Bahrain: Physicians for Human Rights has published a report documenting Bahrain’s systematic human rights abuses. The report provides evidence of attacks on protestors, medical personnel, physicians, and civilians with the use of gunfire, physical beatings, teargas, machine guns, torture, kidnapping, and threats of death and rape. The organization considered the authorities' actions a violation of international law and concludes the report with policy recommendations for Bahrain, the US, and the international community.

Syria: Damascus has condemned the US’ sanctions against President Bashar al-Assad and said they will have no impact on Syria’s resolution. Amnesty International welcomed Washington's decision and called on US President Barack Obama to also impose an arms embargo on the country. Syrian rights sources reported that eight civilians were killed yesterday when Syrian tanks shelled the town of Talkalakh bordering Lebanon, raising the town’s death toll to 35 in the last four days. Meanwhile, Syrian state TV maintains that security and stability have been restored in the country.

Yemen: Yesterday, the Gulf Cooperation Council Security-General Abdul-Latif al-Zayani announced that the rival Yemeni parities were close to signing the GCC peace initiative. After five days of meetings with the Yemeni government, opposition, and international diplomats, the Gulf mediators were once again unable to negotiate a mutually-accepted agreement. One reason for initiative’s failure was the ruling party’s insistence on signing a deal with a party it considers “legitimate.” The Yemeni regime also said it would not sign the deal until all protest rallies and sit-ins are called off, which the opposition strongly rejects.

Libya: The United Nations is negotiating with the Libyan government, revolutionaries, and NATO to reach a temporary ceasefire agreement in Libya in order to deliver food and medical supplies to besieged civilians throughout the country. After weeks of fighting in Misurata, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s troops have withdrawn from the city and civilians now hope that life will return to normal.