Libya, Syria (and Beyond) Liveblog: No Stalemate?

See Also, Turkey PKK Special: Invasion of Kurdistan? Don't Count on It

Syria Special - Hama: A City of Graves (Abouzeid)

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1936 GMT: Avaaz is reporting 9 people killed in Lattakia today. Al Jazeera is reporting at least 2 deaths in the Asheera neighbourhood in Homs. "Heavy gunfire has been heard from inside the military academy in Al Wa'ar in the same city." This is a development that we will watch carefully. With the Turkish foreign minister stating that he does not want to see foreign intervention in the conflict, and with seemingly no will to take up arms against Bashar, the loyalty of the military will remain key in Assad's ability to hold power.

1903 GMT: Abu Kamal protests after Taraweeh prayers. Note the sign, "Down with Iran and Bashar":

Bousr Al Harer, Daraa:

1835 GMT: A demonstration forming earlier today in Hama, Syria:

1830 GMT: James Miller takes the liveblog, after Ali Yenidunya did an excellent job of taking us through the morning and afternoon.

The video quality is poor, but the audio quality is priceless. The videographer, talking over gunfire, can be heard saying that this was last night in Siliba, Lattakia:

1715 GMT: At a time when Western powers call on countries not to buy Syrian oil and gas, Damascus has announced the discovery of a promising gas field in Homs.

1705 GMT: The so-called "revolution" in Egypt showed itself during the meeting between businessmen and the Finance Minister Hazem El-Beblawi.

 According to El-Beblawi, "Egypt will not back down on a free market economy, but the state has to be strong and able to enforce the law, and protect competition."

 On the other hand, for businessmen who are against the idea of "minimum wages" for time being, El-Beblawi suggested the government not to impose new taxes until the local economy recovered from the current crisis.

1700 GMT: The source from the Bakil tribe in Yemen told AFP news agency that clashes overnight between tribesmen and troops loyal to President Saleh left 23 tribesmen dead.

1655 GMT: British Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "Assad is fast losing the last shreds of his legitimacy. He must stop the violence immediately."

1645 GMT: According to Syrian activists, at least 16 killed in Latakia and Homs.

1640 GMT: A man bleeding in the middle of the road in Hama (Be careful: Disturbing scenes)!

1635 GMT: The Human Rights Council is likely to have an urgent meeting next week regarding the situation in Syria, says Western diplomats.

1630 GMT: Rami Abdul-Rahman, the director of the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), blamed Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the continuation of the crackdown. He said:

Turkey is somehow participating in giving the green light to the [Bashar al-Assad] regime to carry on his suppression operation by giving this meaningless two weeks [for reforms].

1620 GMT: A man and his wife reportedly killed in Hama (Caution: Images are disturbing)!

1555 GMT: U.S. Defense Secretary Panetta says Gaddafi's days are numbered.

1540 GMT: Reactions of regional actors to the Syrian regime...

1525 GMT: Video showing people sheltering from gunfire in Latakia on Monday.

1515 GMT: A Russian diplomat says that Russia is "deeply disturbed'' about NATO's aerial campaign in Libya because attacks on non-military targets such as the main TV station and Tripoli airport overstepped the intent of the UN resolution that authorized the strikes.

1450 GMT: Dozens of lawyers in the eastern city of Raqqa held banners saying "We are all Deir ez-Zor", "We are all Hama" and "We are all Homs". 

The statement read by one lawyer demanded an end to violence against civilians, the release of prisoners, the independence of the judiciary, and withdrawal of the military from the cities.

1430 GMT: A NATO spokesman said that the launch of a Scud missile represents a "desperate gesture" by the regime in the face of territorial gains by the opposition.

1410 GMT: Rami Khouri, editor of the Lebanese newspaper Daily Star says that if the three factors - the convergence of regional pressure, domestic uprising and international pressure - come together, the Assad regime will kneel down. 

At a time when speculations going on that Ankara is to create a buffer zone and mutual declarations coming from the Saudi-Washington camp while Tehran is highly supporting Damascus, how can this so-called regional convergence emerge? 

Please see: Turkey PKK Special: Invasion of Kurdistan? Don't Count on It

1400 GMT: Yemen president Saleh appears in live video broadcast to supporters in Sanaa, vows to return "soon".

1355 GMT: The state-run news agency SANA says Syrian forces have begun pulling out of Deir ez-Zor. However, activists say that snipers are still on the rooftops and soldiers are storming houses.

1350 GMT: The Philippines has banned the deployment of new overseas workers to Syria.

1340 GMT: Today's Zaman editor Mahir Zeynalov writes: "Turkey is setting up a buffer zone in its border with Syria. First step of an invasion." 

1325 Al Jazeera's Nisreen el-Shamayleh reports that there are additional tanks and troops deployed urging residents to evacuate their homes in Latakia. She says:

Since so many people have fled, many of their homes were left empty and have been raided by security forces. Activists say they have left very offensive graffiti, saying 'Bashar al-Assad is our God, the Baath Party our faith, we will teach you what freedom means'. This is seen as very offensive and could ignite sectarian strife."

1320 GMT: Women in Daraya are demonstrating for the release of detainees. 

1310 GMT: This video is claimed to be showing al Nawawi mosque in Homs.

1300 GMT: At least 35 killed in Latakia in four days, according to activists and residents. 

1245 GMT: Egyptian security forces killed one man and detained four others affiliated with an extremist Islamist group in the Sinai Peninsula on Tuesday. One killed and 16 arrested on Monday.

1230 GMT: AL Jazeera's Zeina Khodr reports that despite Gaddafi's snipers and grad rockets, the opposition forces are fighting back in Zawiyah. A hotel is hit by a rocket and fighters are trying to take out snipers. Meanwhile NATO planes are flying over the battle ground.

1200 GMT: Al Jazeera's Nisreen el-Shamayleh is reporting that the operation in Latakia is continuing. She says that the electiricty is cut off; people are treated like animals in the stadium; and Palestinians from the refugee camps are also targeted. 

A senior aid to the president PLO Secretary General Yasser Abed Rabbo condemned the ongoing military assault in Syria and called these attacks "crimes against humanity."

0900 GMT: Iranian Foreign Minister Ramin Mehmanparast warned against foreign intervention in Syria and said that Syrian "developments are its internal issues."

0850 GMT: It is reported that Muamman Gaddafi fired a scud missile for the first time on Sunday morning but it landed in the desert and injured no one.

0845 GMT: According to an activist, the assault in Latakia is continuing flat out. He said that 5 were killed today and at least 16 on Monday.

Meanwhile, those thousands arrested and held at the Sport City Stadium in Latakia are still there.

0825 GMT: The Philippines advised around 17,000 citizens in Syria to consider leaving the country now.

0820 GMT: There are reports coming from witnesses that 12 people were killed in Homs after Ramadan prayers on Monday night. Activists claim random arrrests as well. 

On the other hand, Al Jazeera's Rula Amin reports that, according to the Syrian Revolution Coordinators’ Union (SRCU), at least 19 people were killed on Monday, including at least 6 in Latakia and 4 in Homs.

0810 GMT: Al Jazeera offers this assessment on the opposition advance in Brega, which has been slow but steady.

In a few hours, James Miller and Ali Yenindunya will be bringing you regular updates, but James Miller starts of with his assessment of yesterday's news from Libya:

Yesterday, Brian Whitaker wrote a piece of analysis entitled, "No stalemate in Libya – the writing is on the wall for Gaddafi," in which he points out that there are over 1,500 Google news entries combining the words "Libya" with "stalemate." And yet, the news out of Libya has been consistent, opposition fighters advance, Gaddafi retreats, and even when Gaddafi counterattacks, he is unable to break through rebel lines.

I've been consistently frustrated by such coverage. There have been thousands of news stories about how poorly trained the "rebels" were (when will other news agencies stop calling an internationally recognized and militarily victorious group of fighters "rebels"?), or whether they were organized enough, or whether there will be fissures within the fighters. All of these arguments have missed a few key points:

1. Fissures, divides, infighting, ect. have been confined to the leadership, not the fighting forces, and the fighting forces of the opposition have proven since day 1 that they operate without strong leadership on the macro level. Even though General Younes, the head commander of the Libyan opposition forces, was killed by members of the opposition, the fighters continued to fight, the guns remained aimed at Gaddafi. This is a testament to how much of a bad guy Gaddafi must be, that despite this degree of political instability, thus far the opposition forces seem unified.

2. The opposition fighters have always had a clear strategy in Libya: attack from the East, attacking from the south, attack from the western mountains, encircle Tripoli, and do all of this while cutting Gaddafi's oil supply. Leadership has faltered, but the plan is simple enough, and is comprised of totally solid strategic thinking on the macro level.

3. The opposition forces might be badly equipped and badly trained, but they have heart. Gaddafi's forces, despite superior weapons and training, have to contend with a dedicated enemy and NATO airstrikes.

4. With NATO hitting Gaddafi's equipment, and oil a scarcity in Gaddafi-controlled Libya, Gaddafi's best equipment has become increasingly less effective as time goes on. How do we know? Casualty reports, for one thing. Very few opposition soldiers have been killed by Grad rocket attacks or heavy vehicle assaults. Snipers, on the other hand, are a serious threat, but the opposition has snipers too.

5. I could go on, but I'll close with an obvious point. Since the early days after the NATO airstrikes began, though progress has often been slow, the news in Libya has only had 1 trend - Gaddafi losing ground to the opposition fighters. As a New England Patriots fan, I remember 2001, where every game tha Patriot's played in they were considered the "underdog," which only ended when the Superbowl was over and the Pats won. My question then, and now, is simple - how long do the "underdogs" have to win before somebody takes them seriously.?