Yemen, Syria, Libya (and Beyond) LiveBlog: City on Fire

2115 GMT: We'll be shutting down the liveblog for the night. We'll be back at 0530 GMT tomorrow.

Here is a roundup of the news.

In Syria, protesters took to the streets all across the country during what protesters were calling "Children's Friday." Reports were that these wre the largest protests yet, but the internet was almost completely shut off. Still, we have many videos posted in a separate section:

Latest Syria Video: Protesters Defy the Internet Blockout

The scale of the protests would have been major news, but they were overshadowed by violence. Protesters were killed in Taiz, security forces continued to shell Al Rastan, but the big news was that the military opened fire on a crowd of 50,000 peaceful demonstrators in Hama, killing at least 70.

In Yemen, the big news of the day was the rocket attack which hit the Presidential palace and wounded President Saleh and an unknown number of his advisors. However, there were also protests elsewhere, and at least 4 civilians were killed by government air strikes in Abyan. 

Latest Yemen Video: Protests Among the Chaos in Sana'a

In Libya, the rebels have made significant advances, and now threaten the city of Tripoli.

In Bahrain, there were major protests and clashes with security forces (video below).

Just another Arab Spring Friday.

2059: Another country heard from...

Breaking news: Protests have erupted in Egypt over the death of a microbus driver in Azbakeya. He was arrested yesterday for a traffic violation, and died in custody. There is a report that he attacked one of the officers, though details are all emerging from Twitter right now. 

There is also a report that a gunfight between the relatives of the man and police was the ultimate catalyst.

There appear to be clashes between protesters and security forces in Azbakeya and Ramses. Below is a picture of a truck lit on fire in Ramses.

2047 GMT: Activists have told the Associated Press that at least 70 people were killed today in Hama (see updates below). 10 were killed yesterday with clashes with security forces.

This has particular significance, because in 1982 President Assad's father crushed an uprising in the city, torching parts of it and killing 30,000.

2034 GMT: In Libya, rebels made major advances in the western Nafusa mountain region that surrounds the capital, Tripoli. The long besieged cities of Zintan and Misurata are now under rebel control. Half of the nearby town of Zlitan was also taken today. 

According to Al Jazeera, Colonel Ibraham, in charge of rebel forces in the region reports:

"Opposition fighters also pushed government troops from Shakshuk and Qasr al-Haj, two towns near a key road that runs along the mountain range's northern edge, Ibrahim said.

Rebels clashed with Gaddafi forces near the village of Bir Ayyad.

The rebel forces are now only 60 km from the major city of Sirte, and are rapidly closing in on the capital Tripoli. NATO air strikes have been hitting the capital hard over recent days, and there are more anti-Gaddafi protests in the streets there, signs that the opposition senses Gaddafi's weakness. 

China also met with rebel leaders today, another defeat for the Gaddafi regime as they now have no real ally in the international community.

2014 GMT: The United States has condemned a move by Qatar, the deportation of Eman al Obeidi to Libya, as a violation of human rights. Obeidi became known when she barged into a hotel lobby fileld with reporters and told them how she had been raped, an action which resulted in further imprisonment and torture.

Perhaps the most interesting twist, however, is that Al Jazeera is covering the story. Al Jazeera is state financed, and based in Qatar, and their reporting of the incident yesterday was underspoken. 

2007 GMT: Back from a break to find that Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh has given an audio address via Yemeni State TV. Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra has this assessment:

"He laid the blame on the al-Ahmar tribal families, describing them as a bunch of thugs, saying an investigation is underway. This is no longer the Saleh that we've been used to, in how he used to carry himself to shape Yemen around him. They said his injuries were minor, but he was barely able to punctuate his own ideas and speak in terms of very clear sentences. And to me, this looked like the beginning of the end - the end of a chapter in Yemen."

1840 GMT: Barack Obama has condemned the violence in Yemen today, both the crackdown against protesters and the attack on the Presidential compound in Sana'a. He has renewed calls for all sides to cease fire and arrive at a political solution.

1832 GMT: The United States House of Representatives has voted on two measures related to the Libyan military operation. Speak of the House, John Boehner, successfully championed a resolution that rebukes President Obama for not seeking congressional authority for the operation. The measure passed by a vote of 268 to 145.

A measure proposed by Dennis Kucinich that would require President Obama to withdraw troops in the next 15 days was rejected on a 148-265 vote.

1800 GMT: A technical analysis reveals that the internet in Syria has essentially been shut off. Very few networks remain in operation, and even access to some government websites is slowed. The analyst compares this event to what happened in Egypt, immediately before Mubarak stepped down.

1751 GMT: The latest update on Syria.

At least 34 people have been killed, and scores more injured, in Hama Syria, after security forces opened up heavy machine guns on a crowd of approximately 50,000 protesters. The violence was centered around the old quarter and nearby Assi Square.

In the central town of Al Rastan, Syrian forces have surrounded the town for days, shelling the city and killing scores. A witness tells BBC Arabic:

"Since early this morning... there has been extensive bombardment with heavy and medium gunfire, using tanks, armoured vehicles and automatic machine gunfire.

"There was also random shelling, and there are snipers widespread on all the rooftops of the government buildings."

1659 GMT: An EA correspondent reminds me that earlier today we reported that the broadcast of Friday prayers was cut off when large explosions could be heard in Sana'a. The mosque where Friday prayers take place is the same mosque that President Saleh was injured in during rocket attacks this morning.  

1651 GMT: Marchers in Sanabis, Bahrain, protest against the killing of the dissenters and chant against the regime.

Despite the lifting of the state of emergency, police respond to chanting protesters in Karzakan, Bahrain:

1644 GMT: A very brave woman stands up to security forces in Sanabis, Bahrain:

1629 GMT: A Yemeni official has told the Associated Press that President Ali Abdullah Saleh has been taken to a hospital to the Defense Ministry Hospital to be treated for wounds received in the rocket attack on his compound earlier today.

According to Yemen TV, Saleh will not have a press conference today, but it is also unknown whether plans to release a statement have been cancelled as well. 

1614 GMT: The attack on President's Saleh's compound in Sana'a has killed 3 Republican Guard members and an Imam, according to Yemen's state news agency. 

1610 GMT: Freelance journalist Laura Kasinof reports that some of the mortar fire directed at the home of tribal leader Hamid Al-Ahmar's house has hit the homes of other government officials. 

1606 GMT: A Moroccan activist, injured in a government crackdown against protesters on May 29, has died from his injuries. 

1554 GMT: Violence in Syria has not been limited to the massacre in Hama. In the city of Deir Azzour, there is a report that 8 protesters have been killed and 25 have been wounded when security fired into the crowd.

1527 GMT: Sources in Syria are asking the media to wait on updating the body count in Hama, but it sounds very serious. There are multiple reports that the injured and the dead are lying in the streets because the gunfire has prevented protesters from getting to them, and all the hospitals in the area are overwhelmed with the casualties.

1510 GMT: A witness for Al Jazeera is reporting that 7000 protesters have blocked the highway between Aleppo and Idleb in the town of Binnesh. The protesters include several hundred children, and are unarmed, according to the report.

1458 GMT: Teargas and gunfire used to disperse the funeral protests in Sanabis, Bahrain:

1451 GMT: The Libyan Youth Movement is reporting that rebels have made significant gains, capturing the besieged towns of Yefren and Shakshuk, key locations in the press towards Tripoli. These victories suggest that the heavy artillery and Grad rockets in the area are obstacles that the rebels have overcome. 

Though there is likely still a large pro-Gaddafi force in the area, progress is being made in the mountains west of Tripoli.

Below is a picture of a wall dedicated to the martyrs who have fallen in Benghazi, in the east of Libya.

1444 GMT: The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights is reporting that 25 have been killed in Hama, and there are many wounded so the death toll may rise.

1435 GMT: A translation of an eyewitness calling Al Jazeera (Arabic) from Hama: The security forces did not use tear gas or water cannons, they started off with live gunfire.

Also, a Syrian reports that gunfire has erupted in Al Rastan, where the home of Fatima Alwan has been shelled. The most interesting piece of the report, however, is that 25 soldiers have defected, rather than fire on civilians.

1427 GMT: We would not want to give the impression that the rocket attack against the Presidential Compound in Sana'a, Yemen, is the only news in that city.

A mass funeral for 50 people who have been killed took place this morning, and soon after Friday prayers were over there was shelling of the neighborhood of Hadda, in southern Sana'a. This report is separate from the escalating violence between the al-Ahmar tribesmen and the Yemen security forces. 

At least 2 protesters were injured by security forces in Taiz. That city is reportedly on lockdown.

Below is a map of Sana'a:

1418 GMT: An opposition Facebook page has released the names of 11 martyrs killed today in Hama, Syria. They also note that there are more martyrs, but no ID could be made.

