Libya, Syria (and Beyond) LiveBlog: The Opposition's Military Commander is Assassinated
Friday, July 29, 2011 at 11:07 | Scott Lucas in Africa, EA Global, EA Middle East and Turkey, Middle East and Iran Also see our latest video entry: Latest Syria Videos: Friday's Protests Across the Country - Set 1 AND Set 2
2026 GMT: An important update from an activist in Sana'a, Yemen. Loud explosions could be heard coming from north of the city, presumably fresh government airstrikes against a base that was captured by opposition tribesmen yesterday. (see update at 0920)
1959 GMT: A huge Conservative Islamist rally took place in Alexandria, Egypt, as well. Members of the 6th April Group, a liberal pro-democracy organization, were reportedly harassed and left the crowd:
1948 GMT: An important eyewitness account from a Kurdish neighborhood of Damascus:
In the Damascus neighbourhood of Rukin Aden, home to the capital’s largest Kurdish community, an eye-witness told Al Jazeera there were several hundred protesters gathered around the Saad Basha Mosque, calling for the toppling of the regime.
Anti-riot police and secret police blocked off the neighbourhood's main streets, arresting dozens of protesters and driving them off in large buses.
Protesters also reported land lines and internet had been cut since the morning.
“After four months, we are demonstrating every night despite the big security crackdown on us,” Ammar, a 28-year-old protestor told Al Jazeera.
“About 200 pro-democracy advocates and protesters were arrested but this will not stop our uprising. The regime is trying hard to finish the uprising before Ramadan. We are preparing ourselves for the Ramadan and we will organise big evening demonstrations every day, especially Rukin Adeen which has well-known religious figures and big mosques.”