Saudi Arabia: Amnesty International has strongly condemned a new Saudi Arabian anti-terror law that criminalizes legitimate political oppositions. The organization said in a statement that the draft law considers it a crime to question the integrity of the king or the crown prince and carries a minimum prison sentence of ten years. The draft law also allows for detaining a suspect for one year without a trial and holding suspects for four months in solitary confinement. The rights organization describes the law as posing a dangerous threat to freedom of speech in the name of preventing terrorism.

Yemen: Anti-regime protestors gathered in the capital Sana'a and various other provinces to reaffirm their rejection of Ali Abdullah Saleh's regime. They named today the "Friday of Rejection of Collective Punishment." Meanwhile, supporters of the ruling party rallied in support of Saleh at Sana'a's al-Sabeen Square on what they called the "Friday of Sit-in to Thank God."

Syria: Cities throughout the country witnessed popular protests today, like every Friday since March. Activists on social networking websites called for demonstrations on the "Friday of the Grandsons of Khaled Ibn el-Waleed." The opposition estimated that 1.2 million protestors participated in today's demonstration. Protests were witnessed in the cities of Damascus, Homs, Hama, Daraa in the south, Idlib in the north and Deir az-Zour in the east near the border with Iraq. According to preliminary estimates by human rights activists, five people were killed today.

Egypt: New ministers were sworn in today after the ceremony had been postponed for several days due to controversy over the cabinet reshuffle. The ministers were sworn in by Field Marshall Hussein Tantawi, head of the Supreme Council for the Armed Forces. However, demonstrators remain unsatisfied with the reshuffle as they continue to rally in Tahrir Square and prepare for the "Friday of Stability." Their top demand is to accelerate the trials of former regime officials. This Friday will reflect the people's persistence in protecting their revolution but also the increasing divide among the public and among Islamic movements about what is best for Egypt in this new phase.

Syria: The government has initiated a broad security and military campaign in Homs province under the pretext of easing conflicts initiated by "armed terrorist groups." Managing Editor of Levant News, Mohamed Fatouh, however, says that the government purposefully incites sectarian strife in areas, "in order to be able to say that the regime is the only hope and solution.”

Yemen: Deputy Information Minister Abdo al-Janadi said the US recently offered logistic support to forces allied to President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Al-Janadi clarified that Washington brought the forces food when they were besieged in the city of Zinjibar. He added that US forces are also supporting Saleh's regime financially in southern Yemen.

Libya: Russia has announced its refusal to recognize the Libyan Transitional Council as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people. The countries of the Libya Contact Group recognized the Transitional Council during their last meeting in Istanbul. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that recognizing the council would constitute taking sides in a civil war. Lavrov added that his country is in contact with both Tripoli and Benghazi with the aim of taking a constructive position to help with in negotiations with both sides.

Syria: Military forces have been surrounding the town of al-Bukamal in eastern Syria since this morning. This comes amid reports that a number of members of the army in al-Bukamal have defected and joined the popular revolution. In Homs, reports said that about 30 people were killed in the last two days in what was described as sectarian clashes between Sunnis and Alawites. British Foreign Minister William Hague reiterated his call to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to move forward with reforms or step down.

Yemen: The army launched an attack on the southern town of Zinjibar in an attempt to regain control of the town from extremists who have been controlling it for months. Witnesses said dozens were injured in the clashes and one official reported that dozens of extremists have been killed since the attack on the city began two days ago. Meanwhile, protests against Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh continue for the sixth consecutive month. Witnesses said dozens were killed and injured when forces loyal to President Saleh fired at an anti-regime protest.

Syria: Conflicting reports are emerging about the arrest of several actors and intellectuals in Damascus. While several reports confirm the report, Syrian officials have made no comment regarding the issue. The opposition's Facebook page is filled with comments calling for the release of these artists, including actress Mai Skaf and actor Faris al-Helou. According to a member of the Human Rights Association of Syria, security forces opened fire on protestors in Deir az-Zour, killing two people and wounding five. In Homs, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that 11 citizens were wounded by the security forces' gunfire in two separate neighborhoods.

Yemen: The Yemeni Joint-Meeting Parties (JMP) denied the statements in an article published by a Saudi Arabian newspaper saying that JMP forces are fighting Houthis in al-Jawf province. Yemenis, however, accuse the Saudi regime of sowing chaos by arming militias loyal to Riyadh in al-Jawf province to attack Houthis in the north. They say the start of revolutions in countries with strong ties with Saudi Arabia, such as Tunisia and Egypt, made the kingdom's rulers fearful that democratic countries would emerge near its borders and cause unwanted change in the country.

Bahrain: Pro-democracy poet, Ayat al-Qurmezi has been placed under house arrest shortly after she was released from prison. Hailed as the "freedom poet," she was arrested on March 30 for reciting anti-government poetry in the capital Manama's Pearl Square. She was charged with incitement and insulting members of the royal family and handed a one-year jail term. In jail, she was subjected to torture and inhumane treatment.

Egypt: Thousands gathered in a Cairo's Tahrir Square today under the slogan "Revolution First," to remind people of the importance of the January 25 Revolution. Protestors demanded that figureheads of the former regime and anyone involved in cases of corruption and accused of killing protestors be put on trial. Security forces were absent from the square. The people's anger was fueled by recent verdicts exonerating six ministers charged with corruption and embezzling, and police officers charged with killing protestors.

Syria: American ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford, visited Hama today on what is being referred to as "no dialogue Friday." The US State Department confirmed that Ford's visit was in support of the Syrian people, while the Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the ambassador's violation of diplomatic norms, seeing it as an attempt to incite more violence and protests.

Yemen: Thousands of citizens gathered in various Yemeni cities, including the capital Sanaa and Taiz, on what they have named the "Friday to reject mediation," referring to regional and international interference in their revolution. Yesterday, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh made his first television appearance after surviving an assassination attempt early last month. Protestors are demanding the formation of a transitional council, the prosecution of Saleh and his family, and are rejecting foreign interference.