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Syria crisis hits Beirut - live updates Syria crisis hits Beirut - live updates
(40 minutes later)
9.15am: Yemen: Al-Jazeera's Jane Ferguson, in Sana'a, says 50 people were killed in the suicide attack. She said the death toll was likely to increase as attack occurred in a packed crowd. 9.15am: Yemen: Al-Jazeera's Jane Ferguson, in Sana'a, says 50 people were killed in the suicide attack. She said the death toll was likely to increase as the attack occurred in a packed crowd.
The blast occurred outside the presidential palace during preparations for tomorrow's parade. Most of those killed were soldiers, she said.The blast occurred outside the presidential palace during preparations for tomorrow's parade. Most of those killed were soldiers, she said.
9.06am: Yemen: Scores of people have been killed in a suicide bombing against a military parade in the capital Sana'a, AP reports citing a government official. 9.06am: Yemen: Scores of people have been killed in a suicide bombing against a military parade in the capital Sana'a, AP reports, citing a government official.
The parade was scheduled to mark Yemen's national day and the new president, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, was due to attend.The parade was scheduled to mark Yemen's national day and the new president, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, was due to attend.
The BBC reports:The BBC reports:
The bomber, who was wearing military uniform, blew himself up among the soldiers as they marched through Sabin Square, near the presidential palace.The bomber, who was wearing military uniform, blew himself up among the soldiers as they marched through Sabin Square, near the presidential palace.
Witnesses said remains of the victims were scattered across the square, where large military parades are often held. Ambulances rushed to the area to take survivors to hospital.Witnesses said remains of the victims were scattered across the square, where large military parades are often held. Ambulances rushed to the area to take survivors to hospital.
8.58am: Lebanon: Beirut's Daily Star says the Lebanese Army and security forces have begun patrolling the Tariq al-Jadideh after overnight clashes.8.58am: Lebanon: Beirut's Daily Star says the Lebanese Army and security forces have begun patrolling the Tariq al-Jadideh after overnight clashes.
It claims three people were killed in the violence.It claims three people were killed in the violence.
The fighting erupted between Future Movement supporters and their rivals in the Arab Movement Party headed by Shaker Berjaoui, an ally of the Syrian government.The fighting erupted between Future Movement supporters and their rivals in the Arab Movement Party headed by Shaker Berjaoui, an ally of the Syrian government.
Two of the three fatalities were identified as Mohammad Yusef Boutah, 31 and Ali Mohammad Sharab, 30.Two of the three fatalities were identified as Mohammad Yusef Boutah, 31 and Ali Mohammad Sharab, 30.
Security sources told The Daily Star that clashes erupted when Berjaoui began preparing the Municipal Stadium for May 25 Liberation Day, which commemorates the withdrawal of Israeli troops from south Lebanon in 2000.Security sources told The Daily Star that clashes erupted when Berjaoui began preparing the Municipal Stadium for May 25 Liberation Day, which commemorates the withdrawal of Israeli troops from south Lebanon in 2000.
They also said that residents of the neighbourhood have vowed not to allow Berjaoui to return to the area.They also said that residents of the neighbourhood have vowed not to allow Berjaoui to return to the area.
8.37am: (all times BST) Welcome to Middle East Live.8.37am: (all times BST) Welcome to Middle East Live.
Here's a roundup of the latest developments:Here's a roundup of the latest developments:
LebanonLebanon
• At least two people have been killed and 18 injured in clashes overnight in the Lebanese capital Beirut. The clashes, between Sunni pro- and anti-Syrian groups, followed the shooting dead on Sunday of two anti-Syrian sheikhs, the BBC reports.• At least two people have been killed and 18 injured in clashes overnight in the Lebanese capital Beirut. The clashes, between Sunni pro- and anti-Syrian groups, followed the shooting dead on Sunday of two anti-Syrian sheikhs, the BBC reports.
SyriaSyria
• A roadside bomb exploded in Douma, north east of Damascus, as senior UN officials toured the area, blowing off the front of a parked vehicle but causing no casualties. Visiting UN peacekeeping chief Hervé Ladsous and Robert Mood, the chief of UN observers in Syria, were 150 metres away, along with accompanying journalists, when the blast went off engulfing a Toyota pickup car in flames and smoke. • A roadside bomb exploded in Douma, north-east of Damascus, as senior UN officials toured the area, blowing off the front of a parked vehicle but causing no casualties. Visiting UN peacekeeping chief Hervé Ladsous and Robert Mood, the chief of UN observers in Syria, were 150 metres away, along with accompanying journalists, when the blast went off engulfing a Toyota pickup car in flames and smoke.
