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.

Libya: Opposition forces stormed Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi's residence at the Bab al-Aziziya compound after hours of intense fighting. The opposition achieved additional military gains in the east and took control of the port of Ras Lanuf, pushing Gaddafi's supporters to the outskirts of Bin Jawad. However, in a surprising move, Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi, who was reportedly arrested two days ago, appeared in front of the media last night affirming that his father and his family are in Tripoli. NATO is continuously bombing the Bab al-Aziziya compound in the hopes of forcing Gaddafi and his family out of hiding.

Syria: The UN Human Rights Council adopted a draft resolution calling for the formation of an independent committee to investigate human rights violations in Syria. The draft resolution was proposed by the US, the EU, and the four Arab countries at the council (Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Kuwait). Russia, China, and Cuba opposed the resolution. On the ground, a UN team has arrived in the city of Idlib. The visit coincided with a protest rally that was held on city streets demanding the downfall of the regime.

Bahrain: Rights groups have condemned the Bahraini regime and state-linked firms for unlawfully terminating 2,500 Bahraini employees for participating in nation-wide protests against the ruling Al Khalifa dynasty. The state employees were dismissed from their jobs on Tuesday. Meanwhile, 40 people detained in connection with anti-regime protests have been formally charged after spending several months in custody. The charges include "illegal assembly" and "trying to distort Bahrain's image."

Syria: Syrian forces have begun withdrawing from the city of Ariha in Idlib province. This comes after the Syrian forces deployed in the city of Hama withdrew this morning. The withdrawals began after Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu visited the Syrian capital yesterday and requested that the Syrian leadership pull the army out of Syrian cities and release detainees. Meanwhile, the death toll from yesterday's military operations in Syria reached 21, including 17 in the city of Deir az-Zour alone.

Bahrain: Supporters of Bahrain's February 14 Revolution issued a statement calling on Bahrainis to attend Thursday night's "Self-Determination VII" march in the Sanabis area, located near Pearl Roundabout. The statement condemned the al-Khalifa regime's attempt to thwart the people's revolution with its military crackdown, harassment campaign, and martial law. The statement confirmed the commitment to the popular slogan "the people want to topple the regime" instead of slogan "reform the regime." Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society announced it will hold a festival next Friday under the banner "No Retreat," on what it is calling the Friday of Decisiveness.

Libya: Libyan state TV aired a video of Muammar Gaddafi's son, Khamis al-Gaddafi, visiting the wounded in a hospital in the capital Tripoli. Several days ago, reports emerged indicating that Khamis al-Gaddafi had been killed in a NATO air raid in the city of Zlitan in western Libya. The Libyan regime denied the reports, saying they were aimed at diverting attention from the killing of the revolutionaries' military commander, Abdul Fatah Younis.

Libya: Muammar Gaddafi's government has denied the reports about the killing of Gaddafi's youngest son and prominent military commander, Khamis. The Libyan authorities also announced that their forces have taken control of the eastern town of Zlitan, which is still being targeted by NATO airstrikes. The armed opposition is launching attacks on land as well as at sea. The revolutionaries reportedly seized an oil tanker heading from Malta to regions under Gaddafi's control, and rerouted it to Benghazi.
 
Yemen: Anti-regime protestors have gathered in more than 17 provinces on a Friday named "Peaceful revolution until victory," demanding the ouster of those being referred to as "the remnants of the regime." Meanwhile, supporters of President Ali Abdullah Saleh gathered at Sabeen Square in a protest rally entitled "Friday of compassion." A debate is taking place in Yemen about the constitutional legitimacy of President Saleh in light of his 60-day absence from the country and his failure to perform his duties, according to his opponents.

Egypt: Dozens of people protested in front of Omar Makram Mosque overlooking Tahrir Square after performing prayers for activist Mohamed Mohsen, who died after being wounded in the Abbassia clashes two weeks ago. Over 100 people were injured in the clashes that took place as protestors marched toward the Defense Ministry headquarters. Today, protestors chanted slogans against the military council and security measures taken by the army in the country.

Syria: The opposition chose "God is with us" as the slogan for its mobilization on the first Friday of the holy month of Ramadan. After Friday prayers, Syrians marched against the regime across Syrian towns and villages, chanting for freedom and the downfall of President Bashar al-Assad.

Syria: The Syrian Foreign Ministry has condemned US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's comments stating President Bashar al-Assad lost his legitimacy after a group of pro-Assad loyalists attacked the American and French embassies in Damascus. The ministry stated that Clinton's remarks are provocative and constitute an interference in Syrian affairs. Damascus demanded that Washington and its envoys abide by the principle of non-intervention in internal affairs and refrain from any acts that might provoke the Syrian people.

Libya: After three months of costly military operations, several NATO member countries are seeking an exit to the crisis. Norway announced that it will recall its six F-16 fighter jets on August 1 and Italy said that it will withdraw its carrier Garibaldi. The UN special envoy to Libya called on Gaddafi’s regime and the Transitional Council to begin direct negotiations to settle the conflict. 

Egypt: Thousands of Egyptians staged a rally in Cairo's Tahrir Square despite a warning by military rulers. The anti-government activists called for a million-man march in Egyptian cities, including Alexandria and Suez. Protestors camped out in the square, demanding the immediate trial of Mubarak and the officers accused of killing protestors during the January 25 revolution. In a statement, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces stressed that it will not give up its role in running Egypt's affairs.

Yemen: As Sanaa anxiously awaits his media appearance, President Ali Abdullah Saleh has called for opening talks with the opposition to implement the Gulf initiative for transferring power in Yemen. Reports from Riyadh confirm that Saleh's health condition is preventing him from appearing before the media. Meanwhile, over 300 members of the Central Security Agency, the police force, and the Republican Guard have defected from Saleh's regime and joined the youth revolution.

Bahrain: In a statement, the Bahraini February 14th Coalition described King Hamad Bin Issa al-Khalifa's initiative for dialogue as "an attempt to escape responsibility for the campaigns of killing, torture, and crackdowns practiced in the country." The statement added that the dialogue initiative was "born dead" and is an attempt by the authorities to corner the opposition. Many believe the call for dialogue is merely an attempt to relieve international pressure on Manama.

Syria: Anti-government demonstrations continue to be staged throughout Syria in Idlib, Homs, Deir el-Zour, and Hama. Protestors are rejecting calls to hold a dialogue with the regime. In Aleppo, activists have called for a demonstration called the "Aleppo Volcano" before tomorrow's protests on the "Friday of Departure." As Syria's economic capital, Aleppo was strategically chosen by the opposition for today’s demonstration in an attempt to sever the city's ties with the Syrian government.
 
Libya: France has defended its decision to send weapons to the Libyan opposition, saying it did not break the UN arms embargo because the weapons were needed to defend civilians under threat. AU Commission chief Jean Ping said France's decision puts the region at risk. Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen confirmed that NATO will not arm the Libyan opposition. 

Libya: The International Criminal Court announced it will issue a final decision on an arrest warrant for Libyan Colonel Muammar Gaddafi on Monday. In an attempt to display unity between NATO members, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen played down Italy's call to end military operations and attempted to reassure NATO's hesitant members of Gaddafi's imminent defeat. The spokesman for the Libyan National Transitional Council, Mahmoud Shamam, said the council is trying to make political gains without waging more risky battles and is discussing the possibility of allowing Gaddafi to stay in Libya if he relinquishes power

Saudi Arabia: More women have challenged the law banning them from driving in Saudi Arabia. Social networking websites reported that more than 40 women drove their cars. Sara al-Khadi said that she now drives her car on a daily basis and was only stopped by traffic police after a group of teenagers harassed her and reported her to the police. Many now wonder if more Saudis will follow in these defiant women's footsteps and wage a more comprehensive uprising to change the country's leadership. 

Yemen: In the third week since President Ali Abdullah Saleh's departure, Yemeni protestors have staged massive rallies, called "The Will of the Revolution," to reiterate their demands, most notably Saleh's ouster and the formation of a transitional council. At the same time, the ruling regime called on its supporters to hold prayers in mosques for Saleh's speedy recovery on a day they are referring to as the "Friday of the Guardians of the Homeland."  US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman has called for an immediate and peaceful transfer of authority to Yemen's vice-president, as mandated by the Gulf initiative. 

Syria: The Syrian Revolution Coordinators Union said at least 12 people were killed today by security forces’ gunfire in various parts of Syria. Syrian state run media reported a number of the regime’s security forces were shot at by gunmen. Eyewitnesses and opposition activists said tens of thousands of protestors took to the streets throughout the country on the "Friday of the Fall of Legitimacy," demanding the downfall of the regime. Protests erupted in the cities of Homs, Aleppo, Hama, Rif Dimashiq, al-Bukamal, and Damascus’ suburb Arbeen. 

Syria: Eyewitnesses said government forces are indiscriminately firing at the outskirts of Maarat al-Numan with the intention of terrorizing residents. This has led more residents to flee the town. Fifteen kilometers east of Maarat al-Numan, residents of Mantas are also fleeing as armed convoys approach the village. The city of Hama witnessed anti-regime demonstrations yesterday to counter the pro-regime protests in Damascus. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged President Bashar al-Assad to carry out reforms before time runs out.

Libya: Revolutionaries say they have taken control of various areas in the Jabal al-Gharbi region after days of battles against Gaddafi's forces. Seesaw battles continue between the two sides in areas east of Tripoli, particularly between of Misurata and Zliten. While a number of countries assert that NATO's air strikes on Libya are impeding the efforts to reach a political resolution to the crisis, disputes between NATO members emerged as some refused to pledge to provide additional supplies for the military operations in Libya.

Iraq: On the first Friday since the end of Maliki’s 100-day deadline, protests in Tahrir Square were drastically different from prior weeks’ protests. As the weekly anti-regime protests began, they were soon met by opposing slogans swearing allegiance to the prime minister. The competing slogans did not last long and the protests soon turned violent.

Saudi Arabia: On June 17, Saudi Arabian women will participate in a national campaign against the Saudi law that forbids women to drive. Women throughout the country will drive their cars in protest of the law and in support of Manal Sharif, a woman who was arrested after a video of her driving alone was uploaded online.

Syria: A number of cities witnessed demonstrations calling for freedom and the downfall of the regime today, on what they are calling the "Friday of Tribes." Eyewitnesses in al-Qamishlil say that at least 3,000 people carried slogans condemning the military operations launched by the Syrian army in Jisr Shughour. The president of the International Red Cross called on the Syrian government to allow his organization to enter the regions witnessing acts of violence. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyif Erdogan said that Turkey will not defend Syria at the Security Council because of the extreme violence it has committed against protestors.

Libya: Alongside NATO’s military campaign, swift political action is being taken to find a solution to the Libyan crisis. Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade met with leaders of the Libyan opposition in the city of Benghazi, the opposition's stronghold, in preparation for a new post-Gaddafi era. Wade also urged Muammar Gaddafi to declare a ceasefire and relinquish power in the interest of the Libyan people.

Yemen: Pro- and anti-Yemeni regime protests continued today in Sanaa and a number of other Yemeni cities. While supporters of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh confirmed he would soon return to the country, opposition protestors demanded the formation of a transitional council as a temporary alternative to Saleh's regime

Libya: The United Arab Emirates hosted the third meeting of the Libya Contact Group today with delegations from 40 countries and representatives from international and regional organizations in attendance. The Contact Group met in an attempt to activate a financial mechanism, which will help fund humanitarian aid to Libya and support the opposition’s National Transitional Council. UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah Bin Zayed called on Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi to resign and expressed support for NATO's military operations in Libya. 

Yemen: The opposition continues to celebrate President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s departure from Yemen, considering it a victory for their revolution. Meanwhile, Saleh’s supporters celebrated news that he was released from the intensive care unit of the Saudi Arabian hospital where he recently underwent surgery. The respective celebrations got carried away when clashes erupted and several people from both sides were killed and injured. 

Syria: The state news agency SANA reported that Damascus has strongly condemned foreign intervention in Syria. Meanwhile, residents of Jisr al-Shughour continue to flee the violence, heading across the border into Turkey. The Turkish Anatolia news agency said that nearly 1,500 people have crossed the border in the past 24 hours. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyib Erdogan said Turkey’s borders will remain open to Syrian refugees at this stage and also urged President Bashar al-Assad to implement real reforms as soon as possible.