.

[visionary]

Some videos and pictures from Yemen:

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/Yemen

protesters at Freedom Square in the southwestern city of Taiz opposed to Ali Abdullah Saleh take part in Friday prayers.

hCijKhDz5Y0

protesters in Taiz’s Freedom Square opposed to Saleh chanting, “the people want to prosecute the butcher.”

mB00gMPreSM

Images taken by Yemen-based photographer Luke Somers show today's protest during Friday prayers on Sixtieth Street in the capital Sanaa calling for the ouster of Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Anti-government protesters attend a rally to demand the ouster of Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh in the northwestern city of Saada May 27, 2011.

The placards read, "Leave with all your corruption!" (L), and "A trial .. a trial, we will not accept bargaining."

[visionary]

YEMEN

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/Yemen

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/05/201152815531552947.html

4 hours 28 min ago -

Yemen's government and armed tribesmen demanding President Ali Abdullah Saleh leave office reached agreement on Saturday to end their confrontation, a source close to mediators said.

The agreement included a withdrawal of armed tribesmen from occupied government buildings.

There was no immediate confirmation from government officials or tribal leaders.

I wonder why they would give up all the buildings they had taken.

What exactly do they get out of this?

SYRIA

The first two updates are from thursday.

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria

8 hours 25 min ago

Since we reported that the parents of Hamza al-Khateeb - the 13-year-old whose mutilated corpse was delivered to his family yesterday - had been visited by Syria's secret police, Hamza's father has been arrested.

Ali al-Khateeb was sezied in the past hour, said an activist who spoke to Hamza's mother.

She said secret police officers had demanded Hamza's father tell state media that his son was killed by armed Salafists - ultra-conservative Sunni Muslims - which Assad's government claims are driving the uprising.

We earlier reported that Hamza was one of 51 protesters detained in a protest outside Daraa on April 29. His castrated corpse, ridden with bullet holes and burn marks, was reportedly returned to his family yesterday.

8 hours 18 min ago

Hundreds of protesters in Daraa are defying an ongoing military siege of the city to call for a toppling of the regime - and to express outrage at the death and alleged torture of 13-year-old Hamza al-Khateeb, according to an activist in the town who spoke to Al Jazeera.

“People are really furious about what happened to Hamza and it is another indication that the secret police and authorities are criminals that cannot be trusted to carry out any reforms,” said Al Jazeera's source.

It was the people of Daraa who started this revolution and the people of Daraa will not stop. Despite their anger, people are still insisting on facing this barbarianism with peaceful protests. Despite the tears in our eyes we are facing them with smiles on our faces, because we know we are right.

3 min 25 sec ago

At least one man was injured when Syrian security forces opened fired to disperse a night-time demonstration on Saturday in the eastern city of Deir al-Zor, scene of growing protests against Baathist rule, a witness told Reuters.

"I was hearing the bullets and the protesters chanting 'the people want the overthrow of the regime' at the same time," the witness, a resident of the city, told the news agency by telephone.

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

Hamza Al Khatib, 13 year old martyr- Video in English describing his death and torture Syria http://bit.ly/mO5IU1 7 hours ago

Over 15000 protested today in Bansh in solidarity with the family of the child martyr, Hamza Al Khatib 1 hour ago

Syria Interior Minister handed over 170 corpses of martyrs to the governor of Daraa telling him to give them to families in installments 1 hour ago

Over 10,000 protested today in Martyr's Square in Qatna calling in support of the martyrs and for freedom 1 hour ago

Over 15,000 protested today in Areeha Idlib calling for regime change & condemning murder of the child martyr Hamza 1 hour ago

Over 5000 protested near Al Serjawy Mosque heading to Al Hader to join with other massive protests there Hama Syria 51 minutes ago

Hundreds protested today in Al Zabadany calling for regime change, freedom, and in honor of the child martyr Hamza 52 minutes ago

video of that protest

dD7cFBVvFcE

Dozens wounded in Hama after security forces used tear gas and live gunfire to disperse protest of thousands 48 minutes ago

Night protests in Latakia

50 minutes ago

Heavy gunfire in Deir El Zour today Syria

51 minutes ago

XUV3cXHah44

EGYPT

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/middle-east/2011/05/26/egypts-youth-vocal-against-army

Egypt's youth vocal against army

[visionary]

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/05/201152815531552947.html

'Al-Qaeda fighters seize Yemeni city'

Residents say town of Zinjibar in southern Abyan province has been captured and fighters have taken over "everything".

Last Modified: 29 May 2011 14:27

Yemeni gunmen alleged to be al-Qaeda fighters have reportedly taken control of the capital of the country's southern Abyan province.

A resident told Al Jazeera on Sunday that up to 300 fighters entered the southern coastal town of Zinjibar on Friday and took over "everything" in the area.

But the reports could not be independently verified by Al Jazeera due to official restrictions on reporting by foreign media.

Hakim al Masmari, the editor of the Yemen Post, told Al Jazeera the fighters moved in after government forces moved out of the area.

He did not say why government troops left.

But Amin Al Himyari, a Yemen analyst, dismissed reports that al-Qaeda had occupied Zinjibar.

As violence continues in Yemen, there is an increasing focus on the impact of tribal alliances [Al Jazeera]

"This is one of the tricks the president is using to convince the west that al-Qaeda is spreading everywhere in Yemen," he told Al Jazeera.

"He has declared that al-Qaeda is going to take three provinces," he said.

"The majority of the Yemenis believe that these are not al-Qaeda; they are just militants, gunmen belonging to the regime and they are under control and he uses them whenever he wants."

Not sure what's going on, but in any case it's mighty suspicious that the troops and security forces apparently pulled out and then the fighters came in. I think it could be possible that they are both Al Queda and working for Saleh or at least working with his blessing.

Honestly, from everything I've been reading for months, it seems that he has been cutting deals with Al Queda at times to help keep himself relevant and make his being in charge seem necessary to the interantional crowd. For example, in the past he's made promises not to hand over Awlaki to the US and things like that.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/05/201152818244563547.html

Syrian tanks attack two central towns

At least two people killed in the latest crackdown as security forces open fire on protesters demanding Assad's ouster.

Last Modified: 28 May 2011 20:32

Syrian security forces backed by tanks have attacked two central towns that have seen intense protests against the regime of Bashar al-Assad, the president.

Security forces also opened fire at demonstrators overnight in several parts of the country killing two people and wounding an unspecified number, activists said.

The activists said Sunday's attack on Rastan and Talbiseh, in the central province of Homs, occurred after authorities cut all telecommunications with the area.

They added that all roads leading to the two towns have been closed off by security forces and soldiers.

"The towns are under siege," one of the activists said.

The activist spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing government reprisals.

Also Sunday, human rights activist Mustafa Osso said security forces opened fire in the early hours of Sunday at about 8,000 protesters in the northeastern town of Deir el-Zour wounding several people.

