Yemen, Syria, Bahrain (and Beyond) LiveBlog: Who's in Charge Here?

See also US and the World (Video and Transcript): President Obama to UN General Assembly "Peace is Hard"
Yemen Analysis: The Latest Deaths and the Mistakes of US Policy
Wednesday's Syria, Yemen, Bahrain (and Beyond): A "Win-Win" Protest?

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2125 GMT: Another photo of the mass opposition rally in the Bahraini capital Manama today:

2105 GMT: Claimed footage of men trying to rescue a shot companion from a street in Talbiseh in Homs Province in Syria:

1955 GMT: Video tonight of demonstrators in the Damascus suburb of Douma, calling for the execution of President Assad:

In the Bab Amr section of Homs, protesters defy military pressure and chanting, "We don't bow down, except to God":

And in Zabadani:

1616 GMT: A source in Bahrain uploads this picture, reportedly showing security vehicles surrounding the main hospital in Bahrain, Al Salmania:

1610 GMT: An activist passed this video along to us. It claims to show soldiers mocking religious ceremony inside a mosque in Al Rastan, Homs. Perhaps the activist passed it along to show that the Syrian regime has no respect for religion. However, what it also shows is that the military is occupying mosques, perhaps in order to prevent protesters from using them as gathering places.

At this point, there is clear evidence of a massive military campaign around Homs, but it appears as though the military has not yet entered the city. Homs has long been a hotbed of dissent, and has been host to some of the largest and most reliable protests since March:

1557 GMT: A tale of two Bahrains - This first series of pictures have been uploaded by activists who are attending the AlWefaq rally:

This picture was uploaded by a Bahraini regime defender on Twitter:

1551 GMT: There is a rumor that Al-Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi, Qaddafi's former Prime Minister, has been arrested in Tunisia:

A report on a TV station run by Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) said Mr Mahmoudi had been detained near Tunisia's border with Algeria.

He had been trying to cross the border, but gave himself up without resistance, the report said.

We remain skeptical until pictures or videos emerge, as reports like this have turned out to be false in the past.

1547 GMT: There appears to be a general strike in place in Talbiseh, Homs, in remembrance of the martyrs killed in recent days. Talbiseh is where we posted video, yesterday, showing a mosque under attack.

1516 GMT: A loyal reader writes in to point us in the direction of a report from Libya that some of the fighters who are preparing to attack Sirte are withdrawing to Benghazi in order to get more weapons and ammunition. He asked us whether or not we thought this gives credence to Qaddafi's claims that he could hold the city for a year. We'll leave that question hanging, but it doesn't look like Sirte is going to fall this week.

1508 GMT: Al Jazeera has contacted several sources in Homs who confirm many of the details that we have been covering for the last several days, that the area is under siege, and tanks have been firing on mosques:

"Bab Omr neighbourhood and nearby neighbourhoods (Al Jourah, Al Arayis, Al Sultaniya, and Jobar) suffer from catastrophic situations. The people of these neighbourhoods have been living under siege for the third day today, which includes electricity cut and water cut off, along with a complete communication cut off (landlines, mobiles, internet)."

"Houses are being stormed and raided, many expensive possessions are being stolen and furniture is being destroyed. Families are deciding between fleeing and leaving their homes because they are vulnerable to attacks from the corrupt army, which is the more popular option, or staying at home and facing the risk of getting arrested, beaten up and humiliated."

"Soldiers have even silenced the calls of help from mosques by cutting off the electricity. Military barriers have been put in many places, even on agricultural lands." He also said, "a large amount of people have been arrested from the neighbourhood, to the extent that schools and institutions have been transformed to military grounds and temporary prisons are packed. Many people are detained and held in those transformed schools, before they are sent off to prisons outside the neighbourhood."

The opposition figure also told Al Jazeera: "Water stores and electricity wires have been targeted, as well as trading places to increase the suffering of people. All types of weapons are used: heavy and light, even nail bombs."

"There are over 20 severely wounded people, and there is no way they can be moved to a hospital as they face the risk of being arrested, as everyone wounded is accused of being 'armed'." He also provided names of people who were killed while trying to flee, including Um Turba Hisso, Turki Marwan Bakeer, Mo’ataz Mohammad Ghazi. 26-year-old Ghazi was killed outside his front door from a sniper bullet in his neck.

The source described what happened in Bab Assiba, and its surrounding areas, saying it was completely under siege. “[There were] storming and arrests which took many young men and middle aged men. This was all done under heavy gunfire from the checkpoints and tanks and army vehicles around Bab Assiba and inside, where people were targeted when they left their homes either from snipers or tanks or army vehicles.”

“There was a tank at the Almrejeh mosque shooting live fire at times, missiles were fired from army vehicles and tanks randomly onto homes from time to time.” With regards to Talbiseh, he said that “checkpoints spread across the city and its surroundings, and began shooting very heavily and in a barbaric random way with several missiles and sounds of bombs too.”

The opposition figure also disclosed video footage of an 8-year-old boy who was shot in the face while in the car with his parents east of Al Rastan. The video is too graphic to air. “Also a woman [who] was in the car passed away the next day because they couldn’t treat her,” said the official. “she was around 35 years old.”

These neighbourhoods have experienced numerous clashes between armed opposition groups and the security forces.

1452 GMT: Syria isn't the only place where teachers and students are angry. Foreign Policy has published a feature about the educational system in Egypt, where perhaps 65-75% of teachers have not gone to work in order that they might strike to protest the political situation, as well as their poor contracts. They are demanding the resignation of the education minister, another holdover from the Mubarak regime.

1440 GMT: The big guns, the Associated Press, have finally picked up a story that the little guys (you know, Scott and I) had started to cover days ago, the growing wave of student protests in Syria. One piece of news that is significant, the arrests of students, and the mentioning of a video that we posted yesterday:

Thursday's protests came a day after security forces detained dozens of protesting students in the southern village of Jassem. Also Wednesday, security forces surrounded several schools in the Damascus suburbs of Harasta, Arbeen and Zamalka, according to the LCC.

An amateur video posted online Wednesday showed people running away in a street in the town of Qusair near the border with Lebanon as cracks of gunfire could be heard. A man could be heard shouting "they are shooting at students in the city of Qusair."

But the AP also has picked up a nugget of info, but they don't understand the significance of it. Yesterday, we showed video of a large group of soldiers, with an armored vehicle, defecting in southern Daraa province. Today the AP reports this:

In other unrest Thursday, the state-run news agency said an armed group ambushed a bus with policemen, killing five and wounding 18 officers in the southern province of Daraa where the uprising began six months ago.

The opposition has long claimed that these "ambushes" are really the regime's way of covering up when the army gets into firefights with defectors, or shoots soldiers who refuse to kill civilians.

1426 GMT: CNN's Ben Wedeman reports on the NTC capture of another Qaddafi stronghold of Sabha, where things are returning to normal but fighting is still taking place:

Just to clarify #Sabha fell to the NTC 2 days ago. #CNN only media here. Don't ask me why. Ghat still under Qadhafi control.

Today Qadhafi's Qadadfa tribe in #Sabha supposed to surrender weaponry and wanted people to NTC per a negotiated agreement.

Shops opening up again in #Sabha. Fruit, meat, etc, More people in the street. Garbage being collected.

Still some scattered clashes in Sabha today. Just heard big gunbattle behind main administration building of Sabha University.

1421 GMT: Moussa Ibrahim, Colonel Qaddafi's spokesman whom we nicknamed "Tripoli Timmy" has claimed that 150 civilians have died as a result of the bombardment of Qaddafi's hometown, the stronghold of Sirte, according to Reuters:

His claims could not immediately be verified as Sirte, Gaddafi's hometown, is largely cut off from communication and besieged on three fronts by ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) forces. NATO comment was not immediately available.

"Between yesterday and this morning, 151 civilians were killed inside their homes as the Grad rockets and other explosives fell upon their heads. The city hospital stopped functioning altogether," Moussa Ibrahim said in a satellite phone call.

1407 GMT: James Miller reports for duty.

Below is another video of students protesting, this one claiming to show Dael, Daraa, today. These videos are a potentially significant development. The students, nationwide, appear to be organized and committed to striking. Many of the grad students, doctors, and teachers appear to have joined the strikes. It's hard to say how many have not joined the strikes, but the amount that have is impressive. And important. This marks yet another escalation in the scale and reach of the protests. Also, by identifying themselves as students, doctors, and professors, they are sending a message that the middle class, or at least the lower middle class, is behind the opposition, and against Assad. This is just one more factor that can eat away at Assad's support, and encourage the others in the Middle Class who may either be on the fence, or whom already support the opposition but have been afraid to take to the streets.

So who is the silent majority? It's still hard to say, but every day it gets easier to make the argument that it isn't the Assad supporters.

1225 GMT: Students in the Damascus suburb of Saqba, chant after school to the Syrian President, "Come on, leave, Bashar":

1215 GMT: The skirmishing in Bahrain --- protesters in Sitra hang a sign, promoting this weekend's attempt to return to Pearl Roundabout/Martyrs' Square (see 0915), on the wall of the police station; policemen take it down:

Protesters in Sitra last night:

1205 GMT: King Abdullah II of Jordan tries to move to the front of the Arab Spring:

US NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO: I'm glad you mentioned the Arab Spring. What is it like to be a king of an Arab state at a time of revolution like this?

ABDULLAH: Well, actually quite exciting. I think that we have been trying to push reform, there has been a lot of push back by more conservative elements, old guard elements in the country. And what the Arab Spring or the Arab Awakening did was bring in the subject front and center. As a result, in Jordan, if you compare to a lot of other countries, we created a national dialogue committee. We went on outreach with everybody, came to a consensus. We changed a lot of laws. At the moment, the constitution is being amended, right now as we speak by both chambers. We're announcing municipal elections at the end of the year and national elections beginning of next year. The challenge that we have, and again this brings concerns but also excitement, is trying to get a democratic mentality.

1155 GMT: Laura Kasinof of The New York Times examines the reasons for the renewal of violence, killing dozens of people, in the Yemeni capital Sana'a:

In recent weeks, many protesters, frustrated after months of deadlock and eager to advance their movement, said they wanted to march beyond the area where they had been confined for so long. Initially, [opposition] General Ahmar and his troops, and the Islamist party protest organizers, prevented such a display.

But on Sunday, the protesters scheduled a march into an area full of gun-toting pro-government thugs. The demonstrators had long made clear that they were willing to die for their cause, and the long sit-in appeared to have deepened their commitment. Martyrdom is glorified in Yemen and the protesters, especially the younger ones, seem to truly feel that they are part of something bigger than themselves when they face deadly attacks.

This time, General Ahmar allowed the marchers to proceed. Many Yemenis question his motives in doing so, and suggest that he may have deliberately provoked a bloody response from government troops so as to make them look like killers, or to derail a settlement that might not be to his advantage.

The general is fully aware that government troops “will respond violently, which will backfire on” the Saleh family, said a high-ranking Yemeni diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing reprisals. General Ahmar “knows that there is always a possibility that Ahmed Ali may be able to play a political role in any future agreement,” the diplomat said, and would like to damage his rival’s reputation before that can take place.

Many other Yemenis say the government, and not General Ahmar, is at fault. Few doubt that the first shots were fired by government troops and plainclothes proxies. General Ahmar’s own soldiers came under fire and took over an important intersection in the city. They later lost control of the crossing, but not before more protesters had been killed in the cross-fire.

The backdrop to the violence was a renewed effort to negotiate a transition. Talks between moderates from the ruling party and opposition run for weeks. In another step, [President] Saleh announced this month that his deputy, acting president Abed Rabbo Mansour al-Hadi, officially had the power to negotiate and sign the transition agreement. Mr. Hadi was said to be in the ruling party’s moderate camp, and the announcement fostered optimism.

1145 GMT: Medical and security officials have reported that at least nine people have died today in conflict in the Yemeni capital Sana'a.

The officials said six people died in central Sanaa when regime forces using mortars and rocket-propelled grenades shelled thousands gathered in Change Square. Three bystanders were killed by a mortar shell in the northern Hasbah district, amidst fighting between forces loyal to President Saleh and those of opposition tribesmen.

1035 GMT: The Guardian profiles the start of the academic year at Libya's Tripoli University. A lecturer in political science summarises, "Until now we had the form of a university but not the function. We fed young people garbage. [Muammar] Gaddafi just used this place to boost his cult of personality and bolster the regime. It did nothing for Libyan society."

1030 GMT: The Kisweh section of the Syrian capital Damascus last night, "Whoever kills his own people is a traitor":

0930 GMT: Beirut-based activists claim Syrian troops have gathered in the cities of Hama and Homs and in the southern province of Daraa, asserting, "They are preparing for a wide-scale operation in these cities again."

State TV has reported the arrest of members "of an armed terrorist group" at a farm in Daraa Province, saying security forces had "confiscated a big quantity of explosives and remote-control bombs". The broadcast claimed, "The goal of the terrorist group was to plant the explosives in crowded civilian areas to kill a large number of citizens."

State TV also said "armed terrorist groups" killed five security personnel and wounded 17 others in an attack on a military convoy in the province.

0925 GMT: The media advisor to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has “absolutely” denied statements, reported by The New York Times this week, that Baghdad has urged Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to resign.

Ali al-Moussawi said the statements, allegedly made by him, are incorrect: “It is neither the nature nor the followed-discourse of the Iraqi government to intervene in internal affairs of other countries."

The Times had quoted al-Moussawi, "We believe that the Syrian people should have more freedom and have the right to experience democracy. We are against the one-party rule and the dictatorship that hasn’t allowed for the freedom of expression.”

0915 GMT: Claimed footage of armoured vehicles of the Bahraini military ringing "Martyrs' Square", formerly known as Pearl Roundabout, in the capital Manama.

The opposition has declared that it will try and reclaim the Square/Roundabout, the symbolic centre of the protests that began in February, this weekend. The area was cleared by Bahraini security forces in March:

0815 GMT: Bahrain's Gulf Daily News is on an information/propaganda roll:

Foreign journalists will be allowed into Bahrain to cover Saturday's by-election, despite fears they will use the polls as a cover to film one-sided broadcasts with radical groups.

A senior official at the Information Affairs Authority said he expected foreign reporters to disappear into villages to interview rioters bent on indulging in violence....

"The authorities cannot stop foreign journalists covering the election, but some reporters will not stay in hotels but go in the villages to get their stories," the official told the GDN. "They will go out with anti-government protesters and depict bad image of the country."

He added that social networking website Twitter was still being used to spread false news about the current situation, but said there were no plans to block the service. However, he admitted authorities were monitoring online activity ahead of the by-election --- including details of planned protests that could disrupt the polls, as well as cyber attacks.

0755 GMT: Bahrain's media outlet Gulf Daily News, under the headline, "Obama Praises Bahrain", rewrites the US President's speech to the United Nations on Wednesday:

US President Barack Obama has backed Bahrain's reform initiative during a landmark address at the UN.

Speaking to world leaders at the General Assembly in New York, he acknowledged progress already made by the government.

"In Bahrain, steps have been taken toward reform and accountability," he said yesterday.

He added ties between Bahrain and the US remained strong and urged all parties to take part in talks that lead to "peaceful change" - including opposition group Al Wefaq, which pulled out of the country's National Dialogue in July. "America is a close friend of Bahrain and we will continue to call on the government and the main opposition bloc - Al Wefaq - to pursue a meaningful dialogue that brings peaceful change that is responsive to the people," he said.

"And we believe the patriotism that binds Bahrainis together must be more powerful than the sectarian forces that would tear them apart."

Here are Obama's actual words --- note how the phrase "more [steps] are required" disappears from the Gulf Daily News report:

In Bahrain, steps have been taken toward reform and accountability, but more are required. America is a close friend of Bahrain, and we will continue to call on the government and the main opposition bloc --- Al Wefaq --- to pursue a meaningful dialogue that brings peaceful change that is responsive to the people. And we believe the patriotism that binds Bahrainis together must be more powerful than the sectarian forces that would tear them apart.

0745 GMT: Another sign of Bahraini authorities keeping activists out of the country --- Debbie Koehner, the Equality Programme Officer at the Committee on the Administration of Justice writes of how she and a French lawyer were turned back by immigration at Manama Airport: "The Bahraini authorities appear to be hiding the treatment of their citizens through silencing them, journalists, and international observers."

0735 GMT: The latest Gulf Co-operation Council attempt to mediate a peaceful transfer of power in Yemen faded yesterday, as GCC head Abullatif al-Zayani left Sana'a after meeting with Vice President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi.

Hadi called on "all Yemenis to respect the GCC's efforts and what Zayani specifically is doing", but amidst fighting in Sana'a that has taken about 100 lives since Sunday, there was no sign of a deal under which President Ali Abdullah Saleh would step down and hand over authority to Hadi.

Saleh remains in Saudi Arabia, recovering from wounds suffered in a bombing in early June.

0625 GMT: A note from Bahrain, with the public re-emergence of opposition to the regime: the high-pitch beeping during the street and rooftop protests, "tn tn t-ten", is a rhythm of "Down Down Hamad", a reference to King Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa.

0620 GMT: Ripples of protest continue in Egypt: on Wednesday, hundreds of people blocked the Suez-Ismailia Highway after the death of a young man in Suez.

Authorities said Mohamed Abdel Baqy died in a motorcycle accident while fleeing police. but protesters claim he was killed by officers. The demonstrators tried to storm the police station in Suez, injuring five policemen.

0610 GMT: More images of protest last night in Syria, these from Idlib in the northwest:

0530 GMT: We start this morning in Yemen. It is a sign of the spiral of conflict that, on a Wednesday when gunfire and explosions were called "sporadic", 16 people were killed when regime forces fired mortars at funerals for those slain earlier in the week and shelled a base of the dissident 1st Armoured Division. 

Gregory Johnsen, whose analysis we regularly feature on EA, makes this sharp comments which goes beyond the violence to hold out little prospect of resolution:

No one is really in charge in the sense that they can impose their will on other, dissenting groups.  But a number of people have enough power to effectively veto - through force of arms - any deal they don't like, which is one of the reasons we have a precarious peace that, over the last couple of days, has tipped back to war....

There is no longer a just a single Yemen - different groups rule different parts of the country.  And at this stage the question we should be asking is: can whatever or whoever comes after Salih ever reclaim the territory the state is giving up now?