Egypt: Thousands of Egyptians staged protests in Tahrir Square, marking the “Second Friday of Anger.” Organizers said that the rally was aimed at speeding up the trials of members of the former regime. Meanwhile, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces ordered all army units out of Tahrir Square and protest areas. The council said that it relies on the youths of the revolution to organize and secure the event, as they bear "historic responsibility for the country's interest."

Syria: Protestors took to the streets demanding freedom in a number of Syrian cities immediately after Friday prayers on what is being called the “Friday of Guardians of the Homeland.” Security forces opened fire on protestors in Homs, Dir-Zure, and several areas of Damascus and its countryside, killing a total of eight people.

Libya: Fierce fighting continues between Libyan revolutionaries and Gaddafi's battalions in Misurata and its surrounding areas. Eyewitnesses say the fighting began in the early morning after the battalions attacked the revolutionaries in an attempt to recapture Misurata, which has been under the revolutionaries’ control for two weeks. The African Union called on NATO to stop shelling Libya, considering it a necessary step on the path to a political solution.

Yemen:  Thousands people in the Sa'ada province took to the street in a massive demonstration affirming that the Yemeni revolution is a peaceful one. The protestors carried banners demanding the downfall of the regime and chanted slogans for a peaceful revolution and against civil war. They also chanted slogans rejecting negotiations and dialogue.

(Al Jazeera English: 1232 PST, April 11, 2011) If representatives of the African Union were expecting a heroes' welcome in Benghazi, they'd have been very much disappointed as they arrived on Monday morning.

The delegation came to the stronghold of the Libyan Transitional National Council in a bid to begin mediation talks - but was met by crowds of protesters, insisting on Gaddafi's removal from power as a prerequisite to any negotiations with Tripoli. Al Jazeera's Sue Turton reports from Benghazi with a wrap-up of the day's events.

A delegation from the African Union arrived in Benghazi this morning to attempt to mediate the escalating situation in Libya. Prior to the delegation’s arrival, revolutionaries said they would welcome the AU’s proposal under the condition that Muammar Gaddafi step down. NATO also welcomed the mediation, after saying there is not a military solution to the conflicts in Libya. According to al-Jazeera, the AU’s peace plan includes an immediate ceasefire, facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians, and starting negotiations between all Libyan parties. Gaddafi met with the African delegation on Sunday and officially accepted the peace plan. Critics believe that his acceptance of the plan was merely a maneuver to stay in power as long as possible.

Al-Alam reports that Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has accepted the Gulf Cooperation Council’s peace initiative, the opposition has announced its complete rejection of it. The initiative stipulates that Saleh must transfer his authority to Vice President Abduraboo Mansur Hadi and that an opposition-led national unity government be formed. The political efforts to end the conflict in Yemen coincide with continued sit-ins and protests demanding the ouster of Saleh's regime.

The state prosecutor-general of Egypt, faced with mounting public pressure, has summoned former President Hosni Mubarak and his family for questioning However, Dubai TV reports that as Mubarak continues to proclaim his innocence, some Egyptians fear that he and members of his family may escape prosecution due to a lack of evidence. Mubarak added that he will file legal charges against anyone attempting to defame his or his family's image.

The BBC reports that a demonstration at Damascus University, in the Syrian capital, ended with one student killed and several others were arrested . Syrian activists confirmed that this unprecedented protest quickly turned into a confrontation as security forces beat and detained dozens. In addition, eyewitnesses said that there was heavy security presence throughout the cities of Banias, Dara’a, and Homs, sparking confrontations.

Egyptian writer, Emad Abu Basha has published what is being called the Encyclopedia of the January 25th Revolution in order to “immortalize the martyrs of the revolution.” Nile TV reports that the encyclopedia contains a biography of every individual killed in the revolution so that their stories may be circulated throughout the country.

(0830 PST, April 11, 2011) There have been some signs of progress made in Libya towards a possible ceasefire, with Muammar Gaddafi accepting a proposal from the African Union. However, as the plan includes allowing Gaddafi and his family to remain in power, it has been greeted by protests in the opposition strongold of Benghazi.

AU Representatives Mobbed by Protesters in Benghazi

(Al Jazeera English: 0420 PST, April 11, 2011) Representatives from the African Union have been greeted by protesters as they arrived in the northern Libyan city of Benghazi. They are in the opposition stronghold to present their "Road Map to Peace" to the Transitional National Council.

The plan has already received the approval of Libya's Muammar Gaddafi in Tripoli. Al Jazeera's Laurence Lee, reports from the rebel stronghold, where AU leaders found themselves "mobbed by the crowds."

Gaddafi Accepts Roadmap to Peace

(Al Jazeera English: 2239 PST, April 10, 2011) There has been more than a month of fighting in Libya - and at last there appears to be some hope on the horizon. And it has come in the form of the African Union.

A delegation from the organisation, including South African president Jacob Zuma, has visited the capital, Tripoli. And they say Muammar Gaddafi has accepted their road map to peace. Al Jazeera's Anita McNaught reports from Tripoli.

Somalia has not had an effective government for almost 20 years. The Somali government has struggled to gain relevancy, but it has been plagued by corruption and has been battling warlords and militant groups such as the al-Qaeda- linked al-Shabab.

This week Augustine Mahiga, the U.N.'s top envoy for Somalia, warned that more international peacekeepers are needed in the war-ravaged country because of the growing threat from insurgent groups. He also told the Security Council that he is concerned by the deteriorating security situation in Somalia and its potential impact on the entire region.

"The threat level in Mogadishu and southern-central Somalia has actually increased, therefore, IGAD and the African Union foresee a new AMISOM troop level of up to 20,000 in the coming months. The African Union Peace and Security Council will soon submit to the U.N. Security Council a request for authorization for increased troop levels for Mogadishu and other strategic locations in Somalia," Mahiga said.

Recently, al-Shabab fighters disguised in Somali military uniforms stormed a hotel favored by lawmakers in the capital Mogadishu, firing indiscriminately and killing 32 people, including six parliamentarians. The attack came after a warning was issued by al-Shabab that a new “massive war” is about to be launched against the government. The militant group wants to establish a Taliban-style Islamic Sharia law in the country.

In a similar attack in December 2009, a suicide bomber detonated himself at a university graduation ceremony about 1.5 miles from the recent hotel attack, killing 24 people, including three government ministers, medical students and doctors.

These attacks show that al-Shabab, which controls wide areas of Somalia, can penetrate even the few blocks of the capital under the control of the government and African Union troops. The situation is reminiscent of Afghanistan before the entire country was overrun by the Taliban.

Is Somalia the next Afghanistan?

The current situation in Somalia is eerily similar to Afghanistan in the 1990s, which was in total disarray, with no central government or functioning economy. Warlords battled freely over territorial pockets and small weapons were plentiful. Yet , very little news coverage has been provided in the West about the dangerous situation in Somalia today. The coverage has been sporadic, only making headlines when Somali pirates have attacked freighters and tankers.

I attribute the lack of the United States’ interest in Somalia to its raid there in 1993, when 18 soldiers and two Black Hawk helicopters were lost. At the time, U.S. troops were in Somalia to try to capture powerful Somali warlord Mohammed Aidid from his stronghold in Mogadishu and take him to a ship anchored off the nearby coast. This operation is often remembered as a tragic fiasco. Millions of Americans still remember watching the body of a dead U.S. soldier being dragged through the streets on television. This tragic incident and the U.S. involvement in two wars, Afghanistan and Iraq, is enough reason for many Capitol Hill politicians to avoid US engagement in the war-torn country. Yet, it’s only a matter of time before al-Shabab takes over the capital and establishes a Taliban-like government, imposing its rule throughout the land.

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