Syria (and Beyond) LiveBlog: Overwhelmed by Protests

See also Syria (and Beyond) LiveBlog: How Many Have Died in Hama?
Syria Video Special: The "God is With Us" Protests --- Set 1
Syria Video Special: The "God is With Us" Protests --- Set 2
Syria Video Special: The "God is With Us" Protests --- Set 3

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2115 GMT: More night demonstrations in Syria, first in Homs, then in Kafranbel in the northwest:

2110 GMT: Syrian security forces arrested prominent opposition figure and former political prisoner Walid al-Bunni and his two sons on Saturday, according to Rami Abdel Rahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

2105 GMT: A rally in the Syrian coastal city of Jableh calling for the downfall of the regime:

2100 GMT: A demonstration challenging the regime and protesting arbitary detentions in Nuwaidrat in Bahrain:

1800 GMT: Regime forces and supporters of Yemen's most powerful tribe have clashed for a second consecutive day in the capital Sana'a despite mediation to end the fighting.

Witnesses say heavy gunfire erupted the Hasaba district between forces loyal to President Ali Abdullah Saleh and the tribesmen of Sheik Sadeq al-Ahmar.

The two sides have been locked in a tense standoff since late May when al-Ahmar leader sided with the mass protests calling for Saleh's removal.

1735 GMT: A funeral procession in the Damascus suburb of Irbeen for a victim in Friday's protests:

1630 GMT: A funeral procession today for a man who was killed in the Damascus suburb of Douma on Friday when another funeral march was reportedly attacked by security forces:

And claimed footage of a funeral procession in the Midan section of Damascus for a child killed by a sniper yesterday:

1555 GMT: The Libyan regime has distanced itself from this week's comment by Saif al-Islam Qaddafi, son of the Libyan leader, in which he spoke of an alliance with a faction of radical Islamists (see separate entry).

Deputy Foreign Minister Khalid Kaim and regime spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said that Mr. Qaddafi had spoken only for himself, not for the regime.

1550 GMT: Another video of overnight protests in Syria, this one from Maarat al-Nu'man in the northwest:

1350 GMT: Back from a break to find Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem declaring that the regime will hold Parlimentary elections before the end of 2011 for a legislature which "will represent the aspirations of the Syrian people".

Meanwhile, a resident of Hama, who snuck out of the occupied city to get supplies, said, "I am trying to get back but it's impossible, they've tightened the siege even more, not even an ant can go in or out today."

And an activist said tanks and armoured cars were out in force on Saturday in the northeastern city of Deir Ez Zor and around Homs in central Syria. Rami Abdel Rahman of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed, Rami Abdel Rahman of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, "About 250 tanks and armoured cars have been deployed in four districts of Deir ez-Zor."

1250 GMT: Libyan insurgents have reportedly captured the town of Bir Ghanam, southwest of Tripoli:

1225 GMT: Video of one of today's funerals of a protester killed in the Damascus suburb of Irbeen on Friday:

The people of Irbeen have reportedly been observing a general strike today:

And a general strike in Homs for Friday's victims:

0955 GMT: A sign from a rally in Homs on Friday --- "Arrest me, Beat me, Kill me, I still will not give up on my freedom":

0950 GMT: Syrian state media continues to avoid even a mention of the anti-regime rallies, instead running a series of stories of attacks on security forces and citizens calling for action against "armed groups." State TV has broadcast what it claims are new images from inside Hama, showing rubble-strewn streets and wrecked buildings as it says Syrian troops put down an armed rebellion.

0940 GMT: Videos of last night's march and clash with security forces in Sitra in Bahrain:

0515 GMT: And the scenes of mass protest were not just in Syria yesterday --- hundreds of thousands of Yemenis in 17 governorates marches on a "Peaceful Until Victory" Friday:

0505 GMT: At one point last night, James Miller and I --- having seen more a couple hundred videos of the day in Syria --- finally had to admit, "We're swamped."

At the end of a week where hundreds of civilians were slain, most of them in Hama, protesters against the Assad regime turned out in large numbers across the country. The capital Damascus can no longer be treated simply as a stronghold for the authorities, as large demonstrations were recorded in the suburbs and in parts of the centre. Only Aleppo, where there were only a couple of clips of small gatherings, and occupied Hama were absent from our video stream.

Activists say 24 people died yesterday in Homs, Daraa, Hama and in and around Damascus. Given the video evidence, we are surprised the number is not higher, for images of protest were accompanied by dramatic images of people fleeing gunfire.

And the scenes continued through the night. First, a night march in Harasta, just outside of Damascus, is dispersed by live ammunition:

Security forces fire at protesters in the Damascus suburb of Douma:

LiveStream of a candle-lit rally in Lattakia on the coast: