Some of today's news clippings from across the Middle East. Major protests continuing in Libya, Bahrain, and Yemen. Other news in Jordan, Morocco, Palestine, Iraq, and others.
This diary is now being designated as Middle East Liveblog #121. It picks up the conversation from the previous liveblog here. The floor is yours.
This diary is part of the Adalah series. Adalah ("justice" in Arabic) is a diary series about the Middle East, with special (but not exclusive) emphasis on the Arab-Israeli conflict. The authors of this series believe in the right of self-determination for all the people of the Middle East and that a just resolution respecting the rights and dignity of both Palestinians and Israelis is the only viable option for peace. Our diaries will consist of news roundup and analysis. We invite you to discuss them in the comments or contribute with stories from the region which deserve attention. We ask only that you be respectful and that the number of meta comments be kept to a minimum. You can find the Adalah group here.
Morocco
Morocco returns to calm after unrest
Protest marches were staged in nearly 20 cities on Sunday, drawing thousands of people in cities such as Rabat and Casablanca.
Violent incidents took place in Marrakesh, Tangier, Larache and Al Hoceima, where demonstrators attacked party headquarters, official buildings, police stations, shops and set cars on fire.
Police dispersed the rioters with tear gas and rubber bullets. The authorities did not confirm any injuries, and said the number of arrests was less than 25.
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The protesters called for the resignation of the government and the dissolution of parliament, a more democratic constitution, an end to corruption and press censorship, and better economic and social conditions.
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The government has announced measures such as more food subsidies to stave off unrest. The king was expected to make a speech announcing political reforms.
But other sources say protests are continuing:
Morocco tense after new riots erupt
Morocco remained tense Tuesday after new pro-democracy demonstrations were held in several cities.
Demonstrators clashed with police in Imzouren in the north Monday, media reported.
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Rallies were also staged in Fez, Tangier and the capital Rabat Monday. Several people were reportedly arrested in Fez.
Algeria
Hundreds of students rally in Algerian capital to express anger at government reform
Libya
It’s hard to know what to say, there is so much going on. A lot of other diaries have discussed this. Particularly, please visit Conchita's action diary: ACTION - What Next for the Libyan People? (w Poll).
Gaddafi has lost all control in Eastern Libya (where the oil is). He is maintaining control in and around the capital of Tripoli, albeit with massive violence. Reports indicate that soldiers are snipe at protesters aiming to kill, informal militias (possibly mercenaries?) are firing at random into any crowds, and the air force is being used to bomb and strafe protesters. Gaddafi made a defiant speech that lasted less than one minute. Meanwhile, many diplomats and officials are breaking with the regime, two pilots have fled with their planes to Malta, and some army units have joined the protesters, as have at least three major tribes. Foreigners are fleeing the country and both the Arab League and the UN Security Council are to hold emergency meetings on Libya. I’ll just post a very few news clips:
Eastern Libya out of Gadaffi's control – soldiers
Tobruk residents said the city was in the hands of the people and had been for three days. They said smoke rising above the city was from a munitions store bombed by troops loyal to one of Gaddafi's sons.
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The Libyan side of the Egyptian border was controlled by armed anti-Gaddafi rebels who welcomed visitors from Egypt.
Libya immersed in chaos; U.N. Security Council calls emergency meeting
a Raging Gaddafi speaks:
Mr Gaddafi has given his first real speech since anti-government protests began sweeping across Libya last week...
In a rambling and at times angry address that lasted for more than an hour, the embattled leader denounced the protests as serving the devil, described the demonstrators as cockroaches, and said they were enemies of Libya who deserve to die.
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Ordering protesters to surrender their weapons immediately, saying there would be a "slaughter" otherwise, he threatened to purge Libya "house by house" and "inch by inch."
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Reading from the penal code, he said "any Libyan who carries arms against Libyans will be punished by death."
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Mr Gaddafi threatened tough action in line with what he said had been done against insurgents in Moscow and Iraq and freedom protesters in Beijing.
"The Russian president brought tanks and bombed the Duma with the MPs inside until they snuffed the rats out, and the West did not object but told him 'you are acting in accordance with the law'.
"Students in Beijing protested for days near a Coca Cola sign ... Then the tanks came and crushed them."
As my own analysis here: I've been skeptical of calls for foreign intervention or a UN-established no-fly zone. However, I'll note that Gaddifi is (a) threatening geocide (purge Libya house-by-house), and (b) specifically saying the world will allow it. That really demands some tough push-back.
Al Jazeera Liveblog
Libyan security minister defects - Al Jazeera
Libya's Interior Minister Abdel Fattah Younes al Abidi has announced his defection and support for the "February 17 revolution", news channel Al Jazeera reported on Tuesday.
Palestine
3,000 Palestinians protest in Ramallah over US veto at UN. Protests occurred on Sunday.
Gaza-Egypt border crossing reopens – Travelers can now cross both ways across the border.
Hundreds of Gaza students hold anti-Gaddafi rally
81 NGOs urge rival factions to reconcile
Jordan
Jordan's politicians demand limit to king's powers
Jordan's King Abdullah faces unprecedented calls by a mix of Islamists, liberals and traditional supporters for moves towards a constitutional monarchy, Jordanian politicians said on Tuesday.
Emboldened by uprisings across the region, these usually divergent voices are grouping around a broad demand for constitutional changes to limit the extensive executive powers of the Hashemite monarchy.
Sheikh Hammam Said, head of Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood, said voters should have the right to elect their prime minister, an appointment currently made by the king.
Jordan's Muslim opposition say protests to resume
Jordan's powerful Muslim Brotherhood vowed to resume protests, saying Tuesday that the government did not keep a promise of speedy reforms.
The announcement puts added pressure on Jordan's King Abdullah II to give up some of his sweeping powers, but is not seen as a threat to his rule. Opposition figures have called on the king to surrender the authority to appoint Cabinets and dissolve parliament.
Iraq
Protests in Iraq have been most serious and sustained in the Kurdish north, but they are going on all through the country.
Protests turn Iraqi Kurd city into military zone
Around 3,000 people took to the streets on Tuesday and thousands of students demonstrated at Sulaimaniya University in the latest round of rallies against corruption and the local government to shake the northern city.
Three people have died so far and more than 100 have been wounded in clashes between protesters and heavily armed militia forces linked to the two ruling parties of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region.
Iran
Iran Forces Arrest Son of Opposition Leader Karrubi Following House Raids
Bahrain
In Bahrain, Shiites Turn Out in Great Numbers to Protest
More than 100,000 protesters poured into the central Pearl Square here on Tuesday in an unbroken stream stretching back for miles along a central highway in the biggest antigovernment demonstration yet in this tiny Persian Gulf kingdom.
Protesters stage mass rally against Bahrain govt
Bahrain king orders release of (some) political prisoners – it appears that approximately 25 Shiite protesters have been pardoned.
Yemen
Protests spread across the country.
Yemen protesters refuse to quit
Protesters set fire to a car in the capital Sanaa as thousands rallied at a university campus while hundreds continued to camp out in a nearby square
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In Taiz, Yemen's second-largest city, thousands marched in the Safir square.
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In the port city of Aden, schools closed, most government employees were not working and many shops were closed as hundreds gathered for another round of protests.
Yemen police arrests four anti-gov't protesters amid spreading protests
The Yemeni security forces arrested four anti-government protesters and prevented others from staging a peaceful rally in Yemen's southeast province of Shabwa on Monday, a local official told Xinhua.
Yemen protesters clash
The crowd swelled to about 4,000 and as the protesters demanding Saleh's ouster moved Tuesday morning from the square close to where Saleh's loyalists are bunkered down, the group attacked them with daggers and batons.
Saudi Arabia
Watching Bahrain, Saudi Shi'ites demand reforms
Mohammed used the Arabic word 'nizam' for 'regime' -- the same word shouted by thousands of Egyptian protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square to demand change.
Normally fear of landing in jail would curb such talk, but television images of protests and rapid Internet communication are making people think about what might be possible.
Saudi King Abdullah to retun home Wednesday after three months convalescing in Morocco
Djibouti
Djibouti opposition slams repression