He said there were protests overnight in different parts of Syria, including the Damascus suburbs of Zabadani and Douma.

The last crackdown came a day after Turkey urged Syria to introduce more reforms following months of anti-government protests across the country.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/05/201152811555458677.html

Mubarak fined for cutting internet and phones

Former president and two other former officials fined by Egyptian court for cutting communications.

Last Modified: 28 May 2011 12:13

An Egyptian court has fined ousted president Hosni Mubarak and former officials more than $90m for cutting off access to internet and mobile phone services during the country's massive protests in January.

A court source told the Reuters news agency on Saturday that Mubarak's fine is $34m, former interior minister Habib al-Adly will owe $53m, and former prime minister Ahmed Nazif has a fine of $7m.

The amounts relate to compensation for lost revenue as a result of the decision to cut off access for five days starting on January 28, said the source.

The fine is to be paid from personal assets, and the state has the right to increase the amount over the year if damages continue to rise.

http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/455693

Brotherhood sheikh to run for president

Muslim Brotherhood Sheikh Hazem Abu Ismail announced his intention to run in Egypt’s upcoming presidential elections.

He said that if elected he would implement Islamic sharia law and cancel the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.

Ismail was the Brotherhood’s candidate in 2005 parliamentary elections for Dokki in Giza.

The group announced earlier that it would not take part in the presidential elections and confirmed that it would compete for only half the seats in Parliament.

But Ismail is the second Brotherhood member to have announced his intention to run for president in defiance of the group's leadership. The other Brotherhood candidate is Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh, a liberal-minded Islamist.

Abu Ismail said Saturday during a speech in a Dokki mosque that he will sweep the elections. Since he is an ordinary man, he said, the masses will support him.

Abu Ismail said that his platform revolves around Islam, while "Mohamed ElBaradei, Amr Moussa, and Hamdeen Sabahi, the liberal candidates, will be unable to present a clear vision” for the country.

“If I could apply sharia in Egypt, all people, including non-Muslims, would applaud me four years later,” said Abu Ismail.

The sheikh said that no current presidential candidate represents the Egyptian people.

“We seek to apply Islamic law, but those who don’t want it prefer cabarets, alcohol, dancers and prostitution, as the implementation of Islamic law will prohibit women to appear naked in movies and on beaches,” Abu Ismail added.

I wonder how much support he has.

Edited May 29, 2011 by visionary

[visionary]

http://twitter.com/#!/Machahir123

Breaking: At Least 3 Killed, more than 50 Wounded as Yemeni forces 'fire' on protesters in Taiz (200 km (125 miles) south of Sanaa). 10 minutes ago

I also see reports that the truce has collapsed again and fighting will resume in Sana'a.

Holy ****....

SYRIA

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

Residents: In Talbiseh, a mortar shell hits school bus carrying children. Ambulance also attacked. http://aje.me/jN5Lrj 39 minutes

Another bus hit: residents say Syria security forces fired on bus carrying uni. students, 1 driver's assistant killed. http://aje.me/lgIfYa 38 minutes ago

[visionary]

Damn Saleh to hell.

http://twitter.com/#!/Machahir123

Breaking: Yemeni security forces killed 51 protesters when they stormed the central square of Taiz & 4 soldiers killed in Zinjibar. 11 minutes ago

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iw2XlmAFnkIVM31lzaoTRZgMG6hg?docId=CNG.a85c640cbadb4de71d422967ab68293e.7e1

20 killed as Yemen army disperses sit-in: organisers

Reports vary from 20-50 casualties now from Taiz. All reports however agree that tents that had been used for weeks were burnt, thousands of protesters chased away, and the square where the protesters sat in for months, is now occupied by the security forces. Apparently they shoot at anyone who tries to return,

[visionary]

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/05/2011530222457210158.html

Clashes reported in Yemeni capital

Four blasts heard in Sanaa while fighting erupts between security forces and supporters of Hashed tribal leader.

Last Modified: 31 May 2011 00:03

Four explosions have been heard in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, as fighting worsens across the country and security forces continue their clampdown on anti-government protesters.

More information about the blasts, reported late on Monday, was not yet available. But Jamila Rajaa, an activist in Yemen, told Al Jazeera "it seems that there have not been any casualties".

The capital also saw clashes erupt between Yemeni security forces and supporters of Sadek al Ahmar, the Hashed tribal leader, sources told Al Jazeera.

The fighting, near the tribal leader's residence, comes a day after a cease fire was declared between Ahmar and President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Dozens have been killed across the country in the last 24 hours.

At least 30 people were reportedly killed by military jet fire in the southern city of Zinjibar, which is said to be controlled fighters linked to al-Qaeda.[/size

]The air attack on Monday appeared to be in response to Sunday's takeover of the city by 300 alleged al-Qaeda fighters and an overnight ambush that killed at least six Yemeni soldiers and injured dozens more who were travelling to the southern city.

"Civilians found a military car and an armoured vehicle. They were destroyed, and the bodies of six soldiers were found on the roadside," Ayman Mohamed Nasser, editor-in-chief of Attariq, Aden's main opposition paper, told the Reuters news agency by telephone.

From what I've seen on twitter there's a lot of fighting going on around the presidential palace.

Some more interesting updates:

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

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

http://twitter.com/#!/tomfinn2

---------- Post added May-30th-2011 at 10:21 PM ----------

Oh ****! This could be big news this week.

Talk about a scumbag.

:mad:

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/05/30/egypt.virginity.tests/index.html

Egyptian general admits 'virginity checks' conducted on protesters

Cairo (CNN) -- A senior Egyptian general admits that "virginity checks" were performed on women arrested at a demonstration this spring, the first such admission after previous denials by military authorities.

The allegations arose in an Amnesty International report, published weeks after the March 9 protest. It claimed female demonstrators were beaten, given electric shocks, strip-searched, threatened with prostitution charges and forced to submit to virginity checks.

At that time, Maj. Amr Imam said 17 women had been arrested but denied allegations of torture or "virginity tests."

But now a senior general who asked not to be identified said the virginity tests were conducted and defended the practice.

"The girls who were detained were not like your daughter or mine," the general said. "These were girls who had camped out in tents with male protesters in Tahrir Square, and we found in the tents Molotov ****tails and (drugs)."

The general said the virginity checks were done so that the women wouldn't later claim they had been raped by Egyptian authorities.

"We didn't want them to say we had sexually assaulted or raped them, so we wanted to prove that they weren't virgins in the first place," the general said. "None of them were (virgins)."

