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Sunday, April 3, 2011

Bahrain Bans Opposition Newspaper

MANAMA (AP) - Bahraini authorities banned the country's main opposition newspaper on Sunday in a widening effort to muzzle anti-government media and crackdown on the Shiite opposition in this Sunni-ruled Gulf nation.

Al-Wasat, the country's the most popular newspaper, did not appear Sunday after Bahrain's Information Ministry ordered it to close down. Al-Wasat's online edition also was blocked. The state-run Bahrain News Agency accused the paper of "unethical" coverage of the uprising against the country's rulers.

Bahrain has sharply tightened Internet and media controls under the military rule imposed last month after weeks of protests and clashes by groups seeking to break the monarchy's grip on power in this strategic Gulf nation, which is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.

"This is an attempt to silence independent news in Bahrain," said Mansoor al-Jamri, the editor-in-chief of Al-Wasat and one of its main shareholders. "There is now no other voice, but that of the state. The news blackout is so intense."

Bahrain's king declared emergency rule last month and cracked down on protests by the country's Shiite majority for more rights and freedom against a Sunni dynasty that has ruled Bahrain for two centuries.

About 1,500 troops from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other Sunni-led Gulf states also entered Bahrain at the government's invitation to help quell the rebellion and deepening the kingdom's sectarian divide.

The unprecedented political unrest in the tiny nation of 700,000 has also inflamed tensions between the peninsula's Sunni heavyweight, Saudi Arabia, and neighboring Iran, a Shiite theocracy.

At least 20 people have been killed since the protests began in mid-February and hundreds of protesters, activists and opposition leaders have been detained by the authorities. Bloggers and journalists have been threatened by armed thugs and harassed by authorities.

Analysis: "Bahrain's government is attempting to dismantle its domestic protest movement piece-by-piece. Earlier, the protests' symbolic center was demolished when authorities tore down Manama's Pearl Monument. Now, authorities are targeting the organizational capabilities and support structure of the movement. While this may initially have an effect that authorities want, it is unlikely that this move will diminish Bahrain's protest movement in the long run."

Read the Full Article here: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_BAHRAIN_PROTESTS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-04-03-09-01-30

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Syrian Crackdown Follows Protests

DAMASCUS (BBC) - Syrian security forces have arrested dozens of people, hours after clashes at pro-democracy protests in several cities left at least seven people dead, activists say. Most arrests came in the southern city of Deraa and the Damascus suburb of Duma, scene of the worst violence.

The government said its forces were not responsible for the deaths, blaming them on "armed groups".

Coverage of the protests is difficult to gauge because of media restrictions. Some reports said as many as 15 people had died in Friday's clashes.

An eyewitness told the Associated Press news agency that there was tension in Duma, with security forces patrolling the streets and checking documents. Other residents said bodies of some of the dead had been withheld, amid fears that funerals would spark further violence.

A joint statement by eight human rights groups, quoted by AFP news agency, said 46 people were arrested.

President Bashar al-Assad said earlier this week that demonstrations were part of a foreign "plot", but he has agreed to examine unpopular emergency laws in place since 1963.

Activists and rights groups estimate that between 60 and 130 people have died in clashes in the past two weeks. Government officials say the death toll is closer to 30.

Analysis: "Whether or not protester deaths are connected to the Assad regime, they will be perceived as such. The Baath government should take care not to initiate violence with protesters. It would also be in the government's interest to protect protesters from these 'armed groups' if they are, in fact, not sanctioned by Assad."

Read the Full Article here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12948268

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Senior Libyan official Resigns, new blow to Regime

AJDABIYA, Libya (AP) - Opponents of Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi were knocked back by government troops for a third straight day Thursday but took heart in a sign that the embattled regime is cracking at the highest levels: the defection of the second top official in roughly 48 hours.

Ali Abdessalam Treki, a former foreign minister and U.N. General Assembly president, had been named to represent Libya at the United Nations after a wave of defections early in the uprising. But Treki, who is currently in Cairo, said in a statement posted on several opposition websites that he was not going to accept that job or any other. "We should not let our country fall into an unknown fate," he said. "It is our nation's right to live in freedom, democracy and a good life."

Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa flew to England from Tunisia on Wednesday and the British government said he had resigned. He is privy to all the inner workings of the regime, so his departure could open the door for some hard intelligence, though Britain refused to offer him immunity from prosecution.

Gaddafi issued a defiant statement after the departures, calling on the leaders of countries attacking his forces to resign and accusing them of being "affected by power madness."

Libyan officials, who initially denied Koussa's defection, said he had resigned because he was sick with diabetes and high blood pressure. Government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said Koussa was given permission to go to Tunisia, but the regime was surprised to learn he had flown to London.
"I talked to many people and this is not a happy piece of news, but people are saying, 'So what? If someone wants to step down that's his decision,'" Ibrahim said.

Nations behind the campaign of international airstrikes that have hobbled Libya's military hailed Koussa's resignation as a sign of weakness in Gadhafi's more-than-41-year reign. 

Koussa "can help provide critical intelligence about Gaddafi's current state of mind and military plans," said Tommy Vietor, U.S. National Security Council spokesman. He added that his defection "demonstrates that the people around Gaddafi understand his regime is in disarray."

Analysis: "While the recent defections are welcome news to opposition and coalition forces, they mean very little in a practical sense. Unless these Libyan officials can provide useful intel or spark a wave of numerous high-level defections, this will not affect Col. Gaddafi or his ability to fight the rebels. Apart from that, it could just be opportunistic political maneuvering."

 Read the Full Article here: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AF_LIBYA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-03-31-14-23-48

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Libyan Rebels seen at risk of Failure

WASHINGTON (AP) - Fresh battlefield setbacks by rebels seeking to oust Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi are hardening a U.S. view that the poorly equipped opposition is probably incapable of prevailing without decisive Western intervention — either an all-out U.S.-led military assault on regime forces or a decision to arm the rebels.

Gaddafi is reaching deeper into his military ranks to send reinforcements onto the battlefield, has adopted new, unconventional tactics to counter the effects of coalition airstrikes, and apparently is convinced he can retain power by gradually retaking a degree of control of eastern Libya, a senior U.S. intelligence official said Wednesday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence on the condition and capabilities of regime and rebel forces.

On Wednesday, rebels under heavy shelling pulled back further eastward from the oil port of Ras Lanouf. Gaddafi's forces were shelling Brega, another important oil city to the east and appeared poised to attempt to retake the town of Ajdabiya, just south of Benghazi.