1403 GMT: Syrian security forces have opened fire with heavy machine guns into a crowd of 50,000 in Hama, killing at least 15, according to Al Jazeera. An eyewitness reports:

"They opened fire directly into the crowd of people. The people didn't flee because we thought that our big number would make them stop shooting. But they didn’t." 

Snipers are also reported on the roofs of several of the buildings, and there are reports that they have also fired into the crowd. Wounded protesters have been brought to al-Hourani hospital, a private hospital, and protesters have surrounded the building to prevent security forces from entering.

1359 GMT: A source in Yemen reports that Yemen TV is saying that Saleh is not giving a press conference, but will instead issue a statement. A government official on Al Jazeera English, just moments ago, said that Saleh will address the people in a matter of hours. 

1354 GMT: An eyewitness is Hama estimates that there are 7,000 protesters in his neighborhood alone. Also, he is very critical of President Assad's granting of a general amnesty:

"We don’t believe the presidential decree about releasing prisoners because they only released criminals, not the prisoners of conscience ... I believe it is only a matter of time before the regime falls."

1344 GMT: There are many reports that the internet is shut down in Syria, and internet traffic reports for the country are hovering around zero.

1342 GMT: We have new updates in our Syria video section: Large crowds in Darraya near Damascus, Al-Hasakah in northeast, and Qamishli in the northeast.

1326 GMT: More confusion. Al Jazeera is reporting that a government official, speaking anonymously, told them that Saleh was in fact injured in a rocket attack while he was praying in a mosque inside the Presidential Palace, butAbdu al-Janadi, Yemen's deputy information minister, has told Reuters:

"The president is well and he will address the people in one hour. There are some slight injuries among officials."

1307 GMT: Back to our top story - In Yemen, President Saleh is scheduled to make a news conference, perhaps within the hour. 

1300 GMT: James Miller picks up the ball...

There are protests in many areas of Syria today, from Idlib, in the Kurdish northeast, to Madaya and Zabadani in the west, to the suburbs of Damascus, and to the largest ones in Homs and Hama. In Hama, we estimate that there are 50 thousand protesters there alone. According to Rami Abdulrahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, "Some of the biggest demonstrations today are in Idlib and Hama. There is also intense gunfire in Hama."

Below, children in Qamişlo hold a banner marking the Friday of Children "Hamza is the symbol of freedom."

We've moved our Syria videos to our entyr: Latest Syria Video: Protesters Defy the Internet Blockout

In Ras al-Ain in northeast Syria, children also protest.

We've moved our Syria videos to our entyr: Latest Syria Video: Protesters Defy the Internet Blockout

1250 GMT: Reuters is reporting that Yemen's President Saleh will be giving a news conference soon, according to the deputy mayor of Sana'a. Earlier, opposition news reported that Saleh was killed, which was denied by Yemeni officials and Al Arabiya, the later reporting that he was only injured.

1230 GMT: Al Arabiya are now claiming Yemen's President Saleh was slightly injured, four of his guards killed, and Speaker of Parliament critically wounded in the shelling of the Presidential Palace and the Presidential Mosque next to it.

Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Mujawar and Sana'a's Mayor were also injured.

1220 GMT: Claimed video of tension and scuffles in Tahrir Square in Egypt's capital Cairo today:

1210 GMT: Claimed footage of an anti-Qaddafi protest in Tripoli in Libya on Wednesday:

1207 GMT: Al Arabiya is reporting that Yahya Al-Raee, Speaker of the Yemeni Parliament, has been wounded in the shelling of the Presidential compound. An activist claims Deputy Prime Minister, Rashad Al-Alemi has also been seriously injured.

Al Arabiya also claims that the Republican Guard has demolished the houses of opposition figures Hamid al Ahmar and General Ali Mohsen al Ahmar.

1205 GMT: Protest in Ras al-Ain in northeast Syria today:

We've moved our Syria videos to our entyr: Latest Syria Video: Protesters Defy the Internet Blockout

1200 GMT: US-based freelance journalist "Amel" from Sana'a in Yemen:

Sanaa is a mess. Airport is closed. We cant get out of sanaa bc the path to aden isnt secure. We're hoping the embassy lets us in.

Bus drivers are refusing to drive out. Pple are trying to flee. Sanaa is virtually isolated. Where the hell are the un peacekeepers?

These pple are trapped in the middle of chaos. Pple are terrified. We see armed tribesmen walking around.

1155 GMT: Unconfirmed reports are circulating, including distribution by Reuters and Al Arabiya, that the Presidential Palace in Sana'a has been hit by two shells or grenades.

A stringer for The New York Times also reports the Palace strike and adds that the regime is shelling the homes of opposition tribal leader Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar and military commander Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar.

Al Arabiya is reporting that the Deputy Prime Minister injured in an attack on the Presidential mosque.

Mareb Press claims that one person has been killed and 20 injured in Taiz when security forces attacked protesters.

1150 GMT: Residents say security forces have fired on demonstrators in Deir al Zor in northeastern Syria.

1135 GMT: The funeral of Zainab Altajer, who died on Thursday from exposure to tear gas, in Sanabis in Bahrain:

1130 GMT: Protest in Dhamar in western Yemen in support of the demonstrators in Taiz who were attacked and killed this week: We've moved this videos to our entry: Latest Yemen Video: Protests Among the Chaos in Sana'a

Friday Prayers in Al-Bayda condemn the regime's violence in Taiz, Sana'a, and Abyan Province in the south:

We've moved this videos to our entry: Latest Yemen Video: Protests Among the Chaos in Sana'a

1125 GMT: In Bahrain, "People Demand Downful the Regime" --- video of a protest in the Mahazza district of Sitra:

1122 GMT: An activist claims that Yemen's State TV cut off the live broadcast of the Friday Prayer in Sana'a after nearby explosions were heard.

President Saleh did not deliver a speech to supporters today, with Qassim Salaam of the Ba'ath Party appearing instead.

1120 GMT: Protest in Freedom Square in Taiz in Yemen today --- at the end of the clip, the cracks of what might be gunfire are heard:

We've moved this videos to our entry: Latest Yemen Video: Protests Among the Chaos in Sana'a

1115 GMT: First footage of demonstrations in Syria today --- this clip is from the Kurdish area of Amûdê (Amuda) in the northeast:

We've moved our Syria videos to our entyr: Latest Syria Video: Protesters Defy the Internet Blockout

1105 GMT: Reports are coming in of regime shelling of the homes of opposition tribal leaders and military commanders in Sana'a and of explosions in Taiz.

1035 GMT: Activists on Facebook are reporting rallies across Syria. They also indicate that the Internet has been shut down in the country --- there is "one report of internet working in an internet cafe in Abu Romani, Damascus".

1030 GMT: Iona Craig reports that the "price of water trebled overnight" in Yemen's capital Sana'a, with residents jostling to get supplies from a water tanker on Thursday.

Craig writes that the cost of a tanker delivery has risen from 1300 Yemeni rials ($6) to 7000 ($32.50). About 40% of Yemen's 23 million people live on less than £1.50 a day.

0955 GMT: Reports have been coming in via social media of a funeral procession in Sanabis in Bahrain turning into a protest against the regime and being confronted by police with tear gas.

The march was for Zainab Altajer, who died on Thursday, allegedly from exposure to tear gas.

0920 GMT: Footage of a small protest in Bahrain today:

0915 GMT: Al-Ahram reports that the Ministry of Justice is investigating three judges who spoke out against the military trials of civilians.

The judges have told the media that the tribunals did not guarantee the rights provided by civilian courts. The Minister of Justice ordered the investigation because the trio had not obtained permission to speak publicly. The judges say they do not need such permission.

0830 GMT: Claimed footage of a demonstration in Sanabis in Bahrain on Thursday night:

0825 GMT: Video of an evening protest in Homs in Syria:

We've moved our Syria videos to our entyr: Latest Syria Video: Protesters Defy the Internet Blockout

0520 GMT: On Thursday, Eman al-Obeidi, who came to global attention when she entered a hotel in Tripoli to tell foreign journalists of her abuse and rape by Libyan forces, was deported from Qatar to the Libyan opposition's centre in Benghazi.

US-based activist Nasha Dawaji met al-Obeidi and said she had a black eye, bruises on her legs, and scratches on her legs.

Dawaji said three leading members of the National Transitional Council, the insurgent government, were upset upon seeing al-Obeidi and vowed to open an investigation.

0515 GMT: Reassuring propaganda of the day comes from the Syrian state news agency SANA: "Syrian journalists are looking forward to the new media law to provide more freedom in tackling any topic and canceling prison sentence(s) for journalists."

0505 GMT: Yemen took over our attention on Thursday as the fighting between Presidential forces and dissident tribesmen and military units erupted in the capital Sana'a. The burning building of Yemenia Airways illuminated the sky as the regime used artillery against the insurgency.

We'll watch that situation today, but it will be joined by another Friday of protests. Syria is likely to be a focal point, but this will also be the first post-State of Emergency weekend in Bahrain. 

And what appears to be a war of attrition --- both on the military and political fronts --- continues in Libya.