Syria, Bahrain (and Beyond) LiveBlog: An Activist's Death Sparks Protests

Demonstration in Aleppo, Syria last night, expressing solidarity with the slain Meshaal Tammo

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Saturday's Syria, Bahrain (and Beyond) LiveBlog: A Celebration in Yemen, A Killing in Qamishli

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Saturday's Syria, Bahrain (and Beyond) LiveBlog: A Celebration in Yemen, A Killing in Qamishli

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2217 GMT: Mohammad Sudam, a Reuters correspondent in Yemen, was kidnapped on Saturday night in Sana’a by forces loyal to defected General Ali Mohsen Al-Ahmar, according to Ministry of Defence announced on Sunday.

Sudam, who is also a translator for President Saleh, was arrested at a checkpoint run by Al Ahmar’s troop as he travelled from Sana’a airport to his house.

The Yemen Journalist’s Syndicate condemned the arrest of Sudam and called for his immediate release.

2215 GMT: We are getting unconfirmed reports that the Syrian military is shelling Homs, the country's third-largest city, tonight. It is impossible to verify this at the moment, as almost all communication with the city is cut off.

1715 GMT: Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has officially welcomed new members of Parliament after 18 by-elections filled seats vacated by the opposition Al Wefaq amidst protests in March.

Addressing the 40 MPs, the king thanked a Saudi-led military force that helped the monarchy suppress the demonstrations that began on 14 February.

1713 GMT:BBC correspondent Wyre Davies, reporting from Sirte, says there has been a steady stream of injured fighters of the National Transitional Council brought to hospital after a counter-attack by Qaddafi loyalists being pushed back into the centre of the city, one of the two last strongholds of the former Libyan leader.

1710 GMT: In Al-Ghadfah in northwest Syria, students chant to President Assad, "Come on, leave, Bashar":

1530 GMT: Syria's foreign minister Walid al-Moallem has warned the international community not to recognize the opposition's Syrian National Council, as it is "illegitimate".

Without elaborating, al-Moallem warned that Damascus will take measures against any country that recognizes the Council, which was announced last week in Turkey. He said Damascus is a proponent of national dialogue and all opposition groups "are invited to participate for the future of Syria".

We have footage of several funeral processions in Syria for people killed by security forces this weekend --- the march for Tawfiq al Madoor, Amin Yasin Khabiyeh, and Eyad al Mubayid in the Damascus suburb of Douma:

A protest in Jarjanaz in the northwest, with chants for freedom:

And a general strike in Qamishli in the northeast for activist Meshaal Tammo, who was killed by gunmen on Friday:

1430 GMT: Back from a break at the Salzburg Seminar to find a statement from Syrian President Assad, via State news agency SANA, that Damascus is acting on two main fronts -- political reform and the dismantling of armed groups who seek to destabilise the country.

Assad reportedly told the visiting foreign ministers of Cuba and Venezuela that "the Syrian people had welcomed the reforms but that foreign attacks intensified just as the situation in the country began to make progress". He accused Western powers of having "little interest in reform", seeking instead to "push Syria to pay the price for its stances against foreign schemes hatched outside the region".

"Despite everything, a process of reform is underway," he claimed.

0800 GMT: Media are mulling over the latest declaration by Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in a televised speech, that he is willing to leave power.

The Associated Press notes that Saleh, who refused on several occasions this spring to sign an agreement for transition, "gave no concrete plan for the future of the country". Gregory Johnsen asks, "Where is the catch? Saleh is dealing with a trust deficit in Yemen, and Yemenis are very wary of promises from this president."

0520 GMT: In Bahrain, tensions have been raised by another reported shooting by security forces. Two days after 16-year-old Ahmed Jabber Al Qattan died from birdshot, a young man in Al Aali was hit in the thigh by live ammunition.

0510 GMT: We begin this morning in Syria, where the death of Kurdish political activist Meshaal Tammo may be a catalyst to boost protest throughout the country. Tammo died on Friday, shot by gunmen who entered his home, and security forces raised tensions further on Saturday when they fired on the funeral, reportedly killing up to five people.

Demonstrations in solidarity with Tammo continued through the night, even reaching the second city of Aleppo (see top of entry).