You are in the 193rd Witness Revolution diary, bearing witness to pro-democracy movements in North Africa, the Middle East and beyond. We aim here to simply report, from as many reliable worldwide resources as possible, on the successes, challenges or failures of the brave people striving against oppression for representative democracy with civil and human rights. One small bit of assurance that they do not strive in obscurity.
TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
YEMEN
The aftermath of government security guards bombing the home of Sheikh Sadiq Red (perhaps a bad translation of his name) after the Sheikh came out in support of the protesters and against Saleh. These are some of the most gruesome images we've seen, if you go to the link.
In response to the attack on the Sheikh's home, people came out in even bigger numbers all over Yemen. Additionally, businesses closed in solidarity. See more photos here.
SYRIA
March for martyr Hamzeh Ali-khatib 13 years of age died under torture in Daraa.
GRAPHIC video of martyr Hamzeh Ali-khatib. Inshah’Allah may his death not be in vain.
ABOUT OUR GROUP
Eyes on Egypt and the Region produces a different series of diaries which provide background and analysis on the region in general and on individual countries. We hope those provide context for you as you read about current events. The published diaries in that series are:
Eyes on Egypt and the Region Background Resources
See the group stream for even more diaries.
DO YOU KNOW OF GOOD READING MATERIAL?
We collect suggested readings for background reference materials in support of the Eyes on Egypt and the Region group. These may be non-fiction or fiction, general to the region or specific to a country or issue. If there are resources which you believe could aid our understanding of the events and processes we are witnessing, please either a) post a comment in the Liveblog with the title "Suggested reading:" and a brief description of the reading in the body of the comment, or b) send your suggestions via the dKos internal message to angry marmot.
Libyan Doctors for Hospitals in Libya is an impressive new aide organization launched by one of our own: StepLeftStepForward.
NEWS UPDATES
GENERAL ANALYSIS
(h/t Dibsa 5/26) Egypt, Tunisia finding that road to freedom is rocky
CAIRO (AFP) – After successfully dislodging decades-old autocracies, pro-democracy activists in Egypt and Tunisia are striving to protect their hard-won gains through fragile transitions dotted with setbacks
ALGERIA
(h/t Dibsa 5/23) - London praises Algerian reform talks
LONDON, May 23 (UPI) -- Algeria is commended for the start of negotiations on political reform in the country, the British foreign minister for North African affairs said
(h/t Dibsa 5/23) - Algeria health unions end strike
Algiers - Algeria's two main health care unions ended a week-long strike on Monday after government assurances on salaries and work conditions.
BAHRAIN
(h/t Dibsa 5/26) - IFJ Condemns Brutal Assault of Journalist by Police in Bahrain
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today joined its affiliate in Bahrain, the Bahrain association of Journalists (BJA) in condemning the savage beating and inhuman treatment of reporter Nazeeha Saeed who was arrested on 22 May over the story she had filed about the repression of anti-government protesters
(h/t Dibsa 5/26) - Bahraini police taking aim at reporters, teachers
BAGHDAD -- After severely curbing news coverage of its crackdown on opposition groups by foreign reporters, Bahraini authorities have begun an assault on local journalists working for international news agencies - with arrests, beatings and, apparently in one instance, electric shock
(h/t Dibsa 5/26) - Bahrain's arrests of opponents show unsettling pattern of abuse
The first sign that Bahrain's security forces were going to detain former Bahraini parliamentarian Jawad Fairooz came at 8:30 p.m. May 2, when about 30 masked men carrying submachine guns broke down the front door of his house.
(h/t Dibsa 5/26) - Moody's cuts Bahrain bond rating, cites unrest
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Credit agency Moody's Investors Service cut its ratings on Bahrain's government bonds Thursday, citing damage being done by the political turmoil in the Gulf island kingdom
(h/t Dibsa 5/25) - Bahrain rights group says 4 protesters sentenced
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – A special Bahrain security court has sentenced four demonstrators to a year in jail for involvement in anti-government protests, a human rights group said Wednesday.
(h/t Dibsa 5/25) - Bahrain hopes for normalcy with martial law lifted
MANAMA, May 25 (Reuters) - Bahrain will lift a state of emergency next week that was imposed when the government suppressed a democracy protest movement in March with the help of Saudi and other Gulf Arab forces.
(h/t Dibsa 5/25) - RSF: Amid international indifference, targeted repression continues in Bahrain
In the past few days, the authorities have arrested more photographers and photo-journalists who had been covering the pro-democracy demonstrations taking place in Bahrain since mid-February. The aim of these targeted arrests is to limit the dissemination of news reports, photos and video of the protests and the government crackdown
(h/t Dibsa 5/25) -
Hundreds of Bahrainis Join Call to End US Support for Bahrain Gov't
NEW YORK - May 24 - In a response that surprised U.S. organizers of a campaign calling on the United States government to repudiate its partnership with the Al Khalifa regime in Bahrain, hundreds of people from Bahrain joined in signing the Campaign for Peace and Democracy's launching statement "End U.S. Support for Bahrain's Repressive Government."
(h/t Dibsa 5/25) -
Bahrain to examine whether woman reporter abused
DUBAI, May 24 (Reuters) - Bahrain will investigate allegations that a woman reporter was mistreated after being detained in the Gulf Arab state, the Interior Ministry said on Wednesday.
BURKINA FASO
(h/t Dibsa 5/26 ) - Why sustained protests in Burkina Faso haven't brought Egypt-style revolution
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
The Ministry of Education in Burkina Faso agreed to meet some demands of striking teachers this week after thousands of public high school students across the capital demonstrated, some violently, in support of their teachers. The student demonstrations are the latest in a series of disparate protests that have been wracking the country in a manner suggesting a sub-Saharan extension of the Arab Spring.
(h/t Dibsa 5/26 ) - Burkina Faso Troops Resume Protests, Fire Shots in Air and Block Streets
Soldiers in Burkina Faso’s National Guard protested yesterday in the capital, Ougadougou, shooting in the air and blocking traffic.
“They begin shooting at about 8 p.m. and stopped at 9 p.m.,” said Nelson Congo, a witness, by phone yesterday.
(h/t Dibsa 5/26 ) -
Burkina Faso teachers' strike: Union agrees deal
Teachers and the Burkina Faso government have reached a deal to end a strike which has led to riots.
The government has agreed to all the union's demands for higher allowances.
The deal comes after students staged violent protests in support of the teachers in the western town of Gaoua
COTE D'IVOIRE
(h/t Dibsa 5/26 ) -
UN says 1,000 died in western I.Coast during feud
ABIDJAN — More than 1,000 people were killed in western Ivory Coast during the five-month crisis that followed a disputed presidential election, the UN mission in the country announced Thursday.
(h/t Dibsa 5/26 ) -
The politics of human rights in Ivory Coast
An Amnesty International report on Ivory Coast has said both sides in the country's recent political and military crisis committed war crimes.
DJIBOUTI
(h/t UnaSpenser 4/14 ) -
JIBOUTI: WHY NO ONE CARES
section of article which covers pro-democracy movements throughout Africa
Whilst the world was watching Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt and Libya, Djibouti had an election on 8 April. With no opposition, a state-controlled media and no civil society movement, it was easy enough for President Omar Guelleh to change the constitution allowing him to run for a third term - thereby continuing 35 year rule by the same family. But this little dictatorship is strategically central to the US Africa Command (2,000 US troops are based here) and the NATO countries. Unlike in Libya, Djibouti's 1 million population can expect no support from the West in their small attempts to have a voice.
EGYPT
(h/t Dibsa 5/26) - Egypt ex-minister gets 5 years for fraud
CAIRO (AFP) – A Cairo criminal court on Thursday sentenced Egypt's former housing minister Ahmed al-Maghrabi to five years in prison on corruption charges, a judicial source told AFP
(h/t Dibsa 5/26) - Egypt's Islamist group to boycott major rally
CAIRO – Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood says it will boycott a key rally critical of the military rulers, accusing the organizers of seeking to divide the nation after the ouster of Hosni Mubarak
(h/t Dibsa 5/26) - Egypt activists detained ahead of Friday protest
CAIRO (AFP) – Egyptian authorities detained three activists on Thursday for putting up posters calling for nationwide protests on Friday, which the country's Islamists have vowed to stay away from
(h/t Dibsa 5/25) -
Egyptians hail Mubarak trial, but some feel sorry
CAIRO, Egypt (AFP) – Many Egyptians are rejoicing that Hosni Mubarak, the dictator they overthrew in a popular uprising, will face trial, but some say they are sorry to see the former president "humiliated."
(h/t Dibsa 5/25) -
Egypt unemployment rises to 11.9 percent
CAIRO (AFP) – Egypt's unemployment rate has risen to 11.9 percent in the first quarter of 2011, the head of the national census bureau said on Wednesday, blaming the rise on an economic slump following the country's January uprising
(h/t Dibsa 5/25) -
Egypt's Mubarak to be tried over protester deaths
CAIRO – Egypt's prosecutor general ordered Tuesday former President Hosni Mubarak put on trial on charges of corruption and conspiring in the deadly shootings of protesters during the uprising that ousted him, a stunning step against a leader whose power was nearly unquestioned for three decades.
