Syria, Libya (and Beyond) LiveBlog: Catching Up

1845 GMT: Reuters posts the accounts of residents of the southern town of Daraa about the "inhumanity and criminality" of the military that occupied the town: "They occupied several mosques, including the Omari mosque and Sheikh Abdul Aziz (mosque), to ensure that even volunteers or imams cannot use minarets to ask for blood or urge medics to help the wounded....They stationed tanks even in public gardens and security patrols seem to have orders to shoot on the spot."

One activist said at least 18 people were killed by gunfire and tank shelling.

1515 GMT: Al Jazeera's Andrew Simmons reports from Misurata, where fighting has intensified:

 "There seems to be a policy to attack civilians with mortar fire. A residential district here has recieved 16 hits, which took out two schools, and we don't know the exact casualty figures in these schools." 

"What we do know is it may be quite high, considering that pro-Gaddafi forces are using what is termed as indirect fire - essentially lobbying shells and tank rounds to terrorise the population."

1448 GMT: Earlier, Scott Lucas had noted a video too graphic to post. He mistakenly linked to another important video of tanks deploying in Daraa. He has corrected the link.

1418 GMT: The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Obama administration is preparing unilateral sanctions against Syria. According to the report, individuals closest to Bashar al-Assad will have their assets frozen and will face a travel ban, in a move similar to the recent sanctions against the head of the Basij force and the Tehran's head prosecutor in Iran. 

These sanctions are unlikely to have a significant effect, but they are a clear sign that efforts to improve relations between Syria's government and the United States are being reversed. 

1410 GMT: Al Arabiya is now reporting that at least 25 people have been killed today in Daraa alone.

1255 GMT: Video of march around Blocat Square in Nouakchott, capital of Mauritania:

1250 GMT: Claimed video of regime snipers operating from rooftops in Jableh yesterday, where 13 people were reportedly killed (see 0800 GMT):

1245 GMT: AFP reports from residents that four people were killed when regime forces fired rockets on the town of Zintan in northwestern Libya today.

1215 GMT: Activist Nasser Weddady reports, "Day of Anger starts in Mauritania. Youth taking to the streets, Police on high alert. Main artery of capital [Nouakchott] is cut."

A protest rally is also reported in Nouadhibou, the country's 2nd-largest city.

A photo from the demonstration in Nouakchott:

Syria Video Special: Military Seizes Southern Town of Daraa
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Syria 1st-Hand: "There is No Humanity Here Anymore" (Perry)
Sudan Video Special: The Protest Music of "Fight the Cause"
Sunday's Syria, Yemen, Libya (and Beyond) LiveBlog: Waiting for Confirmation

1210 GMT: Opposition activist Nouh al-Wafi claimed that regime forces today attacked protesters in Taiz calling for the removal of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Al-Wafi said Presidential guard troops, controlled by Saleh's eldest son, fired bullets and tear gas into tens of thousands of demonstrators chanting, "Leave!".

Al-Wafi said "dozens" had gunshot wounds while others suffered breathing difficulties. He claimed troops prevented ambulances from getting to the wounded and that several people and local journalists were arrested.

Two protesters have been injured in Ibb Province when police tried to disperse a demonstration, and several protesters were reportedly hurt by plainclothes police and thugs who threw stones at a huge anti-Saleh rally in Sanaa.

The State news agency SABA claim that a main power plant in Marib was attacked for the second time this month, and it reported that big pro-government demonstrations were held in the cities of Ibb, Hodeida, and Damar and in the northwest Hajja Province.

1045 GMT: Video of Sunday's demonstration, one of many across Morocco demanding reforms, in Oujda in the east:

0955 GMT: Reuters reports, from Jordanian security sources, that Syria has closed all land border crossings with Jordan.

0825 GMT: An activist claims that the Syrian military has now taken over Daraa, Ankhel, Nawa, Ezraa, Douma, Moadamia, and Jableh.

0800 GMT: The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claims at least 13 civilians died in Jableh from gunfire by security forces on Sunday (see 0550 GMT).

Meanwhile, Syrian State news agency SANA is headlining the funerals of seven policemen killed in Nawa near Daraa and two security personnel slain in Moadamia near Damascus this weekend by "armed criminal groups".

0705 GMT: Activists claim that Syrian security forces and gunmen loyal to President Assad took over the large Damascus suburb of Douma early this morning, shooting at unarmed civilians and detaining residents: "There are injured people. Scores have been arrested. The security forces are repeating the same pattern in all the centres of the democratic uprising. They want to put down the revolution using the utmost brutality."

0700 GMT: Two claimed clips of Sunday's protests in the Yemeni capital Sanaa calling for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down.

0635 GMT: The number of casualties from this morning's Syrian military takeover of the town of Daraa is still unclear. An activist has declared that, with the presence of snipers, "Bodies are lying in the streets and we can't recover them."

0630 GMT: Bahrain's State news agency says a military prosecutor has demanded the death penalty for seven anti-regime protesters on trial for the killing of two policemen.

The seven were charged in a military court with premeditated murder of government employees. The next hearing is set for Thursday.

0550 GMT: This morning's military operation in Daraa (see 0520 GMT) follows a Sunday of more attacks on protesters. In Jableh, up to 18 wounded could not be moved from a mosque because of sniper fire, and security forces reportedly raided the house of a physician, Zakraiya al-Akkad, after he spoke with Al Jazeera.

0545 GMT: Crossing the road in a devastated Misurata:

0542 GMT: No movement so far today in Yemen, where thousands marched on Sunday for the departure from power of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. In particular, there has been no development over the Gulf Co-operation Council plan under which Saleh would hand over power to his Vice President within 30 days in exchange for immunity from prosecution for him and his family.

0540 GMT: A website provides mapping of Sunday's protests for reforms in Morocco, with up to 20,000 demonstrating in Casablanca and thousands in Marrakesh, Tangiers, and other cities.

0520 GMT: In Syria, witnesses say a major military operation is ongoing in Daraa in the south, with sounds of gunfire and people shouting "Allahu Akbar" ("God is great"). One resident says about 3000 soldiers are in the town, and they are breaking into people's houses and firing randomly outside.

Another witness said, "Before dawn prayers, around 4:30 a.m., the Syrian security forces broke into Daraa. There were so many tanks that entered the city from its four corners. People were heading to mosques when the attack started. People in mosques started warning the people through loud speakers, but the gunfire had already started."

The witness added that ambulances were not allowed into the city and that electricity and phone lines were down.

0500 GMT: Catching up after a holiday break....

Although regime forces have been pushed out of the centre of Misurata, Libya's third-largest city, the bombardment continues. The opposition reports that eight more people died on Sunday, making a total of 36 over two days. A World Food Programme ship with food, medical supplies and three fully working ambulances, reached Misurata's port on Sunday.

Late Sunday night, three explosions --- "the strongest...so far" according to correspondents --- hit Tripoli. Witnesses  said a building inside Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi's Bab al-Aziziyah compount was "flattened". A Libyan official taking journalists around the scene said 45 people were wounded, 15 seriously, and declared, "It was an attempt to assassinate Colonel Qaddafi." Three Libyan State TV went off the air for more than two hours after the attacks. 

A photo from Reuters of the damage at the Qaddafi compound:

Reuters reports that Libyan Foreign Minister has gone to Ethiopia to discuss the peace plan put forward by the African Union earlier this month. However, the opposition immediately rejected any negotiation.

Libya's opposition National Transition Council said it has been given $180 million by Kuwait to help pay salaries. It also announced that the insurgents have received weapons from "friends and allies", without naming the suppliers.

Kuwait has become the second Arab state after Qatar to recognise the Libyan opposition government.