Middle East Revolutions: Current Bahrain protests getting violent

[Ragnus]

Horrible... at a loss for words here.

I know I expected it to happen in Egypt but the sigh of relief when it didn't was unreal. Now that it's happening elsewhere it really makes you wonder what kind of people are in the military when willingly and ruthlessly shooting your own people was at all considered alright no matter who commands it.

[Mistress Stowastiq]

Can we make a new thread for Bahrain so people realise shit is going on?

People are being shot and tear gas is being used on injured civilians at the hospital.

I asked a mod earlier this week when the other nations were starting to have protests. I wont start another thread since I was told its ok to post it in here but it is up to you.


@Ragnus I can't comprehend what it must be like. Again people do not bring their children to protests if they anticipate that they will be violently attacked and they are completely shocked that it happened to them, especially during a funeral procession. The fact that there were babies there, is very clear. The response from the Bahraini royalty is disgusting.

The UK has established an investigation into the aid packages that they have provided the Bahrainis, then all nations right now probably are questioning how much they enabled this to happen with their aid.

[Ksandra]

ya I'll ask here because everyone has been awesome and kept this thread going. Would you guys like separate threads, or continue this one with title changed updates?

The tunsia thread went no where and this one still seems to keep going, so I like the momentum. But obviously things can get cluttered.

We'll do whatever you guys prefer though.

[Mistress Stowastiq]

ya I'll ask here because everyone has been awesome and kept this thread going. Would you guys like separate threads, or continue this one with title changed updates?

The tunsia thread went no where and this one still seems to keep going, so I like the momentum. But obviously things can get cluttered.

We'll do whatever you guys prefer though.

I am cool keeping it here with perhaps an addition to the title to establish that it covers Libya, Bahrain, or middle east in some way.

[dejet]

I am cool keeping it here with perhaps an addition to the title to establish that it covers Libya, Bahrain, or middle east in some way.

second this. Title change would be good

[Ksandra]

merged bahrain's posts into here

[isladar]

Thanks, Sandra.

[Mistress Stowastiq]

Thank you for the fix

[Ragnus]

Thanks Ksandra. ^^b

[Mistress Stowastiq]

Bahrain:
From Al Jazeera: Bahrain forces fire at protesters Troops open live fire around Pearl roundabout in Manama after nightfall, at least 66 wounded.

Spoiler: show

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/mi...122210251.html

Bahrain forces fire at protesters Troops open live fire around Pearl roundabout in Manama after nightfall, at least 66 wounded.

Last Modified: 18 Feb 2011 18:37 GMT

(Warning is for the video on the web page)
[WARNING: This video contains images that some viewers may find disturbing]

Shots were fired by soldiers around Pearl roundabout in Manama, the Bahraini capital, a day after police forcibly cleared a protest encampment from the traffic circle.

The circumstances of the shooting after nightfall on Friday were not clear. Officials at the main Salmaniya hospital said at least 66 people were injured, some with gunshot wounds to the head and chest.

Some doctors and medics on emergency medical teams were in tears as they tended to the wounded. X-rays showed bullets still lodged inside victims.

"This is a war," said Dr. Bassem Deif, an orthopedic surgeon examining people with bullet-shattered bones.

Protesters described a chaotic scene of tear gas clouds, bullets coming from many directions and people slipping in pools of blood as they sought cover.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain, asked his crown prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa to start a national dialogue "with all parties".

Earlier on state TV the crown prince had called for calm, saying it was "time for dialogue, not fighting".

"The dialogue is always open and the reforms continue," Sheikh Hamad al-Khalifa said on Bahrain TV.

"We need to call for self-restraint from all sides, the armed forces, security men and citizens," he said. "I urge you, there should be calm. Now is time for calm."

Jalal Firooz, of the Wefaq bloc that resigned from parliament on Thursday, said demonstrators had been elsewhere in the city, marking the death of a protester killed earlier this week. The demonstrators then made for the roundabout, where army troops are deployed.

A doctor of Salmaniya hospital told Al Jazeera that the hospital is full of severely injured people after the latest shootings.

"We need help! Our staff is entirely overwhelmed. They are shooting at people's heads. Not at the legs. People are having their brains blown out," a distraught Dr Ghassan said, describing the chaos at the hospital as something close to a war zone.

He said the hospital was running short of blood and appealed for help to get more supplies. Police had no immediate comment.

An Associated Press cameraman saw army units shooting anti-aircraft weapons, fitted on top of armored personnel carriers, above the protesters in apparent warning shots and attempts to drive them back from security cordons about 200 meters from the roundabout.

Protesters claimed live ammunition was used against the demonstrators.

"People started running in all directions and bullets were flying," said Ali al-Haji, a 27-year-old bank clerk. "I saw people getting shot in the legs, chest and one man was bleeding from his head."

In the past, security forces had mostly used rubber bullets. Witnesses said about 20 police cars had driven toward the roundabout after the initial shooting.

Earlier, troops backed by tanks had locked down Manama and announced a ban on public gatherings. Tanks and armoured personnel carriers were patrolling the streets of Manama and checkpoints set up.

Riot police using clubs and tear gas broke up a crowd of protesters in the city's financial district in a pre-dawn swoop on Thursday, killing at least four people and injuring more than 200.

Al Jazeera's correspondent, who cannot be named for security reasons, reported from Manama on Friday that thousands of people observed the funerals of those killed in the police raid on the protesters' tents in the city's Pearl Roundabout area.

Many of those present chanted slogans against Bahrain's ruling Al Khalifa family. They said they were both grief-stricken and angry at the heavy-handedness of the police, and that they were demanding that the international community take notice of what they call the brutality of the security forces.

As Friday prayers commenced, Sheikh Issa Qassem, a prominent Bahraini Shia Muslim religious leader, delivering his sermon in a northwestern village, described Thursday's violence as a "massacre".

Our correspondent reported that Qassem said the government was attempting to create a "sectarian divide" between Sunnis and Shias. He advocated peaceful protests, saying "violence is the way of the government", and that protesters should not espouse violent actions.

The crowd at the funerals in Sitra were not as large as those seen during previous funerals, our correspondent reported.

He said this was because of a heavy security presence on the streets, with police and army closing off roads across the country.

No security forces personnel were reported to be present at Sitra on Friday, though a helicopter was seen hovering over the funeral procession.

"Many of those who in the past came out [to protests] ... are afraid. They're frightened and they don't want to turn up at a protest like this because they are fearful for their lives," he said, citing an incident on February 15 in Manama, when at least one person was killed when police fired on a funeral procession.

Our correspondent further said that while it was "almost impossible" to confirm a figure for those who had gone missing during Thursdsay's crackdown, one opposition politician put the number at 70.

Members of the opposition Al Wefaq party have withdrawn from the country's parliament. The party says MPs will not rejoin if the government continues to disallow protests.

Meanwhile, Bahraini state television showed pictures of a pro-government rally, attended by hundreds, taking place in Manama, despite the ban on public gatherings.

Just hours after Thursday's deadly police action, the military announced the ban, saying on state TV that it had "key parts" of Manama under its control.

Khalid Al Khalifa, Bahrain's foreign minister, justified the Pearl roundabout raid as necessary because the demonstrators were "polarising the country" and pushing it to the "brink of the sectarian abyss".

Speaking after meeting with his Gulf counterparts, he said the violence was “regrettable”.

Two people had died in police firing on protesters prior to Thursday's deadly police raid. Al Jazeera's correspondent said that hospitals had been full of injured people after police raid, with the injured including nurses and doctors who had rushed to attend to the wounded.

After several days of holding back, Bahrain's Sunni Arab rulers unleashed a heavy crackdown, trying to stamp out the first anti-government upheaval to reach the Arab states of the Gulf since the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.

During the assault at the Pearl roundabout, police tore down the protesters' tents, beating men and women inside and blasting some with shotgun sprays of bird-shot.
The interior ministry claims that protesters were carrying swords, knives and other bladed instruments.

The pre-dawn raid was a sign of how deeply the island's Sunni monarchy fears the repercussions of a prolonged wave of protests, led by members of the country's Shia majority but also joined by growing numbers of discontented Sunnis.

UK to review arms sale
Bahrain is a pillar of US military framework in the region: it hosts the US navy's Fifth Fleet, which the US sees as a critical counterbalance to Iran's military power.

Bahrain's rulers and their Sunni Arab allies depict any sign of unrest among their Shia Muslim populations as a move by neighbouring Shia-majority Iran to expand its clout in the region. The army would take every measure necessary to preserve security, the interior ministry said.

Against this backdrop of continued unrest, Britain's government has decided to revoke some of its arms export licenses to Bahrain. The Foreign Office said arms export licenses have also been revoked for Libya. A review for exports to Yemen is ongoing.

The ministry's statement on Friday did not specify what the arms exports were. It said licenses will not be issued when officials judge that there is a risk that the exports may provoke regional or internal conflicts or be used to facilitate internal repression. It added that it had no evidence that British exports were used to crackdown on protesters in Bahrain.

Source:

Al Jazeera and agencies

Photo blog: The Atlantic
Deadly Attacks Against Protesters in Bahrain

Spoiler: show

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2...ahrain/100011/


Deadly Attacks Against Protesters in Bahrain
Feb 18, 2011
Inspired by recent events in Tunisia and Egypt, thousands of protesters in Bahrain have taken to the streets rallying against the ruling Al Khalifa family, many of them gathering in Pearl Square, in the capital city of Manama.

Here, unlike in Egypt, police and armed forces are severely cracking down on the protests, using both crowd control tactics and live ammunition. Also unlike in Egypt, much of the popular anger is tied to majority Shi'ite discontent with the ruling Sunni royal family.

Complicating the broader picture is the fact that Bahrain is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, which deploys ships throughout the Middle East. Below are recent images from events in Bahrain. [36 photos]

[Ragnus]

I was just about to post that.

NPR reports that the official statement from the king is that he is talking to the prince about opening up talks now. Makes me sick that the royalty are pushing for talks after the government forces open fires with deadly force on a peaceful crowd. Talking is pretty much out the window at this point in my opinion. =/

[Mistress Stowastiq]

I was just about to post that.

NPR reports that the official statement from the king is that he is talking to the prince about opening up talks now. Makes me sick that the royalty are pushing for talks after the government forces open fires with deadly force on a peaceful crowd. Talking is pretty much out the window at this point in my opinion. =/

I get an uncomfortable feeling when I see those press conferences with the royalty.

Bahrain:
From twitter

wikileaks WikiLeaks
WikiLeaks to release over 100 new Bahrain revelations tonight.
29 minutes ago

Shahryar Josh Shahryar
#Bahrain (VIDEO): Helicopter shoots at New York Times Reporter and Crew while he's filming report: http://tinyurl.com/69pgw3t #Lulu #Feb14 6 minutes ago

Libya:
From Al Jazeera's Ayman Mohyeldin, he has a Facebook with updates on Libya. http://www.facebook.com/AymanMohyeldin

Photos: Protesters being shown on CNN: http://yfrog.com/h6de5bj - http://yfrog.com/h71zgigj - http://yfrog.com/h43lpwtj
Twitter:

ChangeInLibya Libyan Dude
NOT CONFIRMED: Reports that gaddafi's son is captured in #benghazi KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON FB LIBYA PAGES #libya #feb17
2 minutes ago

acarvin Andy Carvin
Not confirmed. RT @AliLePointe: Benghazi radio: son of #gaddafi, Saadi, has been captured by protesters in #Benghazi!! #feb17 Allahu Akbar!!
41 seconds ago

CNN Map of unrest in Middle East and North Africa, country by country : Flash map at link but text inside spoiler below.

Unrest in the Middle East and North Africa -- country by country

Spoiler: show

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/me...est/index.html
Unrest in the Middle East and North Africa -- country by country
(CNN) -- Two months ago, a Tunisian fruit vendor struck a match that started a fire that has spread throughout the much of North Africa and the Middle East. Muhammad Bouazizi's self-immolation prompted anti-government protests that toppled regimes in Tunisia and Egypt. Here are the latest developments, including the roots of the unrest, as well as a look at previous events in affected countries.


