Protesters in Bahrain, Libya Face Tear Gas, Gunfire

[Ghost Dog]

Source: Bloomberg

Feb. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Pro-government forces shot at protesters in Bahrain, Yemen, Libya and Djibouti, as authoritarian rulers in the region sought to suppress calls for political change sparked by Egypt and Tunisia.

Bahrain’s King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa called for a “dialogue” yesterday after hundreds of protesters were injured by Bahraini security forces in two days of turmoil in the capital, Manama. Gunfire broke out in the Yemeni capital and at least four people were reported killed as security forces attacked people staging the largest gathering in eight days of protests.

Amnesty International, in a statement, accused Libyan authorities of “recklessly shooting” at anti-government protesters, killing at least 46 people since Feb. 16. In Djibouti, Ismail Guedi Hared, president of the Union for a Democratic Alternative, said the situation is “very bad” after police used tear gas and “shot in every direction.”

...

Fast Pace

“It is moving through Northern Africa, the Middle East at a pace that is just unheard of, and each of those governments and each of those nations is watching it come, trying to figure out what’s happening and how they might prevent it,” (U.S. General James) Cartwright told the Economic Club of Florida in Tallahassee, according to the Associated Press.



Read more: http://noir.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=as3Ph4P2urm8&pos=8

---

/More detail at link.

--- see also ---
Libya's Gaddafi faces fight of life, Bahrain offer snubbed (Reuters)
Unrest has spread from Tunisia and Egypt to Bahrain, Libya, Yemen and Djibouti, presenting the United States with the dilemma of maintaining stability in the oil-rich region while upholding the right to demonstrate for democratic change... The United States and top oil producer Saudi Arabia see Bahrain as a Sunni bulwark against neighbouring Shi'ite regional power Iran... The government is led by the Sunni Muslim Al Khalifa dynasty, but the majority Shi'ite population has long complained about what it sees as discrimination in access to state jobs, housing and healthcare, a charge the government denies...

Algeria protesters to stage new anti-regime rally (AFP)
Algerian protestors are due to hold a new anti-government rally Saturday in the heart of the capital, a week after 2,000 demonstrators braved 30,000 riot police at the same venue... Another anti-government protest is scheduled to start an hour earlier in the Mediterranean city of Oran, where -- contrary to a week ago -- local officials changed course and authorised it... Both have been organized by National Coordination for Change and Democracy (CNCD), a month-old umbrella group made up of the political opposition, the Algerian human rights league and trade unions.

Libya forces kill 84 in three days: rights group (AFP)
"Thousands of demonstrators gathered in the eastern Libyan cities of Benghazi, Baida, Ajdabiya, Zawiya and Derna on February 18, 2011, following violent attacks against peaceful protests the day before that killed 20 people in Benghazi, 23 in Baida, three in Ajdabiya, and three in Derna," the New York-based watchdog said.

Bahrain opposition says government must quit (AFP)
Bahrain's main Shiite opposition group said on Saturday that the government must resign and the army withdraw from the streets of the capital before it will take up an offer of dialogue from the crown prince.

Bahrain protesters shot as heir promises talks (AFP)
Bahraini security forces opened fire on anti-regime protesters in the capital, with reports of up to 55 wounded, after the army vowed "strict measures" to restore order after a deadly police raid... Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa promised to open a national dialogue once calm returns, and soon after King Hamad formally announced that he had assigned him to start those discussions.

--- DU Threads: ---

"Streets on Fire" #Libya #Feb17 (graphic images: viewer discretion advised) (Video)
+8 votes : By Catherina

84 Dead In Libya Protests In 3 Days: Human Rights Watch
+11 votes : By oberliner

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Bahrain unrest: Shia opposition rejects talks

Bahrain's main Shia opposition group has rejected King Hamad's offer of national dialogue to end days of unrest in the Sunni-ruled Gulf state.

Senior members of the Wefaq bloc said the government must resign first and troops should be withdrawn from the streets of the capital Manama.
...
"To consider dialogue, the government must resign and the army should withdraw from the streets," said Abdul Jalil Khalil Ibrahim, a leading Wefaq member.

Wefaq, which holds 18 of the 40 seats in the parliament, has pulled out of parliament in protest.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12513606

[dipsydoodle]

2. One of the issues

which makes it different from Egypt is that their security forces are predominantly Pakistanis and Yemenis who have no allegience or symphathy with the Bahraini population.

[Ghost Dog]

4. I'm looking for news out of Yemen, both from Sa'naa and Aden,

in English...

Yemen is deep Arab heartland, I understand...

[Ghost Dog]

5. Note: In Spanish some lines of communication are open...:

#
Al menos cinco muertos en otra jornada de protestas en Yemen

* AGENCIAS | Saná
* 18-02-2011
- http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/muertos/jornada/protestas/Yemen/elpepuint/20110218elpepuint_10/Tes

... de protestas y, desde esta semana, el régimen está usando la fuerza sin complejos para acallar a los manifestantes. En Adén, capital del antiguo Yemen del Sur (el país se unificó en 1990 pero desde entonces hay un importante sentimiento separatista en sur), la policía ha abierto hoy fuego contra la ... que la revuelta cobra fuerza en el separatista sur, muchos analistas dudan que Yemen pueda reproducir un movimiento a imitación de Egipto o Túnez por sus especiales condiciones sociales, políticas y económicas de Yemen (un tercio de los 23 millones de yemeníes sufre hambre crónica; la tribu de los ...
#
La revuelta gana fuerza en Yemen

* Edición impresa
* Á. ESPINOSA
* Saná - 18-02-2011
- http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/revuelta/gana/fuerza/Yemen/elpepiint/20110218elpepiint_2/Tes

... sus palos. "Nuestra sangre, nuestra alma, por ti, Ali", clamaban bajo numerosos pósteres del presidente. "Nuestra sangre, nuestra alma, por ti, Yemen", respondían los estudiantes, a los que iban uniéndose otras personas de distinta condición. Hasta que de repente, el cordón policial se desvaneció al ...

/... http://www.elpais.com/buscar/yemen

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. Al Jazeera: Protester killed in Yemen clashes

An anti-government protester has been killed and seven injured in clashes with supporters of Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh, a day after five people died in protests against his 32-year rule.

The protester was shot in the neck and was taken to a hospital near the capital's Sanaa University where he died, witnesses told Reuters news agency.

At one stage both sides fired pistols and assault rifles - the first reported use of firearms by demonstrators, the agency reported.

Four other Saleh opponents were wounded by gunfire, two of them seriously, and three were wounded when
demonstrators threw stones at each other outside the university.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/2011219142955892386.html

[Catherina]

7. +1 Mercenaries from Chad too. Video of one here

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=103697256377254&oid=179449562095105

[Ghost Dog]

3. I see there's a problem with the DU links

I posted. Let's see...

"Streets on Fire" #Libya #Feb17 (graphic images: viewer discretion advised) (Video)
+8 votes : By Catherina - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x555509

84 Dead In Libya Protests In 3 Days: Human Rights Watch
+11 votes : By oberliner - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4739153

--- also ---

Day Of Rage And Massive Protests Across Middle East (Video)
Discussion started Sat Feb-19-11 12:08 PM by Lars77 - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x555595

Libyan Protesters are being slaughtered: 49 were killed yesterday. 80 over the past 5 days
Discussion started Sat Feb-19-11 01:12 PM by cali - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x454482

:(

[Turborama]

6. Good OP with lots of info and links, thanks for posting.

These stories seem to be dropping like stones. Is everyone suffering from "revolution fatigue" or something?

:kick: (recommended it up to 2 earlier)

[dipsydoodle]

9. There is apparently no going back for any of the Libyan protestors

It now is literally victory or death according the the Chairman of Libya watch.

Hasta La Victoria Siempre.

[Ghost Dog]

10. Roundup of developments in Mideast, North Africa (AFP)

19 February 2011 - 14H01 - http://www.france24.com/en/20110219-roundup-developments-mideast-north-africa

Tunisians demonstrate for secular state - http://www.france24.com/en/20110219-tunisians-demonstrate-secular-state

AFP - Hundreds of Tunisians demonstrated Saturday for a secular state following the murder of a Polish priest, verbal attacks on Jews and an attempt by Islamists to set light to a brothel.

Rallied by a call on social network Facebook, they gathered in the main Avenue Bourguiba in Tunis waving placards reading, "Secularism = Freedom and Tolerance" and "Stop Extremist Acts".

...

Police stood by as military helicopters circled overhead.

Earlier Saturday the Tunisian authorities and the country's main Islamist movement denounced the murder of the priest who was found dead in the country with his throat slit.


Egypt Islamists want purge of old regime figures
http://www.france24.com/en/20110219-egypt-islamists-want-purge-old-regime-figures

AFP - The Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's largest organised movement, called on Saturday for a purge of former regime figures in government and disbandment of the feared State Security Investigations Service.

The Islamist movement, banned in 1954, also called in a statement for a purge of corrupt businessmen and media figures who supported the government.

"Millions gathered on Friday in Tahrir Square, Alexandria and governorate capitals and their chants reached the heavens demanding that the country be purified of former officials and corrupt businessmen," it said.

"This purification cannot be limited to a handful of former officials and corrupt businessmen, but it must extend to all of those who corrupted political and legislative life," it said.


Egypt to release political prisoners: PM
http://www.france24.com/en/20110219-egypt-release-political-prisoners-pm

AFP - Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq said on Saturday the government will soon release 222 of the country's remaining 487 political prisoners, the official MENA news agency reported.

Only a handful of them were arrested during the 18-day revolt that toppled former president Hosni Mubarak on February 11, he said.

"Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq announced that there are 487 remaining political prisoners and the government will soon release 222 of them," the agency reported.

...

A leading Egyptian rights activist said on Tuesday that hundreds of people went missing during the protests, alleging that some are being held by the military, which took over the country after Mubarak's resignation.