IRAN
(h/t JustJennifer 5/12 ) - Ahmadinejad and the Ayatollahs
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may soon be ousted from office by the ayatollahs who control Iran. More importantly, there may be a split within the principal Iranian military/terrorist force that is destabilizing the regime.
This is not another popular uprising like the one that led to the ouster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. But it may be related to the so-called "Arab spring" in an oddly Iranian way.
IRAQ
(h/t Dibsa 5/26) - Al-Sadr followers rally in Iraq against US troops
BAGHDAD – Militiamen and followers of anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr led a massive rally on Thursday, marching in Baghdad in a show of force as Iraqi leaders weigh whether to keep U.S. troops in the country beyond the end of the year
(h/t Dibsa 5/25) -
Iraq to fuel generators to head off power protests
BAGHDAD (AFP) – Iraq's government will provide free fuel to power generators nationwide throughout the scorching summer, it said on Wednesday, to try to head off another wave of protests over poor electricity supplies.
ISRAEL
(h/t Dibsa 4/21 ) - Israeli leftists call for Palestinian state
TEL AVIV (AFP) – Some 300 Israeli left-wingers, including prominent cultural leaders, gathered in Tel Aviv on Thursday to call for the Jewish state to embrace the creation of a Palestinian state.
The activists met to sign a petition, which is endorsed by 17 winners of the prestigious Israel Prize, in a symbolic ceremony in front of the building where the state of Israel was proclaimed on May 14, 1948.
The ceremony was met with anger by several dozen right-wing protesters who also gathered at the site and had to be kept away by a heavy police presence, an AFP photographer at the scene said
JORDAN
(h/t Dibsa 5/20) -
Jordanians want 'corrupt, oppressive' govt sacked
AMMAN (AFP) – Thousands of Jordanians demonstrated on Friday across the kingdom, calling for regime reforms as well as the sacking of what they called the "corrupt and oppressive" government
KUWAIT
(h/t Dibsa 5/25) - Kuwait warns activists over 'Day of Rage' demo
KUWAIT CITY (AFP) – Kuwait's Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad al-Humoud Al-Sabah Wednesday issued a stern warning to youth activists planning a "Day of Rage" protest calling for the removal of the prime minister.
LEBANON
(h/t UnaSpenser 04/19 ) - Turkish envoy to Lebanon: Democracy will spread
Turkey's ambassador to Lebanon, Inan Ozyildiz, believes that despite the recent political uncertainty, all political actors in Lebanon are "engaging in dialogue," and expects democracy to take root in every country in the Arab world.
"Although every country in the region has its own characteristics and political history, the people of the Middle East have a common demand: Democracy," said Ozyildiz.
According to Ozyildiz, the Arab world's transition to democracy is late in coming. "These uprisings were kind of late, they should have started immediately after the end of the Cold War," said Ozyildiz.
LIBYA
(h/t Dibsa 5/26) - Libyan rebel says up to 2 years needed for vote
BENGHAZI, Libya – The deputy leader of Libya's rebel administration said it could take up to two years to organize elections, backtracking on promises of a six-month transition to democracy and adding to internal dissent already brewing within the movement seeking to topple Moammar Gadhafi.
(h/t Dibsa 5/25) -
Libyan rebels fight Sudanese mercenaries
BENGHAZI, Libya (AP) — Libyan rebels clashed Wednesday with Sudanese mercenaries fighting for Moammar Gadhafi near the border with Sudan, as President Obama predicted the Libyan leader would be forced to step down if NATO keeps up its military campaign with the U.S. playing a key role.
RESOURCES:
A vision of a democratic Libya an 8-point plan from the National Transitional Council
The full text of UN Resolution 1970 on Libya.
The full text of UN Resolution 1973 on Libya.
President Obama's letter to Congress regarding commencement of operations in Libya. (h/t greenbird)
Al Jazeera Libyan live blog. (h/t jnhobbs)
UK Telegraph Libyan live blog. (h/t bee tzu)
BBC Libyan live blog found here. (h/t greenbird)
The New Yorker Dispatches from Libya. (h/t suejazz)
BBC's Libyan crisis mapped. (h/t phil S 33)
revolutionology is a blog from an American in Benghazi
MAURITANIA
(h/t dibsa 4/26) - Mauritanian police use teargas to break up protest
NOUAKCHOTT, April 25 (Reuters) - Security forces using teargas and batons dispersed several hundred anti-government protesters in the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott on Monday, the most serious clash in the West African state for nearly two months.
MOROCCO
(h/t jnhobbs 5/24 ) - Many wounded as Moroccan police beat protestors
Moroccan police beat protesters who defied a ban on demonstrations across the country on Sunday, leading to arrests and dozens of injuries, some of them life threatening, witnesses said.
The violence appears to signal a tougher government line against the protest movement, which has become more defiant after festive demonstrations starting in February, but has yet to attract mass public support.
OMAN
(h/t Dibsa 5/19) - The world's enduring dictators: Qaboos bin Said, Oman
This is an installment in the WorldWatch series, "The world's enduring dictators," inspired by events in Tunisia and Egypt, in which CBSNews.com takes a look at the men who continue to rule their lands unimpeded by law. See a complete explanation of the series and a list of others profiledhere.
(h/t Dibsa 5/18) - Oman must charge or release detained protesters
The Omani authorities must say where and why they are holding some six people arrested during a recent peaceful protest in the capital Muscat, Amnesty International said today, as more than two dozen others faced trial on protest-related charges.
PALESTINE
(h/t Dibsa 5/20 ) - Palestinian protesters injured by Israeli fire in Gaza
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories (AFP) – Two young Palestinians were moderately wounded in Gaza on Friday when Israeli troops opened fire at a protest near the border fence, a medical source said
QATAR
(h/t Dibsa 5/13) - Protests planned in Oman over failure to act on jobs pledge
MUSCAT Protest organisers in Oman were planning demonstrations outside the civil service offices in the capital yesterday, claiming the government has failed to fulfil its promise to create tens of thousands of jobs
SAUDI ARABIA
(h/t Dibsa 5/26) - Saudi Arabia extends detention of female driver
CAIRO — A Saudi woman detained for defying the ultraconservative kingdom's ban on female drivers will be held in detention for at least 10 more days, a lawyer and rights activist said Thursday.
(h/t Dibsa 5/25) -
Facebook page calls for beating Saudi women drivers
RIYADH (AFP) – A campaign has been launched on Facebook calling for men to beat Saudi women who drive their cars in a planned protest next month against the ultra-conservative kingdom's ban on women taking the wheel.
SYRIA
(h/t Dibsa 5/26) - Syrian opposition calls on army to join revolt
BEIRUT – The Syrian opposition called on the nation's army Thursday to join the uprising against President Bashar Assad's regime, saying regime elements are targeting protesters and troops.
(h/t Dibsa 5/25) - 25 children among the dead in Syrian uprising
BEIRUT – More than 25 children, some of them tortured, are among the victims of the Syrian government's deadly crackdown on an uprising that has killed more than 1,000 people over the past two months, an opposition group said Wednesday.
TUNISIA
(h/t Dibsa 5/26) - Tunisia's revolution short on economic know-how
TUNIS (Reuters) - The last traces of revolutionary graffiti near the Tunisian prime minister's office are still on the walls, but in Tunis' Belvedere district, shopkeeper Saleh is less than jubilant over his country's prospects post-upheaval
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
(h/t Dibsa 5/5 ) - FACTBOX-Political risks to watch in the United Arab Emirates
(Reuters) - As political upheaval sweeps through the Arab world, the federation of seven emirates remains one of two unaffected Gulf Arab states, in addition to Qatar.
The per capita incomes of the UAE and Qatar remain among the highest in the world -- eighth and third, respectively -- thanks to their relatively small populations and oil and gas wealth.
(h/t Dibsa 5/4 ) - UAE: Human rights officials condemn government crackdown
Human rights advocates decried what they called a “crackdown on civil society” in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday after authorities replaced the leadership of the country's teachers association, a well-established group that had called for democratic reforms, with government officials sympathetic to the administration.
“This attack on civil society is further proof that those in power in the UAE see anyone calling for reform as fair game,” Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director of the New York-based nonprofit organization Human Rights Watch, said in a Tuesday statement. “UAE authorities should immediately stop their hostile takeover of civil society and free the peaceful democracy activists.”
WESTERN SAHARA
(h/t Dibsa 5/17) - Killed in Western Sahara by a bomb shaped like a ball
Twenty years after a ceasefire brought a halt to a long-running conflict in Western Sahara, cluster bombs used by the Moroccan armed forces are still claiming victims - among them children attracted by their toy-like size and shape
YEMEN
(h/t Dibsa 5/26) - Fighting grips Yemeni capital as Saleh orders arrests
SANAA (AFP) – Security forces in the Yemeni capital battled heavily armed supporters of the country's most powerful tribal leader on Thursday as President Ali Abdullah Saleh ordered the tribesman's arrest.