Helping propel the Gaddafi forces eastward was a change in battlefield tactics, the senior U.S. intelligence official said. Having seen much of their armor pounded by Western airstrikes earlier, Gaddafi commanders left many tanks and other armor in hiding places in Sirte and advanced eastward instead with small convoys of sedans, minivans, SUVs and other civilian vehicles that the official called "battle wagons" armed with small rockets and other weaponry.

This made it harder for Western pilots to distinguish the Gaddafi troops as military formations and lightened the logistics load for the Gaddafi forces.

Gaddafi in recent days also has mobilized second-tier ground forces that U.S. officials believe are less capable and less trusted by Gaddafi, the official said. This appears to reflect the Libyan leader's determination to press his advantage while the Western powers are self-limited in their assistance to the rebels.

President Barack Obama has explicitly ruled out using American ground forces, but his administration and European governments participating in the U.N.-sanctioned mission in Libya have said they are considering providing arms to the rebels. Such a move would require Obama to step back from his pledge to avoid an open-ended commitment in Libya.

Similarly, a decision to fully coordinate Western air power with rebel ground movements would place Washington openly on the side of the rebels, whose goals and makeup are murky and whose chances of winning — even with more air support — are questionable.

The alternatives include sticking to the current approach, which was cast by Obama in a speech to the nation Monday as focused on protecting Libyan civilians from attacks by regime forces. That effort succeeded last week in stopping pro-Gadhafi forces from entering the de facto rebel capital of Benghazi in eastern Libya, but when the rebels this week advanced westward to the doorstep of Gadhafi's home town of Sirte, they were repelled and forced to retreat.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the U.S. government was still gaining a better understanding of the opposition, and that no decision had yet been made on providing arms or any other assistance to rebels fighting Gadhafi's troops.

"Our assessment will help define our actions as we go forward," he said Wednesday.

Analysis: "As Gaddafi rides another wave of momentum towards the rebel capital of Benghazi, the UN will again be called on to aid Libya's opposition. Having successfully established the no-fly zone, the US and her allies will need to clarify their level of support for Libyan rebels in the coming days. There is no easy choice here for participating nations, with possible solutions ranging from an Iraq-style prolonged no-fly zone, to active logistical and military support for the opposition."

Read the Full Article here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110330/ap_on_re_us/us_libya_rebel_strategy

Also: Obama Authorizes secret help for Libya Rebels (Reuters)

Syrian President blames Protests on 'Conspirators'

DAMASCUS (AP) - Syrian President Bashar Assad blamed "conspirators" Wednesday for an extraordinary wave of dissent against his authoritarian rule, but he failed to lift the country's despised emergency law or offer any concessions in his first speech since the protests began nearly two weeks ago.

Assad said Syria is facing "a major conspiracy" that aims to weaken this country of 23 million. The Assad family has ruled Syria for nearly 40 years, using the feared security services to monitor and control even the smallest rumblings of opposition. Draconian laws have all but eradicated civil liberties and political freedoms.

"We don't seek battles," Assad, 45, said in an unusually short, televised speech before legislators who cheered for him and shouted support from their seats. "But if a battle is imposed on us today, we welcome it."

Assad's speech was surprising not so much for what he said but for what he left out. His adviser, Bouthaina Shaaban, said last week that Syria had formed a committee to study a series of reforms and constitutional amendments, including lifting the state of emergency laws, in place since Assad's Baath party took power in 1963.

Assad had been widely expected to formally announce those changes. But the fact that he failed to mention any of them was a major disappointment for thousands of protesters who have taken to the streets since March 18, calling for reform. Human rights groups say more than 60 people have been killed as security forces cracked down on the demonstrations.

Within minutes of his speech, social networking sites exploded with activists expressing major disappointment, with some calling on Syrians to take to the streets immediately.

"The fact that he is blaming everything on conspirators means that he does not even acknowledge the root of the problem," said Razan Zaitouneh, a Syrian lawyer and pro-reform activist. "I don't have an explanation for this speech, I am in a state of shock ... There are already calls for a day of anger on Friday. This cannot sit well with the Syrian people."

The unrest in Syria, a strategically important country, could have implications well beyond its borders given its role as Iran's top Arab ally and as a front line state against Israel.

Analysis: "Assad's over-hyped, under-delivered speech could show uncertainty within the president's inner circle. To essentially renege on a pledge of a major announcement could point to a last-minute change of policy for the Baathist regime. With the immediate options for Assad being crack down or offer concessions, he is opting for neither at the moment. Expect to see Assad make a decision soon."

Read the Full Article here: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_SYRIA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-03-30-09-27-37 

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

World Powers keep up Pressure as Gaddafi Beats Back Rebels

TRIPOLI (AFP) - World powers vowed Tuesday to continue military action until Moammar Gaddafi stops his "murderous attacks" on Libyan civilians, as loud blasts rocked his stronghold in Tripoli.

At a meeting of more than 35 nations in London, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and British Prime Minister David Cameron said that allied air strikes would go on until the Libyan leader met UN demands for a ceasefire. Meanwhile, two loud explosions rocked the area close to Gaddafi's tightly-guarded residence, an AFP correspondent in the Libyan capital said.

France, a driving force behind the air campaign, was prepared to hold discussions with its allies over arming the rebels, Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said after the three-hour London meeting. His Italian counterpart Franco Frattini told AFP that "A consensus has been reached. Participants at the meeting unanimously said that Gaddafi must leave the country."

Gaddafi's forces had earlier checked the westward progress of anti-regime rebels towards his hometown of Sirte, an advance which began when Britain, France and the United States started air strikes on March 19.

On Tuesday, the rebels retreated 40 kilometres (25 miles) from their frontline positions to Nofilia, 100 kilometres from Sirte, which is the next big target in their efforts to oust Gaddafi as they head west towards Tripoli.

His forces unleashed barrages of artillery fire, triggering a stampede of rebel fighters, many fleeing aboard their pickup trucks.

Analysis: "Col. Gaddafi continues to show his superior firepower and military personnel when it comes to head-on clashes with rebels. Without support from NATO airstrikes, rebel forces are at an extreme disadvantage against Gaddafi, and it appears that NATO will need to increase its support of rebel fighters if Gaddafi's exit is to be ensured."

Read the Full Article here: http://www.afp.com/afpcom/en/taglibrary/thematic/actuality

Syrian Government Resigns

DAMASCUS, Syria (CNN) - The Syrian government resigned Tuesday amid an unusual wave of unrest that has roiled the nation, state TV reported.

President Bashar al-Assad accepted the resignations Tuesday, the same day that tens of thousands of Syrians poured onto the streets of Damascus to demonstrate in favor of the government. A new government should be named in a few hours, said Reem Haddad, a spokeswoman for the Syrian Information Ministry.

Meanwhile, the president plans to make "a very important speech" on Wednesday, she said. The speech will "reassure the Syrian people," the state-run SANA news agency has reported.

The pro-government rally on Tuesday followed violent clashes between protesters and security forces in the cities of Daraa and Latakia in recent days. At least 37 people have been killed since last week, according to the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Many demonstrators at the pro-government rally held posters of the president. Others waved Syrian flags, while some painted their faces and chests in national colors. Crowds filled the square in front of the Central Bank and jammed all roads leading to it, aerial pictures on state TV showed.

There were also pro-government rallies in the cities of Aleppo, Hama, and Hasaka, the broadcaster said.

Analysis: "President Assad is employing a tactic used by Mubarak in Egypt and King Abdullah in Jordan, to different effects. In Jordan, a majority of protesters were at least temporarily satisfied by the move. In Egypt, however, the ire of the opposition was too focused on Mubarak, and concessions were too late. By appointing a new government relatively early in the opposition movement, Assad may delay or stop the spreading of major protests throughout Syria, giving the government time formulate a major concession package."

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Yemen Transfer Talks Stall as Army, Militants Clash

SANAA (Reuters) - Talks to end a standoff over Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh's rule have stopped without a plan to resume, opposition figures said on Sunday, as clashes erupted between the army and militants in the south.

Saleh, who has been alternately conciliatory and defiant, vowed there would be no more concessions to the opposition, who are demanding he step down after 32 years of authoritarian power in the impoverished Arabian Peninsula state.

But in a sign that the political back-and-forth on a transfer of power may not be completely dead, the ruling party's governing committee recommended forming a new government to draft a new constitution on the basis of a parliamentary system.

A spokesman for Yemen's main opposition coalition also said the talks had been halted, a development that if it continues would likely raise fears that violence between rival military units could replace the political process.

There was no immediate comment from the government.

Saleh has said he was prepared for a dignified departure but that opposition parties were hijacking the protests to demand he quit without organising a democratic handover.

"I could leave power ... even in a few hours, on condition of maintaining respect and prestige," Saleh told Al Arabiya television. "I have to take the country to safe shores ... I'm holding on to power in order to hand it over peaceably."

But he has seemed to suggest he would stay at least for the short term, sprinkling the interview with warnings that Yemen would slide into civil war and fragment along regional and tribal lines if he left power immediately.

Militants clashed with the Yemeni army in a southern town, feeding Western and Saudi fears the country could slide into chaos that would benefit a resurgent Yemen-based regional arm of al Qaeda if Saleh is forced out.

One soldier was killed on Sunday and jets flew over the town. But residents said militants appeared to have taken control and the army was withdrawing to Abyan's provincial capital, Zinjibar, where witnesses said security measures had been tightened after militants fired rockets at state buildings.

Analysis: "Whether or not President Saleh is using the potential for a widespread armed struggle to delay his stepping down, he is spot-on with his statements of concern. As we have outlined in our past posts, Yemen is a powder keg of militant and separatist groups and, for better or worse, Saleh has been the only person in Yemen's recent history able to stabilize the country. A peaceful and orderly transition would be best for Yemen and the international community."

Read the Full Article here: http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE72H2YX20110327?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0

Syria to Lift Emergency Law

DAMASCUS, Syria (Al Arabiya News) - The decision to lift emergency rule in Syria, which has been in place since 1963, has "already been made," a presidential adviser said Sunday as dissent against government developed into a spiral of violence that left scores of people dead since March 15.

"The decision to lift the emergency law has already been made. But I do not know about the time frame," Buthaina Shaaban told AFP in an interview at her office.

Syria's emergency law, put in place when the ruling Baath party rose to power in March 1963, imposes restrictions on public gatherings and movement and authorizes the arrest of "suspects or persons who threaten security." The law also authorizes interrogation of any individual and the surveillance of personal communication as well as official control of the content of newspapers and other media before publication.

More than 30 people have been confirmed killed in a spiral of violence that has gripped Syria since a wave of protest broke out on March 15, with demonstrators demanding major reforms.

In a previous attempt to appease increasingly angry protesters, authorities freed 260 political detainees on Saturday. But the reports from Latakia by reformist activists living abroad suggested unrest was still spreading.

Syrian rights activist Ammar Qurabi told Reuters in Cairo: "There have been at least two killed (in Latakia) today after security forces opened fire on protesters trying to torch the Baath party building."

"I have been in touch with people in Syria since last night, using three cell phones and constantly sitting online. Events are moving at an extremely fast pace," he said.

Officials have confirmed 27 deaths in clashes between demonstrators and security forces -- 20 of them protesters -- in cities including Homs, Sanamen, Daraa and Latakia since the rallies began on March 15. Activists have put the death toll at more than 126, with upwards of 100 killed on Wednesday alone in a bloody crackdown on protests in Daraa, the southern tribal town that has become the symbol of the protests.

Analysis: "The Syrian government appears to be employing a mixture of tactics in the attempt to slow spreading unrest throughout the country. Offers of substantial concessions in the past few days follow weeks of unrest and violent clashes that have left scores of protesters dead. Following these offers, the Syrian people must now decide what they want to achieve from protests. If they want reforms and freedoms, President Assad appears to be signaling the possibility of changing long-standing policies and practices in return for peace. However, if the people's demands include the collapse of the Assad regime, do not expect the ruling Baathists to relinquish power easily."
 

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Libyan Rebels Recapture Key Town

AJDABIYA, Libya (AP) - Libyan rebels clinched their hold on the east and seized back a key city on Saturday after decisive international air strikes sent Moammar Gaddafi's forces into retreat, shedding their uniforms and ammunition as they fled.

Ajdabiya's initial loss to Gaddafi may have ultimately been what saved the rebels from imminent defeat, propelling the U.S. and its allies to swiftly pull together the air campaign now crippling Gaddafi's military.

In Ajdabiya, drivers honked in celebration and flew the tricolor rebel flag. Others in the city fired guns into the air and danced on burned-out tanks that littered the road.

