Syria, Bahrain (and Beyond) LiveBlog: Assad "It Wasn't Me"

See also Western Journalists Inside Syria: A Video Record of Everyday Crimes

Bahrain, Uzbekistan (and Beyond) Special: Bell Pottinger, PR Agency for the Regimes, is Busted
Bahrain Feature: Today's Revival of Mass Protests
Wednesday's Syria (and Beyond) LiveBlog: Uncertainty and Deaths in Homs

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2131 GMT: We close the LiveBlog with this report, just 22 minutes old:

"very huge EXPLOSION just hit the southern part of #Syria n central city of #Homs . . my windows were horribly shaking"

Looks like it will be another violent Friday in Syria...

2005 GMT: The new Egyptian interior minister has pledged not to use teargas or live ammo against protesters:

Major General Mohamed Ibrahim Yusuf, the former director of security in the Giza governorate, told the local Arabic newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm that he will not use the gas or any firearms on protesters.

Yusuf was selected by new Prime Minister Kamel al-Ganzouri, who was chosen by the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to form a new government after the previous one resigned as a result of the Tahrir Square violence.

We don't have the heart to tell Yusuf that the interior ministry has already made that pledge, and SCAF has denied attacking protesters.

1921 GMT: Once again night has fallen in Syria, and just as dependably there are more protests across the country. This first video reportedly shows the scene in the Tadmor district of Homs:

Al Qurraya, in the Al Furat region:

1853 GMT: 14 people have been killed today in Syria, according to the LCCS, " including two women, 11 martyrs in Homs, two martyrs in Idlib and one martyr in Qameshlo."

It is unclear if this figure includes the unconfirmed report of casualties in Ma'arrat an Nouman, Idlib province.

1722 GMT: Night is usually the time for large protests in Syria, but there are two reports from the LCCS that suggest it will be a violence night. Near the capital, there are reports of clashes in Harasta:

Damascus Suburbs : Harasta : security forces and Shabiha are attacking the night demonstration and shooting at demonstrators

The LCCS also reports that there are clashes in the Marjeh district of Aleppo, and tear gas has been used against the demonstrators. Yhey have also supplied a video that claims to show police and "shabiha" trying to enter the university of Aleppo. Earlier, eyewitnesses suggested that there were small protests there, and there have been reports of protests nearly every day for over a week:

1718 GMT: In a move that is sure to draw the ire of activists, the Egyptian Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has announced that SCAF plans on playing a critical role in the shaping of the new constitution:

In a rare briefing granted to foreign journalists, SCAF General Mokhtar al-Mullah said that the military would pick a special civilian council to oversee the drafting of the new constitution in collaboration with the newly elected parliament and the SCAF itself.

The first round of voting for the key lower house of parliament has just finished, delivering Islamists around 70 per cent of available seats.

1710 GMT: Activists report that the mourners in this video are pinned down by gunfire in a cemetery in Homs, as they attempted to bury civilians killed in the conflict. The video was reportedly taken today:

The Guardian posts this video, reportedly showing civilians pinned down by gunfire as they try to cross the street. We'd add to their analysis, pointing out that the large cloud rising in the background was caused by the pipeline explosion in Baba Amr, validating that this video was taken today in Homs:

Meanwhile, the LCCS has conducted an investigation into reports of sectarian violence in Homs. The report says that the different neighborhoods of Homs are largely segregated by ethnicity, and different linguistic dialects can be used to fairly easily identify the different ethnic groups. The LCCS claims that the regime has tried to exploit this situation, sowing divide by conducting kidnapping, shelling certain neighborhoods and mosques, and pushing a sectarian message. Since the beginning, the opposition has resisted retaliation, according to the report, but in the last month sectarian strife has been growing rapidly:

Activist Omar Idlibi see that “the efforts of the regime to start a sectarian fight in Homs started in March 25th when they sent off a pro-regime crowd chanting sectarian slogans and beating a demonstration that took off on that Friday (Friday of Dignity). These acts escalated by using Shabiha from loyalist neighborhoods with an Alawite majority to attack the demonstrating neighborhoods, and by Security Forces’ resort to kidnapping, killing, and delivering the kidnapped to the Shabiha to kill and abuse them.”

If there were any sectarian incidents in Homs in the previous periods, they were isolated individual incidents that were contained by the people most of the times.

The Guardian analyzes the LCCS report on Sectarian violence in Homs:

The Local Co-ordination Committees of Syria, which until now have played down the increasingly sectarian nature of the uprising, have acknowledged that tensions between ethnic groups are spiraling out of control in the city of Homs.

But in a report on the problem [warning: graphic content] the LCC blames the government for stirring up ethnic tensions and urges the opposition, activists, defected soldiers, religious leaders and the media to intervene to help stop it.

It says activist websites should stop showing videos and images of a sectarian nature that might fuel tensions.

The report acknowledges "a considerable increase" in sectarian attacks in the last month between Sunni and Alawite neighbourhoods. It says the incidents come after a spate of kidnappings by the security forces, which have been followed by reprisal kidnappings. It claims these occur as a way of negotiating the release of those originally kidnapped.

Revenge attacks are getting out of control, the report warns.

So, with today's video evidence and eyewitness reports confirming more violence, and more escalation, the social fabric of the city of Homs appears to be breaking down entirely. Activists report food shortages, a lack of medical supplies, and nearly constant harassment by snipers and shelling.

As my analysis argued earlier in the week, the longer the siege of the city continues, the higher the probability of all-out civil strife, beyond the violence that we've already seen.

It's been a long 9 months for Syria, and no city has felt that more than Homs, where everyone is a victim.

1607 GMT: Alexander Page, a member of the Syrian opposition, posts this video, a large protest at a funeral in the important suburb of Damascus, Zamalka:

Thousands of people taking part in the funeral procession of the soldier Arfan Osama al-Kurdi which took place this afternoon in the Zamalka suburb of Damascus; he was killed by Assad forces when he refused to shoot at civilians in Hama. Mourners called for freedom in Syria and the toppling of Assad regime.

Other activists post this video, reportedly taken in Quatana, west of Damascus. What's striking about this video is that the people, mostly students, have a chant that we don't remember hearing - "The people want the fall of the Baath party."

1545 GMT: An activist posts this picture, a cloud of smoke rising above Baba Amr, an embattled district in the city of Homs. This morning, someone (the regime says terrorists, the opposition says the regime) destroyed an oil pipeline in the neighborhood:

1537 GMT: Syrian dissidents have been reporting widespread fuel shortages, a major problem since the Syrian people heat their homes with diesel fuel, and rely on diesel vehicles to transport goods. Man have suggested that one reason for the shortage is that the military is using so much fuel to drive tanks and soldiers all around the country.

In Daraa, where the opposition movement is strong, the people have reported that diesel has now become nearly impossible to find. There have even been multiple reports that the government has erected roadblocks, and is commandeering any trucks that try to carry diesel into the province.

How bad is it in Daraa? Sometimes video is worth a thousand words. This was reportedly taken in Kherbet Ghazalah, Daraa province. The sign held has today's date:

1524 GMT: We have posted a separate entry, Western Journalists Inside Syria: A Video Record of Everyday Crimes, which has the videos of Barbara Walters' interview with Syrian President Bashar al Assad. However, the article also contains a "rebuttal," so to speak, videos of two other western journalists who have smuggled themselves into the country in order to speak with the people of Syria.

1510 GMT: Stepping away from the blood-and-guts narrative in Syria, we have actual good news. According to the LCCS, a judge in Damascus has greatly reduced the possible penalty for a high-profile activist, moving his case from criminal to penal court:

The first investigating judge in Damascus issued a decree banning the trial of peaceful activist and film producer Shadi Abu Fakhr in the charges against him, including: “undermining the state integrity, the dissemination of false news that weakens the morale of the nation, and demonstrating without a permit,” and converts it to the Penal Court.

