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| Syria and Middle East unrest - live updates | Syria and Middle East unrest - live updates |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 10.32am: Syria: The peace plan brokered by international mediator Kofi Annan is on track despite numerous reports of violations of the ceasefire, the former UN secretary-general's spokesman said today. Ahmad Fawzi suggested more patience was needed. He is quoted by Reuters as saying: | |
| I would say that the Annan plan is on track and a crisis that has been going on for over a year is not going to be resolved in a day or a week. There are signs on the ground of movement (towards compliance with the plan), albeit slow and small. | |
| Fawzi said there will be "around 50 observers" on the ground by the end of today. He added that that the UN so far has obtained commitments from nations for 150 of the 300 observers that the UN security council authorised, suggesting it is still struggling to make up the numbers. | |
| The Local Coordination Committees activist group claims 10 people have been killed by the security forces already today, three in Aleppo, two each in Deir Ezzor, Homs and Hama and one in Deraa. The Guardian cannot independently verify the LCC's reports. | |
| 10.26am: Egypt: The Iranian Press TV claims that "British spies" are running the presidential election campaign of former foreign minister Amr Moussa: | |
| A team of British spies from UK's foreign spying apparatus MI6 are in Egypt to run the election campaign of Amr Moussa, who's affiliated to western and US governments, a report said. | |
| After several reports and close observations of the secrecy surrounding Amr Moussa's election campaign, a reporter working for the Islam Times in Cairo confirmed that there are a team of British intelligence officers that are running Moussa's presidential campaign. | |
| The sources also confirmed that Britain has agreed with Amr Moussa to train a squad of its secret intelligence agents to work in Egypt through British ambassador to Cairo "James Watt". | |
| 10.18am: Kuwait: Security forces have arrested at least 16 stateless residents of Kuwait, known as Bidun, during a peaceful demonstration in support of their rights to nationality, Human Rights Watch says. | |
| Masked officers used batons and armoured vehicles to disperse and arrest the protesters last Tuesday, participants and Kuwaiti activists told Human Rights Watch. Some 200-300 Bidun had gathered near al-Sha'bi mosque in Taima'a to demand government action on their citizenship claims and resolution of their stateless status. | |
| Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, said: | |
| The Bidun have a right like anyone else to peaceful protest, which the Kuwaiti authorities are obligated to respect. The government needs to realise that suppressing peaceful demonstrations isn't going to make Bidun grievances go away. | |
| 10.06am: Libya: The National Transitional Council has granted immunity to all those who fought to overthrow the Gaddafi regime. A statement posted on the NYC's website said: | |
| "There is no punishment for acts made necessary by the February 17 revolution." | |
| It added that the immunity covers "military, security or civilian acts undertaken by revolutionaries with the aim of ensuring the revolution's success". | |
| The move is likely to exacerbate tensions between the NTC and the International Criminal Court, since rights groups say war crimes were committed by both sides during last year's conflict. | |
| 9.52am: Syria: The opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) has called for a nationwide student strike in response to the assault by security forces on Aleppo university that activists say left at least four dead. | 9.52am: Syria: The opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) has called for a nationwide student strike in response to the assault by security forces on Aleppo university that activists say left at least four dead. |
| In a statement, the SNC, an umbrella opposition organisation based outside the country, urged the strike "in solidarity with students at Aleppo University." | In a statement, the SNC, an umbrella opposition organisation based outside the country, urged the strike "in solidarity with students at Aleppo University." |
| Three people are said to still be in a critical condition after the assault on the university on Wednesday night. | Three people are said to still be in a critical condition after the assault on the university on Wednesday night. |
| 9.39am: Egypt: Cairo is braced for mass protests today after the Muslim Brotherhood called for a "million-person" march. Al-Jazeera reports: | 9.39am: Egypt: Cairo is braced for mass protests today after the Muslim Brotherhood called for a "million-person" march. Al-Jazeera reports: |
| Friday's protest comes amid heightened tension after 11 people were killed in clashes that broke out on Wednesday when unidentified group attacked protesters staging a sit-in outside the ministry of defence in Cairo. | Friday's protest comes amid heightened tension after 11 people were killed in clashes that broke out on Wednesday when unidentified group attacked protesters staging a sit-in outside the ministry of defence in Cairo. |
| "I'm telling the military council … enough bloodshed, enough fabricated crisis, enough unleashing of thugs on the public, enough destruction … we want them to transfer power to an independent transitional authority tomorrow," Akrami Darwish, a protester, said on Friday. | "I'm telling the military council … enough bloodshed, enough fabricated crisis, enough unleashing of thugs on the public, enough destruction … we want them to transfer power to an independent transitional authority tomorrow," Akrami Darwish, a protester, said on Friday. |
| The protest is expected to draw people from all major political formations in Egypt, namely Muslim Brotherhood, the Salafist movement and the liberal activist movements. | The protest is expected to draw people from all major political formations in Egypt, namely Muslim Brotherhood, the Salafist movement and the liberal activist movements. |
| 9.36am: Syria: Despite remarks from the head of the UN observers, Maj Gen Robert Mood, that there is "a good chance and an opportunity" to break the cycle of violence in Syria, the White House is not convinced and says the international community should be ready to consider other unspecified measures. White House press secretary Jay Carney said: | 9.36am: Syria: Despite remarks from the head of the UN observers, Maj Gen Robert Mood, that there is "a good chance and an opportunity" to break the cycle of violence in Syria, the White House is not convinced and says the international community should be ready to consider other unspecified measures. White House press secretary Jay Carney said: |
| If the regime's intransigence continues, the international community is going to have to admit defeat ... It is clear and we will not deny that the plan has not been succeeding thus far. | If the regime's intransigence continues, the international community is going to have to admit defeat ... It is clear and we will not deny that the plan has not been succeeding thus far. |
| Carney aid that if the Syrian regime keeps flouting the ceasefire, the US and other nations should try other measures to pressure Assad. He said that would include a return to the UN security council, which approved an observer mission in Syria last month, and other attempts to marshal international pressure. He did not say what that might entail. | Carney aid that if the Syrian regime keeps flouting the ceasefire, the US and other nations should try other measures to pressure Assad. He said that would include a return to the UN security council, which approved an observer mission in Syria last month, and other attempts to marshal international pressure. He did not say what that might entail. |
| 9.16am: Bahrain: The British entertainment listings magazine, Radio Times, has unexpectedly become caught up in Bahrain's politics. Its website published an online poll, asking readers which current affairs documentary should win this year's Bafta awards. | 9.16am: Bahrain: The British entertainment listings magazine, Radio Times, has unexpectedly become caught up in Bahrain's politics. Its website published an online poll, asking readers which current affairs documentary should win this year's Bafta awards. |
| The four nominees include one from al-Jazeera English, Bahrain: Shouting in the Dark, which is critical of the regime. Supporters of the regime had other ideas about which programme should win, and urged readers to vote for a Channel 4 documentary about Sri Lanka instead. | The four nominees include one from al-Jazeera English, Bahrain: Shouting in the Dark, which is critical of the regime. Supporters of the regime had other ideas about which programme should win, and urged readers to vote for a Channel 4 documentary about Sri Lanka instead. |
| For several days, thousands of Arabic language tweets - at peak hours several tweets a second - have been pouring out of Bahrain and the Gulf in a steady stream, many of them filled with religious epithets and hate speech. | For several days, thousands of Arabic language tweets - at peak hours several tweets a second - have been pouring out of Bahrain and the Gulf in a steady stream, many of them filled with religious epithets and hate speech. |
| Around half of them call on Arabs to "vote for Sri Lanka [the subject of a fellow nominee in our category] and prevent Shi'a infidels from defaming Bahrain," to "vote 100 times, we have to break the heads of the traitorous bastards and of Al Jazeera the agent," and "complete this vote for Sri Lanka so Al Jazeera loses and we give her a lesson she'll never forget." | Around half of them call on Arabs to "vote for Sri Lanka [the subject of a fellow nominee in our category] and prevent Shi'a infidels from defaming Bahrain," to "vote 100 times, we have to break the heads of the traitorous bastards and of Al Jazeera the agent," and "complete this vote for Sri Lanka so Al Jazeera loses and we give her a lesson she'll never forget." |
| The result has been an unprecedented voting frenzy. This morning, al-Jazeera is marginally ahead with 373,000 votes, while Channel 4 has 338,000. The other two nominated programmes have have a mere 1,300 votes each. | The result has been an unprecedented voting frenzy. This morning, al-Jazeera is marginally ahead with 373,000 votes, while Channel 4 has 338,000. The other two nominated programmes have have a mere 1,300 votes each. |
| Online voting will make no difference to the eventual result, since the winner will be decided by a panel of judges. | Online voting will make no difference to the eventual result, since the winner will be decided by a panel of judges. |
| 8.52am: 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. Here is a summary of the latest developments. | 8.52am: 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. Here is a summary of the latest developments. |
| Syria | Syria |
| • At least four students were killed after security services stormed dormitories at Aleppo University, activists and opposition groups said. Dozens more were injured and scores arrested, according to the reports. The university announced that it was suspending classes until exam finals on 13 May. | • At least four students were killed after security services stormed dormitories at Aleppo University, activists and opposition groups said. Dozens more were injured and scores arrested, according to the reports. The university announced that it was suspending classes until exam finals on 13 May. |
| • Government forces must make the first move to end the bloodshed in Syria, Major General Robert Mood, head of the UN mission, said yesterday. "If you have two individuals using on each other all their weapons, who is going to be the first one to move the finger? Who is going to be the first one to make the move? My approach to that is that the strongest party needs to make the first move." | • Government forces must make the first move to end the bloodshed in Syria, Major General Robert Mood, head of the UN mission, said yesterday. "If you have two individuals using on each other all their weapons, who is going to be the first one to move the finger? Who is going to be the first one to make the move? My approach to that is that the strongest party needs to make the first move." |
| Egypt | Egypt |
| • The ruling military council insists it will hand over power to civilian rule by the end of June, following the presidential election. At a press conference, senior generals defended their record since the overthrow of President Mubarak last year and denied any involvement in the deaths of up to 20 protesters killed in violent clashes outside the defence ministry on Wednesday. The Muslim Brotherhood has said it holds the military largely responsible for the deaths. | • The ruling military council insists it will hand over power to civilian rule by the end of June, following the presidential election. At a press conference, senior generals defended their record since the overthrow of President Mubarak last year and denied any involvement in the deaths of up to 20 protesters killed in violent clashes outside the defence ministry on Wednesday. The Muslim Brotherhood has said it holds the military largely responsible for the deaths. |
| Bahrain | Bahrain |
| • Following a speech by King Hamad hailing the "blossoming" of media freedom in Bahrain, it emerged that the kingdom has blocked a visit from an international freedom-of-expression delegation. Permission for the visit – by representatives from Freedom House, the Gulf Centre for Human Rights, Index on Censorship, PEN International, the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders had been granted on April 11. Less than a week before the delegation was due to arrive, permission has now been revoked. The groups involved say the move reflects an "unwillingness to engage in serious dialogue on issues of human rights and freedom of expression". | • Following a speech by King Hamad hailing the "blossoming" of media freedom in Bahrain, it emerged that the kingdom has blocked a visit from an international freedom-of-expression delegation. Permission for the visit – by representatives from Freedom House, the Gulf Centre for Human Rights, Index on Censorship, PEN International, the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders had been granted on April 11. Less than a week before the delegation was due to arrive, permission has now been revoked. The groups involved say the move reflects an "unwillingness to engage in serious dialogue on issues of human rights and freedom of expression". |