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."
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
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.
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
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
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
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
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