1945 GMT: One of many "We are All Meshaal Tammo" demonstrations tonight in Syria, commemorating the Kurdish activist who was killed yesterday. In the Bab Amr section of Homs, a large crowd chant "Azadi (Freedom)" and "The Syrian people are one":
1845 GMT: Al Jazeera English shows footage of security forces firing on marchers at the funeral of Kurdish activist Meshaal Tammo. Up to five people were killed, according to activists (see 1610 GMT):
And video of gunfire in the Damascus suburb of Douma after the funeral of Osama Al-Shayfouni:
In the Midan section of Damascus, protesters chant, "We want the detainees":
1805 GMT: A video update from Sirte in Libya, where Zeina Khodr of Al Jazeera English says forces of the National Transitional Council are making gains in their efforts to take the town from loyalists of former leader Muammar Qaddafi:
1625 GMT: An EA source gives us the story for this striking video:
"This video is taken about 300 metres from Martyrs Square/Pearl Roundabout [the symbolic centre of the demonstrations in the capital Manama] near Seef Fly-over --- protesters call it the 14 February Fly-Over. The video is taken from the village of Karbabad. It's just on the highway, so usually police jeeps are always located where protesters try to march and reach the highway.
"Seems this time the police were not in enough numbers so they ran away. Usually they reply by firing back. Having few police at this point means that all other areas in Bahrain had significant protests, which forced the Ministry of Interior to put less police at this point."
1610 GMT: Back from a lengthy break at the Salzburg Seminar to find the claim by activists that Syrian security forces have opened fire on mourners at the funeral of prominent Kurdish opposition figure Meshaal Tammo, killing up to five people.
An estimated 50,000 people were at the funeral in Qamishli in northeastern Syria.
Tammo was shot dead by four unknown gunmen in his home on Friday (see 0440 GMT). State media said, however, that he had been killed by an "armed terrorist group" in an attack on his car.
Another funeral procession today near Damascus:
0940 GMT: An over-dramatic, narrative in The Wall Street Journal of discord between factions in the new Libyan leadership does have this notable information:
Mehdi Herrati, the commander of the Tripoli Brigade, has threatened to resign his leadership twice in recent days during confrontational meetings with neighborhood militia leaders who feel excluded from decision making in the capital, according to Hashem Bishr, Mr. Herrati's deputy.Mr Bishr, a longtime Islamist, is critical of the city's top military commander, the controversial Islamist Abdel Hakim Belhaj, who is facing a growing chorus of discontent, including from fellow senior Islamist commanders within his own ranks.
0500 GMT: In Bahrain, clashes continued last night between security forces and protesters, but the prominent event was the funeral for 16-year-old Ahmed Jabber Al Qattan. Activists put out this 11-minute montage of the procession of thousands of mourners and demonstrators:
Al Jazeera English's coverage of the event, with an interview with a correspondent --- remaining anonymous "for his safety" --- describing youths on the streets last night and police firing tear gas in response. He says, "I have never seen arms on any of the youths", as they blow vuvuzelas and chant "Allahu Akbar", and adds, "I cannot explain why the police are using this force":
0440 GMT: Two events punctuated a busy Friday of protest throughout the Middle East. In Yemen, demonstrations against President Saleh were boosted by the unexpected news that human rights activist Tawakkul Karman was one of three women awarded the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize. And in northeastern Syria, the anger of marchers was fuelled by the killing of Kurdish activist Meshaal Tammo.
The recognition of Karman, prominent in the statement of demands against the Yemeni regime, was a notable intervention in the political conflict by the Nobel committee, which effectively recognised the hopes and concerns of protesters now caught in the power struggle between Saleh, dissident military forces, and opposition tribesmen. The effect of the publicity remains to be seen --- the US-based Marc Lynch, at the end of an elegy to Karman, set aside analysis for aspiration yesterday: "Let us hope that the Nobel Peace Prize for Tawakkul Karman can galvanize international attention and push the world to finally act forcefully to bring about the desperately needed political transition. Could Yemen be the place where a Nobel Peace Prize actually helps bring about peace?"
There was no peace-building Nobel Prize for Syria yesterday. Instead, the addition to the pattern of large, widespread protests was the slaying of Tammo and the beating in Damascus of former MP and opposition leader Ryad Saif.
Tammo, a spokesman for the Kurdish Future Party, was killed when four masked assailants stormed his house in Qamishli, also wounding his son and another KFP activist. State media put out the story that Tammo was assassinated by "armed gunmen" who ambushed his car.
A demonstration last night in Kobani in solidarity with Tammo: