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| Syria crisis: Assad vows to 'annihilate terrorists' - live updates | Syria crisis: Assad vows to 'annihilate terrorists' - live updates |
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| 10.27am: Libya: The Carter Centre – founded by former US president Jimmy Carter – is sending observer teams to Libya to monitor the elections scheduled for 7 July, the Tripoli Post reports. | |
| At the invitation of the High National Elections Commission (HNEC), they will observe the electoral process – though not throughout the entire country. | |
| In light of security considerations, which prevent deployment of observers in some areas of the country and which restrict their movements in others, the centre's mission will be limited in nature and will not offer a comprehensive assessment of the electoral process. | |
| However, there are encouraging signs regarding women's participation in the poll: | |
| In total, there are 625 women standing in the July 7 elections, 540 of whom represent political parties; 85 are standing as independent candidates. The electoral commission states that 80% of eligible voters have registered, totalling 2.7 million people. Of these, 45% are female. | |
| 10.18am: Syria: The Syrian government has deployed around 170 tanks near the Turkish border, a commander from the Free Syrian Army told Reuters. | |
| "The tanks are now at the Infantry School. They're either preparing to move to the border to counter the Turkish deployment or attack the rebellious (Syrian) towns and villages in and around the border zone north of Aleppo," Sheikh told Reuters by telephone from the border. | |
| He said the tanks were mostly from the 17th Mechanised Division. | |
| Meanwhile, video has emerged purporting to show a brigadier general responsible for a tank division, announcing his defection, according to journalist Zaid Benjamin: | |
| Video: Commander of the Strategic Tanks Warehouses Brigadier General Methqal al-Betesh al-Naimi announces defectionyoutube.com/watch?v=-XCGnC… | |
| — Zaid Benjamin (@zaidbenjamin) June 28, 2012 | |
| 10.00am: Egypt: Mohamed Morsi will be sworn in as president of Egypt at the Supreme Constitutional Court on Saturday morning, the official news agency has announced. | |
| The swearing-in procedure became a matter of dispute because the court had earlier dissolved parliament (where an Egyptian president would normally be sworn in). There were objections that agreeing to hold the ceremony at the court, Morsi would be accepting the court's controversial decision to dissolve parliament. | |
| Morsi is due to deliver his first presidential speech at Cairo university after the ceremony, Ahram Online reports. | |
| He is also expected to address a rally in Tahrir Square today, after Friday prayers. | |
| Yesterday, Morsi met leaders of the Egyptian Islamic movement at the presidential palace. | |
| 9.50am: Syria: Russia has proposed changes to Kofi Annan's plan for a unity government, according to Reuters. | |
| International mediator Kofi Annan said on Friday he was "optimistic" that ministerial crisis talks on Syria being held on Saturday would produce an acceptable outcome. | |
| "I think we are going to have a good meeting tomorrow (Saturday). I am optimistic," Annan told Reuters TV in Geneva after Russia proposed changes to his plan for a national unity government. The talks would end "with an acceptable result", he said. | |
| His spokesman Ahmad Fawzi said: "The talks are on course and the preparatory meeting is going ahead this morning (Friday)." | |
| US secretary of state Hillary Clinton and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov are due to meet in St Petersburg today in a bid to iron out deep differences over the transition plan, according to AP. | |
| US officials are adamant that the plan will not allow President Assad to remain in power at the top of the transitional government, but Russia insists that outsiders cannot dictate the ultimate solution or the composition of the interim administration. | |
| Annan's plan would allow some members of the current regime to stay in place but would exclude those deemed to be counterproductive or destructive to the transition process, which would be Syrian led, according to diplomats familiar with the proposal. It does not explicitly bar Assad, but the US and other western powers who will participate in the conference in Geneva say that is implicit. | |
| The difference in interpretation could prove its unraveling and Clinton hopes to press Lavrov on the point at their meeting and over dinner following a gathering of Asia-Pacific foreign ministers that Lavrov is hosting in St Petersburg. | |
| 9.27am: Syria: Our favourite reader, Brown Moses, has been going through video purporting to show two senior military commanders captured by the Free Syrian Army. | 9.27am: Syria: Our favourite reader, Brown Moses, has been going through video purporting to show two senior military commanders captured by the Free Syrian Army. |
| Brigadier General Mounir Shleibi of the Palestine Intelligence Branch and Major General Faraj al-Maqt of Syrian Central Command. | Brigadier General Mounir Shleibi of the Palestine Intelligence Branch and Major General Faraj al-Maqt of Syrian Central Command. |
| Both men had black eyes. The video can't be independently verified, but as Brown Moses notes "the makers of the video have gone to great lengths to ensure both men can be clearly identified, filming close up of their ID documents." | Both men had black eyes. The video can't be independently verified, but as Brown Moses notes "the makers of the video have gone to great lengths to ensure both men can be clearly identified, filming close up of their ID documents." |
| Earlier this week state media claimed that a man had been abducted and portrayed as a defected colonel, by an armed group. | Earlier this week state media claimed that a man had been abducted and portrayed as a defected colonel, by an armed group. |
| #Syria: Ahmad Said: Armed Group abducted me, photographed me as a defected colonel | #Syria: Ahmad Said: Armed Group abducted me, photographed me as a defected colonel |
| — SANA English (@SANA_English) June 25, 2012 | — SANA English (@SANA_English) June 25, 2012 |
