Jordanian protestors demand a change in policies instead of governments

BBC Arabic - Demonstrations were held in several Jordanian governorates with a variety of slogans and chants, and diverse affiliations and demands. But they were united in their call for accelerating the reform process and combating corruption. The protestors also sharply criticized the council of ministers, and the way in which governments are formed in Jordan. In the capital Amman, the Islamic Action Front had a prominent presence in the protests and participated alongside different popular and youth movements. The protests come one day after the Awn al-Khasawneh's government resigned, and after the Jordanian king, Abdullah II, appointed Fayez al-Tarawneh to form a new government.

Deadly bombing rocks Syrian capital

New TV - A suicide bombing shook the neighborhood of al-Midan in the center of the Syrian capital Damascus. At least nine people were killed as a result, and dozens were injured with body parts seen scattered across two medical centers. The same site had witnessed a similar explosion in January that led to the killing of 27 people. The official news agency SANA described the blast as a terrorist operation carried out by a suicide bomber. Syrian TV raised the death toll to 11, adding that 28 civilians and members of the security forces were injured, broadcasting videos of the explosion site under al-Midan's bridge, near Zein al-Abidin Mosque.

Humanitarian crises in Sudan and Yemen

Dubai TV - The war between Khartoum and the northern command of the People's Movement, the armed confrontations between rebel movements in Darfur, and the Heglig battles are all factors that have contributed to the humanitarian crisis raging in the regions witnessing an armed conflict. According to a new UN report, nearly four million displaced people are at risk of starvation, due to a sharp shortage of food supplies and the difficulty of delivering aid to the famine-stricken because of the violence. The humanitarian situation is far worse in the region of Darfur, especially at the refugee camps scattered along both sides of the Sudanese-Chadian border.

Al Jazeera - Many Yemenis are facing a food crisis due to the high prices and food shortages, especially since the spark of the revolution more than a year ago. Yemeni children are suffering from a number of diseases due to a sharp shortage in food and poor medical care. When a child gets sick and requires hospitalization in the city, transportation is a real challenge due to the shortage of fuel. The bumpy roads and the high cost of medical care pose another challenge.

Egypt announces list of presidential candidates

BBC Arabic - The Presidential Electoral Committee in Egypt announced a list of candidates running in the presidential elections, which are expected to be held next month. There are now 13 candidates, the most prominent of which are Amr Moussa, the former secretary general of the Arab League and a former foreign minister, and Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, the former leader of the Muslim Brotherhood. The committee's surprise decision was allowing Ahmed Shafiq, the last prime minister during Mubarak's era, back into the presidential race after accepting his appeal. He was initially disqualified by the disenfranchisement law.

Today, Press TV reported that thousands of Islamists rallied in Tahrir Square against an attempt to revive the Mubarak era. They also demanded that the remnants of the former regime be banned from running for president.

Palestinians rally in solidarity with hunger strikers, clash with Israeli troops

Al Jazeera - The area near Ofer Prison, located west of Ramallah, witnessed clashes between Palestinian youth and Israeli occupation forces. Israeli soldiers fired large amounts of tear gas at the protestors who organized a sit-in in solidarity with the prisoners waging a hunger strike in the occupation's prisons. Meanwhile, over 1,600 Palestinian prisoners are continuing their open-ended hunger strike for the 10th consecutive day.

Image: BBC Arabic

In a report entitled "Saudi Arabia's Political Prisoners: Towards a Third Decade of Silence," the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) describes political imprisonment in Saudi Arabia as  "an epidemic [which] has not spared any sector of Saudi society." According to the IHRC, there are an estimated 30,000 political prisoners in Saudi Arabia out of approximately 18 million Saudi nationals. The report calls attention to the plight of these political prisoners over the last three decades with hopes that the Saudi government and international community will finally take notice. 

Protests in Saudi Arabia have been ongoing for several months calling for political reform and the release of political prisoners. On Monday, these protests turned violent for the first time when Saudi security forces opened fired at demonstrators. Al-Alam reported that 24 people were injured in the clashes in Saudi's oil-rich Eastern Province. The clashes took place in Qatif and al-Awamiyah, home to a largely Shia population. In an official statement, the Interior Ministry blamed a "foreign country" for the unrest, undoubtedly a veiled reference to Iran, adding that "those involved in sabotage will be dealt with an iron hand." 

In an al-Jazeera opinion piece entitled "Saudi political prisoners long for justice," Hala al-Dosari detailed the case of one mother who appealed to the head of the Interior Ministry for the release of her son, Fahad al-Saeed, arrested nine years ago without trial or charges. The "articulate language and heart-breaking details " of the plea garnered a shocking, first-time response from the government, but one that denied the arrest and detainment of al-Saeed. 

