An opposition drawing its strength from Syria’s restive streets has begun to emerge as a pivotal force in the country’s once-dormant politics, organizing across disparate regions through the Internet, reaching out to fearful religious minorities and earning the respect of more recognized, but long divided dissidents.
The Local Coordination Committees, as they call themselves, have become the wild cards in what is shaping up as a potentially decisive stage in Syria. The success of the young protesters may determine whether that change is incremental, as the government has suggested, or far more sweeping, as the protesters themselves have demanded.
Western companies were only allowed to deal with Libya between 2004 and 2011. This raises two, probably academic, questions: why did Western companies have such a bad track record with Libyan money, and if the rebels win can we thank them?
1816 GMT: Friday prayers on 60th Street in Sana'a, Yemen, once again turned into protests, as clerics leading the prayers called on Vice President Hadi to make more concessions to the demands of the opposition.
1800 GMT: The LA times is reporting that the rebels are now within 50 miles from the Libyan capital, Tripoli. The rebels now occupy Bir Ghanam, halfway between Zintan and the large city of Aziziya. Rebels are concerned about potential civilian casualties in Aziziya, as they expect Gaddafi to use the civilians as human shields.
1742 GMT: Andy Carvin has uploaded a video to go with his report (below), showing a man injured in the violence in Tahrir Square.
1730 GMT: Though we're still updating and adding to the videos, our second set from today's protests in Syria is up and running. So far, we have video from Basr al Harir (south), Qamishli (northeast), Mayadin (east), Zabadani (southwest), Idlib in the northeast, and a massive demonstration in Assi Square in Hama.
1717 GMT: More from Andy Carvin, where violence has erupted in Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt:
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.
2039 GMT: After the rebels have advanced near Zintan, capturing a series of underground bunkers south of the city and infusing fresh weapons into their ranks, destroying many Gaddafi heavy vehicles in the process, here is a map of the latest situation in Western Libya.
"Long convoys of pickups and tractor trailer trucks could be seen streaming across the desert to the site after the fighting. They were loaded with rockets, ammunition, high-caliber guns and assault rifles before heading back to rebel-held cities. The insurgents also seized dozens of military vehicles at the site, which consisted of dozens of concrete storage mounds scattered across the desert."
Despite these gains, the final hour of the Gaddafi regime may still be a ways off:
1834 GMT: Women protest today on Dablan St, Homs, Syria:
On the surface, all seems calm in Syria's second city.
Traffic and tourists might not be bustling along Aleppo's ancient thoroughfares in the abundance they once did, but to a casual observer there appears little sign that the turmoil of Syria's four-month old uprising has made much of an impact on its largest city.
But talk to shopkeepers, hotel managers and traders in Aleppo's famous covered souk and one soon finds grumblings of dissent.
For in the Syrian capital of commerce, no one is making money anymore, threatening to undermine the key pillar of a long established pact between Aleppo's Sunni merchant class and the imposed stability of the Alawite-led regime.
Protesters in the Barzeh section of the Syrian capital Damascus are beaten and put in the trunks of cars (see 0615 GMT)
2040 GMT: A series of developments in Syria tonight after the meeting of opposition activists and intellectuals in Damascus....
About 200 people attended the discussion. Lawyer Louay Hussein, one of the organisers, declared, "The tyrannical regime in power must go. We are here to speak openly and freely. The political system may fall and we must work from now to prevent society from crumbling."
In a joint statement, the participants declared that they would be "part of Syria's peaceful uprising for freedom and democracy and pluralism to establish a democratic state through peaceful means".
However, some Syrians abroad rejected the initiative. "I think the people meeting today are grooming themselves to be a part of that, but they are independents so they don't represent any of the main opposition fronts and coalitions," said Anas al-Abdah, London-based head of the Damascus Declaration's "abroad chapter". The group, one of Syria's best-known opposition groups, boycotted Monday's meeting as it "convenes with the agreement and consent of the Syrian security services".
Syrian authorities have set a date for a "national dialogue" beginning 10 July.
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.
Claimed footage of a funeral procession in the Damascus suburb of Al Kiswah in Syria for a protester killed by security forces on Friday
2005 GMT: Activists say the Syrian military has occupied another village in northwest Syria near the border with Turkey.
Troops and tanks moved into Najia today. The village is near Jisr al-Shughour, the flashpoint town cleared out by the military after dozens of people --- activists says civilians, the regime says security forces --- were killed in clashes.
The military also reportedly moved into Qusair near the Lebanese border.
Saturday, July 2, 2011 at 8:05
An opposition drawing its strength from Syria’s restive streets has begun to emerge as a pivotal force in the country’s once-dormant politics, organizing across disparate regions through the Internet, reaching out to fearful religious minorities and earning the respect of more recognized, but long divided dissidents.;)
