Syria, Bahrain (and Beyond) LiveBlog: A Showdown Looms?

Residents of Sanabis in Bahrain clear up the debris after security forces went through the village

See also Bahrain Video: The Police Attacks on the Women and Men of Sanabis
Wednesday's Syria, Bahrain, Yemen (and Beyond) LiveBlog: A Libyan-Style Civil War?

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2003 GMT: The leader of the transitional government in Libya, Mahmoud Jabril, will not be part of the permanent government, the formation of which will be delayed until the conflict is over:

Asked at a news conference in Tripoli about the timetable for the government's announcement, Jibril said: "I hope that soon we will free Sirte and Bani Walid to begin negotiations on the formation of the transitional government, of which I will not be a part."

1953 GMT: A source in Bahrain informs us that there were protests in 25 villages today, including Sanabis, Al Eker, Karbabad, Nabih-Saleh, Al Dair, Barbar, Bani-Jamra, North & South Sehla, Jabalat-Habashi, Saddad, Bori, A'ali, Salmabad, Nuwaidrat, Alma'ameer, Al Juffair, Tubli, and Al Mugsha. In Sitra, there were protests in Al Qarya, Al Kharjia, Wadyan, Mhaza, Sufalah, and Markkuban. Below is a map of the protests:

1831 GMT: James returns from break to find some massive news on the Libya front. Al Jazeera has this report:

Muammar Ghaddafi's spokesman Mussa Ibrahim was captured on Thursday outside of the former Libyan strongman's hometown of Sirte, National Transitional Council's [NTC] field commanders told AFP.

"Misrata fighters contacted us and gave us the information that Mussa Ibrahim has been captured," said Mustafa bin Dardef, of the NTC's Zintan Brigade.

Another commander, Mohammed al-Marimi, said: "Mussa Ibrahim was captured while driving outside Sirte by fighters from Misrata."

1755 GMT: EA sources in Bahrain report the use of tear gas by security forces against protesters being attacked in Mehaza village in Sitra and in Sehla, where this picture was taken:

Earlier today, footage of regime supporters protesting against the incoming US ambassador: "Refuse international interference in Bahrain and the Obama speech!"

The protest was supposed to be in front of the US Embassy but the Ministry of Interior issued a warning against any gathering there:

1745 GMT: In Bahrain, a mass rally of woman, organised by the Al Wefaq party, has demanded the release of all female detainees and a halt to the targeting of women in demonstrations:

1735 GMT: In Libya, forces of the National Transitional Council claim they have captured the airport in Muammar Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte, one of two main remaining bastions of support for the deposed leader,

In the last week, NTC fighters launched two assaults to take the town but were repelled by sniper and artillery fire from Qaddafi loyalists.

1634 GMT: According to the sometimes-sensational news network, Al Arabiya:

A defected brigade called al-Harmoush claimed in a recorded public statement on Wednesday that it killed 80 people in the Syrian regime’s security forces and the Shabiha elements.

The Shabiha are gang-like gunmen employed by the Syrian regime to carry out missions against those who took to the streets and protested against the government.

The defected brigade also said that its members had killed a number of people from the country’s intelligence services and had freed some arrested students.

1617 GMT: In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood and 59 other organized political parties have lobbied the Military to change elections laws in order to ban non-party affiliated independents and anyone who has profiteered from politics from running for office. That would eliminate most former-Mubarak regime members, as Mubarak's political party was dissolved earlier this year.

1608 GMT: Female protesters chant "We desire freedom" in Palmyra, Homs, Syria today:

1553 GMT: British Foreign Secretary William Hague has condemned the sentences handed down to 21 medics who allegedly assisted the Bahraini opposition:

I am deeply concerned, that after the briefest of hearings, a Bahraini Special Tribunal has sentenced a group of medics to between 5 and 15 years in prison, upheld life sentences against Bahraini opposition leaders and passed one sentence of the death penalty.

These sentences appear disproportionate to the charges brought. These are worrying developments that could undermine the Bahraini government's moves towards dialogue and the reform needed for long-term stability in Bahrain.

1544 GMT: US Senator John McCain, a former candidate for President, is the highest profile US politician to visit Libya since the fall of the Qaddafi regime. He has renewed his support for the interim government, the National Transitional Council, pledged to help assist with new elections, and said that the US and the world needed to help with the humanitarian condition in Libya.

1530 GMT: A Bahraini youth movement, the 14 February Coalition has issued a statement denouncing the military court's sentences of the 20 medical staff, ranging from 5 to 15 years, and the death penalty for the doctors and Ali Altaweel. The Coalition warns that if the sentences are not withdrawn, there will be a "Manama Flood" of new protests designed to affect Bahrain's economy. More details will be provided later, but the first events will be 4 and 9 October.

1529 GMT: Al Jazeera has a report from one of their sources in Sanabis, Bahrain, where, as EA has been reporting, security has clashed with members of the opposition movement:

"We need supplies," said the doctor, "Who can go get them?" One activist, a computer engineer in his 20s, quickly volunteered and invited me to go with him. It was nearly midnight and the injuries were piling into the makeshift medical clinic in a home in the Sanabis village, a suburb of Manama, the Bahraini capital. Injured protesters couldn't be brought to hospitals or medical centres where they'd likely be arrested, so they were treated inside the villages. Volunteer medics were out of burn ointment and IV syringes, and needed someone to bring them from another makeshift clinic on the other side of the village.

See our separate feature on the event, Bahrain Video: The Police Attacks on the Women and Men of Sanabis.

1517 GMT: An activist describes this video:

Homs: presence of armored vehicles and gunfire can be heard, video taken in Deir Bielbe today at 8 am 29-9-2011

1432 GMT: James Miller takes the liveblog, and takes a look at the scale of the events in Syria.

There are reports of more violence in al Rastan, Homs, where a major military campaign has been raging for several days against defected soldiers, who have reportedly fired back. However, despite our own reporting of this event, and despite main stream speculation that the country is headed towards a civil war, or even a failed state, the largest effect so far seems to be larger peaceful protests, a renewal of the same movement that we've seen for 6 months. Widespread protests, many of which reportedly involve students and professionals, have again taken place in many cities.

In Douma, Damascus, young students chant anti-regime outside what may be their school. According to the title of the video, they are refusing to solute the Syrian flag:

A protest in Zabadani, Damascus:

A very large student protest in Palmyra, Homs:

Students, young and old, pledge that the "people want the execution of the President" in Ugarit, Idlib:

1315 GMT: Supporters of the Syrian regime have thrown stones and tomatoes at US Ambassador Robert Ford and other American diplomats who were visiting an opposition figure in Damascus today.

A witness said two embassy cars were damaged and the crowd surrounded the building where the diplomats were visiting Hassan Abdelazim, a centrist politician who has been demanding an end to the regime's crackdown on pro-reform demonstrations.

In July, following a visit by Ford to the city of Hama where he met members of the opposition, Assad supporters attacked the US embassy compound in Damascus.

Meanwhile, student protests challenging the regime continue throughout the country today --- in Inkhel in the south, chant in solidarity with the besieged town of Rastan, scene of reported clashes between the military and defectors, "Rastan, we are with you until death":

In Kernaz in Hama Province, students chant against President Assad:

In Idlib in the northwest, the children shout, "Come on, Bashar, leave!":

1135 GMT: The sentences confirmed on 21 detainees by a Bahraini military court on Wednesday have attracted the attention of at least one high-ranking foreign official. Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt has put out the message on Twitter, "Deeply worried by very harsh sentence in Bahrain against Swedish citizen. We will continue insist on Bahrain fully respecting human rights."

Bildt is referring to Mohamed Habib Al Muqdad, a Bahraini with a Swedish citizenship, whose life sentence was upheld by the court. The Bahrain Center for Human Rights has claimed that Al Muqdad has been tortured by royal family members, notably the King's son Nasser Hamad.

1055 GMT:Interpol has issued a red notice for the arrest of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's son Saadi, who fled earlier this month to Niger.

The notice was issued after a request from Libya's ruling National Transitional Council, who accused the younger Qaddafi of "misappropriating properties through force and armed intimidation when he headed the Libyan Football Federation". He is also accused of involvement in the repression of demonstrations by civilians during the uprising against his father's regime.

Earlier this month Interpol issued red notices for Muammar Gaddafi, his son Saif and Qaddafi's head of intelligence, Abdullah Al-Senussi for alleged crimes against humanity.

1050 GMT:Yemeni President Saleh has requested a fatwa from clerics to denounce opposition to his rule.

On Tuesday, Saleh talked to the clerics and said that their role in solving the current crisis is vital and critical. He accused his opponents of acts of sedition, attacks on military camps and private and public properties, terrorism, plans for a coup, and refusal of calls for dialogue.

In March, Saleh made a similar request, but many of the clerics refused to obey him and stressed the importance of protecting protesters.

0750 GMT: Breaking news from an EA source in Bahrain --- 20 medical staff on trial have been handed sentences of 5 to 15 years in prison for alleged anti-regime activities.

Ali Al Taweel, charged with killing a policeman, has been sentenced to death. Another man, Ali Attiya, has been sentenced to life in prison.

The names and sentences of the 20 medical staff:

1-Dr. Ali Al-Ekri (15 Years imprisonment)
2-Dr. Nader Diwani ( 15 Years imprisonment)
3-Dr. Ahmed Abdul Aziz Omran ( 15 Years imprisonment)
4-Dr. Mahmoud Asghar ( 15 Years imprisonment)
5- Rola Al Saffar ( 15 Years imprisonment)
6-Dr. Abdulkhaleq Al-Oraibi ( 15 Years imprisonment)
7-Dr. Ghassan Dhaif ( 15 Years imprisonment)
8-Dr. Bassim Dhaif ( 15 Years imprisonment)
9- Sayed Marhoon Al-Wedaie ( 15 Years imprisonment)
10-Dr. Nada Dhaif ( 15 Years imprisonment)
11-Dr. Fatima Haji ( 5 Years imprisonment)
12- Dheya Ibrahim AbuIdris ( 5 Years imprisonment)
13-Dr. Najah Khalil Al-Haddad ( 5 Years imprisonment)
14-Dr. Saeed Al-Samahiji ( 10 Years imprisonment)
15-Dr. Zahra Al-Sammak ( 5 Years imprisonment)
16-Ali Hassan Alsddi ( 15 Years imprisonment)
17-Ibrahim Abdullah Ibrahimn ( 15 Years imprisonment)
18-Hassan Mohammed Said ( 10 Years imprisonment)
19- Mohammed Faiq Ali ( 5 Years imprisonment)
20-Qassim Mohammed Omran ( 15 Years imprisonment)

Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists has condemned Wednesday's decision by the military appeals court to uphold prison terms for 21 individuals, including two online journalists and a prominent human rights defender. The appeals court, which confirmed eight life sentences, upheld the June convictions of journalists/bloggers Abduljalil Alsingace and Ali Abdel Imam and Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, a leading defender of free expression rights, on a series of charges related to "plotting to topple" the regime. Alsingace and al-Khawaja will serve life in prison and Abdel Imam 15 years.

0740 GMT: Activists post video of Syrian security forces seizing schoolchildren this week:

0720 GMT: Serious clashes shook the Yemeni capital Sana'a at dawn today, killing two people and breaking a short truce between the forces of President Saleh and those of opposition military and tribesmen.

A Reuters reporter said three areas in north Sana'a were hit by heavy shelling and gunfire, with many residents fleeing their homes.

Claimed video of Taiz in Yemen under heavy bombardment last night:

0710 GMT: Catching up with Bahrain, the top story today --- after an appeals court upheld sentences on 21 activists on Wednesday, eight of them to life in prison --- is likely to be the verdict handed down by the military court on 20 medical staff, accused of activists against the regime during the protests in February and March.

We are pointed to this photo of the security presence at Mehaza village in Sitra --- an EA source claims that police laid down a blanket of tear gas as soon as protests began:

And something a little different --- Sheikh Ali Salman, the head of the opposition Al Wefaq party, takes part in a clean-up operation after a clash in a Bahraini village:

0500 GMT: I suspect we have used the word "showdown" at some point with respect to the crisis in Syria, and it is always wise to avoid crying it too often.

Still, we said earlier this month, with protests building in Homs, the country's third-largest city, that the Assad regime might be pushed into an important confrontation there to re-take control. And the steady buildup of military operations, matched by opposition rallies, throughout Homs Province since then have only bolstered the prediction.

For now, we note the slaying of a nuclear physics professor outside his home in Homs, the latest in a series of deaths of scientists in the city, as fighting continued in the nearby town of Rastan between regime forces, defecting soldiers, and residents, and present four of the many overnight videos.

Binnish in the northwest, "Our revolution is peaceful, what we want is freedom":

Kherbet Ghazaleh, in Daraa Province in the south, "Come on, leave, Bashar":

Homs, in solidarity with Rastan and demanding the toppling of the regime:

And the Hedariyah neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria's second city: