Syria: The "Friday of Free Women” kicked off after morning prayers today with demonstrations in cities around the country. Two demonstrators were killed in Homs during today’s protests, following the news that four women were killed in a village near Banias several days ago. Friends of Humanity, a Vienna-based human rights organization, reported that 16 women were arbitrarily arrested in Syria’s most recent protests. Activists say that Syria’s death toll has risen to 850 since protests began eight weeks ago.  

Libya: Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said the International Criminal Court is likely to issue an international arrest warrant for Muammar al-Gaddafi by the end of the month. Frattini also expects other warrants to be issued to his family members and a number of Libyan officials. The Libyan National Transitional Council announced that opposition forces have taken control of Misurata and its surrounding areas. The revolutionaries headed west towards Zentan and are requesting that NATO provide them with more advanced weaponry to help them defeat Gaddafi’s forces there.

Egypt: Protestors gathered in Tahrir Square today on “The Friday of National Unity” to emphasize the importance Egyptian unity, especially between Muslims and Christians. They are also demanding that the prosecution of former President Hosni Mubarak and members of his regime be expedited. The protests, which came amid heightened security measures, also called for supporting the Palestinian cause and a third Palestinian intifada.

Bahrain: Saudi and Bahraini forces were deployed throughout the country in anticipation of protests following Friday prayers. Large marches occurred in Karazhan and al-Diya, where government forces shut down streets and fired on the demonstrators. Protestors condemned the authorities’ systematic destruction of religious sites and incitement of sectarian strife, and announced the launch of new phase of protests called “Sacred Defense.”