Iraq (and Beyond) Live Coverage: At Least 17 Killed in Mosque Bombings

See also Syria Live Coverage: Hesitating on Weapons to Insurgents?
Thursday's Saudi Arabia (and Beyond) Live Coverage: Prosecutor Demands "Death by Crucifixion" for Dissident Cleric

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2055 GMT: Bahrain. Police used tear gas and sound bombs to disperse hundreds of protesters who demonstrated in the capital Manama against the regime.

The marchers chanted, "The people want the fall of the regime" and "Down with [King] Hamad."

Several protesters were arrested, witnesses said.

1239 GMT: Egypt. An Iraqi official says Baghdad has rejected a request from Cairo for a $4 billion bond to be deposited in the Egyptian Central Bank to bolster Egypt's faltering economy.

The official said on Friday that it’s “too risky” to deposit such a large sum in Egypt but that talks are continuing for a smaller amount.

Egypt has sought help from several oil-wealthy Arab countries to shore up foreign reserves. Levels are now at $13.5 billion, covering less than three months of imports.

Qatar said earlier this month that it will not add to its $5 billion in loans.

1221 GMT: Turkey and Israel. Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç has said Turkish and Israeli officials will meet next week to work out compensation to be paid to the families of 9 Turkish citizens killed in a raid by Israeli commandoes on the Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla in May 2010.

In a sign of reconciliation between West Jerusalem and Ankara, in part because of the Syrian crisis, Israel apologized to Turkey last Friday for the raid. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accepted the apology but said he wanted to ensure the famlies were compensated and Israel was committed to the easing of restrictions on goods entering Gaza.

1144 GMT: Iraq. At least 19 people have been killed and 72 wounded after bombs exploded at 4 Shia mosques in Baghdad, according to police.