I chatted with BBC Radio WM today about the political and military significance of the declaration by the UN Security Council of a no-fly zone over Libya. The other guest is Air Vice-Marshal Tony Mason.
The item begins at the 0:01.40 mark.
BBC Radio WM, Libya, No-Fly Zone, Tony Mason Friday, March 18, 2011 at 9:51 | Scott Lucas in Africa, EA Global, EA Middle East and Turkey, Middle East and Iran 
2055 GMT: Libya's Deputy Foreign Minister has said that the regime has asked Turkey, Malta, and China to send observers to monitor a cease-fire, denying reports that attacks on the opposition were continuing: "The armed forces are respecting [the cease-fire] and will protect civilians."
2010 GMT: Al Jazeera English summarises King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia's carrot-and-stick in his televised speech.
The King decreed that media must not criticise clerics and praised security forces for blocking protests, "You are the hitting hand against whoever considers undermining the nation's security and stability." He also thanked Saudis for not taking to the streets: "I am so proud of you. Words are not enough to describe you. You are the safety valve of this nation and you struck at that which is wrong with the truth and at treachery with loyalty."
Sweeteners in the King's speech included $66.7bn would be spent on 500,000 housing units, $4.3bn on more medical facilities, an extra $40m for private hospitals, an additional two months' wages for all government workers, and two extra payments for university students worth around $500.
4. Authorizes Member States that have notified the Secretary-General, acting nationally or through regional organizations or arrangements, and acting in cooperation with the Secretary-General, to take all necessary measures, notwithstanding paragraph 9 of resolution 1970 (2011), to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, including Benghazi, while excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory, and requests the Member States concerned to inform the Secretary-General immediately of the measures they take pursuant to the authorization conferred by this paragraph which shall be immediately reported to the Security Council....
6. Decides to establish a ban on all flights in the airspace of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in order to help protect civilians....
Thursday, March 17, 2011 at 17:01 | Scott Lucas in Africa, EA Global, EA Middle East and Turkey, Middle East and Iran 2200 GMT: We will be back in the morning with analysis of developments, including the United Nations Security Council's vote on Libya. Overnight coverage continues on our Live Feed of Al Jazeera English.
2125 GMT: More than 10,000 protesters have rallied in Armenia's capital Yereva. The demonstrators demanded that President Serzh Sargsyan implement reforms, carry out elections, and release detainees.
2120 GMT: Claimed footage of a regime jet shot down by the opposition in Bohadi in east Libya:
2110 GMT: An update from Misurata, 210 km (130 miles) east of Tripoli....
Opposition fighters say they have repelled regime forces on the southern and western sides of the city, with a battle --- but "not a heavy one" --- continuing on the eastern side.
Libyan state television has appealed to the people of Misurata to support regime troops: "The armed forces are from you and for you. Avoid strife....This is a call for stability and security for everybody. Do not listen to provocation and avoid discord."
2000 GMT: Reuters summarises fierce fighting in Ajdabiya in east Libya, with "weary" government soldiers saying that they were meeting "renewed resistance" from the opposition.
"The fighting is fierce. His supply lines are stretched so he can't push on from Ajdabiya. We've got some surprises in store. We're going to fight on and we're going to win," said Mustafa Gheiriani, an opposition spokesman in Benghazi.
Reinforcements from Benghazi are said to be heading to Ajdabiya.
Witnesses describe a violent regime crackdown around the city.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 5:59 | Scott Lucas in Africa, EA Global, EA Middle East and Turkey, Middle East and Iran 2200 GMT: Another appearance by Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi tonight. Addressing supporters in Tripoli, he chided his opponents: "You are saying Gaddafi is going to leave the country. Do you think Gaddafi would leave?....Those traitors who let Libya down during the Italian imperialism, they have left their children with the shame."
Qaddafi spoke as the opposition held an anti-regime rally in their base in Benghazi in the east.
2105 GMT: A gang armed with clubs and butcher knives attacked the printing press of Bahrain's only opposition newspaper, Al Wasat, early Tuesday morning.
Al Wasat, which means "The Centre" in Arabic, was set up in 2002 after Bahrain's King introduced reforms that allowed independent press licences. All of Bahrain's other newspapers are pro-government or affiliated with senior officials.
2100 GMT: Two clips claiming to be of protests in Syria today:
Monday, March 14, 2011 at 5:28 | Scott Lucas in Africa, EA Global, EA Middle East and Turkey, Middle East and Iran 1915 GMT: A resident has told Reuters that regime forces are now in control of Zuara in the west of Libya.
1730 GMT: Media are reporting that regime tanks have entered the opposition-held town of Zuara, in the far west of Libya, and are moving toward the centre of the town.
1720 GMT: The Foreign Minister of the UAE says the country has sent 500 police to Bahrain.
1710 GMT: At least 30 people were injured when police opened fire on protesters in Marib Province in eastern Yemen.
Police also shot live ammunition at protesters in northeastern Jawf Province. In the capital, Sanaa, soldiers and armoured vehicles tried to cut off and surround an area near the university building where thousands of protesters have camped out for weeks.
Video of Sunday's clashes in Sanaa in Yemen that killed two and injured dozens:
Sunday, March 13, 2011 at 7:06 | Scott Lucas in Africa, EA Global, EA Middle East and Turkey, Middle East and Iran 
2040 GMT: More oppositionsclaims from Libya (see 2025 GMT) --- their special forces have counterattacked in Brega, arresting 20-60 regime fighters, killing 25, and seizing weapons.
The regime had claimed earlier today that it had taken the oil port in north-central Libya.
2035 GMT: Egypt’s military police have prevented a rally organised by imams calling for the independence of the Islamic institution Al-Azhar and for an investigation into alleged corruption at the Ministry of Endowments.
An eyewitness said that the police prevented nearly 1000 imams and preachers from reaching the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, Egypt's ruling body, and assaulted them with fists and electric batons. Clashes resulted between the two sides.
Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 12:59 | Scott Lucas in Africa, EA Global, EA Middle East and Turkey, Middle East and Iran 2210 GMT: In Egypt, actor and activist Aly Sobhy, whose detention we noted earlier today (see 1430 GMT), has been released.
Sobhy was seized by the military on Wednesday as he tried to get the names of protesters who had been detained in Tahrir Square in Cairo.
2130 GMT: Another video of today's mass pro-democracy march to Safriya Palace in Bahrain:
2020 GMT: Al Jazeera cameramen, Ali Hassan Al Jaber, has been killed after a crew of the Arabic-language channel was ambushed by regime forces near the town of Benghazi.
Reporter Nasser Al Haddar was also injured by a gunshot.
Friday, March 11, 2011 at 12:19 | Scott Lucas in Africa, EA Global, EA Middle East and Turkey, Iraq, Middle East and Iran <
2050 GMT: Video of security forces firing tear gas at Bahrain pro-democracy protesters:
1920 GMT: A BBC reporter describes the heavy security presence in Saudi Arabia today, deterring protesters:
I took a taxi from our hotel at midnight on Thursday to find police cars with their lights flashing parked at five-metre intervals along all the main streets in Riyadh.I was pulled over by the police for merely filming on my mobile phone.
On Friday, the city woke up to the sight of more police on the streets than people, and the atmosphere was tense.
The only notable demonstrations today were in Eastern Province, where the Shi'a minority have been protesting discrimination and detentions.
