As the Syrian military finally retreats from Dara’a after a ten-day siege, Dubai TV reports that tanks and armored vehicles were seen entering a number of other towns in Homs province, including Rastan and Talbisa. The Syrian state news agency SANA reported that the military began withdrawing from Dara’a after capturing what it referred to as “terrorist elements.” However, activists on social networking sites said that Dara’a is still under a “suffocating siege,” with military forces in the street and snipers stationed on rooftops. 

Al-Jazeera features a report on media repression throughout the Middle East during the revolutions in Egypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen, and Bahrain. These countries’ regimes have carried out similar campaigns to suppress the media by confiscating permits, arresting journalists, and even killing journalists and photographers. Al-Jazeera’s office in Syria was shut down after several employees received threats. Only Syrian state-run media has been allowed to cover the protests in Dara’a since they erupted two months ago. Yet these extreme measures have not prevented the spread of revolutions across the Middle East. 

Amnesty International has called on Bahraini authorities to end the arrests of opposition members and to release detained protestors. Bahraini authorities continue their violent crackdown on protests despite international pleas. Religious scholars, soldiers, medical personnel, and journalists have been arrested throughout the country. Al-Alam reports that Bahraini authorities asked Human Rights Watch lawyer Joshua Colangelo to leave the country before he was able to investigate human rights abuses. 

Sixteen police officers were killed and 65 people injured in a terrorist attack in the Iraqi city of Hilla early this morning. Al-Iraqiya reports that a car filled with explosives targeted police headquarters in the city center. Residents of Hilla affirmed that the attack will not hinder the determination of the Iraqi people to “pave the way to a new Iraq.”

The BBC reports that protests calling for the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh's regime continued in cities throughout Yemeni, as living conditions deteriorate due to heightened food and gas prices. Some believe that the gas crisis is being staged by Saleh and as a punishment to the opposition.

Several days ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas a choice between seeking reconciliation with Hamas and achieving peace with Israel. Today, Abbas said the Palestinian Authority will stand by Hamas. He made this statement at the signing ceremony for the national reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas in Cairo, Egypt. Palestinians expressed cautious optimism over the agreement, hoping it will open a new chapter for Palestinians.

Dubai TV reports that Syria protests have spread to the country’s second largest city, Aleppo. Students from the University of Aleppo took to the streets to demand that authorities lift the siege on Daraa. Nearly 3,000 protestors demonstrated in the coastal city of Baniyas with the same demand. Over 1,000 people have been arrested over the past three days, raising the total number of Syrian detainees to 2,800.

In Bahrain, 23 doctors and 24 nurses will be put on trial for their involvement in the uprising. The Bahraini military court is accusing them of providing medical care to protestors, being involved in the attempts to topple the ruling family, participating in illegal gatherings, and damaging public opinion by spreading false news. Al-Alam reports that this comes days after the military court issued death sentences to four young men accused of killing two police officers during protests.

In Libya, Muammar Gaddafi’s forces have shelled the Misurata port again, this time killing five people. Al-Jazeera reports that the forces are preparing to launch a new attack on the Wazen border crossing with Tunisia. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees said that over 80,000 Libyans have been displaced from the western Jabal al-Gharbi district in the past few days. International Criminal Court Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said that NATO forces might be used to capture Gaddafi.

France 24 reports tonight from Morocco, where demonstrators are gathering under the slogan “the people want to topple corruption and despotism.” The Morocco protests began on February 20, and have been growing in size everyday, despite King Mohammed VI’s promises to release of political prisoners and enact reforms.

Hundreds of Iraqis poured into Tahrir Square in central Baghdad last week to participate in the “Friday of Resistance.” Protestors are demanding the end of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s government, the eradication of corruption, and the release of detainees. In Mosul, demonstrators rallied in Ahrar Square for the 20th consecutive day, despite the government’s attempts to scatter the crowd.

The BBC reports from Libya tonight, where a NATO official said that Gaddafi's loyalist forces planted landmines in Misurata’s port to prevent humanitarian aid from reaching the city. Medical sources reported that 12 people were killed in Misurata in a shelling by Gaddafi forces. Confrontations between the rivaling forces also took place near the Libya-Tunisian border. After Gaddafi forces shelled the Tunisian border town of Dhiba, Tunisian authorities expressed concern over what was considered a “violation of the sanctity of Tunisian soil.”

Al-Alam reports that thousands of Yemenis demonstrated in the capital Sana'a on the “Day of Loyalty to Martyrs” to announce their rejection of the Gulf Cooperation Council's initiative and demand the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. As the clampdown on these protests continues in Yemen, the Joint Meeting Parties warned they would not sign the Gulf agreement in Riyadh if the regime did not protect the peaceful protestors. Meanwhile, thousands of Saleh supporters held separate marches in Sana’a, as part of the “Friday of Constitutional Legitimacy.”

To mark the “Friday of Rage,” protestors throughout Syria took to the streets in solidarity with the city of Daraa, which is still under siege by the Syrian Republican Guard. After weeks of protests in Syria, al-Jazeera reports that today’s are particularly significant because the Muslim Brotherhood has openly joined the protest movement and over 200 members of the Ba’ath Party have submitted their resignations.

Tonight Syria TV relases the Paltalk Leakes, exposing exposing conspirators behind the Syrian revolution. The state run station reports that satellite phones, computers, and cameras were smuggled into Syria with the intention of fabricating news and spreading lies to the media about protests in Syria.

At least 16 people were killed in Morocco yesterday after a café was bombed in the city of Marrakech. The café is located in Djemma el-Fna Square, one of the top ten tourist destinations in the world. Moroccan authorities have launched an investigation to identify the perpetrators. Dubai TV reports that while the government’s spokesman said the authorities will pursue all leads, he hinted that al-Qaeda might be responsible for the bombing.

The Syrian Sawasya Organization for Human Rights said today that there have now been upwards of 500 fatalities since anti-regime demonstrations began six weeks ago. They added that Syrian authorities have arrested thousands of people, while hundreds of others are reported missing. Al-Jazeera reports that the Syrian youth opposition group has sent out a call on Facebook for new demonstrations to take place tomorrow on the “Friday of Rage” against Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Al-Alam reports that the Yemeni opposition has said they would not sign the GCC’s power-transfer deal if the regime continues to use violence against demonstrators. Twelve people were reportedly killed and over 130 injured when protestors in Sana'a were shot at while marching to the Saudi embassy to protest Riyadh’s interference in the Yemeni revolution.

Gaddafi forces continue to surround and shell the coastal city of Misurata, considered to be the most important opposition-controlled city in western Libya. Medical sources in the city said at least seven rebel fighters were killed at a checkpoint shelled by Gaddafi forces on the border with Tunisia. However, the BBC reports that opposition fighters in Ajdabiya say the city is now safe enough for residents to return.

Dubai TV reports from Jordan, where King Abdullah II has asked a committee to prepare a series of constitutional amendments in an attempt to placate the opposition with reforms. Observers believe that the formation of the committee proves that the Kingdom is serious about making real political reforms. The opposition blocs have welcomed the formation of the panel and described it as “a step in the right direction that will help move the wheel of political reforms forward.”

Tonight, New TV profiles Syrian writer and opposition figure Michel Kilo. Kilo joined the Communist Party as a youth, studied journalism in Cairo, sociology in Paris, and worked as a translator at the Ministry of Culture in Damascus. Today, he is the head of the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression and is considered one of Syria’s leading opposition thinkers.

Tonight, al-Alam reports on the ongoing violence in Bahrain. Saudi-backed Bahraini forces continue to destroy mosques and religious sites while carrying out a large-scale campaign to arrest protest leaders. Marches are expected to be held across Bahraini cities under the banner "Sunni and Shiite brothers," in order to affirm the protestors’ national unity. It has been reported that over 1,000 people have been arrested so far, 25 percent of whom are under 18. Doctors, nurses, paramedics, students, journalists, and human rights activists are all being targeted.

The BBC reports that a UN delegation arrived in Tripoli to investigate human rights violations committed during military operations in Libya. The team is expected to investigate violations on both sides of the fighting, including the ones that the Libyan government has accused NATO and the opposition of committing. Meanwhile, the fight between Gaddafi troops and the opposition in Misurata continues, with hundreds of civilians caught in the middle.

Dubai TV reports that Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and the opposition expect to sign a power-transfer deal in Riyadh, as protestors continue to stage sit-ins in Sana'a and other cities. Under the terms of the agreement, a national unity government will formed following Saleh's resignation. Saleh is to reassign power to his vice president in exchange for his immunity, and official elections will held within two months. Yemeni protestors continue to reject the deal. 

The Syrian Human Rights Observatory said that the number of fatalities has risen to 453 and that Syrian authorities have arrested about 1,700 people since protests began in Syria last month. European Union ambassadors are scheduled to meet on Friday to discuss the possibility of imposing sanctions on Damascus. Throughout the upheaval, Syria’s state run television channel has failed mentioned the ongoing events in the country.  

New TV has a special report from Libya, where rap music has become the soundtrack of the revolution. Harkening back to the days of Public Enemy and KRS-One, youth have been using rap to inspire the opposition. In the report, rap is described as the youth’s “new weapon” in the fight against Muammar al-Gaddafi.

Al-Jazeera reports that two people were killed and over 20 injured when security forces opened fire on protestors in Mosul’s Ahrar Square in Iraq. Protestors have rejected the concessions made by the government so far, including the nomination of a new police commander, and have also rejected Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's invitation to meet with a delegation of Mosul residents.

Al-Alam brings us the latest developments from Libya, where Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s forces have shelled Misurata's port, injuring several African refugees. The attack also forced a ship carrying humanitarian aid to Misurata to turn back. NATO attacks targeted Gaddafi's Bab al-Aziziyah compound, but Gaddafi himself was not harmed. While some sources have indicated that Gaddafi forces have retreated from Misurata, residents say that the city is still under siege.  

The BBC reports that Britain, France, Germany, and Portugal are circulating a draft statement within the Security Council condemning the violent crackdown on Syrian protestors. The White House announced yesterday that it is considering imposing sanctions on the Syrian government in response to what it described as brutal violence against Syrian civilians.

The Yemeni opposition has fully approved the Gulf transition plan after receiving clarifications on several of the initiative’s clauses. Dubai TV reports that while the Yemeni president's position on the initiative remains vague, the ruling party has announced that Saleh will agree to step down from power in exchange for immunity. The revolution's youth groups have rejected the initiative and say they will continue to protest until their demands are met.

Cairo Criminal Court has delayed the trial of former Interior Minister Habib el-Adly, six of his senior assistants, and Interior Ministry security leaders, until May 21st. The case relates to their involvement in the attacks and killings of protestors during the January 25 Revolution. Nile TV reports that Egypt's Attorney General Abdul Majid Mahmoud has decided to extend the detention of Alaa and Gamal Mubarak for another 15 days as a precaution while the allegations against them are investigated.

Thousands of people demonstrated in Rabat today to demand the release of political detainees and the prosecution of corrupt officials in response to a call by Morocco’s February 20 Movement, Al-Alam reports that number of other Moroccan cities witnessed similar protests, as demonstrators demanded political reform and a new constitution that would reduce the king's power. Protestors are also demanding that the government and parliament be dissolved.

Al-Jazeera reports that a number of people were reportedly killed and several others injured when Syrian security forces, backed by armored trucks and tanks, entered the southern city of Daraa at dawn this morning. Human rights organizations believe that over 300 people have been killed since protests began last month. Activists are referring to the Syrian government’s crackdown on protestors as “a brutal war to eradicate all those demanding freedom and democracy.”

Dubai TV reports from the southern Yemeni city of Taiz, where ten people were injured when security forces fired live ammunition and tear gas on a group of people demanding the immediate ouster and trial of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The protestors renewed their rejection of the Gulf-brokered initiative, which the opposition had accepted “with reservations.” According to the initiative, Saleh would step down within one month in exchange for immunity from legal prosecution.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said a “dangerous atmosphere dominates the Middle East,” as a result of the precedent set by Libyan fighters' dependence on Western support. Lavrov said these armed fighters are convinced they are capable of toppling Muammar al-Gaddafi’s regime because NATO is on their side. He added that protestors in other countries are now hoping to receive help from the international community to overthrow their rulers. According to the BBC, US Senator John McCain stated the US should increase its participation in the attacks against the Libyan regime to avoid a stalemate that might lead to an intervention by al-Qaeda.

In art exhibit entitled, "History in the Making: the Egyptian Revolution," 350 images were showcased to commemorate Egypt’s peaceful January 25 Revolution. Nile TV reports that the exhibit “aims to keep the spirit of the revolution alive in the hearts of citizens, and to expose the former regime’s corruption.” The Egyptian Women’s Movement for Change was created to honor the essential role of women in society. The movement seeks to raise women’s public awareness in Egypt and ensure their participation in the new political scene.

Thousands of Yemenis have gathered in Sana'a and Taiz to mark a day of protest they have dubbed “Last Chance Friday," and to call for the immediate departure of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Saleh’s supporters held a counter protest in the capital, called the “Friday of Reconciliation.” Following the Gulf Cooperation Council's initiatives in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, the GCC will meet in Sana’a in a new attempt to find a solution to the Yemeni crisis. Dubai TV reports that no details of the new initiative have been released yet. 

The BBC reports that anti-government protests continue in a number of Syrian cities, despite Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s announcement that the emergency law was lifted yesterday. Reports from Syria indicate that security forces opened fire on tens of thousands of people who were taking part in demonstrations. At least five people were killed in Dara'a after nearly 100,000 people took part in a massive demonstration.

Protests are being in held in several Bahraini cities today to condemn the burning of the Quran and destruction of mosques by Saudi and Bahraini troops. Al-Alam reports that images from Diraz show protestors praying on the ground where mosques have been destroyed. A similar protest was suppressed in the village of Karzakan by Saudi's and Bahraini's firing tear gas and live bullets at demonstrators.

The chairman of the US military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, said that  coalition forces have destroyed 30 to 40 percent of Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi's ground troops, but that the situation in Libya seems to be moving closer to a stalemate. Al-Jazeera reports that US President Barack Obama has approved the use of Predator Drones for low-level attacks on Gadaffi’s troops, yet the US continues to oppose sending ground troops to Libya.  

Al-Iraqiya reports that Iraqis in Monsul are protesting for the ninth consecutive day, demanding the removal of US forces from Iraq. They are requesting the complete transfer of security duties from US troops to Iraq’s security institutions as well as the release of detainees who have not been charged.

The Syrian government has passed a bill lifting the emergency law that has been in place for 48 years, as well as a bill dismantling the Supreme State Security Court. The government also approved a bill to “regulate the right to peacefully protest,” but Syrian Interior Ministry made an official statement calling on its citizens not to participate in marches, demonstrations, rallies, or protests of any kind. The statement warned that authorities would reinforce the country’s applicable laws to maintain security and stability. Al-Jazeera reports that eyewitnesses in Homs said that heavy gunfire was heard at dawn and that four people were killed.

The BBC reports that French Foreign Minister Alain Juppé has stated that France strongly opposes sending ground forces into Libya. The United Nations said today that the humanitarian situation in Misurata has deteriorated and the city’s residents have run out of many basic supplies. NATO accused Gaddafi's battalions of using unethical tactics in their fight against the revolutionaries, including dressing in civilian clothes, hiding inside hospitals and schools, and firing on civilians. Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim denied these claims.

Al-Alam sources in Bahrain reported that Saudi tanks and armored vehicles, backed by Bahraini forces, have demolished mosques and prayer halls in the Aker region. The sources also confirmed that Saudi troops stole money from a local mosque’s trust fund in the town of Beni Jamra. The joint Saudi-Bahraini forces continue their arrest campaign, targeting journalists, medics, and lawyers, despite international condemnation. During talks in Manama with US Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman, Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid Bin Hamad al-Khalifa confirmed that Saudi and Emirates forces would remain in Bahrain until “foreign threats” are removed.

Dubai TV reports from the southern Jalousie suburb of Paris, where several Muslims are staging a hunger strike in protest of a ban on building a local mosque. The ban was issued under the pretext of violating the country's secular principles. Muslim community members are conducting the hunger strike on the plot of land where the mosque is supposed to be built. The extremely limited space in the Jalousie’s current mosque prompted the local Muslim community to collect donations, buy land, and make plans to build a larger mosque. They then faced opposition from city officials, who are limiting the number of building permits issued.

New TV reports from Gaza City, where a symbolic military funeral was held for Italian activist, Vittorio Arrigoni, who was kidnapped and killed by armed extremists. His body was taken to Egypt and then to Italy for burial after the funeral. The Interior Ministry has announced that it is offering a cash reward to officers and members of the police force to help capture his killers. Police say that they have arrested two suspects and that they are still looking for three others.

The United Nations called for an immediate ceasefire in the besieged Libyan city of Misurata. At a press conference in Benghazi, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs aValerie Amos expressed her deep concern for the situation in Misurata and other regions in Libya. After Amos’ visit to Tripoli, the Libyan government agreed to allow the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to distribute humanitarian aid there. The BBC reports that the humanitarian crisis in Misurata is quickly deteriorating as fighting continues between the revolutionaries and Gaddafi’s forces and the city’s hospitals suffer from a shortage of medical staff and supplies.

The Gulf Cooperation Council met yesterday in Riyadh for a third meeting about Yemen. Yemeni opposition leaders have rejected the GCC’s second initiative and reiterated their commitment to the first initiative as a platform for ending the Yemeni crisis. Both initiatives call for the removal of Ali Abdullah Saleh from office, but in the second initiative, Saleh is to hand power over to his deputy. Meanwhile, violence has broken out in several Yemeni cities. Dubai TV reports that over 28 Yemenis were injured yesterday when security forces and gunmen disguised as civilians opened fire on protestors in Sana'a. Nearly 500 Yemenis sustained injuries from rocks thrown by people being described as "pro-regime thugs."

Al-Jazeera reports that 14 people were killed and about 50 were injured yesterday in protests in the Syrian city of Homs. About 50,000 Homs residents participated in the victims' funeral and chanted slogans calling for freedom, but were once again subjected to heavy gunfire. Even though President Bashar al-Assad announced the formation of a new government, protestors remain unsatisfied and say they will continue to protest until their demands for freedom and reform are met.

Bahrain's February 14th Youth Coalition launched a week-long program yesterday, dubbed the “Week of Steadfastness.” Today, demonstrators will call for a hunger strike in protest of the ongoing actions of Saudi forces and the al-Khalifa regime, including the murder of civilians and the burning the Quran. Protestors will also call for the immediate release of prisoners held captive in the regimes' jails, and reiterate their rejection of the country's emergency law.