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

[visionary]

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

Another cease fire ended with gas. Some protesters throwing molotov ****tails from top of old AUC library. 1 hour ago

This latest cease fire was broken by a few police, but those who did were punished by their comrades. 45 minutes ago

There really seems to be a legitimate effort to impose a true cease fire by police and protesters. 41 minutes ago

Unfortunately the cease fires will never happen. Instigators on both sides always kick off the violence. 17 minutes ago

Protesters inside the old AUC library are throwing anything and everything at the police.

5 minutes ago

They are even throwing stuff at fellow protesters urging them to stop.

5 minutes ago

The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Police and protesters unite against those throwing stuff from AUC's old library. 2 minutes ago

Edited November 23, 2011 by visionary

[visionary]

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

Protesters are taking items from a girl's school to erect a barricade on Mohamed Mahmoud street. 1 hour ago

The majority of cease fires I've seen have been broken by the protesters. Some of the peaceful protesters are trying to protect the police. 1 hour ago

Police are advancing toward Tahrir. Captured protester is being beaten and hauled away. 34 minutes ago

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

Human rights officials tell BBC that "military grade" CS gas (not routine crowd control stuff) being used in Tahrir. Sent off for analysis. 20 minutes ago

[visionary]

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

After 5 days of fighting there is an amazing amount of debris in the street, burnt cars and dumpster, tables, desks, chairs, rocks... 5 hours ago

AUC's old library is on fire. Black smoke is pouring out of it. 4 hours ago

To clarify the old AUC building on fire is at the corner of Mohamed Mahmoud and Falaky. 4 hours ago

Protesters throw objects from the roof at the police while flames shoot from AUC's Greek campus. 4 hours ago

With all the tear gas it will be hard for firefighters to battle the fire at AUC's greek campus. 3 hours ago

Mohamed Mahmoud street is empty of police. There are only protesters left on the street.2 hours ago

Tear gas fired again. Crowd disperses. Rocks are flying. 44 minutes ago

Gun shots ringing out. People are fleeing. 32 minutes ago

Small fires line Mohamed Mahmoud street. 30 minutes ago

Heavy amount of weapon fire on Mohamed Mahmoud street. Tear gas and rubber bullets. 13 minutes ago

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

43 min 22 sec ago

Al Jazeera online producer Asad Hashim sent through this image of a human chain that had been formed in front of riot police to prevent clashes with protesters. The ceasefire has reportedly broken, however, under a rain of tear gas.

British-born Egyptian actor Khalid Abdalla tweeted that an amry armoured personnel carrier knocked over a barricade near the sister of a well-known "martyr," Mina Danial, before the ceasefire ended (see tweets below):

18 min 22 sec ago

A screenshot from our sister channel Al Jazeera Mubasher Misr showing Mohamed Mahmoud Street now, after a ceasefire broke down:

13 min 22 sec ago -

Intense scenes on Mohamed Mahmoud Street, where just an hour earlier protesters had formed a human chain to prevent fighting between their comrades and riot police:

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

@bencnnThey showed them arguing at state TV, the army general wants CSF to withdraw but the police gen refused & showed hesitance 26 minutes ago

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

Saw Army soldiers trying to stop Central Security Forces from throwing rocks, shooting teargas, but they were outnumbered.

It is clear there is a serious disagreement between the Army and Interior Ministry over how to deal with the battle off

Egypt army trying to distance itself frm Interior Minister, police. Officer told me "they have very bad rputation from many years."

Egypt Grand Mufti "urges police to put down weapons, never aim firearms at Egyptians, avoid clashes w/our sons in Tahrir." Significant 39 minutes ago

Saw lots of soldiers, police hit by their own tear gas today blowing back on them. Odd, they didn't seem to enjoy their own medicine. 13 minutes ago

Photo: Shaikh urging people to leave Mohamed Mahmoud St. And go back to Tahrir http://pic.twitter.com/SMByMmg9 10 minutes ago

---------- Post added November-23rd-2011 at 11:17 AM ----------

YEMEN

Finally!