Their hold on the east secure again, the rebels promised to resume their march westward that had been reversed by Gaddafi's overwhelming firepower. Rebel fighters already had pushed forward to the outskirts of the oil port of Brega and were hoping to retake the city on Sunday, opposition spokeswoman Iman Bughaigis said, citing rebel military commanders.

"Without the planes we couldn't have done this. Gaddafi's weapons are at a different level than ours," said Ahmed Faraj, 38, a rebel fighter from Ajdabiya. "With the help of the planes we are going to push onward to Tripoli, God willing."

The Gaddafi regime acknowledged the air strikes had forced its troops to retreat and accused international forces of choosing sides.

Air strikes Friday on the city's eastern and western gates forced Gaddafi's troops into hasty retreat. Inside a building that had served as their makeshift barracks and storage, hastily discarded uniforms were piled in the bathroom and books on Islamic and Greek history and fake pink flowers were scattered on the floor.

Saif Sadawi, a 20-year-old rebel fighter with a rocket-propelled grenade launcher in his hands, said the city's eastern gate fell late Friday and the western gate fell at dawn Saturday after air strikes on both locations.

The U.N. Security Council authorized the operation to protect Libyan civilians after Gaddafi launched attacks against anti-government protesters who demanded that he step down after 42 years in power. The air strikes have crippled Gaddafi's forces, but rebel advances have also foundered, and the two sides have been at stalemate in key cities.

Analysis: "While promising, news of these rebel advances should be taken with a grain of salt. The end to this conflict is not likely to come for some time. When it does come, a rebel victory will be due to Gaddafi's loss of support within his own forces, not the rebels overrunning loyalists in the heart of Tripoli. With that said, as his forces pull back towards the capital, they become easier and more lucrative targets for coalition air strikes. On the other hand, as the Colonel's forces move back, they are likely to hunker down in heavily populated areas that are less susceptible to attack from the air. This defense by loyalists could signal the beginning of a very different conflict, with plain-clothed militias battling for control of Libya's urban enclaves."

Read the Full Article here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110326/ap_on_re_af/af_libya

Friday, March 25, 2011

Dozens of Syrians reported Killed in Daraa

(CNN) - Violent protests erupted Friday in Syria, with dozens of people people killed in and around the restive city of Daraa and a boy slain in the coastal town of Latakia, reports said.

"The situation in Syria has worsened considerably over the past week, with the use of live ammunition and tear gas by the authorities having resulted in a total of at least 37 people being killed in Daraa, including two children," said Rupert Colville, a spokesman for the U.N.'s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Among the dead were 15 people who tried to march to Daraa, sources said, and nine others who died when security forces fired on demonstrators in Daraa's main square, said Wissam Tarif, a human rights activist. There were many casualties in Daraa, said Abdullah, an eyewitness who asked that his full name not be reported due to security concerns. He said he saw Friday's events in the city, where deadly clashes have taken place in recent days between security forces and protesters.

"Thousands gathered and moved to the governor's building in Daraa, and there they burned a large picture of Bashar al-Assad, and then they toppled a statue of Hafez al-Assad in the center of the square," Abdullah said, referring to the current president and his late father, the former president.

Aman al Aswad, an opposition activist, said dozens of people appeared to have been killed or wounded in clashes with security forces in the square, but he could not be precise on the totals. CNN could not independently confirm the accounts as the Syrian government has yet to grant access to the network.

Earlier, more than 100,000 people attended an anti-government demonstration in the town, according to Kamal Aswad, a political activist in Daraa.

The situation has drawn concern from the international community. The United Nations said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke by phone with President Assad. In Washington, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Friday that the U.S. government condemns the outbreak of violence in Syria. "We are making clear from here and from other places what our position is," he said.

Human Rights Watch, among other groups, said Thursday that around three dozen people were killed in clashes in a 48-hour period. "Syria's security forces are showing the same cruel disregard for protesters' lives as their counterparts in Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, and Bahrain," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

"President Bashar al-Assad's talk about reforms doesn't mean anything when his security forces are mowing down people who want to talk about them."

Analysis: "Syria is the latest Arab country to experience widespread protests and government-sanctioned violence. In these early days and weeks of political violence, domestic public reaction will direct the future events in the country. If the public is serious about regime change and willing to make to sacrifices necessary in doing so, Assad and the Baath regime in Syria are in for a prolonged period of dissent and violence."

Read the Full Article here: http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/03/25/syria.unrest/

Yemen’s Leader Offers to Hand Power to ‘Safe Hands’

SANA'A, Yemen (NY Times) - As demonstrators for and against President Ali Abdullah Saleh mustered for a new round of competing rallies, the Yemeni leader on Friday said he was ready to yield power but only if he could hand it over to what he termed “safe hands.”

Mr. Saleh was speaking to tens of thousands of supporters at an open-air rally, and while repeating his now frequent offers to relinquish power conditionally, he also made clear that he would remain “steadfast” in challenging what he depicted as violent attempts to oust him.

“I will transfer the power to safe hands, and not to malicious forces who conspire against the homeland,” he said, renewing an offer to open dialogue with young people leading protests against him. The anti-Saleh demonstrators have rejected such offers in the past and have demanded his immediate departure. For his part, Mr. Saleh offered weeks ago to leave office by 2013, but that did not staunch the protests.

Saleh said that his challengers “want to gain power at the expense of martyrs and children.”

Yemeni and American officials said on Thursday that Mr. Saleh was engaged in serious negotiations over the timing and conditions for the end of his 32-year-rule rule, but they cautioned that no deal had been reached. One Yemeni official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the date of Mr. Saleh’s departure appears to be the biggest obstacle. Mr. Saleh’s speech on Friday may have been intended to signal his thinking after a month of protests.

In another television appearance on Thursday, Mr. Saleh struck a defiant pose, referring scornfully to anti-government protesters while offering amnesty to military defectors who return to the government’s side.

“There will be civil war if Saleh leaves early because they (the opposition) don’t want democracy,” pro-Saleh demonstrator Hashis al Asadi said.

Yassin Saeed Noman, the head of the opposition political coalition, has been widely discussed as a possible prime minister in an interim government. He said the terms of Mr. Saleh’s departure were no longer up to the political opposition. “It depends on people in the streets."

Analysis: "President Saleh's bargaining power is slipping as fast as his popular support. With protests continuing to grow and Saleh's traditional power base continually eroding beneath him, the real question now is when, rather than if, Salah will be removed from office. Mr Asadi's warning need be heeded during this process, however. With several organized, motivated, and armed groups spread throughout Yemen, the country is ripe for an extended internal conflict."

Read the Full Article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/26/world/middleeast/26yemen.html?ref=world

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Yemeni President's Tribe Demands His Resignation

SANAA, Yemen (AP) - The U.S.-backed president of Yemen suffered a devastating political blow on Sunday when his own powerful tribe demanded his resignation, joining religious leaders, young people and the country’s traditional opposition in calls for an end to his three decades in power.

Massive crowds flooded cities and towns around the impoverished and volatile nation, screaming in grief and anger as they mourned dozens of protesters killed Friday when President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s security forces opened fire from rooftops on a demonstration in the capital.

Saleh appeared to be trying to hold on, firing his entire Cabinet ahead of what one government official said was a planned mass resignation, but making no mention of stepping down himself. Yemen’s ambassador to the United Nations and its human rights minister had announced their resignations earlier in the day.

Many said he would now be forced to choose between stepping down and confronting demonstrators with even deadlier force.

“We’re talking a new set of dynamics that are driving the conflict into either the resignation of Saleh or a very serious clash between the two sides,” said Ibrahim Sharqieh, deputy director of the Brookings Doha Center. “The U.S. should work now on an orderly transition in Yemen and press Saleh to find an arrangement that doesn’t allow chaos.” Sharqieh said from Washington that it was far from clear what would replace Saleh if he goes. Options could include a military-run transitional government and an adminstration of traditional political opposition parties.

Saleh and his weak government have faced down many serious challenges, often forging tricky alliances with restive tribes to delicately extend power beyond the capital. Most recently, he has battled an on-and-off, seven-year armed rebellion in the north, a secessionist movement in the south, and an al-Qaida offshoot that is of great concern to the U.S.

“The U.S. just cannot afford losing Yemen,” Sharqieh said.

Analysis: "President Saleh's grip on power in Yemen has been slipping steadily for the past month. However, this most recent blow seems to be the most significant. In a country that values traditional tribal relationships, Saleh has now lost the support of his own home team. The only significant political institution still behind Saleh is the military, and even that relationship is fragile and weak. From this point, Saleh has only two feasible options to retain power: crack down on dissent with widespread and substantial government-sanctioned violence, or attempt to offer even greater concessions to the opposition. Expect to see the initial workings of one of these options exercised in the next few days, but do not expect either to work for long."

Read the Full Article here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/powerful_yemen_tribe_calls_on_president_to_step_down_after_bloody_crackdown_on_protests/2011/03/20/ABZt3qz_story.html?wprss=rss_world

US, Allies Strike at Targets in Libya

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. and British ships and submarines launched the first phase of a missile assault on Libyan air defenses Saturday and a senior American defense official said it was believed substantial damage was inflicted.

In the strikes, 112 Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired at more than 20 coastal targets to clear the way for air patrols to ground Libya's air force. While U.S. defense officials cautioned that it was too early to fully gauge the impact of the onslaught, the official said that given the precision targeting of the Navy's cruise missiles, they felt that Libya's air defenses suffered a good deal of damage.

In announcing the mission during a visit to Brazil, President Barack Obama said he was reluctant to resort to force but was convinced it was necessary to save the lives of civilians. He reiterated that he would not send American ground troops to Libya.

"We cannot stand idly by when a tyrant tells his people there will be no mercy," he said in Brasilia.

It was clear the U.S. intended to limit its role in the Libya intervention, focusing first on disabling or otherwise silencing Libyan air defenses, and then leaving it to European and perhaps Arab countries to enforce a no-fly zone over the North African nation.

Gortney told reporters the cruise missile assault was the "leading edge" of a coalition campaign dubbed Operation Odyssey Dawn. Its aim: prevent Moammar Gadhafi's forces from inflicting more violence on civilians -- particularly in and around the rebel stronghold of Benghazi -- and degrading the Libyan military's ability to contest a no-fly zone.

A chief target of Saturday's cruise missile attack was Libya's SA-5 surface-to-air missiles, which are considered a moderate threat to some allied aircraft. Libya's overall air defenses are based on older Soviet technology but Gortney called them capable and a potential threat to allied aircraft.

Analysis: "The international community has backed up UN Resolution 1973 with military action. The current mission profile calls for allied forces to disable Gaddafi's air defense capabilities, allowing allied warplanes to fly unimpeded in enforcing the no-fly zone. This move itself is not a death sentence for Gaddafi's regime, but it does not look good for him. In my opinion, the international community and the allied nations spearheading this offensive are not about to pass UN 1973, only to let Gaddafi retake the country or concede to reforms. The only hope for Gaddafi seems to be some sort of ceasefire agreement where he keeps some degree of political power, but surrenders his armed forces or partial control thereof."

Read the Full Article here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_us_libya

Friday, March 18, 2011

Yemeni Snipers Open Fire of Protesters, Killing 40

SANA'A, Yemen (AP) - Yemeni government snipers firing from rooftops and houses shot into a crowd of tens of thousands of anti-government demonstrators on Friday, killing at least 40 people and injuring hundreds demanding the ouster of the autocratic president.

The protest in the central square was the largest yet in the popular uprising that began a month ago — and the harsh government response marked a new level of brutality from the security forces of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, a key — if uneasy — ally in the U.S. campaign against al-Qaida who has ruled Yemen for 30 years.

Saleh declared a nationwide state of emergency hours after the shootings in the capital, formally giving the security forces a freer hand to confront the demonstrators. There was no word on how long the emergency laws would remain in place. Dozens of enraged protesters stormed several buildings that were the source of the gunfire, detaining 10 people including paid thugs who they said would be handed over to judicial authorities.

Demonstrators have camped out in squares across Yemen for over a month to demand that Saleh leave office. Security forces and pro-government thugs have used live fire, rubber bullets, tear gas, sticks, knives and rocks to suppress them. The protesters say they won't go until Saleh does.

Before the shooting Friday in Sanaa, a military helicopter flew low over the square as protesters arrived from prayers. Gunfire soon erupted from rooftops and houses above the demonstrators, where witnesses said beige-clad elite forces and plainclothes security officials took aim.

A state TV report denied government forces were behind the gunfire. Police used burning tires and gasoline to make a wall of fire that blocked demonstrators from fleeing down a main road leading to sensitive locations, including the president's residence.

Saleh announced a press conference later Friday. Opposition groups also planned an emergency meeting to discuss their next steps.

Analysis: "This event marks a dramatic escalation in protest violence under President Saleh. The Friday "Days of Rage" protests have seen the largest turnouts across the region, and therefore have been met with the most force. The decision to use sniper fire, as well as the indiscriminate targeting of protesters, will not make things easier for the Yemeni president. Expect more protest violence for the country in the coming week. The nature of these protests will speak volumes for what direction Yemen will head in the near future, but expect an escalation in violence."

Read the Full Article here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110318/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_yemen

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Libya to Halt Military Actions

(BBC) - The Libyan government has announced an immediate ceasefire in its offensive against rebels who have seized large areas of the country. The announcement came as a coalition of Western and Arab nations prepared for air strikes against Libyan forces.

Before the ceasefire announcement, heavy fighting was continuing. Rebels said government forces had been bombarding the western city of Misrata. There are claims this has continued despite the ceasefire announcement.

Military action short of an occupation was sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council on Thursday evening. UN Security Council Resolution 1973 gave broad backing to taking military action against all threats to civilians, which could include bombing ground forces loyal to Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. Libyan Foreign Minister Mussa Kussa said his country was obliged to accept the UN resolution and to observe the air exclusion zone that had been agreed.

The ceasefire announcement came only hours after Col Gaddafi had insisted that the Security Council had "no mandate" for such a resolution, "which we absolutely do not recognise". "This is not a war between two countries that permits the council to intervene," he said in an interview on Portuguese television.
 
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the Libyan government would need to demonstrate it was implementing a ceasefire. "We are going to be not responsive or impressed by words, we would have to see actions on the ground and that is not yet at all clear," she said.

"We will continue to work with our partners in the international community to press Gaddafi to leave and to support the legitimate aspirations of the Libyan people."

Analysis: "Gaddafi's decision to call a ceasefire may make headlines around the world, but in a practical sense it means very little. As a clear reaction to the passage of UN Resolution 1973, which calls for a military no-fly zone over Libya, Gaddafi's move shows considerable weakness but does not hinder him from further attacks on opposition forces. What remains to be seen is to what degree of commitment and force the international community will throw behind 1973. Expect to see fighting resume soon and the UN's commitment to be tested."

Read the Full Article here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12787739

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Libya Bombards Rebels, gets Closer to Stronghold

TOBRUK, Libya (AP) - Moammar Gadhafi's forces overwhelmed rebels in the strategic eastern city of Ajdabiya, hammering them with airstrikes, missiles, tanks and artillery Tuesday in an assault that sent residents fleeing and appeared to open the way for an all-out government offensive on the opposition's main stronghold in the east, Benghazi.

In desperation, rebels sent up two antiquated warplanes that struck a government ship bombarding Ajdabiya from the Mediterranean. But as tanks rolled into the city from two directions and rockets relentlessly pounded houses and shops, the ragtag opposition fighters' defenses appeared to break down.

Only 10 days ago, the rebellion was poised to march on Tripoli, the capital, and had appeared capable of sweeping Gadhafi out after 41 years in power, but the regime's better armed and organized military has reversed the tide. Efforts led by France and Britain to create a no-fly zone to protect the rebels have gone nowhere, and some rebels lashed out at the West for failing to come to their aid.

"The world is sleeping," he said. "They (the West) drunk of Gadhafi's oil and now they won't stand against him. They didn't give us a no-fly zone."

Residents of the city of 140,000 streamed out, fleeing toward Benghazi, 140 miles (200 kilometers) northeast. But warplanes and artillery were striking roads in and out of Ajdabiya, several witnesses and fighters said. Some reported private cars had been hit, but the reports could not be independently confirmed. They spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation from Gadhafi's regime.

Ajdabiya, 480 miles (800 kilometers) southeast of Tripoli, is the gateway to the long stretch of eastern Libya that has been in the control of the opposition since early on in the month-long uprising. With its fall, regime forces would be able to bombard Benghazi, Libya's second largest city and the de facto capital of the opposition, by air, sea and land.

Europe and the United States, meanwhile, were tossing back and forth the question of whether to impose a no-fly zone that the opposition has pleaded for.

On Tuesday, top diplomats from some of the world's biggest powers deferred to the U.N. Security Council to take action against Libya, as France and Britain failed to win support for a no-fly zone in the face of German opposition and U.S. reluctance. France said the Group of Eight agreed that a new U.N. resolution should be adopted by week's end with measures to help Libyan rebels.

A U.N. resolution introduced Tuesday includes no-fly provisions. It also calls for increased enforcement of an arms embargo and freezing more Libyan assets, according to U.N. diplomats said who spoke on condition of anonymity because the text has not been released. One diplomat said the Security Council will be looking to see whether members of the Arab League, which is pressing for the no-fly zone, are ready to seriously participate in the establishment and operation of a zone.
Analysis: "Over the past week, Gadhafi has managed to swing the pendulum of momentum back in his favor. At the same time, the push by the international community for a military no-fly zone over Libya has slowed. Government forces have made significant gains in the meantime, taking back nearly all major cities in the western part of the country, while making significant advances towards Benghazi in the east. Rebel forces are high in numbers, but lack the arms, artillery, and air support to wage a long-term war against government forces. Unless the international community significantly steps up support for the rebels soon (openly or covertly), Gaddafi will continue gaining back populous areas.   "
Read the Full Article here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110315/ap_on_re_af/af_libya

Thursday, March 3, 2011

US, Europe Tighten Noose around Libya's Government

(Washington Post) - The United States and its European allies tightened their noose around Libya's besieged government Monday, positioning military assets for possible action in the Mediterranean as they launched humanitarian efforts to assist refugees and rebel forces that have seized the eastern part of the country.

Britain and the European Union announced new sanctions against Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi, his family and his government. The U.S. Treasury announced that it has frozen $30 billion worth of Libyan assets in this country under an executive order President Obama issued Friday, the most ever blocked under such a program.

On the ground, rebels and forces loyal to Gaddafi appeared at least temporarily to be at a standoff, with neither side taking more territory. Gaddafi's air force bombed weapons depots, apparently to prevent the rebels from gaining access to them.

In Geneva, U.S. and European leaders focused on sending aid to rebels and refugees. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced that $10 million in relief funds have been set aside by the U.S. Agency for International Development, and two teams of experts are being dispatched immediately to Libya's borders to assess the refugee crisis and organize the delivery of aid.