| In March Human Rights Watch accused armed opposition groups of committing a series of human rights abuses including kidnap and torture. | In March Human Rights Watch accused armed opposition groups of committing a series of human rights abuses including kidnap and torture. |
| 8.59am: Syria: While Robert Fisk reckons Assad could have another two years, Reem Maghribi, former editorial director of Syria's only English-language daily, predicts that he will fall within six to 12 months. | 8.59am: Syria: While Robert Fisk reckons Assad could have another two years, Reem Maghribi, former editorial director of Syria's only English-language daily, predicts that he will fall within six to 12 months. |
| She told Bloggingheads TV that the regime will be removed without outside help. The Syrian opposition want arms from the outside world, but not military intervention, she pointed out. | She told Bloggingheads TV that the regime will be removed without outside help. The Syrian opposition want arms from the outside world, but not military intervention, she pointed out. |
| She said Nato air strikes would be impractical because potential military targets are so close to civilian areas. "The opposition can do it on their own slowly but surely," she said. | She said Nato air strikes would be impractical because potential military targets are so close to civilian areas. "The opposition can do it on their own slowly but surely," she said. |
| 8.32am: (all times BST) Welcome to Middle East Live. | 8.32am: (all times BST) Welcome to Middle East Live. |
| Here's a roundup on the latest developments and analysis: | Here's a roundup on the latest developments and analysis: |
| Syria | Syria |
| • Kofi Annan's action group on Syria is to gather in Geneva today as a leaked copy of his principles for political transition were published. A copy of the document, published by UN Report, does not mention Bashar al-Assad but hints at his removal. It says: | • Kofi Annan's action group on Syria is to gather in Geneva today as a leaked copy of his principles for political transition were published. A copy of the document, published by UN Report, does not mention Bashar al-Assad but hints at his removal. It says: |
| The government of national unity would exercise full executive powers. It could include members of the present government and the opposition and other groups, but would exclude from government those whose continued presence and participation would undermine of the transition and jeopardize stability and reconciliation. | The government of national unity would exercise full executive powers. It could include members of the present government and the opposition and other groups, but would exclude from government those whose continued presence and participation would undermine of the transition and jeopardize stability and reconciliation. |
| • President Assad said his country has a duty to "annihilate terrorists" and that Syria won't accept outside interference even from its allies. In an interview recorded with Iranian TV he said: "The responsibility of the Syrian government is to protect all of our residents. You have a responsibility to annihilate terrorists in any corner of the country."And in what appeared to be a reference to Russia he said: "We will not accept any non-Syrian, non-national model, whether it comes from big countries or friendly countries. No one knows how to solve Syria's problems as well as we do." | • President Assad said his country has a duty to "annihilate terrorists" and that Syria won't accept outside interference even from its allies. In an interview recorded with Iranian TV he said: "The responsibility of the Syrian government is to protect all of our residents. You have a responsibility to annihilate terrorists in any corner of the country."And in what appeared to be a reference to Russia he said: "We will not accept any non-Syrian, non-national model, whether it comes from big countries or friendly countries. No one knows how to solve Syria's problems as well as we do." |
| • Hopes of a political solution to the Syrian crisis suffered a fresh blow when Russia insisted it would not endorse an internationally backed plan for a political transition that would require President Bashar al-Assad to surrender power. Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said in Moscow: "We will not support and cannot support any meddling from outside or any imposition of recipes. This also concerns the fate of the president of the country, Bashar al-Assad." | • Hopes of a political solution to the Syrian crisis suffered a fresh blow when Russia insisted it would not endorse an internationally backed plan for a political transition that would require President Bashar al-Assad to surrender power. Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said in Moscow: "We will not support and cannot support any meddling from outside or any imposition of recipes. This also concerns the fate of the president of the country, Bashar al-Assad." |
| • The US and Russia are putting together a deal to allow Assad to remain leader for at least two more year, because of anxiety about oil routes via Syria, a source told the Independent's Robert Fisk. The unnamed source, said to be close to the negotiations, is quoted as saying: | • The US and Russia are putting together a deal to allow Assad to remain leader for at least two more year, because of anxiety about oil routes via Syria, a source told the Independent's Robert Fisk. The unnamed source, said to be close to the negotiations, is quoted as saying: |
| We are talking about two fundamental oil routes to the West – one from Qatar and Saudi Arabia via Jordan and Syria and the Mediterranean to Europe, another from Iran via Shia southern Iraq and Syria to the Mediterranean and Europe. This is what matters. This is why they will be prepared to let Assad last another two years. They would be perfectly content with that. And Russia will have a place in the new Syria. | We are talking about two fundamental oil routes to the West – one from Qatar and Saudi Arabia via Jordan and Syria and the Mediterranean to Europe, another from Iran via Shia southern Iraq and Syria to the Mediterranean and Europe. This is what matters. This is why they will be prepared to let Assad last another two years. They would be perfectly content with that. And Russia will have a place in the new Syria. |
| • But a deal to oust Assad would suit US and Russian interests, writes Simon Tisdall. | • But a deal to oust Assad would suit US and Russian interests, writes Simon Tisdall. |
| Obama, facing a tough re-election battle this autumn and with his domestic record assailed from all sides, could use a big international win... | Obama, facing a tough re-election battle this autumn and with his domestic record assailed from all sides, could use a big international win... |
| It would defuse criticism from American interventionists about US inaction. It would also help secure the stability of Iraq, on which so much American blood and treasure was spent in the past decade. It would prevent the spooked, volatile leaders of Turkey, a valued Nato ally, sliding into some kind of regional conflict. | It would defuse criticism from American interventionists about US inaction. It would also help secure the stability of Iraq, on which so much American blood and treasure was spent in the past decade. It would prevent the spooked, volatile leaders of Turkey, a valued Nato ally, sliding into some kind of regional conflict. |
| Russia's interest dictates a settlement in Syria that sustains its influence on its Arab ally, keeps its Mediterranean port facilities open, and maintains its business and arms sales links. As Assad loses ground to the opposition, these interests appear threatened .... | Russia's interest dictates a settlement in Syria that sustains its influence on its Arab ally, keeps its Mediterranean port facilities open, and maintains its business and arms sales links. As Assad loses ground to the opposition, these interests appear threatened .... |
| The scene is set for a Clinton-Lavrov meeting that could still ring the death knell for the Assad regime. Maybe they can pull it off; maybe they cannot. Whatever the outcome, democrats will note that Obama and Putin have something else in common: a deep wariness of the politically unquantifiable Syrian opposition and a pragmatic disinterest in the wishes of the Syrian people. | The scene is set for a Clinton-Lavrov meeting that could still ring the death knell for the Assad regime. Maybe they can pull it off; maybe they cannot. Whatever the outcome, democrats will note that Obama and Putin have something else in common: a deep wariness of the politically unquantifiable Syrian opposition and a pragmatic disinterest in the wishes of the Syrian people. |
| This backroom deal, if it happens, has little to do with building a democratic Syria. It has everything to do with fixing a problem that is upsetting the world order as decreed from Washington and Moscow. | This backroom deal, if it happens, has little to do with building a democratic Syria. It has everything to do with fixing a problem that is upsetting the world order as decreed from Washington and Moscow. |
| • No one can imagine how a transition would work, argues Syrian watcher Joshua Landis. Writing on his blog Syria Comment he says: | • No one can imagine how a transition would work, argues Syrian watcher Joshua Landis. Writing on his blog Syria Comment he says: |
| We are unlikely to see any big breakthroughs anytime soon. Russian authorities must be getting nervous about Assad's strategy and staying power – all the same what can they do but try to create avenues for a Syrian soft landing? Damascus is unlikely to take their nudging seriously for some time. The high-powered conference is probably meaningless at this point, as Russia will most likely continue to insist on "loyal opposition" joining in a transitional government packed with Assad loyalists – a non-starter for both Assad and opposition figures. | We are unlikely to see any big breakthroughs anytime soon. Russian authorities must be getting nervous about Assad's strategy and staying power – all the same what can they do but try to create avenues for a Syrian soft landing? Damascus is unlikely to take their nudging seriously for some time. The high-powered conference is probably meaningless at this point, as Russia will most likely continue to insist on "loyal opposition" joining in a transitional government packed with Assad loyalists – a non-starter for both Assad and opposition figures. |
| • Efforts to evacuate civilians and wounded from Homs failed again when a rescue team could not enter affected areas, the International Committee of the Red Cross said in its latest update. Beatrice Megevand-Roggo, head of ICRC operations for the Near and Middle East, said an agreed pause in the fighting failed to be met. | • Efforts to evacuate civilians and wounded from Homs failed again when a rescue team could not enter affected areas, the International Committee of the Red Cross said in its latest update. Beatrice Megevand-Roggo, head of ICRC operations for the Near and Middle East, said an agreed pause in the fighting failed to be met. |
| Egypt | Egypt |
| • Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, the head of the ruling military council, will keep his post as defence minister in a new cabinet to be formed by president-elect Mohamed Morsi, a member of the military council has said. Major-General Mohamed Assar said: "What is wrong with that? He is the head of the supreme council of the armed forces, the defence minister and the commander of the armed forces." | • Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, the head of the ruling military council, will keep his post as defence minister in a new cabinet to be formed by president-elect Mohamed Morsi, a member of the military council has said. Major-General Mohamed Assar said: "What is wrong with that? He is the head of the supreme council of the armed forces, the defence minister and the commander of the armed forces." |
| Bahrain | Bahrain |
| • Prominent human rights activist, Zainab al-Khawaja, has been injured after police fired a tear-gas canister at her leg, according to witnesses. She was fired on at close range, said Yousef al-Muhafedha, a member of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights. | • Prominent human rights activist, Zainab al-Khawaja, has been injured after police fired a tear-gas canister at her leg, according to witnesses. She was fired on at close range, said Yousef al-Muhafedha, a member of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights. |