American film offensive to Islam sparks anti-US protests across Muslim world

Adding to the death of the American ambassador to Libya and members of his staff in Benghazi on September 11, demonstrations condemning a film that insulted the Prophet Muhammad have spread to Egypt, Yemen, Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, Tunisia, Sudan, Morocco, and Mauritania, leading to four deaths in Yemen. Other Western embassies have also been attacked in Sudan.

IBA reported that the film that was released on the Internet and sparked the protests is called "Innocence of Muslims," and was produced by a California-based Jewish writer and producer. Most of Mosaic's broadcasters have reported that he is an Israeli American, leading to further anti-US and anti-Israel sentiment among Muslims.

Israel quickly denounced the film, with New TV reporting on Wednesday that the Israeli Foreign Ministry called it "unbearable extremism." Press TV noted that US President Barack Obama condemned the killings, but stopped short of condemning the film.

In addition to depicting the prophet Muhammad, which is strictly taboo in many interpretations of Islam, the film struck a nerve in the Muslim and Arab worlds for being American-made. Al Jazeera English discusses the nature of the protests, touching on the deep-seated anger of some citizens in the region regarding US foreign policy, especially in the wake of the Arab Spring.

Syrians come out for another round of Friday protests after a week of heavy shelling

As the new UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi visits Damascus for the first time since his appointment, cities and villages across Syria have continued to endure heavy army shelling, especially in and around Aleppo and Damascus. Algerie TV reported that the most recent statistics from the UNHCR indicate the number of Syrian refugees has surpassed 250,000, with 85,000 currently in Jordan.

Despite the daily attacks, BBC Arabic reported that on Friday, anti-regime demonstrations took place across Daraa, Idlib, the countryside of Damascus-- which the Syrian government says still harbors "terrorists" that they are trying to pursue-- and al-Hasaka Province, which has a Kurdish majority.

Newly-elected Somali president escapes assassination attempt

Hassan Sheikh Mahmud, who hails from the same tribe as departing president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, is the first Somali president to be elected within the country in more than two decades. However, BBC Arabic reported that just days after his election, he escaped two bombings that targeted the Mogadishu hotel in which he was residing. He was was meeting with Kenyan Foreign Minister Samson Ongeri at the time of the attack, which came as a surprise given the number of Somali and African Union forces protecting his hotel and convoy.

Image: Tunisian protesters burn the U.S. flag during a demonstration outside the U.S. embassy in Tunis September 12, 2012. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

Morocco: The February 20 Movement renewed its rejection of what it describes as "sham reforms." The movement demands genuine political reforms that transform Morocco's controlled political process to one capable of producing the change demanded by the masses. The movement also renewed its demands for prosecuting corrupt officials and holding fair elections. In addition to the political demands, the movement raised slogans demanding social justice, freedom, and dignity.

Syria: The Syrian opposition is rallying its supporters to participate in a day of anger against Russia, as Moscow continues to support President Bashar al-Assad's regime. Following Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron, Medvedev stated that it is wrong to place additional pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and force him to end security operations. The Syrian opposition has called on supporters online to protest across Syrian cities and towns and to burn the Russian flag.

Libya: Fifteen people were killed in an attack by Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi's battalions on an oil facility near Ras Lanuf. The Libyan National Transitional Council announced that its fighters fended off the battalions' attack on Bani Walid, one of the final strongholds of Colonel Gaddafi's loyalists. The NTC forces began reinforcing their siege on the city of Sirte, also under Gaddafi's control.

Syria: The city of Hama is witnessing the bloodiest crackdown it has seen since unrest began in the country five months ago. While Syrian state media blames the violence on 'armed groups,' eyewitnesses say that Syrian army tanks stormed the city at dawn and began bombing houses. Reports indicate that over 100 have been killed in the crackdown since yesterday. Violence is also ongoing in Homs, Idlib, Deir az-Zour, and al-Bukamal.

Libya: New clashes in Misurata erupted between the revolutionaries and Muammar Gaddafi's battalions, killing over 30 revolutionaries and wounding 130. Meanwhile in Zlitan, revolutionaries managed to reach the city center despite significant resistance by Gaddafi forces. The clashes led to casualties on both sides. After months of seesaw battles, the small achievements made by the revolutionaries seem to be beginning to break the military stalemate in the country's crisis.

Egypt: At least 200 protestors have been injured during violent confrontations between Egyptian security forces and demonstrators camped out in Cairo's landmark Tahrir Square. The clashes erupted when security forces entered the square to disperse protestors who have been there for over three weeks. Witnesses say the troops fired into the air and used live ammunition in an attempt break up the demonstrations. Several of the 200 injured protestors are said to be in critical condition.

Morocco: The February 20 Movement and several Moroccan human rights organizations have criticized King Mohammed VI's speech marking allegiance day in the kingdom. During the speech, King Mohammed announced his plan to hold early elections. While the speech was hailed by loyalists as "a roadmap outlining the upcoming stage," the opposition says the speech was insufficient and doesn't mean that the country will enter a new democratic phase.

Morocco: The February 20 Movement condemned what it described as the policy of "deaf ears" adopted by the authorities in relation to the movement's demands. The movement organized the largest protests yet in the cities of Tangier and Casablanca to reiterate its rejection of the new constitution and demand a "democratic constitution devoted to the sovereignty of the people."

Syria: Protests continue throughout the country despite the Syrian cabinet's approval of a draft law that allows for the formation of political parties. The authorities described the draft law as "activating the multi-party political system." However, the opposition says that the law is a "sham solution" because Article 8 of the constitution stipulates that the Ba'ath Party is the country's ruling party.

Libya: Only 100 kilometers south of the capital Tripoli, Muammar Gaddafi's forces launched an attack on Gualish in an attempt to regain control of the town. The revolutionaries said they managed to repel Gaddafi's forces two kilometers from Gualish after dozens of fellow fighters arrived to support them from the city of Zintan, the revolutionaries' largest base in western Libya. Meanwhile, NATO continues to launch nightly raids on central Tripoli, which the government says is causing a heavy civilian death toll.

Egypt: In the midst of their current revolution, Egypt celebrated the anniversary of the July 23 Revolution, also known as the Revolution of the Free Officers, which abolished Egypt's constitutional monarchy and established a republic. More than 60 years later, the Egyptian people are once again challenging their government and demanding it be replaced with a civilian government free of corruption and oppression.

Yemen: Deputy Minister of Information Abdu al-Janadi says President Ali Abdullah Saleh will soon address the nation. Saleh will be interviewed by Saudi state television in Riyadh, where he has been staying for the past three weeks for medical treatment. The ruling Congress Party announced that Saleh will soon return to the country and that he plans to transfer his authorities to parliament and to form a coalition government to prepare for early elections. The opposition described the announcements as "a coup against the Gulf Initiative."

Libya: Libyan Justice Minister Mohamed al-Gamudi said that the International Criminal Court's decision to issue arrest warrants for Muammar Gaddafi, his son, and his intelligence chief is politically motivated and is being used as a cover-up for NATO's crimes. He vowed to prosecute members of NATO. The decision has prompted the opposition to reject any dialogue with the regime.

Syria: Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federation Council of Russia, Mikhail Margelov, met with the Syrian opposition's delegation in Moscow today. The delegation called on Russia to use its influence to push the Syrian regime to end the violence against peaceful protestors. Margelov urged Syria to implement real reforms and stated that Russia will do everything possible to prevent the Syrian crisis from descending into a Libya-style war.

Morocco: The February 20 Movement has once again taken to the streets, this time in protest of the constitutional amendments proposed by King Mohamed VI. They assert that the amendments do not sufficiently reduce the king's authority. While the amendments give the government executive authority, the king remains the head of the army and retains religious and judicial authority. The new constitution also maintains the king's right to appoint the prime minister.

Morocco: Over 100 protest rallies took place throughout Morocco this week despite the extreme violence used by security forces against demonstrators. The February 20 Movement protestors are demanding political reforms which include establishing a constitutional monarchy, implementing a process of government accountability, and granting the judiciary full independence. In response to the protests, Moroccan Minister of Telecommunications Khaled al-Nasseri said that people he refers to as Islamists and leftists are seeking to spread unrest in Morocco under the guise of democracy protests.

Libya: NATO launched its most aggressive attack against Muammar Gaddafi yesterday, targeting his headquarters at the Bab al-Aziziya compound in Tripoli. NATO also said it will start using combat helicopters in its operations in Libya in order to launch more accurate strikes. Spokesman for the Libyan government, Moussa Ibrahim said the air strikes killed three people and wounded at least 150. On the ground, clashes are ongoing between revolutionaries and Gaddafi’s forces in Tripoli. This is the first time that the revolutionaries have engaged in battles inside the capital.

Syria: EU Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton described the situation in Syria as “disturbing” and called on the Syrian government to end the violence against peaceful protestors. Additional sanctions have been imposed on Syria and include freezing the country’s assets and prohibiting Syrian officials from traveling. Rights activists reported that 58 people died in last Friday’s protests. Despite the ongoing crackdown, protestors continue to rally throughout Syria demanding the downfall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Yemen: New clashes erupted between Yemeni security forces and supporters of Sheik Sadeq al-Ahmar. Five people were killed and several others wounded after the two sides exchanged gunfire. The fierce clashes came after the heavy shelling of al-Ahmar's home, where dozens of tribal leaders were placed under siege. The confrontation is yet another setback to the Gulf Cooperation Council and international efforts aimed at solving the country's political crisis.

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.

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.

(Euronews: 1153 PST, March 10, 2011) France has praised the King of Morocco for announcing wide-ranging reforms it called "important, responsible, and brave." Mohamed VI promised an independent judiciary, a stronger role for parliament and political parties and a programme to devolve more power to local officials.

The speech also appeared to go down well on the streets. "It was a speech of the future and for the future of Morocco, hand in hand with all Moroccans. We are united for the development of the country," said one reveller after the address.