Iraq (and Beyond) Live: At Least 20 Killed in Bombings Across Country

This morning's bomb in Kirkuk in northern Iraq (Photo: Abu Rasheed/Reuters)

See also Syria Live: Mass Deaths from Airstrikes
Sunday's Bahrain (and Beyond) Live: Protests Build Again Before Grand Prix

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1725 GMT:Bahrain. The Government has backed proposals to impose penalties of up to five years in prison for insulting the King or its national symbols.

The Cabinet approved proposals to impose the sentences and fines of 10,000 dinars ($26,500) for defaming King Hamad or Bahrain’s flag or coat of arms.

1635 GMT:Turkey. Fazil Say, an internationally-acclaimed pianist and composer, has been given a 10-month prison term, suspended for five years, for insulting Islam and offending Muslims in postings on Twitter.

Say, who has performed with major orchestras in cities including New York, Berlin, and Tokyo, was charged over personal remarks referring to a poem by a famous 11th-century Persian poet, Omar Khayyam, which poked fun at an Islamic vision of the afterlife.

The poem was sent to Mr. Say from another user before he forwarded it.

1615 GMT:Egypt. A court has ordered the release without bail of former President Hosni Mubarak over charges of complicity in the killing of protesters during the 2011 revolution that toppled him.

The decision came after defence lawyer Fareed El-Dib submitted a memorandum stating his client had already spent two years in provisional detention, the maximum allowed under Egyptian law.

The prosecution agreed with El-Dib's argument, saying there is no need to keep Mubarak in detention.

However, Mubarak remains in prison pending investigations into separate corruption cases.

1015 GMT:Iraq. The death toll from the series of bomb attacks across Iraq this morning (see 0810 GMT) has increased to at least 31, with more than 200 wounded.

0940 GMT:Egypt. Former President Hosni Mubarak has arrived at court --- 48 hours after a retrial stalled when the judge stepped down suddenly --- with his attorney requesting his release from prison.

Defence lawyer Fareed El-Dib submitted a memorandum stating his client had already spent two years in provisional detention, which is the maximum allowed under Egyptian law without conviction.

Mubarak was arrested on 12 April 2011.

On 7 April, Prosecutor-General Talaat Abdullah announced Mubarak would be detained for an additional 15 days pending investigations into new charges related to the illegal use of state funds.

Last June, Mubarak received a life sentence for failing to protect peaceful protesters during the 2011 revolution that toppled him. However, he was granted a retrial in January because of procedural irregularities.

Both Al Arabiya and Russia Today are reporting incorrectly that Mubarak has been found not guilty of being complicit in the killing of protestors in the 2011 uprising.

0917 GMT:Kuwait. Leading opposition figure Musallam Al Barrak has been sentenced to five years in prison for “undermining the status of the Emir.”

Al Barak was arrested after he gave a speech that criticised the government for making amendments to the electoral procedure.

0810 GMT: Iraq. At least 20 people have been killed and more than 200 wounded in a series of car bombs and attacks across Iraq, including two blasts at a checkpoint at Baghdad International Airport.

No one claimed responsibility for the wave of attacks in Baghdad, Kirkuk, Tuz Khurmato, and other towns. 

Two civilians, travelling to the Baghdad airport, were killed by car bombs that exploded at a checkpoint.

The most deadly attack was in Tuz Khurmato, 170 kilometres (105 miles) north of Baghdad, where four bombs targeting police patrols killed five people and wounded 67.

Iraqis vote on Saturday for members of provincial councils.