Friday developments:

LIBYA
Tens of thousands of Libyans took to the streets Friday to air their discontent with four decades of Moammar Gadhafi, the longest-ruling non-royalty head of state in the world, witnesses said. At least 20 people were killed and 200 were injured in the northern Mediterranean city of Benghazi, Libya's second largest, said a medical source in Benghazi, who was not identified for security reasons. CNN was unable to independently verify the information. U.S. President Barack Obama condemned the outbreak of violence in Libya.

Roots of unrest:
Protests in Libya, ruled by Gadhafi since a 1969 coup, began in January when demonstrators, fed up with delays, broke into a housing project the government was building and occupied it. Gadhafi's government responded with a $24 billion fund for housing and development.

A month later, more demonstrations were sparked when police detained relatives of those killed in an alleged 1996 massacre at the Abu Salim prison, according to Human Rights Watch. High unemployment has also fueled the protests, as have anti-Gadhafi groups


BAHRAIN
Four people were killed in the center of Bahrain's capital Friday, where shots were fired after demonstrators gathered, an ambulance worker in Manama told CNN. U.S. President Barack Obama condemned the violence. The new protests came a day after a violent police and military crackdown left four dead and scores wounded.

What seemed like thousands of people -- some chanting anti-government slogans -- marched in the town of Sitra to attend the funerals of three of the four people killed Thursday. Two other people died during disturbances earlier in the week. The tiny island nation is a U.S. ally and houses the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet.

Roots of unrest:
Protesters initially took to the streets of Manama on Monday to demand reform and the introduction of a constitutional monarchy. But some are now calling for the removal of the royal family, which has led the Persian Gulf island state since the 18th century.

Young members of the country's Shiite Muslim majority have staged violent protests in recent years to complain about discrimination, unemployment and corruption, issues they say the country's Sunni rulers have done little to address. The Bahrain Center for Human Rights says authorities launched a clampdown on dissent in late 2010. It accused the government of torturing some human rights activists.


YEMEN
At least one person was killed when an assailant hurled a grenade Friday into a crowd of anti-government protesters in Taiz, Yemen, on Friday, a police official told CNN. Another 43 people were wounded. Pro-government gangs, meanwhile, clashed with anti-government demonstrators in the capital city of Sanaa, throwing rocks and brandishing sticks. Anti-government demonstrators took to the streets of Sanaa after Friday's midday prayers, ushering in a second week of unrest to the Middle Eastern nation.

It was unclear whether a call for calm by the country's most influential religious cleric, Sheikh Abdulmajeed Al-Zindani, would be heeded. U.S. President Barack Obama issued a statement condemning the outbreak of violence.

The U.S. embassy also issued a statement voicing concern for what it called "a disturbing rise in the number and violence of attacks against Yemeni citizens gathering peacefully to express their views on the current political situation." Meanwhile, the death toll from Thursday's violence grew to four, government and hospital officials said.

Roots of unrest:
Protesters have called for the ouster of longtime President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has ruled Yemen since 1978. The country has been racked by a Shiite Muslim uprising, a U.S.-aided crackdown on al Qaeda operatives and a looming shortage of water. As in other countries, high unemployment fuels much of the anger among a growing young population steeped in poverty. The protesters also cite government corruption and a lack of political freedom.


IRAN
Thousands of people who attended a pro-government rally in Tehran on Friday condemned opposition leaders and called for their execution, a witness said. Earlier this week, tens of thousands of pro- and anti-government protesters marched in downtown Tehran amid a crackdown.

Two young men were killed this week. The government blamed its opponents in the deaths, but activists have dismissed those claims as government propaganda. An anti-government demonstration Monday was the largest such rally since 2009, when a series of anti-government demonstrations convulsed the country. Iranian authorities sought to restrict coverage of the protests this week by international media.

Roots of unrest:
Opposition to the ruling clerics has simmered since the country's 2009 election, when hundreds of thousands of people filled Tehran streets to denounce the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as fraudulent.


EGYPT
Waving flags and beating drums, thousands gathered at Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday for a planned "Day of Victory" rally to celebrate the one-week anniversary of the ouster of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

The march at the square -- the epicenter of 18 days of protests that led to Mubarak stepping down -- is also meant to remind the military that Egyptians were watching the ongoing reform process. Celebrations are expected in other cities across the nation as well. The military has been in charge since February 11, when Mubarak's resignation was announced

Roots of unrest:
Complaints about police corruption and abuses were among the top grievances of demonstrators who forced Mubarak from office last week. Demonstrators were also angry about Mubarak's 30-year rule, a lack of free elections and many economic issues, including high food prices, low wages and high unemployment.


JORDAN
About 200 people calling for reforms clashed with pro-government demonstrators in downtown Amman on Friday.

Roots of unrest:
Jordan's economy has been hit hard by the global economic downturn and rising commodity prices, and youth unemployment is high, as it is in Egypt. Officials close to the palace have told CNN that Abdullah is trying to turn a regional upheaval into an opportunity for reform.

King Abdullah II swore in a new government following anti-government protests in his country. The new government has a mandate for political reform and is headed by a former general, with several opposition and media figures among its ranks. Some protesters have also called for the abolishment of the peace treaty between Jordan and Israel.


IRAQ
Roughly 200 Iraqi protesters hit the streets Friday in central Baghdad, the latest in a string of Middle East cities to be affected by the wave of unrest sweeping the region. Protesters are also trying to organize a larger demonstration -- part of what they are now calling the "Iraqi revolution" -- for next Friday. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told reporters "there should be no problem" issuing official permission for a larger protest if a formal request is made.

The prime minister expressed concern, however, that protesters could be "infiltrated by saboteurs either from those who lost in (Iraq's recent) elections or by the remains of the Baathists or al Qaeda terrorists."

Roots of unrest:
Demonstrations in Iraq, unlike in other parts of the Mideast and North Africa, have usually not targeted the national government. Instead, the protesters are angry about corruption, the quality of basic services, a crumbling infrastructure and high unemployment, particularly on a local level. They want an end to frequent power outages and food shortages.


KUWAIT
More than 1,000 protesters clashed with security forces in Kuwait Friday. he crowd -- initially 300 people before quickly growing -- was attacked with water cannons. A Kuwaiti government spokesman later claimed that the security forces were trying to protect themselves after the protesters started hurling rocks.

Roots of unrest:
Protesters are seeking greater rights for longtime residents who are not Kuwaiti citizens, an issue the country has been grappling with for decades. There are believed to be 100,000 non-citizens living in the country.


DJIBOUTI
Thousands of people marched in protest through Djibouti on Friday. iot police charged the crowd after the call to evening prayers, shooting canisters of tear gas at the demonstrators, according to Aly Verjee, director of the international election observation mission to Djibouti, who witnessed the event. jibouti is home to Camp Lemonnier, the only U.S. military base on the African continent.

Roots of unrest:
Protesters have called for President Ismail Omar Guelleh -- whose family has ruled the country since its independence from France in 1977 -- to step down ahead of the elections scheduled in April. Guelleh has held the post since 1999 and is seeking a third term. Economic stagnation is also a source of anger among the people of Djibouti.



Here's a look at some key recent events related to unrest in the Middle East and North Africa:

ALGERIA
Protesters have demanded government reform, prompting authorities to say they will soon lift a state of emergency that was imposed in 1992 to quell a civil war that led to the deaths of more than 150,000. The rule was used to clamp down on Islamist groups, but critics say the insurgency has long since diminished and the law exists only to muzzle government critics.

Roots of unrest:
Protests began in January over escalating food prices, high rates of unemployment and housing issues. They started in Algiers, but spread to other cities as more people joined and demonstrators toppled regimes in neighboring Tunisia, and later Egypt. Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced that he would lift the state of emergency law in what analysts said was an attempt to head off a similar revolt.


SUDAN
Demonstrators have clashed with authorities on several recent occasions in Sudan. Human Rights Watch has said that "authorities used excessive force during largely peaceful protests on January 30 and 31 in Khartoum and other northern cities." Witnesses said that several people were arrested, including 20 who remain missing.

Roots of unrest:
Demonstrators seek an end to the National Congress Party rule and government-imposed price increases, according to Human Rights Watch. It accuses the government of being heavy-handed in its response to demonstrations, and using pipes, sticks and tear gas to disperse protesters.


SYRIA
As protests heated up around the region, the Syrian government pulled back from a plan to withdraw some subsidies that keep the cost of living down in the country. President Bashar al-Assad also gave a rare interview to Western media, telling The Wall Street Journal last month that he planned reforms that would allow local elections and included a new media law and more power for private organizations. A planned "Day of Rage" that was being organized on Facebook against the al-Assad government failed to materialize, The New York Times reported.

Roots of unrest:
Opponents of the al-Assad government claim massive human rights abuses and an emergency law has been in effect since 1963.


TUNISIA
An uprising in Tunisia prompted autocratic President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to leave the country on January 14, after weeks of demonstrations. Those demonstrations sparked protests around North Africa and the Middle East.

Roots of unrest:
The revolt was triggered when an unemployed college graduate set himself ablaze after police confiscated his fruit cart, cutting off his source of income. Protesters complained about high unemployment, corruption, rising prices and political repression.


PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
Hundreds of Palestinians rallied for unity in Ramallah on Thursday, calling on Hamas, Fatah and other Palestinian political factions to heal their rifts amid arguments over elections scheduled for September in the Palestinian territories.

"Division generates corruption," was one of several slogans written on banners held up by the demonstrators, who flooded the streets after calls went out on social networking sites, as well as schools and university campuses, for them to attend.

Roots of unrest:
The Palestinian territories have not seen the kind of demonstrations as in many Arab countries, but the Fatah leaders of the Palestinian Authority have been under criticism since Al-Jazeera published secret papers claiming to reveal that Palestinian officials were prepared to make wide-ranging concessions in negotiations with Israel.

Negotiations toward a resolution of the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict have since collapsed. Palestinian protests, largely in support of Egypt and Tunisia, were generally small and poorly attended, and in some cases the Hamas rulers of Gaza and the Palestinian Authority rulers of the West Bank actively tried to stifle protests.

The split between Hamas and Fatah hampers internal change in the territories, although calls for political change are growing louder among Palestinians. Large-scale protests, as seen elsewhere in the Arab world, have failed to materialize, as many Palestinians believe their problem remains the Israeli occupation.

[donnie]

yahoo posting news about protest in bahrain but the pictures showing the pro-goverment rally this morning:

http://en-maktoob.yahoo.com/

check the comments and discussion forum filled with angry people saying how they distorting the truth.

and this is a facebook page with pictures of the pro-government rally:
http://www.facebook.com/amanbahrain

the only reliable source for me was CNN, BBC & AL-Jazeera were very biased torwards the shiaat.

I wont go into the history of why this is occurring, and the mindset of this cult in bahrain that is faking a revolution. but what is happening in bahrain is a beginning of a civil war.

[Mistress Stowastiq]

There is also MSNBC's Richard Engel there in Bahrain and he has stories coming up on the web. I have not seen anything from Al Jaz English saying that they are faking it in Bahrain, on the contrary they keep playing really graphic footage and doctors begging for help. They might show pro gov rally to let you know that they are going on. I am mostly watching the Tweets of journos and others who are in Bahrain and they are pretty stunned by the shit going down.

[Mistress Stowastiq]

wikileaks WikiLeaks
Hundreds of new Bahranian cables released http://wikileaks.ch/reldate/2011-02-18_0.html

@Zealot I am still learning. I know there is Shia vs Sunni going on but exactly how elaborate it is I cannot possibly fathom. This article by the Telegraph is pretty informative. I am also trying to review the WL cables.

Telegraph CO UK: Bahrain royal family orders army to turn on the people
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...he-people.html

[donnie]

yea well shit is going down. the problem is, they do not show you what the shiaat call for in their mosques. they said before the rallies begin " to go and kill your self for the islamic cause" and those idiots were throwing themselves to the police so they can get to heaven as they assume they will.

there are 2 different shiiat in bahrain, one that belong to the religious leaders in Iran, and ones that belong to the shiiat leaders in iraq. now the ones that have allegiance to Iran are the ones starting all this shit since the 80s after khomaini took over Iran and established Iranian cells across the middle east.

they have tried many MANY different methods since the 80s which all failed. and took a chance after the uprising to twist it as a revolution in the beginning raising bahraini flags. but now today in their mouring marches they were raising the green and black flags " representing Iran".

now the other shiiat came from Iraq, and they are against this and have marched with the pro-government protest today and pledged allegiance to the king. with those 2 uprising in the same time, the government now is in dillima locally ( sunni + other arabs vs Iranian shiiat civil war) and regionally ( allying with saudi + US , or start turning to a mini-Iran).

there is no middle ground in this because the pro-government protesters have voiced to the powers in country that they will not follow the goverment if they allow shiiat to be able to enroll in military or elect a prime minister, and will get more radical.

tl'dr Bahrain is in the brink of Civil war, as I really see no party backing down.

[donnie]

The BBC articles I've been following indicate this isn't as populist an uprising as what happened in Tunisia or Egypt. Are these pro-government rallies legit? It seems they might be more anti-Shiite than actually supporting the King.

very true, they support the government but explicitly said if Shiiat takes control they will revolt.

edit:

some CNN video clips:

http://www.cnn.com/video/

Click on world news

ninja edit:

and shit just hit the fan now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwnUQ...layer_embedded

[Mistress Stowastiq]

WL Cable: WikiLeaks: King of Bahrain succession plans

http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2008/02/08MANAMA89.html


Bahrain:

Bahrain crackdown leaves medics overwhelmed |video
Security forces fired live ammunition into crowds of unarmed, peaceful demonstrators in Bahrain on Friday as some ambulances were reportedly blocked from reaching the injured. NBC's Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel Reports. http://on.msnbc.com/i2g3Sh

Bahrain protest ends in bloodshed | video
An apparently peaceful protest ended in panic Friday as a sustained burst of gunfire rattled across the capital. NBC's John Ray reports. http://on.msnbc.com/f6Nmen

AL Jazeera English Bahrain Live Blog Bahrain : http://blogs.aljazeera.net/middle-ea...e-blog-bahrain





Libya:

From AL Jazeera English Live Blog Libya: http://blogs.aljazeera.net/middle-ea...ive-blog-libya

As protests in Libya enter their seventh day, following a "day of rage" on Saturday, we keep you updated on the developing situation from our headquarters in Doha, Qatar. (GMT+2)

AJE Live Stream
Twitter Audio: Voices from Libya (Arabic)
Live Protest Radio from Benghazi (Arabic)

(All times are local in Libya)

February 19

5:50am Human Rights Watch now says that Libyan Security forces have killed 84 people over three days Here's the breakdown they give on their site:

20 people in Benghazi, 23 in Baida, three in Ajdabiya, and three in Derna. Hospital sources told Human Rights Watch that security forces killed 35 people in Benghazi on February 18, almost all with live ammunition.

3:00am A doctor in eastern Libya tells Al Jazeera that at least 70 people have been killed in the country since protests started.

1:00am A blogger in Libya tells Al Jazeera that a large number of thugs armed with hammers and swords have stormed into central Benghazi. The blogger also received unconfirmed reports over the telephone that families were being killed and wounded in their own homes on Twenty Street.

12:54 am So many of the video and pictures coming out of Libya are delayed by hours, due to slow or non-existent Internet connections in the country. Here is a video of a mass of people gathered at a mosque in Benghazi earlier today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7ZRs9rpD58

12:12 am Most of our good information is coming out of Benghazi, Libya's second-largest city and reportedly the site of some of its largest protests and worst violence. Here's a picture from earlier on Friday of a large protest crowd gathered outside a courthouse, where we now hear around 20,000 people are camped out near some army tanks, which are not taking any action: [image]


Got this link from twitter when the internet was shut off in Libya.

http://www.renesys.com/blog/2011/02/...onnect-1.shtml

Libyan Disconnect
By James Cowie on February 18, 2011 8:56 PM

Renesys confirms that the 13 globally routed Libyan network prefixes were withdrawn at 23:18 GMT (Friday night, just after midnight Saturday local time), and Libya is off the Internet.

One Libyan route originated by Telecom Italia directly is still BGP-reachable, but inbound traceroutes appear to die in Palermo. A minority of our peers report some surviving paths through the peering connection between Level3 and Telecom Italia, but traceroutes into those prefixes fail, suggesting that the Libyan cutoff is complete.

We wondered whether anyone would repeat Egypt's strategy. Tonight, it appears that we have our answer.
Updates to follow.

[donnie]

article that have been emailed to me from a bahraini writer:

I wish people would stop oversimplifying whats happening in Bahrain. The acts and demands of the Bahraini protesters are not equivalent to that found in Egypt, it is not even a matter of free speech or protest. Those rights are awarded with fair representation of voice in parliament, maybe not power but this claim of having no voice or sounding board for opinions compared to the rest of the gulf is surely being fabricated? For as long as i have known Bahrain there has always been protests and demonstrations. The current protesters bring a mixed bag of messages and demands. A message that has been viciously capitalized on by opportunists looking to hijack the momentum from the regions with real issues. To some who are overly attuned to the drama played out by the media i hope i don't offend you too much, am trying to misdirect you away from the claim that i care nothing for the poor protesters. No instead i pity their short sightedness, and condemn their leadership for acting as if this is nothing more than a disorganized effort to wreck havoc on the natural state of affairs in a Kingdom that has done nothing but progress towards constant improvement, a Kingdom that compared to its peers has lead the way in social reform and brought on aggressive expansion to the rule of law.



If my words seem harsh at a time when i have to bend to media fantasies then i would rather be fair and honest than gullible and naive. I don't think anyone should play to the whims of some obscure media moguls dreams to relive and recreate his own Berlin wall moment. I emphasis that it is a global media that has become married to the concept of "creating" news rather than "reporting" it. And At what cost? How far does this rabble rousing go? The Bahraini people are a far cry away from the injustices brought on by state turmoil which has led to economic frustrations in the rest of the middle east. A kingdom that has the most stable and heavily regulated banking sectors in the region. A Kingdom that has only recently achieved the status of a "developed" nation. A Kingdom that is the regional leader in education and literacy rates. And admittedly with a lot more reform needed for the future. So by who's standard are we measuring progress?



And if all that still isn't enough to knock the average middle eastern drama queen of her moral high horse. Then how about this for morality for you? If reason alone wont do it then shame should convince you. Morality should dictate that after everything Tunis, Egypt, And Yemen have gone and are continually going through. From the North Africa's iron fist of despotic rule, to the squaller of Yemen's subhuman living conditions. All this combined with staggering levels of unemployment and illiteracy rates. The protesters and media parasites fueling this fire are plainly put insulting and degrading the achievements of those whom have actually "suffered" through decades of the same leadership mentalities and policies with no sign of progress ever rearing its head. And here's where the real clincher comes in for me, my own friends, and family from Saudi have yet to whine or communicate to me even the slightest hint of unrest. Comparable reasons aside you would at least believe that the country with actual Human rights violations and no constitutional monarchy would have the first go on whining before the spoiled islander next door gets to. To those who may be soundly asserting to themselves that this is an attempt at a Sunni - Shia standoff. Then i aim to disappoint, as far as am concerned those have always been around and from a personal standpoint we all spill the same red blood on the same white flag. I would personally support the rights for Shia in Saudi "Shia who actually have no voice or protection" long before i supported the offensive spectacle that's currently being paraded around as "A movement against injustice".

[Mistress Stowastiq]

Egyptian army opened a facebook page today [yesterday] after this big celebration in Tahrir Sq.
http://twitpic.com/41cfzg


http://www.facebook.com/Egyptian.Armed.Forces

http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/phot...6CjGdY5oPCQ%3D