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

BREAKING: Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh signs Gulf Arab proposal to transfer power. -EC 9 minutes ago

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

Saleh is the Arab leader who got the best deal - immunity, and ticket to NYC for treatment, even though he looks quite healthy 8 minutes ago

Great now he's giving a speech blaming Zionists for trying to kill him and his buddies.

This guy is our ally? And he's blaming foreign powers...real original.

I hope his son doesn't take over now anyway. The protesters in Yemen aren't exactly happy as it is.

These dictators don't know when to shut the **** up.

Edited November 23, 2011 by visionary

[visionary]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/23/bahrain-inquiry-blames-security-forces?CMP=twt_fd

Bahrain inquiry accuses security forces of brutality and torture

Bahrain's western-backed security forces used "excessive force" and torture during the crackdown on the Pearl revolution this year, according to an official report [PDF] published as new protests erupted.

King Hamad Al Khalifa welcomed the report by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry and pledged reforms. However, he ignored its finding that Iran was not involved in unrest in the Gulf island state, and blamed Tehran's "propaganda" for fuelling sectarian strife.

The 500-page document detailed the use by Bahrain's information ministry and the National Security Agency of "a systematic practice of physical and psychological mistreatment, which in many cases amounted to torture".

The Gulf island state's government pledged there would be no immunity for anyone suspected of abuses. "All those who have broken the law or ignored lawful orders and instructions will be held accountable," a statement said.

Tension mounted in the hours before publication of the report, and police fired teargas to disperse protesters, with one man killed in unclear circumstances. A photojournalist was briefly detained.

I wonder if the report mentioned those who had been tortured and/or beaten to death.

---------- Post added November-23rd-2011 at 12:23 PM ----------

EGYPT

Watching AJE right now, and the crowd in Tahrir seems like it might be one of the biggest yet.

There is a lot of tear gas being fired into the air there still though.

---------- Post added November-23rd-2011 at 12:38 PM ----------

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

Police is firing tear gas from M. Mahmoud st. to inside Tahrir square. So much for peace treaty. 7 minutes ago

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

On AJ Mubasher looks like CSF standing on Mohamed Mahmoud facing #Tahrir got surprised by sudden protester advance down side alley 9 minutes ago

Riot police just fired a large barrage of tear gas down Mohamed Mahmoud Street, impossible to see other side of the fighting. 3 minutes ago

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

Massive attack on mohamed mahmoud. All protesters fled down the street. 5 minutes ago

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

"@StateDept: Egypt govt has a responsibility 2 restrain security forces, allow people 2 express selves peacefully. http://go.usa.gov/IuP" 13 minutes ago

So the first day the US made a statement urging both sides to use restraint.

The past two days they have come out with statements mosatly against the security forces.

Edited November 23, 2011 by visionary

[visionary]

CAIRO

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

The police own Mohamed Mahmoud street. Protesters don't seem to be challenging them too much 2 hours ago

Protesters are starting to push back against the police. Although, there seems to be more police this time. 1 hour ago

Protesters are gaining more ground against the police, pushing them back toward the Ministry of Interior. 41 minutes ago

ALEXANDRIA

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

Now civilians making line infront of army to prevent angry group from advncing http://yfrog.com/j2a7itvj 1 hour ago

More releases [protesters who had been arrested...probably].. Ppl cheering, clapping 51 minutes ago

This is making no sense!! The barricade of ppl and soldiers dismantles, protest advances then stops 49 minutes ago

Army leaving!!!! Tear gas begins 49 minutes ago

Now ppl chanting 'The people and army hand in hand' I am utterly confused 48 minutes ago

Of the handful of injured protesters, 2 shot w rubber bullets, inc teenager shot in neck in critical condtn 13 minutes ago

(from the first tweet)

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

SAUDI ARABIA

Wow.

