Libya Video: Libya Alhurra's Mohamed Nabbous "We Want Our Freedom" (19 February)

Mohamed Nabbous, who has inspired many with his journalism and the development of Libya Alhurra Radio and TV in opposition-held Benghazi, has been critically injured today while filming in the city. There are unconfirmed reports that he has died.

This was Nabbous's interview with the BBC on 19 February, two days after the start of the Libyan uprising, as regime forces were reportedly killing civilians.

"We are peaceful people....We want our freedom"

Libya Fighting and a No-Fly Zone: Scott Lucas on the BBC

This morning I had a wide-ranging chat with BBC Radio WM, amidst reports of the regime's advance on opposition-held Benghazi and the international community's discussion of enforcement of a no-fly zone. (At that point, I did not have the confirmed information that a jet had been shot down over Benghazi.)

The conversation took in the latest military situation, the Qaddafi regime's propaganda (including the threat to wield terrorist attacks on "the West"), and my personal opinion on whether foreign support of the Libyan opposition was justified.

The discussion starts just after the 2:06.00 mark.

Sock-Puppet Alert: US Military's Plan to Manipulate Facebook and Twitter (Fielding/Cobain)

The US military;is developing software that will let it secretly manipulate social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter by using fake online personas to influence internet conversations and spread pro-American propaganda.

A Californian corporation has been awarded a contract with United States Central Command (Centcom), which oversees US armed operations in the Middle East and Central Asia, to develop what is described as an "online persona management service" that will allow one US serviceman or woman to control up to 10 separate identities based all over the world.

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Iran Video: Journalist Fathi, Congressman Ellison on Human Rights

Nazila Fathi and Keith Ellison speak at this week's conference, hosted by the National Iranian American Council, on human rights in Iran.

Fathi was the correspondent for The New York Times in Tehran but was forced to leave soon after the 2009 Presidential election. Ellison, a Democrat from Minnesota, is the first Muslim to be elected to the US Congress.

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Libya Video: Live Stream from Opposition-Held Benghazi

With regime forces moving towards the opposition base of Benghazi, Libya's second-largest city, EA is linking to Libya Alhurra TV, the opposition channel. In the circumstances, there may be technical difficulties and interruptions:

Watch live streaming video from libya17feb at livestream.com

Libya Video: Today's Statement by President Obama

Libya and the No-Fly Zone: Scott Lucas on the BBC

I chatted with BBC Radio WM today about the political and military significance of the declaration by the UN Security Council of a no-fly zone over Libya. The other guest is Air Vice-Marshal Tony Mason.

The item begins at the 0:01.40 mark.

Syria Video: Friday's Protests

Banyas in the northwest:

Syrian intelligence making an arrest in the Ummayad Mosque in Damascus:

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Libya (and Beyond) LiveBlog: A No-Fly Zone....And More

2055 GMT: Libya's Deputy Foreign Minister has said that the regime has asked Turkey, Malta, and China to send observers to monitor a cease-fire, denying reports that attacks on the opposition were continuing: "The armed forces are respecting [the cease-fire] and will protect civilians."

2010 GMT: Al Jazeera English summarises King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia's carrot-and-stick in his televised speech.

The King decreed that media must not criticise clerics and praised security forces for blocking protests, "You are the hitting hand against whoever considers undermining the nation's security and stability." He also thanked Saudis for not taking to the streets: "I am so proud of you. Words are not enough to describe you. You are the safety valve of this nation and you struck at that which is wrong with the truth and at treachery with loyalty."

Sweeteners in the King's speech included $66.7bn would be spent on 500,000 housing units, $4.3bn on more medical facilities, an extra $40m for private hospitals, an additional two months' wages for all government workers, and two extra payments for university students worth around $500.

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The Latest from Iran (18 March): A Gentle Day?

2040 GMT: Fighting On in Another Year. The opposition's Coordination Council for the Green Path of Hope, has issued a statement for Iranian New Year:

We are well aware that peaceful protests are our fundamental right, as has been recognized and emphasized by the Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We are also well aware that defending the rights of the minorities, ethnic groups, and women to create a better Iran is fundamental. We consider it our duty to do whatever we can, so long as we still have breath, to end the detention of the Green Movement's leaders and their wives, who are symbols of resistance and the effort to restore people's rights....We begin the new year with you [the people] with hope for victory.

1835 GMT: Footage, posted on Wednesday, which claims to be of the burning of a banner of the Supreme Leader and the late Ayatollah Khomeini:

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