Syria (and Beyond) LiveBlog: Ripples of Protest

Claimed footage of a march in Taiz in Yemen today, demanding a transitional government

2030 GMT: The Tunisian news agency TAP says two Libyan ministers have crossed into Tunisia to join the regime's Foreign Minister, reportedly seeking a solution to the political crisis.

Health Minister Mohamed Al-Hijazi and Social Affairs Minister Ibrahim Cherif crossed into southern Tunisia. Foreign Minister Abdul Ati Al-Obeidi has met "several foreign parties" there, part of an effort to find a solution to a civil war in the north African country.

1850 GMT: Opposition and regime forces have clashed about 80 kilometres (50 miles) southwest of the Libyan capital Tripoli.

Sunday's fighting began when government forces tried to cut off the insurgents, who have moved into the plains from the western mountains, by attacking from behind.

The front line is now thought to have moved just north of Bir Ayad, near the town of Bir al-Ghanam. Bir al-Ghanam is only 30 kilometres (19 miles) south of Zawiya, a western gateway to Tripoli.

1840 GMT: Banks in the opposition-held city of Misrata in western Libya opened today for the first time since uprising against the regime began on 17 February.

The city council limited cash withdrawals to 300 dinars (about $150), to prevent a spike in inflation in a city still surrounded by regime forces. Many teachers, doctors, and other state workers have not been paid since January.

Long lines formed at daybreak outside banks across the city, with police supervising those waiting for withdrawals.

1830 GMT: African Union leaders, seeking to mediate a settlement in Libya, have declared Muammar Qaddafi's "acceptance of not being part of the negotiation process".

The AU leaders said, "Following the suspension of hostilities...the Libyan parties should begin the national dialogue for a comprehensive ceasefire, national reconciliation, transitional arrangements, as well as the agenda for democratic transformation."

However, the opposition have dismissed the AU proposal, demanding that Qaddafi "pull back his forces...to return to the military barracks" and "to release the scores of prisoners that they are holding."

An Al Jazeera English correspondent summarised, "For them, there is no solution to this conflict unless Gaddafi actually leaves office [and] leaves power."

Jalal El Gallal, a spokesman for the oppositionNational Transitional Council said, "It's very difficult to speak with anybody that has blood on his hands. If there's going to be any negotiations, first they have to adhere to the resolution of the United Nations by withdrawing their forces to the barracks, allowing humanitarian aid and allowing people to demonstrate."

1655 GMT: The new chairman of the Bahrain Journalists Association has defended the organisation against criticism from the Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists that the BJA has not defended Bahraini journalists who have been imprisoned.

Eisa Al Shayji reassured, "We did seek to defend the detained journalists and I personally met twice with officials from the interior ministry. There are journalists who have been detained, but it seems it was in their personal capacities and not as journalists. The ministry officials told me that they were not held as journalists, but in security-related issues."

Al Shayji added, "I have had strong confirmations from the interior ministry that no journalist currently outside Bahrain is being tracked Any journalist who left Bahrain during or after the unrest is free to come home any time he chooses.

1305 GMT: Syria's military spokesman, Major General Riad Haddad, says more than 400 members of security forces have been killed since the uprising against the Assad regime began on 15 March.

Haddad, declaring there is no "crackdown" on protest, initially told CNN that about 1,300 security personnel had been killed by "extremist religious groups", financed by foreign elements. He corrected the figure Sunday, saying 300 soldiers, 60 security officials, and 50 police have died.

Haddad also said 700 people, whom he described as terrorists, and their families had fled into Turkey from Syrian authorities.

Haddad offered no details about the killing of the security forces.

1300 GMT: Families of those killed in the Egyptian uprising against the Mubarak regime have thrown stones at police after the trial of former Minister of Interior Habib El Adly and six of his assistants was postponed until 25 July.

Hundreds of protesters were angered that they were not allowed to attend the session and wereoutraged when the trial was adjourned. They chanted, "We haven't forgotten Tahrir" and "blood for blood."

El Adly and his assistants are accused of ordering the firing of live ammunition at protesters during the uprising. On 5 May, El Adly was sentenced to 12 years in prison for profiteering.

0825 GMT: An Egyptian activist posts a report and photographs from this weekend's protests in front of the State TV buildings in Cairo.

Demonstrators included families who were "persuasively evicted" from their homes by landlords during the uprising against President Hosni Mubarak and relatives of those who died during the protests.

Daily News Egypt reports that "dozens" were injured when about 800 supporters of Mubarak clashed with opponents at the site.

The pro-Mubarak demonstrators were demanding the immediate release of the former President, who is in custody on charges of corruption and suspicion of ordering the killing of anti-regime protesters during the uprising.

0820 GMT: A Tunisian appeals court has doubled the sentence for drug possession of the nephew of deposed President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali.

Imed Trabelsi was sentenced in May to two years in prison and a fine of 2000 dinars (about $1,440). He appealed the verdict, but on Saturday the court upheld the decision and added two more years to the sentence and raised the fine to 3000 dinars ($2,160).

Trabelsi is still to be tried amidst corruption cases filed against 114 Ben Ali relatives after the President's downfall on 14 January.

Last week, a Tunisian court sentenced Ben Ali and his wife, Leila Trabelsi, to 35 years in prison in absentia on corruption charges. The court also imposed a fine of 91 million dinars ($65 million).

0530 GMT: A much quieter day on Saturday, compared to Friday's eruption of protests, but the ripples of defiance and conflict continued. Last night this blurred video offered evidence that even Syria's second city Aleppo had not been sealed off from the cries against the Assad regime.

At least five people were killed. Two protesters perished in Al Kiswah, 15 kilmetres (10 miles) south of Damascus, during a funeral for those slain on Friday. Three others were killed during house-to-house arrests in the Barzeh district north of Damascus and in the town of Qusayr, west of Homs.

More residents fled as the military occupied another village in the northwest, near the Turkish border, and up to 1000 --- six with gunshot wounds --- crossed into Lebanon as Syrian troops extended their grip further south.