Libya: Oil Minister Shukri Ghanem has defected from Muammar Gaddafi’s regime and joined the opposition. During a press conference, Ghanem said that he resigned due to the "unbearable" violence in Libya. NATO Secretary-General Anders Rasmussen said that it's only a matter of time before the Libyan leader is ousted from power. NATO has decided to intensify its airstrikes in the country and extend its mission to protect civilians in Libya for an additional three months.

Yemen: New clashes erupted in the capital Sana'a between President Ali Abdullah Saleh's loyalist forces and supporters of Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahamar. Security sources reported that machineguns, rockets, and mortar shells were used and medical sources confirmed that 39 people died in the fight. Opposition leaders have accused Saleh of handing the city of Zinjibar over to al-Qaeda to show the world that without Saleh, Yemen would collapse. 

Syria: Cities throughout the country are witnessing demonstrations in which protestors are chanting slogans rejecting the amnesty decree issued by President Bashar al-Assad. On the ground, the Syrian army continues to use heavy weaponry to besiege conflicted areas.  Many families are fleeing Daraa to Jordan as the Syrian army continues to besiege and shell the city. The Syrian army has also targeted the towns of Rastan and Hirat. 

Libya: Muammar Gaddafi met with South African President Jacob Zuma on Monday in Tripoli. After the meeting, Gaddafi called for ending NATO air strikes and agreed to to a ceasefire in addition to opening a dialogue with the Libyan opposition and to enact a ceasefire.  He refused to leave the country, however, and continued to call for NATO to end air strikes. The opposition rejected the African Union’s peace initiative because it does not include Gaddafi stepping down, and was bolstered by Italy's announcement that it will provide €100 million in aid to the Libyan opposition.

Yemen: After a brief ceasefire, new clashes erupted today between pro-government forces and gunmen loyal to the Hashid tribe leader Sadek al-Ahmar and pro-government forces. The death toll from the attack on protestors in Taiz rose to over 50.  Massive Yemeni civilians, fearful of civil war, took to the streets in Sana’a demonstrations took place in Sana’a to condemn the killing of protestors in Taiz and to demand the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. 

Syria: Syrian state TV reported that President Bashar Bashar al-Assad willwould issue a decree granting general amnesty to members of all political movements for crimes committed before May 31. According to human rights activists, the Syrian army continues to besiege and shell a number of regions near Homs and Daraa to prevent residents from taking part in protests. Fourteen people have been killed in Homs in the past two days.  

Iraq: Protests erupted in the city of Nasiriya in Dhi Qar province against Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s government and the Dawa Party. Protestors have accused Maliki of been being unable to deliver on promises made to Iraqi citizens during either of his terms in office. Maliki gave his administration a 100-day deadline to achieve reform in Iraq. As that day deadline approaches and as Iraqis grow increasingly frustrated, many believe the date will mark the beginning of an Iraqi revolution. 

Egypt: Thousands of Egyptians staged protests in Tahrir Square, marking the “Second Friday of Anger.” Organizers said that the rally was aimed at speeding up the trials of members of the former regime. Meanwhile, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces ordered all army units out of Tahrir Square and protest areas. The council said that it relies on the youths of the revolution to organize and secure the event, as they bear "historic responsibility for the country's interest."

Syria: Protestors took to the streets demanding freedom in a number of Syrian cities immediately after Friday prayers on what is being called the “Friday of Guardians of the Homeland.” Security forces opened fire on protestors in Homs, Dir-Zure, and several areas of Damascus and its countryside, killing a total of eight people.

Libya: Fierce fighting continues between Libyan revolutionaries and Gaddafi's battalions in Misurata and its surrounding areas. Eyewitnesses say the fighting began in the early morning after the battalions attacked the revolutionaries in an attempt to recapture Misurata, which has been under the revolutionaries’ control for two weeks. The African Union called on NATO to stop shelling Libya, considering it a necessary step on the path to a political solution.

Yemen:  Thousands people in the Sa'ada province took to the street in a massive demonstration affirming that the Yemeni revolution is a peaceful one. The protestors carried banners demanding the downfall of the regime and chanted slogans for a peaceful revolution and against civil war. They also chanted slogans rejecting negotiations and dialogue.

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.

Yemen: President Ali Abdullah Saleh has called for an early democratic presidential election in order to end the ongoing violence in Yemen. However, he referred to anti-regime protestors as “conspirators and traitors” in a speech delivered to his supporters in Sana’a on a day they are calling the “Friday of National Day.” Meanwhile, the Youth of the Revolution coalition called on Yemenis to demonstrate in 17 squares in various Yemeni provinces to express their rejection of the Gulf initiative and demand the toppling of the regime as part of what they are calling the “Friday of the People's Unity.” 

Syria: Protestors marked the Friday of Azadi (Freedom), by staging protest rallies in various cities and provinces throughout Syria. The death toll from today’s protests has not been confirmed due to conflicting reports. A report from Agence France-Presse stated that at least 17 people, including a child, were killed as security forces opened fire at protestors in a number of cities, including Homs, Daraa, Latakia, and Hama. Syrian state TV, however, reported that protests were small and limited to certain areas.

Libya: NATO said its jets destroyed eight of Gaddafi's warships in Tripoli, al-Khums, and Sirte. NATO emphasized that the raids were aimed at destroying battalions that were planting sea mines to hinder the delivery of humanitarian aid to Libya. However, the Libyan government interpreted the raid on Tripoli as message to international maritime companies to refrain from sending ships to Libya and made no statement of the shelling of al-Khums and Sirte.

Egypt: Hundreds of protestors gathered in Tahrir Square for what was called the Friday to Reject Reconciliation. They demonstrated against the release of former President Hosni Mubarak and leniency towards figureheads of the former regime, and demanded they be prosecuted immediately. One protestor affirmed, “The people will not rest until he goes to jail and we get our money back.”