Syria, Egypt (and Beyond) LiveBlog: Occupation and Demands

Demonstration last night in Hama in Syria

2141 GMT: Tonight, Aleppo suddenly does not seem so sleepy. Protesters in Al Jamiliah, west of the city's center, chant for the fall of the regime.

2130 GMT: In Aleppo today, protesters chant "We bow down only to God... Where is Aleppo´s people conscience... Oh Aleppo, rise, rise!...With our soul and blood we sacrifice ourselves for Daraa," and "Allah is the Greatest!" (Thanks to Zilal for translation).

2114 GMT: Video from today's clashes and protests in Jidhafs, Bahrain. It matches pictures and descriptions of witness accounts.

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Egypt, Syria (and Beyond) LiveBlog: A Return to Violence in Tahrir Square

A protester in Cairo's Tahrir Square last night

2055 GMT: Back to the lead story to wrap up today --- Ahram Online's video recording the clash in Cairo's Tahrir Square between security forces and protesters:

See also Egypt Feature: Clashes in Cairo

2100 GMT: Bahraini authorities have released 20 more medical staff who were detained in connection with the uprising against the regime, but they will still face military trial.

The 20 are among 48 doctors, nurses, and paramedics who were arrested. All by 14 have now been released, although the court proceedings, which have taken place over the last two weeks, will continues.

The release comes days before a "national dialogue" hailed by the regime as a chance for reconciliation.

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Egypt Feature: Clashes in Cairo

Protesters in Tahrir Square on Tuesday night (Photo: Ed Ou for The New York Times)

In the Egyptian capital Cairo, there were running clashes overnight between security forces and thousands of protesters, injuring dozens.

The wider context is a sit-in, including families of those killed during the uprising against President Mubarak, which started outside the State TV building last week. There have been skirmishes with security forces, who reportedly tried to clear the sit-in yesterday. Protesters regrouped Tuesday night outside the Ministry of Interior, where two demonstrators wounded earlier in the day were said to have been taken. Fighting broke out, as protesters threw stones and security forces fired tear gas and blocked off streets.

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Syria (and Beyond) LiveBlog: Ripples of Protest

Claimed footage of a march in Taiz in Yemen today, demanding a transitional government

2030 GMT: The Tunisian news agency TAP says two Libyan ministers have crossed into Tunisia to join the regime's Foreign Minister, reportedly seeking a solution to the political crisis.

Health Minister Mohamed Al-Hijazi and Social Affairs Minister Ibrahim Cherif crossed into southern Tunisia. Foreign Minister Abdul Ati Al-Obeidi has met "several foreign parties" there, part of an effort to find a solution to a civil war in the north African country.

1850 GMT: Opposition and regime forces have clashed about 80 kilometres (50 miles) southwest of the Libyan capital Tripoli.

Sunday's fighting began when government forces tried to cut off the insurgents, who have moved into the plains from the western mountains, by attacking from behind.

The front line is now thought to have moved just north of Bir Ayad, near the town of Bir al-Ghanam. Bir al-Ghanam is only 30 kilometres (19 miles) south of Zawiya, a western gateway to Tripoli.

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Egypt Follow-Up Video: The Man Who Will Fight a Lion Today

Two weeks ago, we reported on Al-Sayed al-Essawy, the strongman who wanted to help the new Egypt by fighting a lion in front of the Pyramids.

Despite reports that the Government had banned the fight and al-Essawy had been detained, information is still circulating that the fight will take place today.

Time offers a video profile of al-Essawy and the event, including concerns that he is going to his death with his mission:

"New Egypt" Feature: When Idealism Meets Reality (Fadel)

A Town in the Nile DeltaOn his first political foray beyond cosmopolitan Cairo, Shady Ghazali Harb, a British-educated surgeon, hoped to find support for his effort to build a political party.

What he found instead, here [in Buzoor] in the Nile Delta, was uncertainty about the new crop of politicians emerging from Egypt’s revolution. Farmers who had gathered in a dirt yard to hear Harb speak stared blankly as the 32-year-old idealist in jeans, a purple dress shirt and Adidas sneakers spoke of his desire to set up shop “where people hang out.’’

“People don’t go to coffee shops here,” Karam el-Hadi Mohammed, 55, a merchant and farmer, told him. “They work hard and go to bed early.’’

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Protest and the Web: The US Government's Initiative for "Internet in a Suitcase" (New York Times and Al Jazeera English)

The New York Times and Al Jazeera English promote the efforts of the US Goverment and non-government organisations such as the New America Foundation to bypass restrictions on the Internet in other countries:

NEW YORK TIMES: The Obama administration is leading a global effort to deploy “shadow” Internet and mobile phone systems that dissidents can use to undermine repressive governments that seek to silence them by censoring or shutting down telecommunications networks.

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Egypt, Yemen, Syria & Beyond LiveBlog: Stopping Virginity Tests, Making Protests "Criminal"

Tahrir Square, Cairo, 11 February 2011

1805 GMT: Is the Gaddafi regime negotiating? US Secretary of State Hillary CLinton said today that there are ongoing talks with people close to Colonel Gaddafi, and there was at least the potential for a transition of power.

An opposition website is reporting that an aide to National Transitional Council leader Mahmoud Jebril said that Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Islam, has approached the rebels in an attempt to negoiate a settlement. 

1743 GMT: Activists are claiming that another child, Tamer Al Sha'ry, has been killed, and his body has just been released to his parents. The description of the graphic video of the body reads:

"Tamer Alshary, 15 yr-old, was arrested on the day of Sayda Massacre, April 29th, 2011. the same day Hamza Alkhateeb was arrested too, when people of the town of Aljiza tried to deliever food and clean water to the besieged city of Daraa. the body of this innocent child was deleivered to his family on June 8, after more tham 5 weeks, filled with torture marks. The savage monsters took one eye out, pulled his teeth. burnt his body with cigarettes, and then shot him in face, belly and legs."

1736 GMT: A Syrian source has this update:

"Military and security checkpoint seperates Bansh from besieged city of #Idlib from all directions, heavy presence of security forces/Shabiha/army within the city"

1727 GMT: 2,5000 Syrian refugees have now crossed the border into Turkey, most refugees from Jisr al Shughour and other towns and villages in Idlib province. Turkey Prime Minister Erdogan said today that Turkey would keep its door open for refugees.

"It's not possible for us to shut our doors at a time when deadly violence is on the rise (in Syria) and our brothers there are looking for shelter."

1716 GMT: Soldiers beat, kick, and stand on protesters who have their hands bound. The video claims to be from Baba Amro, Homs, Syria, today. According to the video uploader, abdullahdib, at least one of the men featured in this video is already dead.

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Egypt Photo Special: The People of the "The Second Revolution" (v. der Osten-Sacken)

On 27 May, Egyptians gathering in Cairo's Tahrir Square, the symbolic centre of the challenge that brought down President Hosni Mubarak, for "The Second Revolution" expressing their demands for reform and justice.

Thomas v der Osten Sacken, who has also contributed photo specials to EA on Tunisia and Libya, presents some of the people from that day.

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Yemen, Syria, Bahrain (and Beyond) LiveBlog: A President Is Wounded

Video of the destroyed Presidential Mosque in the Yemeni capital Sana'a

2130 GMT: Media are reporting tonight that the Vice President, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, is now acting President and Supreme Commander of the armed forces.

Meanwhile, Abdel Rahman Ba Fadel, an opposition member of the Yemeni parliament, has told Al Jazeera, "A medical team arrived from Saudi Arabia but there is a plane ready to take him [President Saleh] there if they fail to treat him in Yemen."

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