• The government has denied oppositions claims that rebels killed six senior officials including Pesident Bashar al-Assad's brother-in-law, Assef Shawkat. State media described the allegations as "categorically baseless" and quoted three of those reportedly killed to refute the claims.• The government has denied oppositions claims that rebels killed six senior officials including Pesident Bashar al-Assad's brother-in-law, Assef Shawkat. State media described the allegations as "categorically baseless" and quoted three of those reportedly killed to refute the claims.
• International envoy Kofi Annan is due to visit Syria within the next 10 days, according to foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi.• International envoy Kofi Annan is due to visit Syria within the next 10 days, according to foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi.
UN Envoy Mr Koffi Annan will be visiting Syria by the end of the month to discuss implementation of UN Plan #Syria #UNUN Envoy Mr Koffi Annan will be visiting Syria by the end of the month to discuss implementation of UN Plan #Syria #UN
— Jihad Makdissi (@Makdissi) May 20, 2012— Jihad Makdissi (@Makdissi) May 20, 2012
• Syria watcher Joshua Landis questions opposition claims that bomb attacks against intelligence headquarters were set off by the military to discredit the opposition.• Syria watcher Joshua Landis questions opposition claims that bomb attacks against intelligence headquarters were set off by the military to discredit the opposition.
This does not make sense for many reasons.This does not make sense for many reasons.
1. Why would the mukhabarat kill itself? No mater how evil one presumes Syria's intelligence agents are, it remains unlikely that they would kill themselves in such great numbers. The willingness of Western news agencies to repeat these opposition claims demonstrates that Westerners are just as prone to conspiracy theories as are Arabs. All it takes to believe in conspiracy theories is to demonize your enemies to the point that you can believe they will carry out any operation in order to advance their devilish aims.1. Why would the mukhabarat kill itself? No mater how evil one presumes Syria's intelligence agents are, it remains unlikely that they would kill themselves in such great numbers. The willingness of Western news agencies to repeat these opposition claims demonstrates that Westerners are just as prone to conspiracy theories as are Arabs. All it takes to believe in conspiracy theories is to demonize your enemies to the point that you can believe they will carry out any operation in order to advance their devilish aims.
2. It makes sense for the opposition to set off car bombs in down town areas. Classic stage-two insurgency tactics call for terrorist acts in public places to make the regime look weak and to provoke it to lash out in rage, killing innocent people and provoking more and more neutrals to hate the regime and side with the insurgency. Targeting intelligence headquarters is smart as it accomplishes all of these opposition goals.2. It makes sense for the opposition to set off car bombs in down town areas. Classic stage-two insurgency tactics call for terrorist acts in public places to make the regime look weak and to provoke it to lash out in rage, killing innocent people and provoking more and more neutrals to hate the regime and side with the insurgency. Targeting intelligence headquarters is smart as it accomplishes all of these opposition goals.
BahrainBahrain
• Human Rights Watch has urged the UN to investigate Bahrain's "deplorable human rights record". Joe Stork, the group's deputy Middle East director, said: "Countries should ask Bahrain why it hasn't released scores of prisoners whose only crimes were to call for greater political right• Human Rights Watch has urged the UN to investigate Bahrain's "deplorable human rights record". Joe Stork, the group's deputy Middle East director, said: "Countries should ask Bahrain why it hasn't released scores of prisoners whose only crimes were to call for greater political right
EgyptEgypt
• Revolutionary forces would suffer a huge setback if front runner Amr Moussa won the presidential election, argues the former head of al-Jazeer Wadah Khanfar. • Revolutionary forces would suffer a huge setback if frontrunner Amr Moussa wins the presidential election, argues the former head of al-Jazeer Wadah Khanfar.
Relations between the presidency and the parliament could become tense. Not only this, the army would continue to predominate in one form or another. That may embroil Egypt in disputes and divert it from the transition toward democracy.Relations between the presidency and the parliament could become tense. Not only this, the army would continue to predominate in one form or another. That may embroil Egypt in disputes and divert it from the transition toward democracy.