Syria (and Beyond) LiveBlog: A Blogger is Detained

2015 GMT: Claimed footage of protest tonight in Homs in Syria:

1915 GMT: In Morocco, thousands of people have marched in Casablanca and the capital Rabat, demanding political change and greater social justice.

In Casablanca, more than 8000 people, chanted slogans such as "Less corruption and a fair distribution of wealth", "Sovereignty to the people", and "We want more equality".

The protest in the Oulfa quarter of Casablanca:

1905 GMT: In Egypt, hundreds of protesters and families of martyrs in Suez cut the Qattamiya-Ain El Sokhna highway and defy military attempts to reopen it:

1855 GMT: More on the violence in Yemen today --- in Taiz, three civilians were killed early Sunday when regime's Republican Guards shelled a house belonging to an opposition tribal chief, while a medical source said at least 100 people were admitted to hospital in Hodeidah when security forces fired live bullets and tear gas grenades and attacked demonstrators with knives and clubs.

Scenes from the field hospital in Hodeidah:

1840 GMT: Security forces confront a march today in Hodeidah in Yemen:

1830 GMT: The White House has offered a brief statement on the meeting between its head of counter-terrorism, John Brennan, and Yemeni President Saleh in Saudi Arabia --- it said Brennan had called on President Salih to fulfil expeditiously his pledge to sign the agreement, brokered by the six nations of the Gulf Co-operation Council, for a peaceful and constitutional political transition in Yemen.

1720 GMT: Yemeni State TV says President Saleh, still recovering in a Saudi Arabian hospital, has met John Brennan, in charge of counter-terrorsim for the Obama Administration.

No details of the discussion were given. It takes place amidst the regime's claims that it is using tribesmen for the first time in the fight against insurgents in Abyan Province in the south.

1500 GMT: Video of a demonstration today in Taiz in Yemen, taking place hours after clashes killed at least three people:

1420 GMT: Claimed footage of a protest today in a funeral procession in Homs in Syria:

1415 GMT: A protest placard today, just off Tahrir Square in Cairo, as demonstrators cut off Egypt's largest Government building (see 1115 GMT) --- "The Mogamma is closed for general civil disobedience":

1115 GMT: Protesters in Tahrir Square in the Egyptian capital Cairo surrounded the Mogamma, the country's largest Government building, this morning.

Chanting slogans against the military rulers, they cut off the main entrance, which faces the square. Government employees stood aside, watching in curiosity, some mouthing the chants with the demonstrators.

Egyptians and foreigners with business in the Mogamma were turned away by protesters, some of whom were wearing badges identifying them as “Square Security”. Chants included “I can hear the mother of the martyr calling: I want my right and the rights of my children” and “Farce, farce, farce, the gang is still ruling”.

1055 GMT: The Assad regime's effort at "national dialogue" has been opened with a two-day conference in Damascus.

Many Syrian activists refused the invitations, claiming the process was a sham that would not deliver reforms and rights, and it is unclear how many prominent opposition figures are attending.

Shakeeb al-Jabri is live-tweeting the proceedings.

1015 GMT: Syrian State news agency SANA offers this reassurance:

The largest Syrian flag, 16 kilometers long and four meters wide, is set to be raised at 10 a.m. on Sunday in Lattakia by thousands of Syrians as part of a popular initiative launched by Syria's youths.

The initiative aims at showing support of the reform program and national dialogue launched by President Bashar al-Assad, in addition to voicing rejection to foreign interference in Syria's internal affairs.

The flag, which has an area of 72,000 square meters, will stretch from the University Square at the entrance of Lattakia city all the way to Jableh Bridge on the Lattakia-Damascus highway.

US journalist Blake Houshell puts his tongue in his cheek to remark, "If Syria unveils the world's longest flag today as planned, surely all of these problems will go away."

0830 GMT: Video has been posted of the sounds of shelling over a darkened Taiz in Yemen (see 0650 GMT).

0650 GMT: Sources claim at least two civilians were killed and 10 injured by regime shelling of the Al-Rawdha district in Taiz in Yemen.

Clashes continue between the regime's Republican Guards and opposition tribesmen.

0620 GMT: Protest continues in Tahrir Square in Cairo, 48 hours after the start of the "Persistence Day" rally calling for political reforms and fulfillment of justice by the ruling military council and Egyptian authorities. A photo this morning:

0505 GMT: We open this morning with the news that prominent Syrian blogger and web developer Anas Maarawi has been arrested.

Maarawi was detained on 1 July in his neighborhood of Kafarsouseh in Damascus, but the news only emerged yesterday. A Facebook page has already been established to campaign for his release.

In addition to his personal blog, Anas Online, Maarawi ran a number of tech-blogs and projects, including Ardroid, which was the first Arabic-language blog focusing on Google's Android operating system.

In his one of his last messages on Twitter, Maarawi wrote a supporter of the Assad regime, "That's why they call [this] a 'revolution'. Welcome home my friend, a new Syria in the making."

Meanwhile, reports throughout the night of protests across Syria. Claimed footage supporting the assertions comes from Hama, the current focus of conflict between the regime and the opposition....

....and Jabal al Zawiya in the northwest

....and the Qaboun section of Damascus: