Tunisia (and Beyond) LiveBlog: A Scorecard for the Protests

Saturday's Protest in Algiers1655 GMT: Egypt's Minister of Industry and Commerce Rachid Mohammed Rachid has raised worries over investment because of the effects of the situation in Tunisia, which "worries lots of people" and "raises questions about political stability". Rachid told reporters he was instructing assistants to issue daily statements about new foreign investment to give a reassuring message.

Egypt's stock market dropped 8% last week.

1650 GMT: In Tunisia, Larbi Nasra, the owner of Hannibal TV, and his son have been arrested and charge with high treason and conspiracy against state security.

The broadcasts of Hannibal TV have been suspended.

Nasra was close to the family of Leila Trabelsi, the wife of former President Ben Ali.

1640 GMT: There have been clashes for a second successive week over rising prices and "the distribution of the Revolution between secondary students and police in western Mauritania in west Africa.

1525 GMT: It looks like Tuesday may present another flashpoint with a collection of student and activist groups calling for a protest on Egypt's Policy Day.

A security official has said that police will deal "very strictly" with the demonstration, which is "illegal" because protesters have not obtained the required permission.

The 6 April Youth Movement, one of the groups that has called for the protest, has distributed 20,000 leaflets in governorates across Egypt.

Mohammed ElBaradei, the head of the National Association for Change, said he supports the day of action but will not participate. "I don't want to steal their thunder," he explained, adding that he hoped the protests "will not degenerate".

Tunisia (and Beyond) Sunday Video: The Protests Continue
Tunisia (and Beyond) Video Discussion: Social Media and Reform in the Arab World
Algeria and Tunisia Videos: Saturday's Protests in Algiers and Tunis
Tunisia (and Beyond) LiveBlog: A March in Algeria?

1515 GMT: The Gaza-based Army of Islam has denied the claim of the Egyptian Minister of Interior, Habib el-Adli (see 1250 GMT), that it is responsible for the 1 January suicide bombing outside an Alexandria church that killed at least 23 people.

1335 GMT: Algerian authorities have denied permission to Tunisia's privately-owned Nesma TV to broadcast in the country.

1330 GMT: In Algeria, students at the University of Tizi Ouzou have called for a demonstration on 1 February.

1300 GMT: Al Jazeera adds detail on the arrest of journalist and activist Tawakul Karman (see 0600 GMT), who helped organise yesterday's demonstrations in Yemen.

Karman's husband Mohamed Ismail al-Nehmi said police stopped Karman on her way home early Sunday and charged her with organising unlicensed demonstrations without permission. He continued, "I have no accurate information about her whereabouts. Maybe at the central prison, maybe somewhere else, I don't know."

After Karman's arrest, several hundred students gathered outside Sanaa University, demanding her release. About 50 to 60 policemen armed with shields and batons stopped the crowd from marching towards the general prosecutor's office.

Reporters Without Borders have condemned the arrest.

1255 GMT: Mideast Media reports, "Massive crowds in front of [Tunisian PM office. Truck loads of people have come from the country's south."

Reuters adds quotes from participants, "We are marginalized. Our land is owned by the government. We have nothing," and from a protester whose brother was recently killed, "My brother was leaving home for work when a sniper shot him in the chest. He was only 21. I want justice for him and I want this government to fall."

The sign outside the Prime Minister's office has been changed to "Minister of the People".

1250 GMT: Egypt's Minister of Interior Habib el-Adli asserted today that the Government has proof that the Army of Islam, a Palestinian group linked to Al-Qa'eda, was behind the New Year's Day suicide bombing outside an Alexandria church that killed at least 23 people.

El-Adli said, "If elements of the Palestinian Army of Islam, linked to al Qaeda, thought they had hidden behind elements that were recruited, we have decisive proof of their heinous involvement in planning and carrying out such a villainous terrorist act."

President Hosni Mubarak, in an address on state TV, praised the police for finding out who was responsible for the bombing and said the attackers had "tried to sow discord between Copts and Muslims".

1225 GMT: Tunisian authorities have placed Abdul Aziz Bin Dia, a former aide to President Ben Ali, andAbdullah Abdel Wahab, a former media and information advisor to Ben Ali, under house arrest.

1005 GMT: The overnight march (see videos) from Menzel Bouzaiane in Sidi Bouzid, where Mohamed Bouazizi's self-immolation started current protests, has reached Tunis.

About 1000 demonstrators on the "Caravan of Liberation" are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi, who also held the post under ousted President Ben Ali.

The protesters defied a curfew to make the trip, walking for about 50 kilometres (30 miles) before boarding buses to Tunis for the rest of the journey. They are assembling in front of the Ministry of Interior.

0945 GMT: The Tunisian Ministry of Communications has announced that access is now assured to all websites, except for those which "[are] against decency, contain violent elements, or incite to hatred". Those who have complaints about censership can e-email contact@web-liberte.tn.

Internet activist Kyrah offers a sharp response.

0940 GMT: An Al Jazeera TV crew was reportedly beaten up by Yemeni security forces as they were covering Saturday's protest in the capital Sanaa.

0740 GMT: Al Jazeera reports that, in addition to the protests in the Yemeni capital of Sanna on Saturday (see 0555 and 0605 GMT), demonstrators also gathered in the southern port city of Aden. Police fired on demonstrators, injuring four, and detained 22 others.

0610 GMT: Relatives of Tunisia's ousted president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali arrived in Canada on Saturday.

The group included an unnamed brother of Ben Ali's wife Leila Trabelsi, his spouse, their children, and a governess.

A Canadian immigration official said asylum would not be offered: "Mr. Ben Ali, deposed members of the former Tunisian regime and their immediate families are not welcome in Canada." 

The news of the arrivals brought protests from Tunisians in Montreal.

0605 GMT: In Yemen, it is reported that democracy and women's rights activist Tawakul Karman has been kidnapped by pro-government gunmen.

Karman, who helped organise yesterday's protest in Sanaa, runs a non-government organisation for women journalists. She had been criticised on Saturday in an editorial in the ruling party's newspaper.

0555 GMT: Let's see. In Tunisia, where President Ben Ali was deposed more than a week ago, there are still protests every day. Indeed, on Friday the rally of thousands was the largest since the overthrow of the regime, and on Saturday about 400 police --- who days earlier had been facing down demonstrators --- were leading the march.

In Algeria, the security forces were successful in blunting a mass protest with checkpoints and batons, but at least 300 people still took the risk of gathering outside the headquarters of the opposition Rally for Culture and Democracy, providing dramatic photographs and video.

And Yemen, which normally only draws international attention over "Al Qa'eda" and US drone strikes, was noticed yesterday. About 2500 protesters, led by students and activists, tathered in Sanaa to demand the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Comparing him to Tunisia's fallen leader, they shouted, ""Get out get out, Ali. Join your friend Ben Ali." 

The protest was met by about 1500 security forces. A smaller demonstration supported President Saleh.