Although the administration has repeatedly demanded legal accountability for Gaddafi, Clinton hinted that the United States might be willing to accept a deal in which the Libyan leader would voluntarily agree to exile in a third country. She raised the possibility at a news conference at which she was asked whether Gaddafi might be permitted to seek refuge with Zimbabwe's leader, Robert Mugabe.

Although Clinton and several European leaders said imposition of a no-fly zone over Libya was under active consideration, other senior U.S. and European officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, emphasized that there had not yet been any significant political discussions of such action. It would be unlikely, they said, unless Gaddafi turned his air force directly against the Libyan people.

Other than the bombing of arms depots, "I don't think we've seen . . . indications they're bombing people," the senior administration official said. But reports on the ground "are disturbing enough to merit contingency planning, and the nature of the threats does indicate a potential for escalation," the official said. "We want to have options in place."

For the moment, the United States and its European allies are counting on the harsh financial and travel restrictions in place, along with the threat of international human rights prosecution, to prompt Libyan military and government officials still loyal to Gaddafi to reconsider their position.

Movement of two aircraft carriers that are in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf area was within the "range of possibilities," the Pentagon official said, but still under discussion. This official and others said that U.S. and NATO forces had sufficient resources in Italy and elsewhere in the Mediterranean to take a number of actions if necessary.

A U.S. destroyer passed through the Suez Canal on Sunday and took up position in the southwestern Mediterranean, another U.S. military official said. An amphibious assault ship, the USS Kearsarge, with helicopters aboard, was in the Red Sea and headed toward the canal. The USS Ponce, another amphibious assault vessel, was also moving toward the area, the official said.

"What we're trying to do is leverage all the different contacts and channels that we can," the official said. "This is a new set of actors. We're exploring not just the people we have telephone numbers for, but the business community that has experience working in eastern Libya and other nongovernmental organizations who have people on the ground" in an effort to "get a better ground truth." 

Analysis: "Gaddafi is under the international microscope at the moment. As long as he sticks to aerial bombings of weapons caches and other rebel resources, Libya will remain free from foreign intervention. If the Colonel decides to direct air strikes towards the Libyan people, expect the game to change in North Africa. The international community will be under great pressure to protect Libyans if this should happen."

Read the Full Article here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/28/AR2011022806537_2.html?sid=ST2011022805422

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Yemen On the Brink of a Showdown

SANA'A, Yemen (TIME) - What began as a simmer in the Arab World's poorest and most capricious state has suddenly started to come to a boil. In Yemen's mountain capital of Sana'a, the threat of civil war hangs like a bad taste in the dusty air. Motley marches of pro- and anti-government protesters block the streets, and tens of thousands of armed tribesmen wait in murky rooms around the country for orders from their chiefs. The mood in the capital is tense.

Yemen's opposition, a loose coalition of parties from Nasserites to socialists to Islamic clerics, now has the ability to rally large numbers. And late Monday night, it quashed a last-ditch attempt by President Ali Abdullah Saleh to form a unity government. Gangs on motorcycles streamed through the streets, draped in red, white and black Yemeni flags, demanding that the President leave. There were fears that pro- and anti-government protesters could face off around the capital; a solitary military helicopter flew low over the capital as the regime very publicly flexed its muscles.

With the situation looking more and more desperate, Saleh offered on Monday to form a unity government with the opposition. The pitch included the formation of a coalition, an end to all demonstrations, the release of prisoners held without trial and the start of corruption investigations. Saleh's plan backfired. After publicly rebuffing the proposal, opposition spokesman Mohammed al-Qubati said, "Saleh has only two options: either to be a former President or a deposed President."

"Saleh does not have a lot of options left," says Gregory Johnsen, a Yemen analyst at Princeton University. "The problem is that he believes he can still act and negotiate from a position of strength, when in fact, the ground has shifted substantially under his feet." 

Power brokers around the country are starting to cast around for their places in a post-Saleh world. Islah's aging leader al-Zindani, popular in Yemen but labeled a terrorist by the U.S. Treasury Department, has already jumped on the bandwagon of leaders hoping to ditch the President. "No matter how long it takes, no matter how many lives, the regime will fall," the cleric shouted through crackling speakerphones to a crowd of about 10,000 antigovernment protesters on Tuesday, his beard bright orange with henna dye.

Analysis: "President Saleh's power base seems to be crumbling all around him. Saleh has quietly grown weak in the past 2 weeks, as the world's attention has been on Libya. Yemen's ragtag opposition is growing stronger by the day and, with the failure of recent talks, seems poised to topple the government. Expect to see a tipping point in the coming weeks, perhaps following increased protests or a major event in Libya."

Libya Rebels Halt Gaddafi Attack

BREGA, Libya (BBC) - Rebel forces have fought off an attempt by soldiers loyal to Col Muammar Gaddafi to retake the eastern oil town of Brega.

Forces loyal to Gaddafi had moved into eastern areas for the first time since towns there fell to protesters two weeks ago. The BBC's John Simpson in Brega says it now seems clear of loyalist troops.

Earlier Col Gaddafi said on TV he would "fight until the last man and woman" and warned that thousands of Libyans would die if Western forces intervened. Our correspondent has been to Brega's seashore and university, where the heaviest fighting took place, and they appear entirely clear of pro-Gaddafi troops.

He says a senior rebel officer had suggested the Gaddafi troops might have run out of ammunition and been forced to withdraw. The excited rebels appeared very proud of what they had achieved, our correspondent says, and the feeling in the town is that Col Gaddafi's men do not necessarily have their hearts in the job.

A Libyan air force plane did recently drop one bomb nearby, he says, but the attempt by Col Gaddafi to move on the eastern rebel-held areas appears for now to have been repulsed and, although this is by no means a final victory, it is an important setback for the Libyan leader.

The government forces had taken an oil facility at Brega at dawn but rebels later said they had struck back. Rebel spokesman Mustafa Gheriani accused Col Gaddafi of "trying to create all kinds of psychological warfare to keep these cities on edge".

Medical sources in Brega told BBC Arabic that 14 people had been killed in the fighting.

Analysis: "Rebel forces are gaining momentum everyday in Libya. Every failed overnight raid emboldens, unifies, and solidifies opposition forces who now hold, or are defending most of Libya's major cities. Gaddafi's hold on power is slipping, leaving many analysts concerned over what actions the aging leader may take to keep his post. Tripoli will likely be the Colonel's last stand, but it remains unclear what state Libya's army will be in the future, as massive numbers of government soldiers are defecting."