According to the LCCS, this is the first incidence of such a move.

1504 GMT: According to the LCCS, 13 people have died so far today in Syria, "including two women, 11 martyrs in Homs, and two martyrs in Idlib."

James Miller takes the liveblog.

1210 GMT: Photograph of a clash between security forces and protesters in Seef in Bahrain last night:

1155 GMT: Omani authorities have announced that they will raze a roundabout in Sohar that became a hub for protesters in February.

Minister of Transport Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Futaisi said the demolition would make way for a new intersection to help ease traffic problems, avoid accidents, and upgrade the surrounding roads.

Hundreds of Omanis marched in Sohar in February to demand higher pay, more jobs, and an end to corruption among government officials.

Several people were killed as security forces cleared the roundabout and removed the protest camp.

1147 GMT: A major Syrian oil pipeline, serving a refinery in Homs Province, was blown up today.

The opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the pipeline was "bombed" by regime supporters while State news agency SANA announced, "An armed terrorist group on Thursday committed an act of sabotage."

A government official said the blast caused a fire that has been burning for more than four hours.

In Daraa, a student protest today:

A large anti-regime demonstration in the Mare section of Aleppo after the funeral of a protester:

And a mass protest in Inkhel in Daraa Province:

1145 GMT: In the aftermath of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry report recommending changes in the regime's security forces, the head of public security, Tariq bin Dinah, has been dismissed.

Bahrain's State news agency has also reported that the regime has pledged to stop prosecutions "concerning athletes who took part in the events of February and March 2011, and accused of taking part in marches, rallies and inciting hatred for the system of government".

Last week a military court sentenced a bodybuilder, a footballer, and a basketball player to a year in prison for joining the protests.

0925 GMT: Complementing our coverage of yesterday's protests and clashes in Bahrain, activists post a 13-minute montage of demonstrators trying to get to Pearl Roundabout and being repelled by security forces:

0915 GMT: A leading member of Egypt's ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, Major General Mokhtar el-Mulla, has indicated that SCAF must continue to exercise control over the elected Parliament.

Saying that the Parliament would not be representative of all Egyptian people, el-Mulla said those appointed to write a new Constitution must be approved by the interim Cabinet and a newly-created "advisory council" of intellectuals, civilian politicians and media personalities, both of which are supervised by SCAF.

El-Mulla also said details of the army budget must remain hidden.

The General insisted, "This is not out of mistrust of the Parliament. What we are seeing is free and fair elections ... but they certainly don't represent all sectors of society."

0645 GMT: As President Assad's interview was seizing attention, another important event was taking place, off the radar of the media. Thousands of protesters returned to the streets of Bahrain yesterday. When they tried to cross the "red line" of the security forces --- a return to Pearl Roundabout, the symbolic centre of the spring demonstrations --- they were met by tear gas and rubber bullets. We have first-hand reports, videos, and pictures in a special feature.

The protesters persisted last night --- a rally in Sitra:

Six opposition political societies --- AlWefaq, Waad, Altajamoa, AlQawmi, Amal, and AlEkha' --- have announced a rally on Friday night over "Human Rights Violations in Bahrain":

0615 GMT: At one point in the fuss over the advance clips of Syrian President Bashar Assad's interview with with America's ABC News, journalist Blake Hounshell sent the message, "Bashar 'Shaggy' al Assad: It Wasn't Me".

The reference would have sailed past those safe from kitschy music of the last decade. No matter. Even the headline snippets put out by ABC showed a President --- a "mild-mannered opthalmologist", as he was introduced --- in defiant denial. He did not know of prominent cases where dissidents had been beaten. He denied other episodes of violence as "distortions". He did know of the death of protesters but he carried no responsibility --- "They're not my forces," he said of the military who may have murdered. He summarised, "You don't feel guilty when you don't kill people."

He was secure in these denials because "the majority are not against" him.