Edited May 31, 2011 by visionary

[visionary]

YEMEN

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

BREAKING Fall of "Maintenance Camp" Sanaa into the hands of Alahmars (by phone) 43 minutes ago

BREAKING Presidential Palace (Hay Alqasr), downtown Sanaa is besieged by Mareb Tribesmen. Want to take hold of it (by phone) 35 minutes ago

@JonaRenz Note. there's Presidential Palace in "Hay Alqasr", downtown (ceremonial) and Presidential Residence in "Alsab'een" Sanaa 29 minutes ago

@al3ini Tribesmen from Mareb are besieging Presidential Palace (Alqasr), where #Saleh receives Ambassadors, etc. They want to take it 26 minutes ago

Significance of fall of "Maintenance Camp" is that it'll starve Saleh of spare parts of Tanks,armored, personnel cars, machines.You name it 6 minutes ago

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/20116181749177869.html

Dozens killed in overnight clashes in Sanaa

At least 41 people were killed as street battles continue to rage in the Yemeni capital

Last Modified: 01 Jun 2011 10:24

At least 41 people have been killed overnight in ongoing street fighting between government forces and opposition tribal fighters in Yemen's capital.

Mohamed al-Qadhi, a Yemeni journalist, told Al Jazeera that Tuesday night’s fighting was the worst since armed clashes between the two sides began in Sanaa late last month.

Medical workers said that fighters from both sides were among the dead.

Al-Qadhi said there was "heavy gunfire and blasts at the heart of [sanaa] targeting the tribal fighters of [Hashed tribal leader Sadiq] al-Ahmar in the Hasaba district".

"We could see also last night flames coming from one of the government buildings which we believe was hit by a mortar shell after being controlled by al-Ahmar fighters."

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/201161141537511336.html

Bahrain lifts martial law

Troops and tanks withdraw from streets of Manama, but activists seeking to stage fresh protests complain of attacks.

Last Modified: 01 Jun 2011 16:29

Bahrain has lifted martial law, a step the authorities hope will help to restore normalcy in the kingdom rocked by political upheaval following anti-government protests.

Bahrain imposed emergency rule in mid-March, giving the military wide powers to suppress demonstrations led by the country's Shia majority against the minority Sunni rulers. The protesters were inspired to rise up by other revolutions sweeping Arab nations around the Middle East and North Africa.

With the end of martial law on Wednesday, tanks and soldiers withdrew from the centre of Manama, the capital, but numerous police checkpoints remained around the city.

The move came a day after King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa offered a national dialogue with opposition figures on reforms.

"The end of the national security law and announcement of dialogue are both positive. It will be a shame if anyone is negative about it," Jamal Fakhro, a Bahraini lawmaker, said.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/201161131532286483.html

Mubarak and sons to stand trial in August

Former Egyptian president and his two sons to go on trial on August 3 for graft and killing of protesters,

Last Modified: 01 Jun 2011 13:25

Hosni Mubarak, the former Egyptian president, and his two sons will go on trial starting August 3 in a Cairo criminal court for alleged graft and for their suspected role in killing protesters, Egyptian state news agency has said.

According to a court official, Mubarak would be tried on charges of corruption and intentionally killing protesters during the 18-day uprising that ended his 30-year rule on February 11, the Middle East News Agency reported on Wednesday.

Judge Ahmed Rifat would preside over the trial of Mubarak and his sons, Ala'a and Gamal, at the North Cairo criminal court, a judicial source told the AFP news agency.

Mubarak could face the death penalty if convicted on charge of "pre-mediated killing"- or having played a part in a crackdown that left more than 800 demonstrators dead, Egyptian justice minister said earlier this month.

Mubarak has been in custody at a hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh, the Egyptian resort town by the Red Sea coast, since April 13 after reportedly suffering a heart attack during questioning.

Mubarak was in no condition to be transferred to a prison hospital and would for now stay in the current health facility, Egypt’s public prosecutor said on Tuesday.

Ala'a and Gamal are being held in Torah prison on the outskirts of Cairo, the Egyptian capital.

Al Jazeera's Ayman Mohyeldin said the medical team recommended against bringing the former president to a Cairo prison facility after examinations deemed his health "too unfit, too unwell" at this time.

"If indeed legal proceedings are to go forward ... most likely and it could very well possibly be that the court goes to the former president at the hospital," Mohyeldin said in his report from Cairo.

[visionary]

http://english.aljazeera.net/video/middleeast/2011/06/20116291556849275.html

Fighting intensifies across Yemen

Armed clashes between tribal fighters and government forces intensify in Sanaa while US envoy arrives to stop civil war.

Last Modified: 02 Jun 2011 10:18

Fighting has intensified in Sanaa, the Yemeni capital, between forces loyal to the president and those allied to an opposition tribal group.

Much of the clashes happened in the Hasaba district in the northern part of the city on Thursday, where fighters from the Hashed tribal confederation confront forces loyal to President Ali Abdallah Saleh.

John Brennan, US envoy, has left Saudi Arabia on Thursday for the United Arab Emirates to seek help in stopping a civil war in Yemen, the Reuters news agency reported citing an unnamed US official in Saudi Arabia.

Medics in Sanaa told the AFP news agency that 15 people, including a seven-year-old girl hit by a stray bullet, have been killed in overnight clashes in the Yemeni capital.

Hakim Al Masmari, editor of the Yemen Post, told Al Jazeera that an estimated 2,000 additional fighters "armed and ready to fight" have entered Sanaa as reinforcements to the Hashed tribal confederation, led by Sadeq al-Ahmar.

"We expect [the tribal fighters] to take control of different government complexes [in Sanaa]," Al Masmari said.

In Taiz, security forces have reportedly opened fire on opposition protesters. At least 50 protesters have been killed by security forces there since Sunday, a United Nations human rights envoy said this week.

Witnesses told AFP on Wednesday that previously unarmed protesters in Taiz have resorted to carrying weapons and have clashed with police.

This week, there have been three main flashpoints in the country - the fighting in the capital, government troops firing on protesters in Taiz in the south and a battle with fighters in the coastal city of Zinjibar.

Residents also reported overnight fighting near Sanaa airport, which was closed briefly last week during skirmishes between Saleh's forces and Hashed rebels.

Passengers said flights were suspended for several hours at Sanaa airport which reopened later in the afternoon on Thursday.

Head of the airport denied that flights have been suspended and that they were diverted to Aden, the southern city, AFP reported.

Speaking to reporters, Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, said, "If it wasn't obvious before it certainly should be now that [saleh’s] presence remains a source of great conflict."

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/20116122426560161.html

Security forces attack Bahraini protesters

Bahraini troops attack anti-government protesters in villages near the capital, hours after martial law is lifted.

Last Modified: 02 Jun 2011 00:19

Bahraini troops have attacked anti-government protesters in several villages near the capital Manama, witnesses say.

Despite the lifting of martial law on Wednesday, regime forces fired tear gas on protesters who had poured into the streets to stage protest rallies in villages around Manama, including Diraz, Bani Jamrah and Karzakan, according to witnesses.

One activist reported a heavy security presence in Bani Jamrah and said about 30 women had gathered in front of his house, but security forces used batons and tear gas to disperse them.

"With the end of the emergency situation, the security would not be here but they still are," said Ali Zirazdi, a 30 year-old man, who said police had fired tear gas after a few hundred people gathered in the predominantly Shia village of Diraz.

"The security presence is even stronger and their approach now is as soon as they hear of any protest in advance, they come down to stop it from happening," Zirazdi added.

Opposition activists in Bahrain called for a "fresh wave" of anti-government protest rallies across the country on Wednesday, as a state of emergency imposed during a March crackdown on protesters has ended.

Bahraini activists say their protest campaign will continue until the nation's demands are met.

Amnesty International, the human rights group, had called on Manama to allow the planned protest rallies to go ahead and stop using violence against peaceful protesters.

SYRIA

http://english.aljazeera.net/video/middleeast/2011/06/20116235012973293.html

Syrian forces have killed 41 civilians in an effort to crush pro-democracy protests, a human rights lawyer said, as opposition leaders met in Turkey to plot the downfall of Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president.

Lawyer Razan Zaitouna said the 41 dead in Rastan, a town near Homs, included a four-year-old girl who was killed as government forces shelled the central town on Tuesday.

Five of the victims were buried in Rastan on Wednesday, she said. Syrian forces also killed nine civilians on Tuesday in the town of Hirak, according to Ammar Qurabi, a rights campaigner.

Meanwhile president Assad has launched a "national dialogue", freed hundreds of political prisoners and promised to investigate the killing of 13 year-old Hamza al-Khateeb in an attempt to blunt growing anger.

State television said Assad had set up a committee and charged it with "formulating general principles of dialogue that will open the way for the creation of an appropriate climate in which the different elements can express themselves and present their proposals".

The opposition has previously dismissed calls for dialogue, saying that this can take place only once the violence ends, political prisoners are freed and reforms adopted.

The demand that prisoners be freed was partially met on Wednesday when, according to a rights activist, hundreds of detainees were released from prisons across the country under an amnesty declared by Assad on Tuesday.

Washington, which has been increasing pressure by slapping sanctions on key regime members, said the release of "100 or so political prisoners does not go far enough".

"The release of some political prisoners is not the release of all political prisoners. We need to see all political prisoners released," Mark Toner, the US state department deputy spokesman, told reporters.

---------- Post added June-2nd-2011 at 10:27 AM ----------

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria

4 hours 12 min ago

Syrian opposition groups meeting in Turkey are drafting a joint declaration Thursday on how to support the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad's regime, organisers said.

The statement was expected to be issued Thursday evening or Friday morning at Turkey's Mediterranean resort of Antalya, where the dissidents have been meeting since Wednesday.

Some 300 Syrian activists, mostly exiles, representing a broad spectrum of political forces opposed to Assad's regime, are attending the talks, the largest gathering of the opposition so far.

Organisers have said their purpose is to draw up a "roadmap" for a peaceful and democratic transition in Syria.

They have set up several committees to coordinate anti-regime action, notably to explore ways of supporting protesters in Syria, both in financial and logistic terms, in areas such as legal assistance and strengthening Internet media backing the revolt.

The participants, among them members of the banned Muslim Brotherhood, have snubbed a general amnesty for political prisoners, decreed by Assad Tuesday, as a belated and inadequate move.

More than 1,100 civilians have been killed and at least 10,000 arrested in a brutal crackdown on almost daily anti-regime demonstrations in Syria since March 15, rights organisations say.

1 hour 14 min ago

At least 15 civilians have been killed by gunfire from Syrian security forces and snipers in the central town of al-Rastan, Ammar Qurabi, head of the Syrian Organisation for Human Rights, and lawyer Razan Zaitouna told the Reuters news agency.

They said at least 60 people had been killed and 200 arrested in Rastan since the military launched the siege on Sunday. On Tuesday alone, shelling killed 41, including a four-year-old girl, Zaitouna said.

Syria has barred most international media, making it difficult to verify accounts of the violence.

Edited June 2, 2011 by visionary

[visionary]

Fareed Zakaria comments on Syria and Egypt:

http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/03/zakaria-obama-being-too-soft-on-syria/?hpt=hp_t2

Zakaria: Obama "being too soft on Syria"

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/20116392427645443.html

Syrian activists call for 'Children's Friday'

Anti-Assad demonstrators protest against government brutality, with more than 30 young people dead since March.

Syrian activists have called for protests on Friday over the dozens of children killed in anti-government protests, as the opposition continues to demand the "immediate resignation" of Bashar al-Assad, the country's president.

Rejecting government concessions, opposition groups at a meeting in Turkey called late on Thursday for parliamentary and presidential elections within a year of Assad's removal and vowed to work "to bring down the regime".

Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, said the international community needs to be more united on dealing with the Syria government's crackdown on the pro-democracy movement.

"Right now the attitude of the international community is not as united as we are seeking to make it," she said in Washington, apparently alluding to Russia's moves blocking a proposed UN Security Council condemnation of Syria.

Activists called for "Children's Friday" protests to honour the children killed in the uprising, such as 13-year-old Hamza al-Khatib whom activists say was tortured to death, a charge denied by the authorities.

"The people want the fall of the regime. Tomorrow, it's 'Children's Friday' of rising up against injustice, like the adults," the activists announced on their Facebook page "Syrian Revolution 2011", an engine of the revolt.

The UN children's agency UNICEF says at least 30 children have been shot dead in the revolt against Assad's autocratic rule which erupted in mid-March.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/201163135520207409.html

Bahrain police 'suppress protest'

Eyewitnesses say police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters marching in capital, Manama.

Last Modified: 03 Jun 2011 15:05

Bahraini police have fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters marching against the government near the capital Manama, eyewitnesses say.

The crackdown on Friday came just two days after the tiny Gulf kingdom's authorities lifted emergency rule.

The protesters in Manama were marching adjacent to the city's Pearl Roundabout, which was the epicentre of weeks of protests against the kingdom's Sunni rulers, with demonstrators in particular demanding more rights for the island nation's majority Shia population.

There were no immediate reports of injuries during the protests, the eyewitnesses said. They spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing reprisals.

Witnesses said that police fired tear gas at a crowd of hundreds of people who had gathered to mourn Zainab Altajer, who died on Thursday. Opposition activists said she died as a result of exposure to tear gas, but the government said her death was due to natural causes.

The protesters marched through the village of Sanabis, adjacent to the Pearl roundabout.

Also on Friday, thousands of mourners gathered at a cemetery in Manama to bury Salman Abu Idris, a 63-year old protester who died in hospital earlier in the day of injuries from a demonstration in March.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/201163125916642890.html

Yemen president 'alive and well after attack'

State television seeks to assure the public after Ali Abdullah Saleh reported wounded in shelling of palace in Sanaa.

Last Modified: 03 Jun 2011 13:56

Ali Abdullah Saleh, the Yemeni president, has reportedly been injured in an attack on the presidential palace in the capital, Sanaa.

Yemeni security officials told reporters that the country's prime minister was also injured as shells struck a mosque in the presidential palace compound on Friday.

President Ali Abdullah Saleh "was lightly wounded in the attack" on the palace mosque in Sanaa, a security official told the AFP news agency. The extent of prime minister Ali Mohammed Mujawar's injuries were not immediately clear.

However, in an assurance to the Yemeni public, state television later said that the president was "well", and the country's deputy information minister told the Reuters news agency that Saleh would address the people shortly.

Authorities blamed the shelling on dissident tribesmen loyal to Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar who have been locked in fierce clashes with government forces in Sanaa since Tuesday.

"The prime minister, head of the parliament and several other officials who attended the Friday prayers in the mosque at the presidential palace were wounded in the attack," Tareq al-Shami, spokesman for the ruling General People's Congress, told AFP.

"The Ahmar (tribe) have crossed all red lines," he added.

Abdul Ghani Al-Iryani, an independent political analyst in Sanaa, told Al Jazeera that it was "quite reasonable to assume" that al-Ahmar's fighters were behind the attack on the presidential palace.

"[The tribesmen] probably wanted him to know that [saleh] can no longer attack them with impunity, and that they can reach him as he can reach them," Al-Iryani said, of the attack's possible message.

The attack came soon after Yemeni troops, who have deployed heavy weaponry in their battle against the tribesmen, sent a shell crashing into the home of Sheikh Hamid al-Ahmar, a leader of the biggest opposition party and brother of Sheikh Sadiq.

Three shells also struck near the university campus in the city centre where opponents of Saleh have been holding a sit-in since late January.

After a brief lull at dawn, artillery and heavy machine-gun fire rocked the Al-Hassaba neighbourhood of northern Sanaa where Sheikh Sadiq has his base, witnesses said.

They said that during the fighting the headquarters of national airline Yemenia was burnt down and the offices of Suhail TV, a channel controlled by Sheikh Sadiq, destroyed.

Awful, just awful.

Him surviving, I mean.

:evilg:

---------- Post added June-3rd-2011 at 11:31 AM ----------

Damn it.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/03/us-syria-idUSLDE73N02P20110603

Syrian forces kill 27 in Hama, crackdown intensifies

(Reuters) - Syrian security forces shot dead at least 27 demonstrators in Hama on Friday, an activist said, in one of the bloodiest incidents in their crackdown on an 11-week revolt against President Bashar al-Assad's rule.

In a pattern seen every Friday since mid-March, protesters have marched out of mosques after noon prayers, to be met by security forces intent on crushing a revolt against Assad, in power in Syria for the last 11 years.

Three residents said security forces and snipers fired at tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in the city center in one of the biggest protests seen so far in Hama, and scores of wounded were taken to a nearby hospital.

"The firing began from rooftops on the demonstrators. I saw scores of people falling in Assi square and the streets and alleyways branching out. Blood was everywhere," a witness who gave his name as Omar told Reuters from Hama.

"It looked to me as if hundreds of people have been injured but I was in a panic and wanted to find cover. Funerals for the martyrs have already started," he said.

---------- Post added June-3rd-2011 at 12:05 PM ----------

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/yemen-jun-3-2011-1856

Friday, June 3, 2011 - 18:56 -

Yemen's state news agency says the death toll from the attack on President Saleh's palace continues to rise, with three presidential guards killed in addition to an imam of the mosque inside the palace compound.

Reports have said that some officials were injured but exact f igures have yet to be confirmed.

Apparently the Ahmar have deined responsibility for this and there is talk on twitter that Saleh may have set this up as an excuse to bomb the opposition.

Edited June 3, 2011 by visionary

[visionary]

SYRIA

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

At least 67 people killed in Hama, scores injured in Syria as protesters demonstrate - Al Arabiya http://bit.ly/jHf699 1 hour ago

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/2011631419245574.html

'Dozens killed' in fresh Syria protests

Activists say 34 people killed in the city of Hama during one of the largest anti-government protests in the uprising.

Last Modified: 03 Jun 2011 16:13

Syrian security forces have opened fire on one of the largest anti-government protests in the 10-week uprising so far, leaving at least 34 people dead in the central city of Hama, activists said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the victims were killed on Friday as security forces dispersed a rally of more than 50,000 people in a city where thousands died in a failed 1982 revolt against the government.

The deaths came as president Bashar al-Assad's forces renewed their assault on towns seen as key to the demonstrations calling for an end to his family's 40-year rule.

Rami Abdul-Rahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the Hama protest was among the largest yet in the uprising that began in mid-March. He said security forces also shot dead one person in the village of Has in the northern province of Idlib.

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

Syria : Names of martyrs today from Hamaa city by Assad's forces listed now on TV"Orient news TV " more than 200 killed today 27 minutes ago

@LibyaNewMedia CONFIRMED more than 140 names so far 24 minutes ago

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

Eyewitness for @akhbar: no final report on death toll in Hama but I can confirm killling of 54 syria(n) till now. 10 minutes ago

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

Flags of Iran, China, and Russia set ablaze in Daraa - "Free, free Syria. Out, out traitors. |

20 minutes ago

KEiwmOKXolI

YEMEN

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

Yemen state news agency issues correction, says presidential imam wounded but not killed - @AlArabiya_Eng 33 minutes ago

Yemen update: Official says Saleh taken to hospital for wounds obtained in palace shelling attack - AP via Al Jazeera http://bit.ly/ioobOJ 17 minutes ago

Edited June 3, 2011 by visionary

[visionary]

YEMEN

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

Yemeni police, military units have withdrawn from the southern city of Taiz, opposition leader says - Al Jazeera http://bit.ly/ioobOJ 3 hours ago

Saudi King Abdullah mediated 1-week ceasefire between Yemen's President Saleh and anti-government opposition - AP http://bit.ly/ioobOJ 1 hour ago

BBC: Yemeni President Saleh suffered shrapnel wounds, burns in attack on his compound http://bbc.in/iEbX6T 1 hour ago

Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya report Yemen President Saleh heading to Saudi Arabia - Reuters

More: Yemen deputy information minister denies reports that Saleh is going to Saudi Arabia for treatment - Al Jazeera http://bit.ly/ioobOJ 37 minutes ago

---------- Post added June-4th-2011 at 02:44 PM ----------

SYRIA

Syrian Soldiers joking around while filming the bodies of protesters they killed on top of a mosque.

Very graphic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYKUZFL5qVA

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria

4 hours 22 min ago - Reports on Twitter state that violence in the city of Jisr al-Shaghour has resulted in the deaths of at least two protesters this afternoon

3 hours 55 min ago - According to the Local Coordination Committees of Syria Facebook page, military helicopters have been shooting randomly on Jisr al-Shaghour for 30 minutes. They say there are an estimated ten dead thus far.

In addition, the report says the army has been deployed next to the national hospital in Jisr, and tanks have been seen heading toward the city from the direction of nearby Al-Zawyeh mountain.

3 hours 48 min ago LCCSyr also reports that thousands of Syrians in Deir Azzour have marched in the funeral of 13-year-old Mohammad Saleh Alkattam, of Salehiya village.

Another 2,000 people are reportedly gathered and are waiting to receive the body of 16-year-old Moaz Alrakad. Both teenagers were killed yesterday by security forces on "Children of Freedom Friday".

huge crowd!

Protests today in Hama, where over 60 were killed by Syrian security forces yesterday.

O4XHCnMZxl8

1 hour 55 min ago Activists and reporters in Syria say that yesterday’s protests against President Assad’s regime were the largest since the uprising began three months ago.

Protests took place in four neighbourhoods of Damascus: Medan, Rukin Adeen, Qaboun and Barzah.

In the towns around Damascus, protests took place in Duma, Harsta, Daria, Al-Tal, Maddaya , Zabadani, Gdeidah Artouz and Hajjar al-Aswad.

In Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, there were two demonstrations near the Amnah Mosque and on Nile Street, as well as two larger protests in A’zaz and Mara’a in Aleppo governorate.

At the other end of the county, in the far south, large protests took place in Deraa, where the uprising began, and in surrounding towns of Akhel, Na’amah and Tabiah.

In the far eastern governorate of Deir Ezzour, there were protests in the city itself, as well as in Miadeen, Al Boukamal and Ishara’a, near the Iraqi border.

"I can say now there are no posters and statues of the Assad family in Deir Ezzour. The protesters burnt all the Baath party branches,” said Fatah, 28, a pro-democracy activist from Deir Ezzour.

Combined with protests by up to 100,000 in Hama and its surrounding villages and up to 100,000 who took to the streets in Maarat an-Numan, a city further north - as well as protests in Lattakia, Homs and Rastan - Friday's demonstrations likely involved at least 300,000 people, the largest protests since the Syrian uprising began in mid-March.

1 hour 52 min ago - A Kurdish political leader has confirmed that representatives of 12 of Syria’s outlawed Kurdish parties have accepted an invitation to meet with President Assad in the coming days.

"We are preparing our plan for a solution to the country’s crisis,” said the Kurdish political leader. “We are holding meetings with each other and our members to come up with one united vision for a solution. We are going to ask for national demands, not Kurdish local demands.”

1 hour 46 min ago - Security forces opened fire on a funeral procession of some 50,000 mourners today in the northern city of Maarat an-Numan, an eyewitness told Al Jazeera.

“Security forces killed a young protester yesterday, and during his funeral today at around 2pm, the security men opened fire on us from the buildings of the Security branch and Post Office,” he said.

“We were shouting against the regime and calling for democracy and freedom. We were shouting the Takbeer [God is greatest] and maybe for this reason they got angry and shot at us.”

The source said protesters planned to block the road between Hama and Aleppo in order to try and ease pressure on Hama, where some reports by activists on Twitter say tanks have begun massing.

Edited June 4, 2011 by visionary

[visionary]

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/201164164346765100.html

Ali Abdullah Saleh, Yemen's president, has arrived in Riyadh for medical treatment, a day after he was injured in an attack on his compound, the Saudi royal court said in a statement.

"The Yemeni president has arrived along with officials and citizens who had received different injuries for treatment in Saudi Arabia," the royal court said on Sunday.

Saleh will be treated for wounds received on Friday in a rocket attack on his presidential palace - an assault that marked a major escalation in a conflict building towards full civil war.

Al Jazeera has learned he had arrived at King Khalid Air Base in Riyadh and been transferred to a military hospital.

The embattled leader suffered "burns and scratches to the face and chest," an official said after the ruling General People's Congress said he was "lightly wounded in the back of the head."

Meanwhile, sources told Al Jazeera that vice-president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi has taken over as acting president and supreme commander of the armed forces.

The extent of Saleh's injuries has been a matter of intense speculation. When the rocket struck the mosque in his presidential compound and splintered the pulpit, he was surrounded by senior government officials and bodyguards.

Eleven guards died, and five officials standing nearby were seriously wounded and taken to Saudi Arabia.

The president delivered an audio address afterward, his voice labored, with only an old photo shown.

It's also being reported that a bunch of important government officials and a couple dozen family members went to Saudi Arabia as well.

[visionary]

YEMEN

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/Yemen

4 hours 1 min ago -

He resisted months of mass protest, as his people demanded he step down.

But a rocket attack has now forced Ali Abdullah Saleh to leave Yemen, and hand power to his deputy.

Saleh is in Saudi Arabia for treatment to injuries he suffered in the attack on his palace.

Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, the vice-president, has taken over as acting president, and commander of the armed forces.

Al Jazeera asks what is next for Yemen's rulers and its opposition?

0HorT5ktNIQ

36 min 20 sec ago

Munir Al Mawri, a Yemeni-American Journalist in Washington, told Al Jazeera that Yemen has probably seen the end of Ali Abdullah Saleh's presidency.

US vice president Joe Biden has already phoned the Yemeni vice president, by calling him it is an indication that the US accepts him as the one to take over power in Yemen.

The US has officially asked Saleh to leave and transfer this authority to his vice president and this is exactly what is happening I think.

I think the Saudis will never allow Saleh to go back to Yemen because they care about their interests inside Yemen.

[visionary]

Very strange reports out of Syria today.

The government keeps raising the number of police that it says have been killed in one of the northern towns. The body count jumped from 20-40-80-120 in a couple of hours.

Not sure if any of it is true, or if they are up to something specific.

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

Syria says 80 of it's security forces had been killed in the northern town of Jisr alshghour, bodies mutilated, thrown into the river. 50 minutes ago

Syria now says 120 policemen and security officers were killed in Jisr alshqhour by armed groups 31 minutes ago

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/201166152649439258.html

Syria's state television says at least 80 police officers have been killed in the northern town of Jisr al-Shughour in an ambush by "armed groups".

The report said on Monday that security forces were on their way to the town in response to calls for help from residents, and they died in an ambush and an explosion at a post office.

"The armed groups are using weapons and grenades ... the people in Jisr al-Shughour are urging the army to intervene speedily," state TV said.

The international media is banned from covering the uprising in Syria, making it nearly impossible to verify the state-controlled media's claims.

An activist in Jisr al-Shughour, who spoke to Al Jazeera on the condition of anonymity, said that the situation in the city was quiet on Monday after the previous day's violence.

"Today we didn’t have any particular events, the situation was calm. But we had some news that there was a group of armed forces headed towards us," he said.

"The Syrian television is always against the street. If we have hundreds of demonstrators, the Syrian TV will say dozens. There is a big gap between the media in Syria and what is happening in the street."

[visionary]

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/06/07/yemen.unrest/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

(CNN) -- Tribal fighters took control of a top Yemeni city on Tuesday, a setback for an embattled government whose injured president is confined to a hospital in Saudi Arabia.

More than 400 tribal gunmen took over Taiz in southwest Yemen, eyewitnesses there said.

The gunmen had been clashing with Yemeni security forces near the city's Republican Palace and eyewitnesses said they are now in control of the city. The palace is not far from the city's Freedom Square -- a focal point of anti-government protests.

Government forces have been regrouping in an effort to re-enter the city.

Yemen's government has faced international criticism for excessive use of force against anti-regime protesters and the deaths of anti-government demonstrators in Taiz.

"The clashes continued for hours and no one was able to leave their houses. A large number of protesters in Freedom Square in Taiz left the square as the clashes were near there," said Sameer Saeed, an eyewitness said.

The fighting intensified as President Ali Abdullah Saleh recovers in Saudi Arabia from burns over 40% of his body and a collapsed lung, a U.S. government officials briefed on the matter said.

The fate of the embattled leader -- and whether he will return to the conflict in Yemen -- remains uncertain.

[visionary]

EGYPT

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

Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood dismisses poll suggesting it has little support (15%) http://shar.es/HCxvn3 hours ago

YEMEN

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

US says Saleh 'gravely wounded'; has bleeding inside skull. http://bbc.in/ifUEyA 49 minutes ago

Maybe it's time for Saleh's son to visit his dad in the Saudi hospital 22 minutes ago

SYRIA

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

Pro-Syrian Palestinian gunmen shoot dead 11 anti-Syrian Palestinians in Damascus refugee camp - Palestinian sources 28 minutes ago

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

France ready to seek UN Syria vote despite Russia veto threat. Say Pres Assad has lost his legitimacy to rule http://f24.my/iXczvg 40 minutes ago

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

BREAKING Syrian ambassador to France tenders her resignation live on @France24_en. Her response to the crackdown in Syria. 2 minutes ago

Edited June 7, 2011 by visionary

[visionary]

Ah, man! Not this kind of crap.

:ols:

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

AlArabiya: Syria Ambassador to France resigned on France 24 and denied it on Syria TV. 17 minutes ago

Syria TV: Lamia Choukour: I will prosecute all those who committed this crime and give the proceeds to the families of martyrs. 16 minutes ago

Syria TV: Ambassador to France confirms that reports of her resignation are part of a disinformation campaign. 13 minutes ago

How much do you want to bet the phone is ringing in Syria's Embassy in France like it has never before? 12 minutes ago

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

New high for the Middle East! Syria ambassador to France L. Shakkour both resigned LIVE on French TV & denounced the news on Syria'n TV! 18 minutes ago

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

on live TV the syrian ambassador to france resigned. syrian state tv says she did not.9 minutes ago

The syrian ambassador to France did resign. it is not true that she will be on state tv.6 minutes ago

syrian regime is spreading rumors to hide the fact that the ambassador resigned.7 minutes ago

[visionary]

UGH! Just great! :mad:

Stupid stubborn regimes.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/20116717337139621.html

Yemenis protest after talks rejected

Thousands gather outside vice-president's residence after official says no dialogue can take place until Saleh returns.

Last Modified: 08 Jun 2011 02:55

Yemen's government has rejected an offer from the Joint Meeting Parties (JMP), the country's umbrella opposition group, for talks about a political transition.

A high-ranking government source said no dialogue can take place until Ali Abdullah Saleh, the president, returns to Yemen following medical treatment in Saudi Arabia.

The response spurred on thousands of protesters to gather in front of the residence of Abdu-Rabbu Mansour , the vice-president, on Tuesday, demanding the acting leader form a transitional council.

"The people want to form a transitional council, we will not sleep, we will not sit until the council is formed," the protesters chanted.

The demonstrators called for a"million-man march" for Saleh to stay in Saudi Arabia, where he has been treated for injuries since an attack on his palace on Friday.

Hadi was tasked with running the government after Saleh left for Saudi Arabia earlier this week after he was seriously injured in a rocket attack on his compound.

A source close to Saleh dismissed the JMP's offer as "ridiculous," and said no political dialogue could take place until Saleh returned. "Saleh is still the president of Yemen," the source said.

"The answer of the government was the following, that Saleh remains the ultimate constitutional authority of the government ... So basically, they are telling them 'sorry, we are not going to talk about it'," Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra said about the government's response.

"[The opposition is] under tremendous pressure from the thousands of pro-democracy activists across the country to take a very aggressive role and jump in, reinforcing a new agenda in Yemen.

"If they fail to do that, definitely, they will lose more support in Yemen."

Meanwhile, tribesmen and army troops clashed near the presidential palace in Yemen's second-largest city, Taiz.

A shell fired by a tank near the palace landed in a nearby residential area - killing four people, including three children, according to the Associated Press.

Armed groups backed by the opposition and local tribes have deployed in large parts of Taiz to protect installations and neighbourhoods after security forces vanished two days ago, residents said.

"I consider Taiz to have fallen under the control of the dissidents," Sheikh Hammoud Saeed al-Mikhlafi, head of the tribal council in Taiz, told the AFP news agency by telephone.

---------- Post added June-8th-2011 at 12:08 AM ----------

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/201167202822354710.html

Syrian town braces for military assault

Jisr al-Shughur residents flee to Turkish border, a day after government vowed retaliation for "deadly ambush".

Last Modified: 08 Jun 2011 03:03

Residents of the northern Syrian town of Jisr al-Shughur say they fear a military crackdown, a day after the government vowed retaliation for the alleged killings of 120 security personnel.

Locals said many residents were fleeing the area for the Turkish border about 20km away, ahead of the expected assault.

"People were struck by fear and panic after the government statements last night, it's clear they are preparing for a major massacre,'' a resident told the AP news agency, referring to Mohammed Ibrahim al-Shaar's, the interior minister, warning that "the state will act firmly, with force".

Syria's Al-Watan newspaper said on Tuesday that a "security operation" would be launched in the town.

Security forces have been conducting military operations in Jisr al-Shughur for several days as part of a crackdown on anti-government protests. Activists say 42 people have been killed.

One of the activists said residents had seen troops approaching the town on Tuesday from Aleppo, Syria's second city, and from Latakia on the coast.

State television reported that 120 members of the security forces were killed in an ambush on Monday by "armed gangs" who had "mutilated bodies and thrown others into the Assi river" and burnt public buildings.

Activists said the security forces were shot by government troops, after they refused to open fire on civilians.

A statement on Facebook - signed "residents of Jisr al-Shughur" - said "the deaths among soldiers and police were the consequence of defections in the army" and denied state media claims of armed gangs in their region.

Ammar Qurabi, head of the Egypt-based National Organisation for Human Rights in Syria, said it was unclear how such a large number of officers were killed.

Edited June 8, 2011 by visionary

[visionary]

SYRIA

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

British PM says London and Paris will present the UN SC today with a draft resolution condemning Syria for it's use of force 4 hours ago

UN SC meets this evening to discuss draft resolution condemning repression in Syria 13 minutes ago

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/2011685648824776.html

European powers step up pressure on Syria

European nations seek UN Security Council resolution condemning crackdown in Syria as Syrians brace for more violence.

Last Modified: 08 Jun 2011 11:33

European powers are increasing pressure on the UN Security Council to break its silence on events in Syria following a bloody government crackdown on pro-democracy protests in the country.

Britain, France, Germany and Portugal have circulated a draft resolution that would condemn the crackdown and demand an immediate end to the violence in Syria.

However, the proposal falls short of calling for military action or further UN sanctions against the Syrian government.

"Today in New York, Britain and France will be tabling a resolution at the Security Council condemning the repression and demanding accountability and humanitarian access," David Cameron, the British prime minister, said on Wednesday.

"And if anyone votes against that resolution or tries to veto it, that should be on their conscience," he told parliament members.

A day earlier, Alain Juppe, the French foreign minister, condemned what he called "the repression" in Syria, saying it was getting worse.

"The massacres are on the rise. It is inconceivable that the United Nations remains silent on such a matter," Juppe said. "We are working with our UK friends to have as large a majority as possible on the Security Council. I think we have to move to a vote so that everyone can assume their responsibilities."

But Russia, citing NATO's inconclusive bombing of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, said it would veto intervention against Syria in the Security Council.

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria

1 hour 34 min ago

European Union nations are preparing a fresh round of sanctions against Syria that target its companies, a senior European diplomat told reporters.

The diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the the additional sanctions were part of a concerted effort to increase pressure on the government of president al-Assad to end a crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators.

"We are working on a third round of sanctions that would target companies, the economic sector," the diplomat told reporters.

The EU has already passed two rounds of sanctions against Syria this year. The first imposed travel restrictions and asset freezes on up to 13 Syrian officials for their part in the crackdown but excluded Assad. The second round added Assad and nine other senior members of the Syrian government to the travel bans and asset freezes.

Edited June 8, 2011 by visionary

[visionary]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/08/us-syria-idUSLDE73N02P20110608

Turkey offers Syrians refuge, West pushes U.N. vote

Turkey threw open its borders to anxious Syrian refugees on Wednesday and urged their government to curb violence against civilians after thousands abandoned a town near the Turkish frontier in fear of a military assault.

With Western public opinion startled by the bloodshed that has met Syrians' efforts to emulate other Arabs in casting off autocratic rule, Britain and France prepared to ask the U.N. Security Council to condemn President Bashar al-Assad -- though there seems no appetite for Libya-style military intervention.

Assad's government has accused armed bands of killing scores of its security men in the northwestern town of Jisr al-Shughour and vowed to send in the army to carry out their "national duty to restore security" there. Troops with tanks have deployed near the town, prompting many of its 50,000 people to flee.

"We are monitoring developments in Syria with concern," said Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, who has long sought warm relations with Assad. "Syria should change its attitude toward civilians and should take its attitude to a more tolerant level.

"It is out of the question for Turkey to close its doors to refugees coming from Syria."

[visionary]

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/20116815955110282.html

UN Security Council ponders Syria resolution

Council members consider draft resolution condemning crackdown in Syria ahead of vote in coming days.

Last Modified: 08 Jun 2011 17:04

A European resolution demanding Syria end its violent crackdown against pro-democracy protesters could be put to a vote in the coming days at the United Nations despite the threat of a Russian veto, the British UN envoy said.

The UN Security Council debated a draft resolution on Wednesday condemning Syria's actions.

The draft was submitted by France and Britain during a council meeting at which the 15-nation body was briefed by a senior UN official on the unrest in Syria.

"We would like a vote as soon as possible, before the end of the week," Mark Lyall Grant, the British representative to the UN, said.

Russia and China, which both hold vetoes, have made clear they dislike the idea of council involvement, which they say could help to destabilise a strategic Middle Eastern country.

Moscow has long been an ally and arms supplier of Syria.

However, the proposal falls short of calling for military action or further UN sanctions against the Syrian government.

In a challenge to potential opponents, David Cameron, the British prime minister, told the UK parliament earlier on Wednesday that "if anyone votes against that resolution or tries to veto it, that should be on their conscience".

A day earlier, Alain Juppe, the French foreign minister, condemned what he called "the repression" in Syria, saying it was getting worse.

"The massacres are on the rise. It is inconceivable that the United Nations remains silent on such a matter," Juppe said.

"We are working with our UK friends to have as large a majority as possible on the Security Council. I think we have to move to a vote so that everyone can assume their responsibilities."

Russia, citing NATO's inconclusive bombing of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, said it would veto intervention against Syria in the Security Council.

---------- Post added June-8th-2011 at 11:10 PM ----------

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria

7 hours 25 min ago

Our bureau at the UN in New York has obtained the draft resolution. Below are some of the highlights:

* Considering that the widespread and systematic attacks currently taking place in Syria by the authorities against its people may amount to crimes against humanity.

* Stressing that the only solution to the current crisis in Syria is through an inclusive and Syrian-led political process, noting the stated intention of the government of Syria to take steps for reform, regretting the lack of progress in implementation, and stressing the need for the Syrian government to implement reforms fully.

* Condemns the systematic violation of human rights, including the killings, arbitrary detentions, disappearances and torture of peaceful demonstrators, human rights defenders and journalists by the Syrian authorities and violence against security forces and expresses deep regret at the deaths of hundreds of people

* Demands an immediate end to the violence a

nd for steps to address the legitimate aspirations of the population and calls upon all sides to act with utmost restraint, respect human rights law and international humanitarian law and refrain from reprisals

* Calls upon the Syrian authorities to:

- immediately lift the siege of affected towns, restore medial, fuel and electricity supplies and communications and allow immediate unfettered and sustained access for international human rights monitors and humanitarian agencies and workers

- implement reforms aimed at allowing genuine political participation, inclusive dialogue and effective exercise of fundamental freedoms, immediately release all prisoners of conscience and arbitrarily detained persons and immediately lift restrictions on all forms of media

- launch a credible and impartial investigation in accordance with its internal obligations and hold to account those responsible for attacks against peaceful demonstrations.