Libya, Syria (and Beyond) Live Coverage: Protesters Take Over Militia Bases in Benghazi

Police arrest protester during Friday demonstration in the Bahraini capital Manama --- 29 people were detained (Photo: Mahmood Alshaikh)

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Friday's Syria (and Beyond) Live Coverage: Assad Proclaims, "We Will Defeat Armed Groups", as His Planes Kill 100s of Civilians

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1940 GMT: Syria. Residents and activists report fighting and snipers throughout Aleppo today.

In Suleiman al-Halabi, one of Aleppo's main streets, the army prevented residents from venturing into the area amid steady gunfire in the third day of fighting.

One resident said, "Almost 80 percent of the people in Suleiman al-Halabi left their homes after rebels entered the area."

Locals warned of snipers in the adjacent neighborhood of Midan, held by the regime, as streets were empty, shops were locked up, and several buildings and apartments were destroyed.

"The battle is now between snipers," Sheikh Walid, the head of an insurgent brigade in the southern Amiriya district said, as only few hundred meters separated the rival forces.

In Maysar, nine people were reportedly killed, including five members of the same family. Residents said insurgents reinforcements were pouring into the eastern district of Sakhur and Shaar.

1730 GMT: Syria. The Local Coordination Committees in Syria claims that 153 people have been killed by security forces today, including 55 in Damascus and its suburbs, 41 in Hama Province,and 33 in Aleppo Province.

Among the casualties in Hama Province are 40 bodies recovered from rubble in the Meshaa al-Arbain neighborhood in Hama city.

1540 GMT: Turkey. The son of one of the former military commanders given lengthy prison terms for an attempted coup against the Erdoğan Government has said the verdict "struck the final nail in the Turkish Armed Forces' coffin".

Tolga Örnek, the son of retired Adm. Özden Örnek, said, "Today is the day that the Turkish Armed Forces is finished, as far as I am concerned," Örnek said. "They have tried for so long to finish the Armed Forces.....Is imprisoning innocent people the way to prevent coups in this country?"

The court convicted 330 former and current military officers in the case. It sentenced three former generals to life in prison, reduced to 20 years each because the coup plot was unsuccessful. Two serving and one former general were given 18 years.

The court acquitted 34 officers over the accusations, which included plans to bomb historic mosques in Istanbul and trigger conflict with Greece to pave the way for an army takeover.

1354 GMT: Libya. The toll from the overnight clashes in Benghazi, in which protesters occupied militia bases, has been updated to at least 11 people killed and more than 60 wounded.

1342 GMT: Syria. The Local Coordination Committees reports that 64 people have been killed by security forces today, including 27 in Damascus and its suburbs and 19 in Aleppo Province.

1321 GMT: Syria and Lebanon. Syrian insurgents attacked a Lebanese army position overnight, Beirut's army said today: "For the second time in less than a week, a force from the Free Syrian Army enters the Lebanese territory in Jroud, Arsal area. They attacked overnight one of the Lebanese army positions backed by a large number of armed men without causing any injuries in the ranks of the Lebanese army."

The statement declared, "The leadership of the army confirms that it will not allow any party to use Lebanese territory in order to implicate Lebanon in the events of the neighboring countries."

1121 GMT: Syria. Footage has been posted of men pulling a child from the rubble in the shelled Myassar neighbourhood of Aleppo today (Warning: Graphic).

0941 GMT: Syria. Free Syria Army commander Riad al-Asaad has said that the joint command of the FSA has moved into Syria "with the hope of launching the offensive on Damascus".

Meanwhile,an independent journalist reports that insurgents, attacking a military base, have shot down a regime fighter jet as it flew over Atarib in Idlib Province.

Regime forces and insrugents have clashed near the Al-Nasib border crossing with Jordan, according to activists, while President Assad's jets bombarded areas in Yabroud near Damascus, and in districts of Aleppo.

0935 GMT: Syria. Friday's assurance of the day came from Minister of Information Omran al-Zoubi: "The situation in the country is now better than any previous time in the course of conspiracy against Syria....In terms of security, the crisis is almost over."

0650 GMT: Syria. The Local Coordination Committees report that 117 people were killed by security forces on Friday, including 48 in Damascus and its suburbs, 17 in Aleppo Province, 15 in Homs Province, and 15 in Idlib Province.

0525 GMT: Libya. Ten days after the violence near the US Consulate in Benghazi that killed the US Ambassador and three other Americans, protesters have stormed militia bases in Libya's second-largest city.

Friday's move appeared to be co-ordinated with police and government troops, as demonstrators, following a large rally against armed groups earlier in the day, entered the main compound of the group Ansar al-Sharia.

The crowd waved swords, shouting "No more al-Qaeda!", "The blood we shed for freedom shall not go in vain!", and "No No to the brigades" as they tore down the banner of the militia. 

At another compound, the militia tried to repel the protesters, including fire with machine guns. Medical sources said one person was killed and 20 wounded during clashes.