The Independent newspaper reported that protests in the oil-rich kingdom are gaining momentum and are expected spread to more cities. A Facebook page entitled "Revolution of the Eastern Region" is among several opposition websites gaining popularity. What will the spread of protests mean for a country that has long punished political dissidents? 

Libya: The Libyan opposition has offered amnesty as well as a reward of $1.7 million for anyone in Muammar Gaddafi’s close circle who captures the elusive Libyan leader, alive of dead. In an audio message broadcast on local radio stations, Gaddafi vowed to fight NATO until victory or martyrdom. In his speech, he also described his exit from his fortified residence in Bab al-Aziziya as a "tactical move." NATO said that it will continue its operations in Libya until its mission is fulfilled.

Yemen: President Ali Abdullah Saleh ordered the recruitment of 50,000 troops to eliminate all supporters of the Yemeni revolution. Saleh called on his son and the rest of his family to accelerate the mobilization of armed and air forces as well as the deployment of tanks and missiles to launch what he referred to as "the final battle" against anti-regime activists. Meanwhile, popular anti-regime protests continued across Yemeni cities and provinces demanding the downfall of the regime.

Syria: Syrian forces stormed the city of Mayadin in Deir az-Zour, killing seven civilians. Additional reports also confirm raids in the neighborhoods of al-Bayada in Homs. Meanwhile, supporters of the opposition organized massive demonstrations during which protestors chanted slogans calling for freedom, the downfall of the regime, and the formation of a transitional national council to run the country in the phase post-Bashar al-Assad.

Bahrain: Bahrain's main opposition bloc, al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, says it will not participate in the parliamentary elections to replace the lawmakers who resigned in protest of Manama's crackdown on anti-government protestors. Eighteen Bahraini lawmakers from the main Shia opposition party, al-Wefaq, walked out of the parliament in February after security forces opened fire on anti-government protestors, killing and wounding many.

Bahrain: Supporters of Bahrain's February 14 Revolution called for a mass demonstration in the village of Krana to demand that the regime meet the people's demands. The Bahraini government has become even more isolated as more political groups are boycotting the upcoming parliamentary elections. Al-Wefaq Islamic Society, the National Democratic Action, al-Menbar, and the Democratic National Rally are among the political group who have announced their boycott of the elections. 

Syria: For the first time, US President Barack Obama has called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down, condemning the violent acts against citizens by the Syrian forces. Britain, France, and Germany have also called on Assad to step down. The international community believes that Assad has lost all legitimacy and can no longer rule the country. The Obama administration also imposed fresh sanctions on Syria's government, including freezing Syrian assets in the US and banning all Syrian fuel products.

Libya: Sources close to the Libyan revolutionaries have said they are advancing from Misurata toward the eastern city of Sirte, the birthplace of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. The revolutionaries are continuing their advance toward Tripoli, where they hope to soon put an end to Gaddafi's regime after six months of intense fighting. The city of Brega is still witnessing seesaw battles between Gaddafi forces and the revolutionaries, who have achieved gains in parts of the city, especially the area of al-Arqub.

Syria: The slogan for this Friday’s protest is "We won't kneel," as demonstrators are determined to achieve their demands and refuse to heed to the Syrian regime’s crackdown and oppression. Since anti-government protests began in March, over 2,000 people have been killed, nearly 15,000 have been arrested, and more than 15,000 have been displaced to neighboring countries.

Bahrain: Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society called for mass participation in the "No Retreat" festival on the Friday of Decisiveness. Protestors are demanding reform and democracy while condemning the crackdown by authorities. Meanwhile, the ministries of health and education continue to fire more employees for participating in peaceful protests, despite the government's supposed claim that fired employees be reinstated. Hundreds of public sector employees have been dismissed from their positions over their participation in demonstrations.

Libya: The revolutionaries announced that at dawn, they advanced on three fronts toward the capital Tripoli. They are headed towards key coastal cities in western Libya, including Az Zawiyah Az Ziyah and Sarman. Yesterday, they seized control of residential neighborhoods in eastern Brega. Western Brega, however, is still under the control of Muammar Gaddafi’s forces. The Libyan opposition has achieved a political victory as well, after officially reopening the Libyan embassy in Washington DC.

Yemen: In the capital Sana, thousands of pro-and anti-regime protestors gathered in rival protests. Anti-regime protestors gathered in Siteen Square on a Friday named, "We are victorious, God willing." Meanwhile, supporters of the ruling regime gathered in Sabeen Square on what they are calling the "Friday of national alliance to protect constitutional legitimacy."

Egypt: Massive demonstrations are being held throughout Egypt today, on what is being called the "Friday of Unity and the People's Will." Most political parties and movements planned to participate in the demonstrations after agreeing to put aside individual demands and agendas in order to focus on the revolution's goals. However, many parties decided not to continue taking part in today's events after several Islamic parties began chanting Islamic slogans.

Libya: The mysterious assassination of opposition leader Abdel Fattah Younis has created divisions among rebel forces. While most are blaming his death on Muammar Gaddafi loyalists, others aren't ruling out the possibility of internal disputes in the opposition as the cause for his untimely assassination. Younis, one of Gaddafi's former right-hand men, defected from the Libyan regime in late February to join the revolutionaries and help form the Transitional National Council.

Bahrain: Several demonstrations were held throughout the country in response to calls by al-Wefaq National Islamic Society and the February 14 Coalition. Fierce confrontations erupted between young protestors and Bahraini security forces in the towns of Zanj and al-Bilad Qadeem. The opposition has rejected the outcome of the country's national dialogue and al-Wefaq Society is warning the regime not to use the modest reform proposals from the dialogue as a solution to the country's political crisis.

Syria: Anti-regime mobilizations have been linked to many Syrian mosques, which have become destinations for protestors to gather and starting points for their demonstrations. Historically, the mosque's role has not been limited to religious services but also includes an important social aspect, especially during the tumultuous Arab Spring.

Bahrain: The so-called national dialogue has failed to appease the country's opposition amid rising concerns over the government's determination to find a balanced solution to of the current crisis in Bahrain. The opposition voiced frustration with the government at the national dialogue conference after the country's largest opposition party, al-Wefaq, left the negotiations. Facing a countrywide anti-regime revolution, Manama launched the talks on July 2 with the alleged aim of introducing reforms in the Bahraini government.

Syria: A number of night protests were organized in several neighborhoods of the capital Damascus and its countryside amid a crackdown by security forces. Eleven people, including one child, were killed and 250 were arrested in the city of Kanaker, south of Damascus, in what Syrian authorities say was an operation to capture armed terrorist groups.

Libya: Libyan revolutionaries launched an attack on Muammar Gaddafi's battalions stationed at the foot of the Western Mountains, specifically in the towns of Takut and al-Ghazaya. The revolutionaries initiated the military operation to seize control of the strategic mountain towns because they are being used by the regime's battalions to shell Nalut and the Wazin-Dhehaiba crossing at the Tunisian border. Images posted online also show fierce battles in al-Brega and the revolutionaries' vigorous attempt to maintain a siege around Gaddafi's battalions in the city.

Egypt: Prime Minister Essam Sharaf has made significant changes to his Cabinet to placate those accusing the new government of being slow at implementing reforms. However, protestors do not see the reshuffle as sufficient and continue to protest against the government. Egyptian state-run television reported that preparatory work will start on September 18 for the Egyptian parliamentary elections, which were recently postponed to November.

Bahrain: Leading opposition group al-Wefaq National Islamic Society announced its withdrawal from Bahrain’s national dialogue. It attributed the withdrawal to Manama’s failure to accept any of al-Wefaq's reform proposals, including initiatives for a constitutional monarchy, an elected government, and for drafting a constitution. Bashra al-Hindi, a member of al-Wefaq's dialogue delegation said, "The existing administration [does] not care for a real dialogue." Three other opposition groups said they may also pull out of the talks.

Tunisia: Prime Minister Beji Caid Essebsi said violence in the country is aimed at preventing elections from taking place. He warned that extremist political groups are trying to derail the date of the elections but confirmed that they will be held on October 23, as scheduled. Tunisia's recent protests led to the death of one person during a wave of riots that swept the capital Tunis and a number of other cities.

Syria: Syrian security forces continue their military operations in cities and town throughout the country. According to the Syrian Coordination Committees, ten people died in the al-Khalidiya region in Homs when a funeral was targeted by gunfire. The crackdown led to the deaths of several of people, including a 12-year-old boy, and to the injury of dozens. This military escalation was met with massive demonstrations in a number of areas as part of what was named the Tuesday of "Nashama al-Furat" by the Syrian opposition.

(Al Jazeera English: 0149 PT, May 12, 2011) Separatists in Southern Thailand speak exclusively to Al Jazeera about their fight for independence.

(Associated Press: 0906 PST, April 11, 2011) Veiled women were among a group protesting against the French ban on face covering in public that took effect Monday. Police said at least two were detained, but complained the new law would be tough to enforce.

Face Veil Protesters Detained as French Ban Begins

(Euronews: 0718 PST, April 11, 2011) France's ban on full face veils, a first in Europe, has been marked by anger and arrests at one of the leading landmarks in Paris. Several people were detained at what was meant to be a silent protest outside Notre Dame Cathedral, with feelings running high. "It is an attack on my freedom of conscience, my freedom of religion, my freedom to be a woman," said activist Kenza Drider, wearing a face veil.