Bahrain (and Beyond) Live Coverage: The Regime Shuts Away Its Political Prisoners

See also Syria Live Coverage: Has the Insurgent Advance Stalled?

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1900 GMT: Bahrain. The European Union has reacted to the regime's re-assertion of long prison sentences on 13 political prisoners with a call for their release. Spokesman Michael Mann said, "The EU has repeatedly asked the Bahraini authorities to consider an amnesty for all those arrested last year and tried on charges relating to the expression of their political opinion."

Mann said the European Union "fully respects the independence of the Bahraini judiciary" but "remains concerned about the lack of advancement of national reconciliation". He continued, "All sides should engage in a peaceful, inclusive and constructive dialogue, abstaining from all forms of violence and intimidation."

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Syria (and Beyond) Live Coverage: Assad Remains Defiant

2232 GMT: Syria. Brigadier General Salim Idris talks to Al Jazeera English, saying that his forces need more ammunition and weapons to fight Assad. Idris also says that special rebel units are working to protect and monitor chemical stockpiles.

2149 GMT: Bahrain British Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt has criticised the Court of Cassation's decision to uphold the sentences against the 13 leading Bahrain activists and politicians. In a statement, Burt said:

At the time these individuals were sentenced, reports which were acknowledged by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry suggested that some had been abused in detention, denied access to legal counsel and were coerced into confessing.

I call on the government of Bahrain to meet all its human rights obligations and guarantee its citizens the fundamental liberties to which they are entitled.

I am deeply dismayed at the decision.

2006 GMT: Libya. In order to establish law and order and find a place for many former soldiers, over 6000 militiamen have been trained to be police, according to the new Interior Minister Ashour Shuail:

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Syria, Bahrain (and Beyond) Live Coverage: Enter the Observers

A protest in Aleppo on Sunday night

See also Bahrain 1st-Hand: Smuggled Footage of Crackdown & Interview with Ala'a Shehabi
Iraq Snapshot: The Divisions Among the Shia Factions
Bahrain Snap Analysis: The Regime's Propaganda Struggles
Bahrain 1st-Hand: The AlKhawaja Story - Wife/Mother Speaks Out
Turkey Live Coverage (30 April): Questions on the Syrian Front
Sunday's Bahrain, Syria (and Beyond) Live Coverage: The Two-Step of Protest and Detention

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2100 GMT: Iraq. In a further escalation of political tension, fugitive Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi and some of his bodyguards have been charged with a series of murders, including the killing of six judges.

Hashemi, a Sunni politician, fled Baghdad in December when the Shia-led Government issued an arrest warrant for him, accusing him of running death squads. He is now in Turkey and is not expected to attend the trial when it begins on Thursday.

2034 GMT: UAE. Amnesty International has called on the United Arab Emirates to immediately and unconditionally release nine political activists who have been detained in the last month.

The nine men belong to the Reform and Social Guidance Association (al-Islah), a non-profit organization that advocates --- through peaceful debate --- greater adherence to Islamic precepts.

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Bahrain 1st-Hand: Saturday's Opposition Rally in Al Hajar for the "Arab Uprisings"

An EA correspondent was at Saturday's mass rally, organised by leading opposition parties, in Al Hajar in Bahrain:

The theme of the protest was the "Arab Spring", with flags of all the countries of the Arab uprisings in the arena. The event started with two short anthemsperformed by a band, the first for the Egyptian Revolution and the second for all the Arab uprisings.

A short recorded speech by the detained opposition leader Ebrahim Sharif --- given on January during a protest in front of the Egyptian embassy in Bahrain --- was broadcast. This was followed by a speech by Sheikh Ali Salman, the Secretary General of the Al Wefaq party, a speech which was stronger than that given to previous gatherings....

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Libya, Syria (and Beyond) LiveBlog: Goodbye to Qaddafi, Hello to....?

2104 GMT: The United Nations has passed a security council resolution calling for Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh to stop killing civilians and to step down in accordance with international plans. According to the AFP:

The UN Security Council passed a resolution calling on Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh to sign a deal to end deadly attacks on protesters and under which he would quit.

The resolution, on Friday, unanimously agreed by the 15 members, "strongly condemns" government violence against demonstrators and backs a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) peace plan under which Saleh would end his 33 years in power.

2028 GMT: Before this week, we were not aware of a particularly vibrant opposition in al Harak, Syria, in Daraa province. Now, the place looks like a military base. This video shows tanks positioned by the side of a major road:

2016 GMT: This video was reportedly taken in Al Tal, Damascus, today. A large amount of security can be seen wandering the streets, and gunfire can be heard off screen:

1958 GMT: This is another video from Bab Amr, Homs. It shows what we believe to be facing the opposite direction from the one that we posted at 1820 GMT. In otherwords, from the videographer's position, the entire neighborhood is on fire:

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Bahrain, Syria (and Beyond) LiveBlog: The Detained Doctors, The Decimated Town

2107 GMT: A source in Bahrain forwards us several pictures, reportedly showing a security crackdown in several villages this evening.

According to the report, this is the scene in Daih:

The village of Saar:

2055 GMT: A source forwards us this Facebook Page which shows the body of Ahmed Jabber al-Qattan (may be disturbing to some viewers), a 16 year old boy reportedly killed today by the Bahraini police (see updates below).

One thing to note, if the pictures can be validated, the evidence that birdshot was used is obvious.

2047 GMT: The Bahraini Ministry of Interior sends this tweet (translation):

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Yemen, Syria (and Beyond) LiveBlog: Fighting Renewed

Clashes last night around Freedom Square in Taiz in Yemen(see 0455 GMT)

1655 GMT: Earlier, we noted an Associated Press update that Hamza al-Qu'ayti was likely among the 57 Al Qaeda members who escaped a Yemeni prison today. Hamza was killed in 2008 (thanks to Gregory Johnsen for that catch).

1634 GMT: The commander of NATO forces in Libya, Lt.-Gen. Charles Bouchard, has responded to calls for a ceasefire by stating that any lull in action would empower Gaddafi's forces. He dismissed claims that civilian casualties were on the rise, pointing out that very few of the air strikes have resulted in collateral damage, despite the fact that Gaddafi is still actively hiding amongst civilians while targeting civilians with his own strikes.

Bouchard also dismissed claims that a ceasefire was neccesary for humanitarian aid to reach civilians. He pointed out that aid is reaching civilians in rebel-controlled territory, and that Gaddafi was actively blocking this access in his own territory:

“A ceasefire, temporary in nature, cannot just be an opportunity for both sides to reload and engage in further violence down the road. We must continue to stay engaged to prevent that rearming from taking place and reinforcement from taking place,” he said.

“Truly, at the end of the day, if the Gadhafi regime wants their population to receive humanitarian assistance all they have to do is let the shipments go by.”

1616 GMT: The Associated Press is reporting fresh clashes in Bahrain, after 21 activists have been sentenced today, 8 of the with life sentences (see updates below):

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Bahrain Special: The 21 Activists Sentenced Today

Abdulhadi Al KhawajaThe 21 activists and opposition figures sentenced an emergency court in Bahrain today, with eight receiving life terms (see LiveBlog).

1. Abdul Wahhab Hussain: Life imprisonment. Member of Coalition for a Republic, promiment writer
2. Hassan Mushaimaa: Life imprisonment. Head of Haq movement. Member of Coalition for a Republic
3. Mohammed Habib Al Muqdad: Life imprisonment. Prominent cleric. Head of Al Zahra Orphanage
4. Ibrahim Sharif: 5 years imprisonment. President of Waad Society

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Libya (and Beyond) LiveBlog: Eight Protests

2055 GMT: Three tribes in Libya's Oases region have issued a statement that they have joined the opposition and will defend the oil wells near the area

A leader of one of the tribes threatened last week to cut off oil exports to Western countries if Libyan authorities continued to violently crush anti-Gaddafi protests.

The tribes --- al-Zuwayya from Jikharra oasis, El-Mjabra from Jalu's oasis and al-Awajila from Awjila oasis --- wrote, "We hereby announce...that we have joined the victorious revolution from its first day and we confirm that the Oases region as a whole backs the February 17 revolution against the rule of Muammar Gaddafi. The region's youths stand defiant to defend and protect the oil wells that surround the region."

2045 GMT: A source tells Al Jazeera English says that "security officials were at Tripoli medical centre all day today....The injured did not go in for help." He estimates that 70 were killed in the capital last night.

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