(h/t Dibsa 5/26) - Clashes widen in Yemen as tribes warn of civil war
SANAA, Yemen – Intense battles spread across Yemen's capital Thursday between government forces and opposition militiamen from powerful tribes that warn of civil war unless embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh steps down. At least 28 people were killed as the four-day death toll neared 110.
(h/t Dibsa 5/26) - US watches Yemen chaos with growing concern
WASHINGTON (AFP) – The United States is watching the political deadlock and bloodshed in Yemen with increasing alarm and with what analysts see as a certain powerlessness before a growing void that Al-Qaeda can fill.
(h/t Dibsa 5/25) -
Yemen tribesmen seize public buildings as fighting rages
SANAA (AFP) – Tribesmen loyal to a powerful opposition chief have seized public buildings in fighting in Yemen's capital Sanaa, sources said on Wednesday, as US President Barack Obama called again for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to leave office.
(h/t Dibsa 5/25) -
Yemen's President Vows to Avoid Civil War
Under international pressure to resign, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh says he will not allow his country to be dragged into a civil war
It bears repeating - Please Rec this diary.
Our Egyptian brethren articulated what people around the region are fighting for, though variations to the theme may exist from country to country. banner held by protesters and translated to English:
1 The departure of Mubarak
2 An end to the current Parliament
3 An end of the state of emergency
4 The creation of a national united government
5 A parliament elected by the people to modify the constitution and run the presidential elections
6 Put those responsible for the killings on trial
7 Put those responsible for stealing the country's money and other acts of corruption on trial
Will you help us gather updates?
Many hands make light work and we rely on teamwork for timely posting.
Here's how it works:
1. we invite you to join our wiki. (we'll need an email address from you)
2. you choose 1 or more countries you wish to gather citations for
3. go to the page of that country, click EDIT,
4. copy the mini template and fill in what the red text prompts
5. click SAVE
We're working on a publication schedule: Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday. Ideally we would see fresh citations in the wiki by late evening the day before. That is, posts from late Monday evening would be published in Tuesday morning's diary. (If you'd like produce a diary on a different day of the week, we'd love to show you how to update the template and paste it into your diary!)
It's really that simple! Please join us.
Resources:
Note: The old Mothership Diary has good list of resources.
Al Jazeera English - Watch Live (the Youtube link below should work for Mac users unable to load this.)
Al Jazeera live also available on: Dish Network channel 9410 OR DirecTV Channel 375 Link
Al Jazeera on Facebook: - http:// www.facebook.com/aljazeera
Al Jazeera Live on YouTube
English Stream http://www.youtube.com/...
Arabic Stream http://www.youtube.com/...
BBC Middle East reporting
BBC Middle East and Arab Unrest
WorldWideTahrir{NEW} : Worldwide protests being organized to coincide with the upcoming ones in Egypt.
bicycle Hussein paladin - Why Iran 1979 Went to the Islamists and This One Won't
People to follow on twitter: - please suggest people for specific countries. Thank you!
@ArabRevolution - Region
@Dima_Khatib - Region
@March15Syria - Syria
@JNovak_Yemen - Yemen
@WomanfromYemen - Yemen
@Gheblawi - Libya
@ShababLibya - Libya
@feb17voices - Libya
@DrsForLibya - Libya
@libyanexpat - Libya
@lissnp - Iran
@prsianbanoo - Iran
@sandmonkey - Egypt
@JRamyRaoof - Egypt
@Elazul - Egypt
@Ssirgany - Egypt
@sharifkouddous
@monasosh
@ioerror
@ElBaradei
@SultanAlQassemi
@evanchill
@glcarlstrom
@nolanjazeera
@3arabawy
@shadihamid
@bencnn
@arabist
@speaktotweet: Egyptian Voice Tweets on Twitter
Previous Child Diaries:
Egypt and the Region Liveblog Archive by unaspenser
NOTE: We renamed the original "Egypt Liveblog" to "Witnessing Revolution". From Egypt the pro-democracy fire spread rapidly. It's not clear that it will be limited by geography or ethnicity. So, we wanted a name which states what is happening yet allows us to grow with the movement, wherever that will be. The number sequence will be continuous. The group name will remain the same. Only this particular diary series within the group changed names.
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