Yemen: The recently-formed National Council for the Revolutionary Forces in Yemen will convene its first meeting in the capital Sanaa tomorrow at noon to discuss the council's next steps to mobilize the revolutionary process. On the ground, rival protest rallies were held throughout Yemen. Hundreds of thousands of anti-regime protestors gathered in Sanaa and other Yemeni provinces to express their support for the national council formed by the opposition parties. Meanwhile, supporters of the ruling party gathered at Saleh Mosque in Sanaa to affirm their support for President Saleh and what they referred to as his "constitutional legitimacy."   

Libya: Libyan revolutionaries say they have driven forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi out of the strategic western town of Zlitan. They said in a statement today that Zlitan is now under the control of the opposition, but that the fighting is not finished. The town, which is located 150 kilometers from the capital Tripoli, has recently been the scene of fierce fighting between opposition fighters and government troops. According to the opposition, between 40 and 50 regime troops were killed in the ongoing fighting.

Syria: Protests were held today in several cities under the slogan "promise of victory." Meanwhile, EU governments have agreed to impose additional sanctions on Syria. Moscow has opposed the measure and called for granting Assad an opportunity to implement reforms. Turkey has said that it will not demand Assad's resignation at this time, but it has called for the immediate cessation of the crackdown on protestors.

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.

Libya: At the request of the international community, the Libyan National Transitional Council has developed a political roadmap for the post-Muammar Gaddafi era. The roadmap outlines how the Council will transfer power to an elected parliament within eight months and adopt a new constitution. This news comes after the revolutionaries announced their complete control over az-Zawiyah and Jabal al-Nafusa and their readiness to advance towards the capital Tripoli. The revolutionaries said they expect to topple Gaddafi's 42-year-long regime by the end of August.

Yemen: The opposition announced the formation of the National Council for Revolutionary Forces in the capital Sanaa today. The council includes more than 140 members from the country's various political blocs. Member of the Supreme Council of the Joint Meeting Parties Mohammad Yahya al-Sabri says the council is “an important step for the Yemeni revolution," and that now, "there will be a unified path, a unified direction, and a unified voice [in Yemen]."

Syria: Opposition websites reported that the Rukn al-Din neighborhood of Damascus is witnessing a wide-scale security crackdown similar that of Homs province. Over 50 tanks have reportedly shelled the city of Hula in Homs and the army is surrounding the neighborhood of al-Nazheen. However, the opposition has continued its efforts to rally supporters to participate in massive demonstrations under the slogan, "The Day of Badr: The Day of Victory and Steadfastness."

Yemen: President Ali Abdullah Saleh delivered a speech today from the Saudi capital Riyadh, aired on Yemen's state television, in which he told his supporters that he will "soon" return to Yemen from Saudi Arabia. He said he would see his supporters "soon in the capital Sanaa," despite growing protests by the Yemeni people demanding he step down.  Saleh described the Yemeni opposition as "figures of narrow interests and thinking," and accused them of "stealing" the slogans of young anti-government protestors who have been calling for his ouster since January.

Bahrain: The royal fact-finding committee closed its offices in Manama after being widely criticized by the Bahraini people and following an attack by protestors on its headquarters. Protestors believe the committee did not make an accurate decision regarding the extent of the human rights violations in Bahrain and that it sympathizes with the Bahraini authorities. Opposition group al-Wefaq National Islamic Society confirmed the popular mobilization in the country will continue until all demands are met.

Syria: The army has withdrawn from Deir az-Zour, as confirmed by a military official to journalists who entered the city as part of a media tour organized by the Ministry of Information. The official added that the army entered Deir az-Zour in response to a call by the residents, adding that the military carried out an exceptional and swift operation to restore security and stability to the city. Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that several Latakia neighborhoods witnessed heavy gunfire early this morning. The organization said that the last four days of military operations in Latakia have killed 34 people, including a two-year-old girl.

Libya: Libyan opposition forces threatened to cut off supplies from the capital Tripoli after they achieved military gains in cities near the capital, such as az-Zawiyah and Gharyan. In light of these gains, the United States said that Gaddafi's days in power are numbered. According to a US military source, Gaddafi began using Scud missiles to shell Brega.

Tunisia: Tunisian security forces attacked hundreds of protestors who took to the streets of the capital Tunis to call for a second revolution. Police forces, who had blocked the streets leading to the interior ministry, tried to scatter the protestors by firing tear gas and beating several of them. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in front of the cathedral in Tunis, shouting "new revolution," "the people want the system to fall," and "Free Tunisia, throw out the thieves."

Libya: In an audio message on Libyan state television, Libyan Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi called on his supporters to prepare to fight to recapture the cities controlled by the revolutionaries, and predicted a swift end to the opposition and NATO. The state-run channel broadcast live images from Green Square in Tripoli, where hundreds of regime supporters gathered, holding photos of al-Gaddafi and waving green flags. Gaddafi's speech came after the revolutionaries gained control of the city of az-Zawiyah, in western Libya, only 50 kilometers from Tripoli.

Syria: According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the Syrian army continued its shelling of several neighborhoods in Latakia for the third consecutive day. The army also stormed the Palestinian refugee camp al-Ramel and the city of Hula in Homs province. Syrian Arab News Agency, SANA, denies these reports. The state run channel broadcast videos of Hama showing that the city is regaining vitality and that official business has resumed.

Egypt: At the Cairo Criminal Court, Chancellor Ahmed Rifaat has ordered that former President Hosni Mubarak's trial be merged with the proceedings against his former interior minister, Habib el-Adly. He also decided to end live television coverage of the court sessions. Chaos and altercations between lawyers erupted today during the court's second session for the trials of the former president and his two sons, Ala'a and Jamal.