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| Syria, Egypt and Middle East unrest – live updates | Syria, Egypt and Middle East unrest – live updates |
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| 10.19am: Syria: In another video from Aleppo University, where activists say at least four students were killed (see 9.40am), the sound of intense gunfire can be heard. It is difficult to make out the different figures running outside as the video is filmed from a room high off the ground. A voiceover at the end says "Assad mukhabarat [secret police]." | |
| Another video purports to show students outside the dormitories amid their belongings, strewn on the ground. | |
| 10.03am: Tunisia: Two police officers who killed a protester last year have been jailed for 20 years each – the first punishment meted out to security officials over their crackdown on the revolution that ousted President Ben Ali, Reuters reports. | |
| The officers were also fined 80,000 dinars ($60,000) each for their role in the death of Salim al-Hadhary, a source said. The money will go to the victim's family. | |
| 9.40am: Syria: Syrian security forces stormed student dorms at Aleppo University in the north-west of the country following anti-government protests there, killing at least four students and wounding several others with teargas and live ammunition, activists and opposition groups said today. From AP . | 9.40am: Syria: Syrian security forces stormed student dorms at Aleppo University in the north-west of the country following anti-government protests there, killing at least four students and wounding several others with teargas and live ammunition, activists and opposition groups said today. From AP . |
| Around 1,500 students had been protesting in student quarters adjacent to Aleppo University's main campus late Wednesday when security forces and pro-regime gunmen swept into their residences, firing tear gas at first, then live ammunition to disperse them. | Around 1,500 students had been protesting in student quarters adjacent to Aleppo University's main campus late Wednesday when security forces and pro-regime gunmen swept into their residences, firing tear gas at first, then live ammunition to disperse them. |
| Student activist Thaer al-Ahmed said panic and chaos ensued as students tried to flee. "Some students ran to their rooms to take cover but they were followed to their rooms, beaten up and arrested," he said. He said raids and intermittent gunfire continued until early Thursday morning. Dozens of people were wounded, some critically, and around 50 students were arrested, he said. | Student activist Thaer al-Ahmed said panic and chaos ensued as students tried to flee. "Some students ran to their rooms to take cover but they were followed to their rooms, beaten up and arrested," he said. He said raids and intermittent gunfire continued until early Thursday morning. Dozens of people were wounded, some critically, and around 50 students were arrested, he said. |
| The Local Coordination Committees activist group confirmed the raid and said five students were killed and some 200 arrested while the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said four students were killed. "Regime forces demanded through loudspeakers that the dorms be evacuated, then began detaining the students," the LCC said in a statement. | The Local Coordination Committees activist group confirmed the raid and said five students were killed and some 200 arrested while the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said four students were killed. "Regime forces demanded through loudspeakers that the dorms be evacuated, then began detaining the students," the LCC said in a statement. |
| The LCC says demonstrations are taking place now, both elsewhere on the campus and outside the campus, in solidarity with the students who were attacked. | The LCC says demonstrations are taking place now, both elsewhere on the campus and outside the campus, in solidarity with the students who were attacked. |
| A video posted online purports to shows the demonstration at the university dorms last night. | A video posted online purports to shows the demonstration at the university dorms last night. |
| Another is said to show a student who was shot. | Another is said to show a student who was shot. |
| This video shows purports to show a fire still blazing at the university dorms after the attacks. http://youtu.be/uulRMOFytWc | This video shows purports to show a fire still blazing at the university dorms after the attacks. http://youtu.be/uulRMOFytWc |
| A picture of one of those said to have been killed, named as Majed Abdulhaid, has been posted on Twitter. (warning:graphic) | A picture of one of those said to have been killed, named as Majed Abdulhaid, has been posted on Twitter. (warning:graphic) |
| 9.33am: Syria: Will it end in stalemate or checkmate? The New York Times is intrigued to discover that the president of the World Chess Federation was in Damascus at the weekend and had three hours of talks with President Assad . | 9.33am: Syria: Will it end in stalemate or checkmate? The New York Times is intrigued to discover that the president of the World Chess Federation was in Damascus at the weekend and had three hours of talks with President Assad . |
| It says Kirsan Ilyumzhinov – described as "an eccentric Russian millionaire" – was officially visiting Syria to promote the teaching of chess in schools, though the paper notes that he also went to Libya last year in an effort to negotiate a settlement between the Libyan rebels and Colonel Gaddafi: | It says Kirsan Ilyumzhinov – described as "an eccentric Russian millionaire" – was officially visiting Syria to promote the teaching of chess in schools, though the paper notes that he also went to Libya last year in an effort to negotiate a settlement between the Libyan rebels and Colonel Gaddafi: |
| Although he holds no formal diplomatic position with the Russian government, his repeated visits to Arab countries in turmoil have reinforced the impression that he is serving as an informal envoy, using the chess organization's business as a fittingly Russian ruse. | Although he holds no formal diplomatic position with the Russian government, his repeated visits to Arab countries in turmoil have reinforced the impression that he is serving as an informal envoy, using the chess organization's business as a fittingly Russian ruse. |
| 9.23am: Bahrain: To mark World Press Freedom Day, King Hamad has announced "a new era" for Bahrain's media, the pro-government Gulf Daily News reports. The king is quoted as saying: | 9.23am: Bahrain: To mark World Press Freedom Day, King Hamad has announced "a new era" for Bahrain's media, the pro-government Gulf Daily News reports. The king is quoted as saying: |
| There should be no tampering with the right of Bahraini citizens in expressing their opinions, nor any ceilings put on their freedoms or creativity apart from professional consciousness, national and ethical responsibilities and observance of the people's unity and national interest in compliance with the constitution and the law. | There should be no tampering with the right of Bahraini citizens in expressing their opinions, nor any ceilings put on their freedoms or creativity apart from professional consciousness, national and ethical responsibilities and observance of the people's unity and national interest in compliance with the constitution and the law. |
| Media freedoms are ushering in a more advanced phase of diversity, independence and respect of opinion and counter-opinion. | Media freedoms are ushering in a more advanced phase of diversity, independence and respect of opinion and counter-opinion. |
| The king added that legislation to "boost freedom of opinion and expression in compliance with highest international standards" was on in preparation. | The king added that legislation to "boost freedom of opinion and expression in compliance with highest international standards" was on in preparation. |
| 9.00am: Good morning. Welcome to Middle East Live. During the day we shall be monitoring unrest in Syria, Egypt, Bahrain and other parts of the region, and keeping an eye on the growing problems faced by the Un monitoring operation in Syria. | 9.00am: Good morning. Welcome to Middle East Live. During the day we shall be monitoring unrest in Syria, Egypt, Bahrain and other parts of the region, and keeping an eye on the growing problems faced by the Un monitoring operation in Syria. |
| Syria | Syria |
| • The UN monitoring mission is in trouble – and not just on the ground in Syria, where the monitors are constantly tailed by the authorities. "The UN is making repeated calls to member states seeking personnel as it tries to deploy the full force by the end of May," Bloomberg reports. | • The UN monitoring mission is in trouble – and not just on the ground in Syria, where the monitors are constantly tailed by the authorities. "The UN is making repeated calls to member states seeking personnel as it tries to deploy the full force by the end of May," Bloomberg reports. |
| It adds that the deployment is hindered by the acknowledgment of US and other security council diplomats that the mission is likely to fail and that its purpose is to convince Russia and China that stronger measures, which they previously blocked, are needed to force President Bashar al-Assad to stop killing his opponents and civilians. | It adds that the deployment is hindered by the acknowledgment of US and other security council diplomats that the mission is likely to fail and that its purpose is to convince Russia and China that stronger measures, which they previously blocked, are needed to force President Bashar al-Assad to stop killing his opponents and civilians. |
| • In a statement last night, the Avaaz organisation said the Annan plan is "in the gutter". | • In a statement last night, the Avaaz organisation said the Annan plan is "in the gutter". |
| Referring to developments in Homs, it said "While the pace of bombardment slowed significantly ever since the UN observers arrived in the city, the Annan plan is not being upheld. Armed opposition groups remain inside the city while the regime's forces retain a formidable presence." | Referring to developments in Homs, it said "While the pace of bombardment slowed significantly ever since the UN observers arrived in the city, the Annan plan is not being upheld. Armed opposition groups remain inside the city while the regime's forces retain a formidable presence." |
| • The Syrian government imported $167m-worth of air defence systems and missiles and a further $1m of small arms and ammunition in the months before it began the crackdown on opposition activists, a report by the charity Oxfam says. | • The Syrian government imported $167m-worth of air defence systems and missiles and a further $1m of small arms and ammunition in the months before it began the crackdown on opposition activists, a report by the charity Oxfam says. |
| Egypt | Egypt |
| • The ruling military council (Scaf) says it was not reponsible for the deaths of 11 or more protesters during recent clashes in Cairo and will hold a press conference later today, the Egypt Independent reports. | • The ruling military council (Scaf) says it was not reponsible for the deaths of 11 or more protesters during recent clashes in Cairo and will hold a press conference later today, the Egypt Independent reports. |
| A statement on Scaf's Facebook page says: "The armed forces have over the last week endured what it cannot tolerate of insults and attacks from demonstrators in front of the defence ministry." | A statement on Scaf's Facebook page says: "The armed forces have over the last week endured what it cannot tolerate of insults and attacks from demonstrators in front of the defence ministry." |
| Libya | Libya |
| • Shokri Ghanem, Libya's former oil chief who was found drowned in the river Danube on Sunday, was wanted for questioning in Libya, Reuters reports. The Libyan authorities had sent a warrant to Interpol about a month ago but were still awaiting a "decisive reply". | • Shokri Ghanem, Libya's former oil chief who was found drowned in the river Danube on Sunday, was wanted for questioning in Libya, Reuters reports. The Libyan authorities had sent a warrant to Interpol about a month ago but were still awaiting a "decisive reply". |
| • The National Transitional Council has lifted controversial restrictions on the types of political parties that can take part in next month's election, the BBC reports. | • The National Transitional Council has lifted controversial restrictions on the types of political parties that can take part in next month's election, the BBC reports. |
| In April the NTC had announced a ban on parties organised along religious, regional, tribal or ethnic lines, saying that this was a measure to preserve "national unity". But yesterday it issued a new version of the law which made no mention of the restrictions. | In April the NTC had announced a ban on parties organised along religious, regional, tribal or ethnic lines, saying that this was a measure to preserve "national unity". But yesterday it issued a new version of the law which made no mention of the restrictions. |