Read the Full Article here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12626496

Manama Gripped by Pro- and Anti-Regime Protests

MANAMA, Bahrain (AFP) - Large crowds of pro-government Bahrainis rallied Wednesday in Manama, shortly after anti-regime protesters staged a big gathering, on the 17th day of protests rocking the Gulf kingdom.

Supporters of the Sunni ruling Al-Khalifa dynasty gathered outside Al-Fateh mosque in Manama, waving Bahraini flags and pledging support to King Hamad. State television put their number at 300,000 demonstrators, a figure that could not be independently verified.

Earlier, thousands of anti-regime protesters massed outside the interior ministry, in the largest anti-government protest this week. Protesters of all ages then marched to Pearl Square, the epicentre of a sit-in demanding that the ruling Al-Khalifa dynasty step down, chanting: "Down, down Al-Khalifa" and "No dialogue with the killers."

Seven protesters were shot dead by security forces in protests last month, four in a deadly police raid in the early hours of February 17 on demonstrators camped in the square, which has since been dubbed "Martyrs' Roundabout."

Carrying banners that read "230 years enough -- Al-Khalifa leave" and "No dialogue," thousands of demonstrators in two gender-segregated processions stopped at a makeshift shrine along the King Faisal Highway dedicated to Abdulrida Buhamid, who was killed on February 17 by police gunfire. "How can we expect security when the army shoots and kills the innocent?" demanded one woman who stopped to pray at the shrine.

The wave of popular rallies in the tiny Gulf kingdom has brought to the surface simmering discontent among Bahrain's Shiites, who are calling for the fall of the Sunni Al-Khalifa dynasty which has ruled the majority Shiite country for 200 years.

A mass rally outside the government headquarters in Manama is scheduled for Friday.

Analysis: "Bahrain's ruling family is still firmly in power in Manama, despite ongoing protests from the opposition. In the absence of dramatic action by one side, I don't expect a serious threat to the crown."

Read the Full Article Here: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jVnZgGfwSnqrvUHHiUq5kSREUAKQ?docId=CNG.4103fec93a330f1c195d92e86c2ce8c3.211

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

More Tunisian Ministers Resign After Protests

TUNIS (CNN) - At least three Tunisian government officials resigned Monday and Tuesday, the country's official news agency reported, in the wake of the resignation of the prime minister on Sunday. Popular protests in the North African nation led to the resignation of the longtime president in January, prompting a wave of unrest across the Arab world.

But the flight from Tunisia of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali did not end the protests there, and Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi quit on Sunday. The minister of higher education and scientific research, Ahmad Ibrahim, and the higher education secretary, Faouzia Farida Charfi, both quit on Tuesday, Tunis Afrique Presse reported. Mohamed Nouri Jouini, the planning and international cooperation minister, resigned on Monday, the agency said.

The country's stock market is due to reopen on Thursday, after shutting down Monday, TAP reported.
Tunisia's interim president tapped Al-Baji Qa'ed Al-Sebsi as the country's new prime minister Sunday after Ghannouchi resigned, state-run media reported.

Ghannouchi told reporters Sunday that he was "resigning today because I am not willing to be a person that takes decisions that could cause casualties." Three people were killed during protests in the capital, Tunis, on Saturday. He also questioned "why a lot of people considered their main target to keep attacking the government, although a lot of its members agreed to join in this critical time."

In addition to the three killed, nine others were injured during the mayhem in Tunis, according to an Interior Ministry statement cited by Tunis Afrique Presse. More than 100 people were arrested in the area around Habib Bourguiba Avenue, in the city's center, and accused of "acts of destruction and burning," the ministry said.

Protesters had gathered in the area to demand that the interim government step down and the current parliament be disbanded. Demonstrators also were asking for suspension of the current constitution and the election of an assembly that can write a new one, as well as organize the transition to democracy.

Analysis: "Tunisia remains in a minor state of chaos following the exciting toppling of its President in January. As expected, masses of protesters continue to be dissatisfied with the Ben Ali's former party, the RCD, and its domination of the transitional government. Recently, the government has sought to restore order in Tunisia, putting pressure on protesters to disband. The reaction of the government to continuing protests will define the character of the new regime."

Read the Full Article here: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/03/01/tunisia.government/?hpt=T2

Egypt Agrees to Dates for Referendum, Polls

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's military leaders will hold a referendum on constitutional change on March 19, a parliamentary election in June and a presidential poll six weeks later, a youth activist said on Monday after a meeting.

Zyad El-Elaily and 16 other members of the Coalition of Revolutionary Youth which took part in protests to oust President Hosni Mubarak, said he had met three members of the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces on Sunday. "The armed forces council told us the referendum on constitutional amendments would take place on March 19 and the People's Assembly election would be held in June," Elaily said. "Presidential elections would be held a month and a half later."

The council has yet to set a formal date for the referendum or elections.

Elaily said the council's timeframe for the referendum and the elections reflected its eagerness to hand over power. "The council said it was committed to see a civilian government set up within the six-month period and refused to consider extending the period," Elaily said.

Egypt's new military rulers said on February 13 they would keep control of the country for six months or until parliamentary and presidential elections were held following constitutional amendments.
Voters can use their national identification cards to vote rather than obtaining a voting card -- a procedure that opposition activists and voters said discouraged participation.

The elections will be supervised by the judiciary, which was largely excluded from the last election held under Mubarak that was widely seen as rigged.

Analysis: "The eagerness of Egypt's military rulers to transfer power is a good sign for Egyptians. The role of the military in choosing Egypt's next ruler has been under question since Mubarak's collapse, but they seem genuine in their initial pledges to turn over power in 6 months."

Read the Full Article here: http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE72001T20110301

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Welcome to WHATS NEXT?

Welcome to WHAT'S NEXT? middle east - Your source for all the up-to-date news and analysis from The Middle East.

This blog features news articles from various sources, as well as analysis from the WHATS NEXT? staff. Also featured is the unique, countdown-style rating system alerting readers to the potential for revolution across the region. The clock has ticked to midnight for the governments of Tunisia and Egypt, while we continue to monitor protests and demonstrations across The Middle East.

On the home page, readers will be given short news parcels from a variety of national and international sources, with follow-up commentary and analysis.

On the sidebar lay descriptions, recent news, and political projections for 'at-risk' countries from across the region. The closer to midnight, the closer to revolution.

WHATS NEXT? welcomes your participation and feedback. Thank you for visiting our site.