Middle East Chain Reactions to Revolts

[Mimi]

Tunisian interim PM Ghannouchi resigns over protests


Tunisian interim Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi has announced on state TV that he is resigning - a key demand of demonstrators.

He was speaking at a news conference in Tunis, after making a lengthy speech defending his record in government.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12591445

Middle East Protests country by country: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-12482311



This chart is clickable on BBC's website. Kings and princes are nervous. Note the median age in these countries.  

[Mimi]

The UN Security Council has backed a no-fly zone over Libya and "all necessary measures" short of an invasion "to protect civilians and civilian-populated areas".

In New York, the 15-member body voted 10-0 in favour, with five abstentions.

Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi's forces have recently retaken several towns seized by rebels in an uprising.

Rebel forces reacted with joy in their Benghazi stronghold but a government spokesman condemned UN "aggression".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12781009

[Mimi]

Gaddafi sent a defiant letter to world leaders after UN Resolution:

"Libya is not yours. Libya is for the Libyans. The Security Council resolution is invalid."

"This is injustice. This is clear aggression," Gaddafi said, "You will regret it if you take a step towards interfering in our internal affairs."

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-03/19/c_13787954.htm

[Mimi]

CNN:

The UK, the US and France have begun attacking Libya as enforcement of the UN-mandated no-fly zone gets under way.

Pentagon officials say the US and the UK have fired more than 110 missiles.

Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi has said he will open arms depots to the people and the interests of Mediterranean countries will be in danger from now on.

Western planes bombed targets in the capital, Tripoli, said the AFP news agency, quoting witnesses and state TV.

Does the bold sentence mean he will open his his munition supplies to anyone who wants them, friends and/or enemies alike? That's a bold threat!

[colporteur]

CNN:

The UK, the US and France have begun attacking Libya as enforcement of the UN-mandated no-fly zone gets under way.

Pentagon officials say the US and the UK have fired more than 110 missiles.

Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi has said he will open arms depots to the people and the interests of Mediterranean countries will be in danger from now on.

Western planes bombed targets in the capital, Tripoli, said the AFP news agency, quoting witnesses and state TV.

Does the bold sentence mean he will open his his munition supplies to anyone who wants them, friends and/or enemies alike? That's a bold threat!

He is a crazy man and will probably do anything.

[Mimi]

Yep.

[Mimi]

Let's move to Yemen.




Yemen
Crowd raises fists and shouts Anger on the streets in Yemen

Anti-government protests started in Yemen on 11 February, demanding the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has been in power for nearly 32 years.

On 2 February, as the protests in Egypt were gathering pace, President Saleh announced he would not seek another term in office.

But the demonstrators - many of them university students - want him to stand down immediately.

Five people were killed on 18 February in Aden and Taiz. The Human Rights Watch pressure group says dozens of people have been injured during demonstrations, either by the security forces themselves or by armed gangs who attacked as the police stood by.

Meantime, the president fires the government. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12800887

[Mimi]

Then there is Saudi Arabia who just opened up 60K new jobs and gave everyone a raise. He is not stupid but he's not nice, either.

Saudi King Abdullah promised a major package of reforms last week, but reform activists responded with disappointment Friday.

Other than a pledge to set up an anti-corruption agency, the activists said, King Abdullah promised little to meet their demands. Instead, the long list of new measures simply expands powers for the kingdom and the religious establishment.

"I feel disappointed, to say the least," said one Saudi activist who did not give his name for fear of reprisals. "I do believe after these decrees, instead of sweeping reforms, they'll start sweeping up the activists. I'm afraid there will be a crackdown on activists here."

Here's more:

Other measures promise billions of dollars in housing for Saudi citizens, new hospitals and medical centers, and the refurbishment of public spaces.

Al-Qahtani, of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association, said Friday the financial package was the easiest thing to propose.

"It's basically trying to buy out people so they won't go out into the streets," Al-Qahtani said. "It supports these repressive mechanisms."

Saudi Arabia, like other countries in the region, has seen increased demonstrations in recent months. Unlike other parts of the Middle East and North Africa, however, the demands of Saudi protesters are focused more on reforms and liberalization rather than demands for freedom or an end to the government's rule.

CNN

Jordan has, in essence, followed Arabia's lead in implementing reforms before huge civil unrest breaks out demanding it.

Sporadic demonstrations have erupted in recent weeks in other Middle Eastern and northern African nations, such as Algeria, Djibouti, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Kuwait and Sudan and in the Palestinian territories. - CNN, Unrest in the Middle East and North Africa, country by country.

[Richard Myers]

Often we look for answers based upon our culture, history, and in our particular case the Bible. When it comes to democracies in the Middle East, our solutions do not work. These are Muslim people. Their religion does not allow for democracy. There is no religious liberty nor liberty of conscience. It is an awkward situation that democratic nations find themselves in, especially when wanting to have stable business arrangements, if you can call price fixing stable.

The only reason why there has not been total war in the region is because God has been holding back the winds of strife.

[Mimi]

(CNN) -- Three top generals in Yemen declared their support for anti-government protests Monday as a wave of officials, including the deputy speaker of parliament, announced their resignations.

One of the generals who broke ranks will order his troops to protect protesters demonstrating against the country's longtime president, he told reporters in Yemen. Maj. Gen. Ali Mohsen Al-Ahmar's announcement ramps up the pressure on President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who is seeing cracks in his support after 32 years in power.

At least 22 top officials announced their support for the "peaceful revolution" on Monday, the official said.

[Mimi]

Next is Syria:



Syria

Syria had remained relatively calm as unrest rocked neighbouring countries.

In an attempt to prevent similar unrest, President Bashar al-Assad promised to push through political reforms. He inherited power from his father, Hafez, in 2000, after three decades of authoritarian rule.

But on 16 March, about 150 people defied a ban on protests and took to the streets of the capital, Damascus, demanding the release of political prisoners. Some 35 people were arrested, including, reports said, a 10-year-old boy.

Like Libya, Syria has been gunning down resistors to al-Assad.

"The situation in Syria has worsened considerably over the past week, with the use of live ammunition and tear gas by the authorities having resulted in a total of at least 37 people being killed in Daraa, including two children," said Rupert Colville, a spokesman for the U.N.'s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Among the dead were 15 people who tried to march to Daraa, sources said, and nine others who died when security forces fired on demonstrators in Daraa's main square, said Wissam Tarif, a human rights activist.

BBC World http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-12482309

[Richard Myers]

I wonder if the world including Obama are going to come to the rescue of the citizens of Syria and Iran? They already rejected this once for Iran. Why the bias?

[Mimi]

Picking and choosing according to an agenda, it seems. Are some expendable while others are not?

[Mimi]

Jordan may be next. See this from the BBC:

25 March 2011 Last updated at 14:57 ET

Jordan: Man dies in hospital after Amman clashes
Protesters demonstrate for political reform in front of a police water cannon in Amman (25 March) Many people are reported to have been injured in Friday's clashes

Related Stories

    * New Jordan PM unlikely to appease protesters
    * Jordan sees biggest reform rally
    * Clashes erupt at Jordan protest

A man has died after Jordanian security forces used batons and sprayed water to disperse a clash between pro-monarchy and pro-reform demonstrators in Amman.

Amer Khairy Saad told Reuters that his father, Khairy, had died in hospital.

He said police had beaten him as they were trying to disperse the opposing crowds who had gathered near the interior ministry in the capital.

Medics at Prince Hamzeh hospital confirmed his death to AFP news agency, without specifying the cause.

Many people are reported to have been injured in Friday's clashes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12866531

[Mimi]

26 March 2011 Last updated at 09:48 ET
Yemen's President Saleh 'negotiating' departure

Agreement is close on a transfer of power from Yemen's veteran President, Ali Abdullah Saleh, a government minister says.

After six weeks of protests, Mr Saleh has said he is willing to step down this year.

But the demonstrators want him to go immediately.

This is the first time the government has confirmed that President Saleh is negotiating the terms of his departure, observers say.

BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12870584

[Mimi]

Libya: Live blog: Rebels 'everywhere' inside Gadhafi compound

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/23/live-blog-gadhafi-son-reappears-in-tripoli/?iref=BN1&hpt=hp_t1