Libya, Syria (and Beyond) LiveBlog: Insurgents Advance, Resistance Continues

2106 GMT: The people of Sana'a, Yemen, protesting tonight in anticipation of more protests tomorrow:

Tonight's protests in the Qaboun district of Damascus, Syria:

2100 GMT: The people of Tahrir Square, Egypt, get ready for tomorrow's protests.

2040 GMT: The US Ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford, has traveled to the city of Hama and plans on spending the next 24+ hours with the protesters there. The State Department Spokesperson, Victoria Nuland, elaborates:

"The fundamental intention ... was to make absolutely clear with his physical presence that we stand with those Syrians who are expressing their right to speak for change, who want a democratic future and who are expressing those views peacefully"

Ford traveled to a hospital full of wounded protesters, where he was greeted warmly.

2032 GMT: Tear gas disrupts protests in Almusala, Bahrain.

1740 GMT: When we can find the full video we will post it, but for now, the before and after shots of Yemen's President, Ali Abdullah Saleh:

1715 GMT: Yemen's president Ali Abdullah Saleh is speaking right now on Yemen State TV. His head is wrapped, and he is reporting that he has had more than 8 operations. His skin is significantly darker than it was before, and his hands are also bandaged.

As to content, there was nothing new. He made no indication that he will resign, he did not make any additional concessions, and only the supporters of the president are likely to be moved by this.

Full transcript coming soon.

1657 GMT: With protests in the streets right outside the capital, we note that the Bahraini opposition met with members representing the Sunni monarchy yesterday, the opening salvo in what is supposed to become a national dialogue.

The negotiations were private, government led, and the Barhaini opposition figure reporting the story is anonymous because he was not supposed to report the meeting.

1648 GMT: Yemeni military officers are reporting that they have conducted an airstrike against Al Qaeda operatives in Zinjibar, Abyan province, southern Yemen, killing 7 and wounding dozens of others.

1642 GMT: The city of Homs, on general strike today in advance of Friday's planned protests:

1627 GMT: Off to the races - Egyptian prosecutors have charged 25 people in connection with the camel charges through Tahrir Square back in February.

1618 GMT: Yesterday, we reported that there were protests and stone throwing in Suez, after 7 police officers accused of killing protesters were set free on bail. Yesterday, an EA reader pointed out that there were also worker strikes in Suez. Well, those stories seem to have merged.

Protesters have commenced a sit-in protest in memory of the martyrs of Egypt's revolution, and workers for the Suez Canal Authority have joined in. There are no reports of clashes.

1603 GMT: This video claims to show police beating a protester in the village of Bilad al Qadeem, Bahrain, where we've reported protests today (see updates below).

1540 GMT: A resident of Hama speaks to the Guardian. He reports the calm before the storm, that the people have taken up positions to block the security, the electricity is on, the security is nowhere to be seen, the people have stopped fleeing - the calm before the storm. His assessment, don;t expect too many protests tomorrow, the people will be too concentrated on defending the civilian population from attack.

"People are guarding the city 24 hours a day... Today from one side six [army] buses to got in... but they ran away.

"People will keep guarding the city. We will not go on a big demonstration and leave the sides of the city open for them.

"We are safe, we are quiet, [there is] no attack because all the world is watching what they [the regime] are doing. I don't think they will do something silly. Once anyone comes hundreds and thousands get down to the street[s] with stones and wood. Without any weapons just fighting defending their city with stones and wood."

1517 GMT: Bahrain has sentenced three people, one citizen and two foreigners, for spying. Foreign media is reporting that the three were spying for Iran. All three were sentenced to 10 years in prison, but the two foreigners are living in Kuwait and were sentenced in absentia.

1510 GMT: This photo has been uploaded from Bilad al Qadeem, Bahrain. The report is that riot police are patrolling the streets, and when they see more than a few people gathered those people are hit with tear gas or otherwise dispersed.

1450 GMT: Yesterday, activists close to the rebels were reporting that after the Libyan rebels captured the village of Qawalish, the rebels advanced even further, pushing to Al Asabaa City as Gaddafi's forces withdrew through the city of Gharyan. Today, the New York Times is disputing the second half of the report. They are saying that the rebels did not advance once capturing Qawalish.

Why the false report, fog of war or rebel cheer-leading? We're not sure yet.

1428 GMT: There are now multiple reliable reports of protests in Bahrain. A little over an hour ago, Bahraini security moved into the Bilad al Qadem village, just west of Manama, in order to disperse a crowd of possible protesters. Tear gas and flash grenades were fired at the crowds. For the last hour or so, similar clashes have been occurring between protesters and security, where the protesters disperse, then gather again, and more tear gas is fired.

One activist is reporting that birdshot is being fired, and possibly live ammunition as well, and that at least one protester was shot in the leg.

1409 GMT: James Miller reporting for duty...

The AP is reporting that Syrian activists have begun to close off the main roads to Hama with roadblocks, and they have begun throwing stones at Syrian security forces. As residence fled one side of the city, young men burned tires in order to stop several busses of security from entering the city.

The assessment is that these young men are preparing to defend the city against a potential assault by militray and police.

1300 GMT: A resident has told The Guardian of London that a general strike in Hama has turned the Syrian city into a "ghost town".

The resident said electricity had been been turned back on after activists threatened to cut a power line that would have blacked out large parts of Syria. He asserted that 28 people have been killed in the city since the army began its crackdown this week but added that tanks have withdrawn from the edge of Hama.

1258 GMT: The Syrian newspaper Al-Watan reports that Parliamentary elections have been postponed indefinitely "to allow the crystallisation of a political pluralistic life based on new legislation".

Quoting high-ranking sources, Al-Watan said Parliament will convene next month to endorse new laws and constitutional amendments.

The newspaper also said that some of the invitations sent to opposition figures by the regime for a meeting on "national dialogue" on 10-11 July have been turned down.

Invitations were sent to 244 people. Al-Watan said most of them have confirmed their participation.

1255 GMT: CNN reports on an underground network of "Damascus Doctors" who have set up a "field hospital" of a tiny room and basic supplies to treat those are afraid to go to State hospitals.

1240 GMT: Claimed footage of protest in Al Bukamal in northeast Syria today:

1100 GMT: Claimed footage of an attack on a security vehicle in Taiz in Yemen.

The person who shot the video told Al Jazeera that clashes started yesterday when "general security forces" loyal to President Saleh opened fire on armed tribesmen supporting the opposition.

1050 GMT: Back from an academic break to find claimed footage of a general strike in Binnish in northwestern Syria:

0500 GMT: In a separate entry, we highlight the continued importance of the story in Hama in Syria, where tens of thousands of residents are resisting military pressure, through a series of videos.

But it was Libya that caught our attention last night with reports of a significant advance by insurgents in and beyond the western Nafusa mountains. The opposition had taken al-Qawalish and Kikla in the mountains in the morning, and activists claimed more success with the capture of Al Asabaa City, part of the city of Gharyan. There was even a report that Gaddafi's forces fled to the far side of Gharyan, pillaging and burning as they fled.

If true, the insurgents are clearing  one of the last major hurdles on the southwest route to Tripoli, putting the front line only 50-70 kilometres (30-45 miles) away. NATO has been striking Gharban, which was expected to be heavily defended for several days.

Back in Hama in Syria, Al Jazeera English posted this summary, before last night's protests: