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| Syria crisis, Bahrain unrest - live updates | Syria crisis, Bahrain unrest - live updates |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 9.46am: Egypt: Presidential candidate Amr Moussa (pictured) set out his electoral platform yesterday at a rally in Ezbet al-Hagana, a working-class district of Cairo, the Egypt Independent reports. | |
| Some key points: | |
| • Establish an administrative and financial control system that will not only track corruption, but cut it out at the root | |
| • Aim to reduce the poverty rate by 40% by the middle of the next decade | |
| • Double Egypt's gross domestic product in 10 years | |
| • Eradicate illiteracy and attract needed international aid | |
| • Push for decentralised governance by dividing responsibilities between the central authority and local councils, so as to bring decisionmakers and implementers closer to those affected | |
| • Devise a new system of state administration that is based on the empowerment of the people, who would be able to elect the governors, the mayors and the officials of the local councils | |
| Moussa told the rally: "We are not talking about the realm of the impossible. We are not talking about the realm of imagination. We are talking about the realm of the achievable." | |
| In an unusual move for an Arab politician, Moussa, who is 75, promised to serve only one four-year term if elected. | |
| He is now considered a front-runner in the election following the disqualification of 10 other candidates, including Omar Suleiman, Mubarak's former intelligence chief, and Kairat al-Shater of the Muslim Brotherhood. | |
| Moussa served 10 years as Mubarak's foreign minister but resigned in 2001 to become secretary-general of the Arab League. He posts frequently on Twitter as @amremoussa. | |
| 9.31am: Bahrain: In his Guardian interview John Yates insisted that protesters were not being abused by the police. If they were "that would be on YouTube", he insisted. | |
| His remark was an obvious hostage to fortune, and it hasn't taken long for activists to post YouTube of "allegedly terrible things" happening to protesters. | |
| The opposition Al-Wefaq alleges that the Bahrain police were caught red handed beating protesters last night in YouTube footage. | |
| The clip, which cannot be independently verified, claims to show protesters being severely beaten by riot police. | |
| 9.15am: Syria: Once again Homs has come under bombardment this morning underlining the "incomplete" ceasefire. | |
| The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said its contact were reporting mortar fire every minutes. It said the opposition districts of Khaldiyeh, Jouret al-Shayah and Qarabis were being targeted. | |
| Activist again circulated by now familiar video clips purporting to show the Homs skyline coming under attack. | |
| 9.08am: Bahrain: The opposition Al-Wefaq party has tweeted graphic images purporting to show protesters injured by the Bahraini police. | 9.08am: Bahrain: The opposition Al-Wefaq party has tweeted graphic images purporting to show protesters injured by the Bahraini police. |
| Pictures that show injuired prodemocracy protesters due to the excessiveuse of shotguns last night n #Bahrain twitter.com/AlWefaqEN/stat… | Pictures that show injuired prodemocracy protesters due to the excessiveuse of shotguns last night n #Bahrain twitter.com/AlWefaqEN/stat… |
| — AlwefaqEN (@AlWefaqEN) April 19, 2012 | — AlwefaqEN (@AlWefaqEN) April 19, 2012 |
| 8.50am: Bahrain: Human rights activists are about to start a press conference to highlight police brutality during yesterday's demonstrations. | 8.50am: Bahrain: Human rights activists are about to start a press conference to highlight police brutality during yesterday's demonstrations. |
| Activist Ala'a Shehabi tweeted reports of injuries so far: | Activist Ala'a Shehabi tweeted reports of injuries so far: |
| Overnight reports of 23 injuries from shotgun pellets (alltreated @ home 4 fear of arrest @ hospital).Violent house raids+10 arrests #F1 | Overnight reports of 23 injuries from shotgun pellets (alltreated @ home 4 fear of arrest @ hospital).Violent house raids+10 arrests #F1 |
| — Dr Ala'a Shehabi (@alaashehabi) April 19, 2012 | — Dr Ala'a Shehabi (@alaashehabi) April 19, 2012 |
| Bahrain's ministry of the interior accused protesters of rioting and vandalism and threatened more firm action in future. In a statement it said: | Bahrain's ministry of the interior accused protesters of rioting and vandalism and threatened more firm action in future. In a statement it said: |
| Chief of Public Security Major-General Tariq Al Hassan said that as part of the police duty to maintain security and stability in Bahrain and enforce the law, a number of rioters and vandals had been arrested for taking part in illegal rallies and gatherings, hindering public and private interests by blocking roads and endangering people's lives by attacking them as well as policemen with Molotov cocktails, iron rods and stones ... | Chief of Public Security Major-General Tariq Al Hassan said that as part of the police duty to maintain security and stability in Bahrain and enforce the law, a number of rioters and vandals had been arrested for taking part in illegal rallies and gatherings, hindering public and private interests by blocking roads and endangering people's lives by attacking them as well as policemen with Molotov cocktails, iron rods and stones ... |
| The Chief of Public Security said that such acts of vandalism did not come under the definition of freedom of expression protected by the law. Instead, they are considered acts causing chaos which are against civilised behaviour and endanger civil peace. He affirmed that maintaining security and peace among the public and ensuring their safety as well as the safety of public and private property were the top priorities for security men and any violation was tackled by police with zero tolerance. Any activities which violate the law are tackled firmly according to legal regulations and the authority of police, he said. | The Chief of Public Security said that such acts of vandalism did not come under the definition of freedom of expression protected by the law. Instead, they are considered acts causing chaos which are against civilised behaviour and endanger civil peace. He affirmed that maintaining security and peace among the public and ensuring their safety as well as the safety of public and private property were the top priorities for security men and any violation was tackled by police with zero tolerance. Any activities which violate the law are tackled firmly according to legal regulations and the authority of police, he said. |
| Later today the trial of 20 medics targeted by the government after they treated injured protesters is due to resume. The campaign group Human Rights First said: | Later today the trial of 20 medics targeted by the government after they treated injured protesters is due to resume. The campaign group Human Rights First said: |
The medics were detained, tortured and sentenced to prison terms of between five and 15 years after an unfair trial in a military court. The government continues to press its case against them and many others it perceives to be associated with the democracy protests. | The medics were detained, tortured and sentenced to prison terms of between five and 15 years after an unfair trial in a military court. The government continues to press its case against them and many others it perceives to be associated with the democracy protests. |
| 8.25am: (all times BST) Welcome to Middle East Live. UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon has accused Syria of not complying with the ceasefire and the former Met police officer advising Bahrain has warned that the authorities can't guarantee safety at Sunday's Grand Prix. | 8.25am: (all times BST) Welcome to Middle East Live. UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon has accused Syria of not complying with the ceasefire and the former Met police officer advising Bahrain has warned that the authorities can't guarantee safety at Sunday's Grand Prix. |
| Here's a roundup of the main developments: | Here's a roundup of the main developments: |
| Syria | Syria |
| • The UN secretary-general says Syria has failed to comply with its obligation under a peace plan to pull troops and heavy weapons out of urban areas. In a letter to the UN Security Council, Ban Ki-moon called for an observer mission to be expanded to 300 members. | • The UN secretary-general says Syria has failed to comply with its obligation under a peace plan to pull troops and heavy weapons out of urban areas. In a letter to the UN Security Council, Ban Ki-moon called for an observer mission to be expanded to 300 members. |
| • Ban's letter confirmed that shots were fired to disperse crowd in the Damascus suburb of Arbeen while UN monitors were visiting the area, according to the BBC's Barbara Plett. | • Ban's letter confirmed that shots were fired to disperse crowd in the Damascus suburb of Arbeen while UN monitors were visiting the area, according to the BBC's Barbara Plett. |
| As this blog reported yesterday video showed protesters fleeing the area after the shots were heard. | As this blog reported yesterday video showed protesters fleeing the area after the shots were heard. |
| • French president Nicolas Sarkozy has again called for the establishment of humanitarian corridors to help the Syrian opposition. "Bashar al-Assad is lying ... He wants to wipe Homs off the map just like Gaddafi wanted to destroy Benghazi," Sarkozy said ahead of a meeting for foreign ministers on Syria in Paris. | • French president Nicolas Sarkozy has again called for the establishment of humanitarian corridors to help the Syrian opposition. "Bashar al-Assad is lying ... He wants to wipe Homs off the map just like Gaddafi wanted to destroy Benghazi," Sarkozy said ahead of a meeting for foreign ministers on Syria in Paris. |
| • Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma have been shown on Syrian state TV packing food aid, in an apparent effort to repair the image of a first couple derided for ordering luxury goods on the internet while their country burns. At a stadium in Damascus they joined hundreds of volunteers boxing cartons of flour, sugar, cooking oil and pasta for victims of the fighting in Homs. | • Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma have been shown on Syrian state TV packing food aid, in an apparent effort to repair the image of a first couple derided for ordering luxury goods on the internet while their country burns. At a stadium in Damascus they joined hundreds of volunteers boxing cartons of flour, sugar, cooking oil and pasta for victims of the fighting in Homs. |
| Bahrain | Bahrain |
| • About 200 protesters confronted police for more than an hour before being scattered by stun grenades in the main shopping area of the capital Manama, Paul Weaver reports. They chanted "down with the government" and "we want freedom" as they waved posters supporting the hunger striker and human rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja. Activists in the country are pushing to get their voices heard ahead of Sunday's Grand Prix. Three "days of rage" have been called, to begin after prayers on Friday. | • About 200 protesters confronted police for more than an hour before being scattered by stun grenades in the main shopping area of the capital Manama, Paul Weaver reports. They chanted "down with the government" and "we want freedom" as they waved posters supporting the hunger striker and human rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja. Activists in the country are pushing to get their voices heard ahead of Sunday's Grand Prix. Three "days of rage" have been called, to begin after prayers on Friday. |
| • The government of Bahrain cannot guarantee the safety of Formula One teams and spectators at this Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix as violence escalates in the Gulf kingdom, according to the British former police officer who is working on security at the track. John Yates, the former assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan police who is employed by the Bahrain government to advise on police reform, told the Guardian: "People say can we guarantee security. Of course we can't guarantee security. I'd be a fool to sit here and say that. Is it possible there might be an incursion on the track? Of course there is. It's an open event. Can you stop some idiot running onto the track? There have been other incidents of track incursions." Yates also said police would retaliate with live rounds if necessary. | • The government of Bahrain cannot guarantee the safety of Formula One teams and spectators at this Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix as violence escalates in the Gulf kingdom, according to the British former police officer who is working on security at the track. John Yates, the former assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan police who is employed by the Bahrain government to advise on police reform, told the Guardian: "People say can we guarantee security. Of course we can't guarantee security. I'd be a fool to sit here and say that. Is it possible there might be an incursion on the track? Of course there is. It's an open event. Can you stop some idiot running onto the track? There have been other incidents of track incursions." Yates also said police would retaliate with live rounds if necessary. |
| • A group of MPs have launched a cross-party campaign calling for a halt to this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix because of government crackdowns in the Gulf state. The Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn has won support for an early day motion from the Tory Peter Bottomley and the Liberal Democrat Bob Russell. It said: "This House is astonished that the Bahrain Formula One race is going ahead despite huge concerns over abuse of human rights expressed by Amnesty International and others. | • A group of MPs have launched a cross-party campaign calling for a halt to this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix because of government crackdowns in the Gulf state. The Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn has won support for an early day motion from the Tory Peter Bottomley and the Liberal Democrat Bob Russell. It said: "This House is astonished that the Bahrain Formula One race is going ahead despite huge concerns over abuse of human rights expressed by Amnesty International and others. |
| • Cherif Bassiouni, the chairman of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry into human rights insisted that the Kingdom was "genuine" in its intention to tackle abuses, but needed to do more. | • Cherif Bassiouni, the chairman of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry into human rights insisted that the Kingdom was "genuine" in its intention to tackle abuses, but needed to do more. |
| In an interview with Foreign Policy magazine he said Bahrain society had to change so that all the power was no longer in the hands of the Sunni minority. "That can't be, things have to change," he said. | In an interview with Foreign Policy magazine he said Bahrain society had to change so that all the power was no longer in the hands of the Sunni minority. "That can't be, things have to change," he said. |
| Egypt | Egypt |
| • Khairat al-Shater the Muslim Brotherhood financier who has been barred from standing as president told the BBC that progress towards democracy is in danger. Shater said he feared the possibility of a rigged election and signalled that Brotherhood would increase its pressure, both inside and outside parliament, to ensure that the transition to democracy goes ahead. | • Khairat al-Shater the Muslim Brotherhood financier who has been barred from standing as president told the BBC that progress towards democracy is in danger. Shater said he feared the possibility of a rigged election and signalled that Brotherhood would increase its pressure, both inside and outside parliament, to ensure that the transition to democracy goes ahead. |
| Libya | Libya |
| • The National Transitional Council continued to insist that Saif al-Islam Gaddafi will be tried in Libya during a visit to Tripoli the international criminal court chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the Libya Herald reports. NTC chairman Abdul Jalil said talks with Moren-Ocampo had focused purely on the trial proceedings of Saif in Libya. He added that the Moreno-Ocampo had come to Tripoli to check the procedures put in place for Saif's trial in Libya. | • The National Transitional Council continued to insist that Saif al-Islam Gaddafi will be tried in Libya during a visit to Tripoli the international criminal court chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the Libya Herald reports. NTC chairman Abdul Jalil said talks with Moren-Ocampo had focused purely on the trial proceedings of Saif in Libya. He added that the Moreno-Ocampo had come to Tripoli to check the procedures put in place for Saif's trial in Libya. |