Protesters chanting: "Death to Al Saud!" during today's funeral of the two men who were killed in Qatif http://bit.ly/sRrp2p 45 minutes ago

__c2ubecmgY

Edited November 23, 2011 by visionary

[visionary]

http://www.thestate.com/2011/11/23/2057285/with-dream-in-reach-egypts-brotherhood.html

With dream in reach, Egypt's Brotherhood stumbles

CAIRO — For months, Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood has focused single-mindedly on this moment - parliamentary elections beginning Monday that the fundamentalist group is expected to dominate. Now it may be a pyrrhic victory.

The Brotherhood stayed on the sidelines of this week's protests by secular liberal groups demanding the country's military rulers step down, hurting its image among key sectors of the Egyptian public who accuse the group of siding with the generals and selling out democracy demands to gain power.

By staying out of the protests, "the Brotherhood has made it clear that they want elections because they want the seat of power, no matter what that seat looks like," said Abdel-Jalil el-Sharnoubi, who once headed the Brotherhood's website until he quit the group earlier this year in frustration with its leadership.

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

Three Egyptian protesters killed on Wednesday clashes in Tahrir; 10 year old child shot in the head - Priest http://bit.ly/vfGL6E AFP Arabic 37 minutes ago

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

Honestly I have never seen so many female doctors in one place in my life. So proud http://yfrog.com/odwlhkj 15 hours ago

---------

Earlier today Mona Eltahaway was arrested in Cairo and is apparently being held in the Interior Ministry.

She's a fairly well known Egyptian American journalist on twitter and on radio and cable tv news programs.

Here's her twitter account

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

Here are some of the responses on twitter to her apparent arrest:

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

WTH our friend @monaeltahawy has been arrested, FreeMona free all our activists in Egypt down with SCAF down with Tantawi 2 hours ago

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

Can someone explain to me why the hell are Maged and Mona Al Tahawy arrested? My NYC friends and her friends r frantic!!! 2 hours ago

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

Scaf ... u just opened on ur selves a new front by beating and arresting @monaeltahawy - The whole World is now watching U --- #FreeMona 2 hours ago

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

@FarahSaafan #freemona 2 hours ago

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

@monaeltahawy is a hero, she left the comfort & safety of the US to join protesters in #tahrir. She's now arrested along w/ many. #freemona 1 hour ago

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

@StateDept says that @MonaEltahawy arrest is "very concerning" and that Embassy is "engaging authorities." #FreeMona 52 minutes ago

[visionary]

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

Scaf announcement on #Egypt elections due midday. Postponement v likely. So too more chaos. 37 minutes ago

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

Egypt extends detention of three Americans accused of throwing molotov ****tails, searches for 2 others http://bit.ly/tRxsaE Arabic - Photo 28 minutes ago

Arresting American students for using molotovs, eh?

When will they arrest themselves?

WATCH THIS:

Vk3H9j4uFT0

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

Check this video out Molotov ****tails distributed among riot police in Alexandria http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk3H9j4uFT0&feature=share 38 minutes ago

Edited November 24, 2011 by visionary

[visionary]

Mona's free now.. Here's what she had to say afterwards:

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

I AM FREE 7 minutes ago

12 hours with Interior Ministry ****s and military intelligence combined. Can barely type - must go xray arms after CSF pigs beat me. 4 minutes ago

A thousand thanks for all well wishes and support. **** EgyPolice. 4 minutes ago

I can barely imagine what my family and loved ones were going through those 12 hours-I know they were worried about me to begin with. Sorry 3 minutes ago

Thank God a political activist in MOI with me lent me his phone to tweet. Right after my tweet his battery died 2 minutes ago

She later goes on to mention the ways in which she was beaten and sexually assaulted.

Check to the link to her twitter page to see for yourself.

I'm not entirely comfortable posting the details.

I hate to think though what people without her connections are going through.

In other news, Egypt's rulers/military custodians are giving a press conference now

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

Egypt's military conducting a press conference about elections and Tahrir violence live on AJE now: http://www.aljazeera.com/watch_now/ 11 minutes ago

Gen. Shahin: We have a new law that allows ambassadors outside the country to oversee expat voting. 6 minutes ago

SCAF recap: Echoed earlier remarks, said army never fired on people, not interested in power, priority is transfer to civilian authority. 5 minutes ago

Now the army's claim of not shooting anyone may technically be true.

Perhaps no soldier has directly fired on people themselves.

They have however allowed the police to do a lot of beating, killing, maiming, etc.

AND...they have also tortured and detained people indefinitely for political dissent.

And who knows how much of what has gone on, Tantawi or others gave orders for.

Maybe not a lot, maybe.... But it's pretty hard to imagine they didn't know what was going on.

Apparently they are also saying now that they won't appoint the new government...just the new PM.

He will appoint the new cabinet...without any say from them....supposedly.

But uh, well....far be it from to say that they're lying.

But they don't exactly seem to have a great track record at giving away power to the civilian government.

For instance here's something that a keen observer notices from the press conference going on right now:

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

Weird moment just now when the head of elections paused and sought the nod from SCAF to continue speaking. 6 minutes ago

Now I'm off to bed now and am excited for today's Thanksgiving.

But, I hope we all keep in mind while we dine on our delicious food and enjoy some wonderful time with our families and relatives that there are those out there not so fortunate.

There are many people who are isolated from their familes and likely any delicious food because they are in prison somewhere for speaking their minds.

Or on the run from killers and torturers because they stood up for their rights.

Or standing together day after day to come out and protest and risk it being the last day they ever do so because they want what we probably all take for granted from time to time.

Anyway, good night or morning, and have a great time today.

Make sure you all let your family know how much you love them.

I'll see you all later.

Edited November 24, 2011 by visionary

[FanboyOf91]

The popularity of Twitter has soared in the Arab world over the past year, a study published yesterday revealed — reflecting the key role of social-networking sites in the “Arab Spring” revolutions. Tweets posted in Arabic rocketed from 99,000 a day in October 2010 to more than 2 million last month, social-media monitor Semiocast showed in its study into the most popular languages used on the microblogging site.

Arabic is now the eighth most popular language on Twitter.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/tweet_life_for_arabs_JnPx0BOB8hwqhQJTyM8TJK

[visionary]

http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/25/world/africa/egypt-protests/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Kamal Ganzouri, who served as prime minister under President Hosni Mubarak, regained the post Friday as competing protests drew tens of thousands of demonstrators in the capital.

"We are here to serve our nation," said Ganzouri, who served as Mubarak's defense minister for 20 years.

Ganzouri told reporters that Hussein Tantawi, field marshal of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and Egypt's dominant force since Mubarak's ouster in February, "made it clear to me, he is no longer willing to stay in power. If he told me otherwise, I'd not have accepted to take this role."

"Of course, the new government cannot be formed before Monday's parliamentary elections," Ganzouri said.

Tahrir Square is packed today, but even though they aren't exactly happy there with the latest move by the SCAF, or the new/old pm, they are in a celebratory mood.

They've been hooting off fireworks and having fun all day reportedly because they feel freer to express themselves in Tahrir.

There is also news from the just resigned cabinet, who I suppose is staying on until a new one can be formed that the elections (the first round of the parliamentary vote) will be extended to two days instead of just one. So Egyptians will vote on monday and tuesday...if they decide to vote.

Check out http://twitter.com/#!/shadihamid's twitter feed to see what happened when he went to a pro-SCAF rally and was later taken to a police station by an overly patriotic cab driver.

[visionary]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/26/us-yemen-election-idUSTRE7AP0K220111126

Yemeni vice president fixes February 21 election date

Yemeni Vice President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi issued a decree on Saturday calling a presidential election for February 21 next year, the Saba state news agency reported

It remains to be seen though whether there is anyone that the youth protesters, the opposition parties, and the establishment can agree on supporting.

The opposition has backed the GCC deal and the transition, but the youth in Yemen, at least in Sanaa and I'm assuming in Taiz, consider the vp and much of the opposition politicians to be part of Saleh's regime.

And most of the protesters are still out there protesting and in some cases being killed.

---------- Post added November-26th-2011 at 12:43 PM ----------

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2011/nov/25/egyptian-military-defector-army-video?CMP=twt_gu

Egyptian military defector: 'I saw people dying and the army gave the orders for us to stand and watch'

Interesting video, and he also claims that many other soildiers have attended the protests to support the people in Tahrir while dressing in plain clothes.

Edited November 26, 2011 by visionary

[visionary]

It seems like a lot of protesters changed their mind and decided to vote after all.

The voter numbers so far were pretty high today.

And there's still another day to vote.

One thing of note: Muslim Brotherhood campaign folks were out and about at most polling stations, in what quite a few are labling as illegal last day campaigning.

(there were reportedly others doing so also, but the MB seem to have been by far the most visable)

Another thing to think about: don't be suprised to see some good results by one or two islamist groups not part of the MB.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/28/world/africa/egypt-elections/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Polls close after first day of Egyptian elections

Egyptian election officials sealed ballot boxes with candle wax Monday after the first day of the country's parliamentary elections.

Long lines of voters streamed into polling places for the historic vote -- the first since an improbable revolt toppled one of the world's longest-serving rulers.

Streets that saw violence just days ago were largely calm, and the atmosphere was celebratory as voters cast their ballots in the first round of elections to decide who will sit in the upper and lower houses of Parliament. The lower house will be tasked with drafting Egypt's new constitution.

Problems surfaced at some polling areas, however, including the late opening of polling stations, unstamped ballots and a delay in the arrival of ballots. State TV reported that 25 people were injured in election-related violence.

A total of 700 complaints were filed, according to Judge Abdel Moez Ibrahim, head of Egypt's election committee.

Fliers supporting various parties were handed out in parts of Cairo in violation of election laws. Some people standing in line used them to fan themselves.

"Yes, there have been some limited reports of campaigning outside polls, which is illegal, but the military contained the situation and stopped them or confiscated their campaigning material," said Ibrahim, who promised a smoother process on Tuesday.

Edited November 28, 2011 by visionary

[winstonspencer]

who attacked iran?

[visionary]

who attacked iran?

I wasn't sure what you were refering to, when I read this earlier.

They just a minute ago said something about a blast at an Iranian military compound on CNN though.

(didn't really say anything else) Was that what you're talking about?

[winstonspencer]

I wasn't sure what you were refering to, when I read this earlier.

They just a minute ago said something about a blast at an Iranian military compound on CNN though.

(didn't really say anything else) Was that what you're talking about?

yes, exactly.

Fars (iran news) put it up and then took it down earlier. There is a picture of the smoke plume.. Its rather large.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/report-explosion-rocks-iran-city-of-isfahan-home-to-key-nuclear-facility-1.398312

Edited November 29, 2011 by winstonspencer

[visionary]

The Iran incident still doesn't seem to be getting much coverage in the news.

On somewhat different topic, Kuwait is going through some interesting times now.

http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=NzE0MzQ2NDc4Mw==

KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah yesterday accepted the resignation of the government and asked the prime minister and other Cabinet members to run urgent affairs until a new government is formed.

Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah submitted his government's resignation during an emergency Cabinet meeting chaired by the Amir to discuss the political dilemma that has hit the country due to a bitter dispute between the government and the opposition.

The opposition meanwhile staged the largest rally so far with organizers claiming the crowds reached 90,000, the biggest ever in Kuwait's history, with speakers demanding the dissolution of the National Assembly and the release of 24 activists detained for storming the Assembly.

EDIT: 6:13 pm est 11/29/11

More on Kuwait:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/29/us-kuwait-idUSTRE7AS2SS20111129

Outgoing defense minister to be Kuwait PM: Al Jazeera

Here's an interesting look at the different groups of folks behind the protests in Kuwait.

Also I had no idea how well off the average people there are.

I guess it it shows that money isn't everything.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iNbwvkUY2Ts3SM46cztj2vxkROMw?docId=CNG.e39574da76c565cc5f310844b7ae501d.411

Youths take wealthy Kuwait into Arab Spring

Edited November 29, 2011 by visionary

[visionary]

On the other hand there is this:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/29/iranian-students-storm-british-embassy?CMP=twt_gu

Iranian students storm British embassy in Tehran

Iranian protesters have forced their way into the British embassy in Tehran, tearing down the Union flag and throwing documents from the windows.

The attack came two days after the Iranian parliament voted to expel the British ambassador, Dominick Chilcott, in retaliation against economic sanctions imposed by the west over the country's disputed nuclear programme.

Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported on Tuesday that a small group of students chanting "death to England" had replaced the British flag with the Iranian Flag. British and Israeli flags were also reported to have been burnt during the protests.

Another semi-official news agency, Ilna, said the protesters had "conquered" the embassy. The episode was shown live on state-run Press TV.

Edited November 29, 2011 by visionary

[SkinInsite]

We seen this movie before.

[visionary]

There's been a lot of clashes today in Cairo, first in tahrir with venders and security getting into it and then thugs attacking protesters on a nearby side street, shooting and throwing rocks and molotov ****tails at them.

The latter has been going on for around an hour now it seems. All this started around the time the polls closed.

Edited November 29, 2011 by visionary

[visionary]

Some more info on the embassy storming by "students" in Iran:

http://www.enduringamerica.com/home/2011/11/30/the-latest-from-iran-30-november-after-the-attack-on-the-bri.html#0625

[visionary]

An update on the Egyptian Election

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/01/us-egypt-election-idUSTRE7AR08V20111201

The Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's oldest Islamist group, says its new Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) is set to win about 40 percent of seats allocated to party lists in this week's vote, which passed off peacefully, albeit with many irregularities.

FJP officials say the party also leads the race for individual seats that make up a third of the total in the poll.

Al-Nour Party, one of several newly formed ultra-conservative Salafi Islamist groups, said on Thursday that it expects to pick up 20 percent of assembly seats overall.

The liberal multi-party Egyptian Bloc has said it is on track to secure about a fifth of votes for party lists.

"For the first time in Egypt we don't see a political intention by the state to forge the elections," said Magdy Abdel Halim, coordinator of an EU-backed group of election monitors.

He said the infractions observed did not affect the legitimacy of a vote held in a "reasonably fair atmosphere."

Egypt's April 6 youth movement, a prime mover in the revolt against Mubarak, said an Islamist win should not cause concern.

"No one should worry about the victory of one list or political current. This is democracy and this great nation will not allow anyone to exploit it again," its Facebook page said.

[visionary]

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2011/12/2011125125051898670.html

Egypt vote turnout downgraded amid run-off

Egypt's election commission has lowered its turnout figure from a first round of voting in the country's parliamentary polls from 62 per cent to 52 per cent, citing a mistake in counting.

The admission on Monday came as Egyptians again flocked to the polls to cast their ballots in run-off elections for 52 seats in which no clear winner emerged.

"The accurate percentage of attendance in the first round was 52 per cent, not 62 per cent," Abdel Moez Ibrahim, head of the High Elections Commission, told Al Jazeera at a news conference in Cairo.

Islamist parties captured an overwhelming majority of votes in the first round of Egypt's parliamentary elections, setting up a power struggle with the much weaker liberals who were behind the initial uprising that toppled former president Hosni Mubarak 10 months ago.

The Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) has been the biggest winner, taking 36.6 per cent of the vote, and it looked set to make further gains in the run-off.

Its stiffest competition came from the Nour Party, a religious group that wants to impose strict Islamic law.

The Nour Party also made a strong showing with nearly a quarter of the 9.7 million valid ballots cast, according to results released on Sunday.

The tallies offered only a partial indication of how the new parliament will look. There are still two more rounds of voting in 18 of the country's 27 provinces over the coming month.

[visionary]

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2011/12/2011124173124116260.html

Putin party suffers setback in Russia vote

Russia's Vladimir Putin-led ruling party is on course to retain power in the country's legislative elections but with a greatly reduced share of the vote, according to the country's central election commission.

Preliminary results show Putin's United Russia party has taken 49.5 per cent of the vote, or about 30.39 million votes after Sunday's election.

That is likely to translate to 238 seats in Russia's 450-seat State Duma lower house of parliament, Vladimir Churov, chief of Russia's Central Election Commission, said on Monday.

The forecast would give the prime minister's party a relatively slim 13-seat majority in the Duma.

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

Several thousand protest against Putin in Moscow in perhaps the largest opposition rally in years - @AP 1 hour ago

Check this guy's twitter for some interesting reports/updates/rumors from Russia.

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

Never seen such a demo in Russia. People hanging over bulvar fences, on pavements opposite. Thousands of young people. Start of something. 1 hour ago

Not certain how reliable he is though, since I just found him.

Edited December 5, 2011 by visionary

[visionary]

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2011/12/20111268115389456.html

Arrests in Moscow after anti-Putin rally

Hundreds of Russian opposition supporters are being held by police following overnight protests in Moscow against the results of Sunday's parliamentary elections.

About 250 people were detained on Tuesday morning and face being held for up to 15 days, said Olga Shorina, a spokeswoman for the Solidarnost (Solidarity) activist group that organised the protest.

Several thousand people took to the streets in central Moscow late on Monday to protest against alleged fraud and voting irregularities after Vladimir Putin's United Russia retained power, albeit with a greatly reduced share of the vote.

Police said they had arrested 300 people including Ilya Yashin, a prominent activist, and Alexei Navalny, an opposition blogger, after the protesters marched towards Lubyanka Square where the headquarters of Russia's FSB security service is located.

Oh, Russia.

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

Reuters: Russian foreign ministry says U.S. criticism of election is "unacceptable" 10 minutes ago

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-712863?hpt=hp_t3

Thousands of protesters shout "Putin is a thief"

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2011/12/201112614355941632.html

Emir dissolves Kuwait's parliament

Kuwait's ruler has dissolved parliament and set the Gulf nation toward elections, citing "deteriorating conditions" amid an increasingly bitter political showdown over alleged high-level corruption.

The decision by the emir, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, came on Tuesday, less than a week after he named a new prime minister and parliamentary sessions were put on hold.

Elections must be held within 60 days, which could complicate plans by the US defence department to station thousands more of its soldiers in Kuwait as part of troop shifts around the region, following the US withdrawal from Iraq at the end of the month.

Edited December 6, 2011 by visionary

[visionary]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/07/us-mexico-libya-gaddafi-idUSTRE7B61EB20111207

Mexico says foiled plan to smuggle in Gaddafi son

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/07/us-egypt-idUSL5E7N63C620111207

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood said on Wednesday it won most seats in a first-round parliamentary vote, with early tallies suggesting liberals had backed some of its candidates to block hardline Salafis.

But the real surprise in the opening ballot was the success of the ultra-conservative Salafi al-Nour party, which secured 24 percent of the vote and went head-to-head with the Brotherhood in 24 of the run-offs.

Official results are not due until Thursday, but leaked tallies suggested secular moderates might have rallied behind the Brotherhood to thwart the Salafis.