A Palestinian wrong way to peace

By Nicola Nasser

When allowed to turn freely, the metaphorical Palestinian compass points in one direction--struggle, Palestinian. But for the most part a person disturbs this compass rigging it to other directions, as in the context of the ongoing lack of the peace process.

Now, how much of the Arab world up in arms against its autocratic rulers Palestinian compass is given another nudge, also in the wrong direction. The Palestinian public organization type, and even Palestine Liberation organisation (PLO) officials tell us, the only way forward is through negotiations more. "The peace process", we want to know, is the only one worth saving from the current sea of Arab dissatisfaction.

It is all reverse in soil of dissatisfaction. A day of dignity has been called probably restore unity in the Palestinian ranks. This will probably lead to further fragmentation. Allow me to elaborate.

Dignity day, held on 11 February, it was not meant to end the occupation, but to lift Gaza's spirit of civilian defiance. "Say no to the division and occupation and in favour of the Government of national unity" is the slogan a second group of organizers have chosen for planned protests on 15 March. The day the PLO plans to call for new presidential elections, legislative and local elections in the hope of regaining enough credibility to pursue its preferred goal to negotiate peace. Organizers tell us that they want a Palestinian State by next September. How many times have we heard this before?

WAFA News Agency, the PLO-Run try to give the impression that this is the only way to the nation. We are either will negotiate peace, or we protest and then negotiate for peace. If there is a point to this argument, I don't see it.

All remember why the current split in Palestinian rows happened? It all began when PLO officials, the endemic trønde in peace, refused to respect the outcome of democratic elections held in 2006. So much of the current dilemma is caused by the PLO simple inability to reconcile peace with democracy.

So far, we have had a peace process, was not so much about ending the conflict, as it was about managing it.
Kind of debates we have had as Rashid Khalidi, the prominent Columbia University professor said was never on self-determination or whether the occupation ends, but to allow Israel to impose its point of view with us blessing every step of the way. This has been the case since the Madrid Conference in 1991. Only practical application of the peace process was to give Israel time to build more settlements, with U.S. approval. The U.S. veto should only a few days ago, on 18 February, put to rest doubts hanging in this respect.

But US officials still leads "quiet" talks with both sides, as Dennis Ross told 2011 J Street Conference. Abbas believes this is the only way forward, but some isrælere is not so sure.

URI Avnery, a long time peace activist and founder of peace movement Gush Shalom (peace bloc), said that the Palestinians have other options. "What will happen if hundreds of thousands of Palestinians started walking to the separation wall and dragged it? What would happen if a quarter of a million Palestinian refugees in Lebanon to gather about our northern borders? What will happen if protesters gathered in numbers on the Al-Manara Square in Ramallah and Al-Baladiya Square in Nablus challenge the occupation? "He asked.

Isrælske peace activist does not say that this can happen today or tomorrow. But the assessment of the way it goes, it cannot be ruled out. Perhaps this is why Obama Senior Middle East Adviser, Dennis Ross admitted that the current situation was "untenable".

And yet the PLO negotiators is to help prolong the situation isrælerne, which gives the false impression that something will happen when everyone else know that things will remain the same. The PLO appears to be holding for the day when the United States or the EUROPEAN UNION made their foot and disseminate a just peace. It will not happen.

In the meantime the PLO continues to suppress they could turn things only two forces: national resistance and a citizen-led Uprising. The PLO is blocking any chance of forward movement, at the same time, give all the impression that it is doing something for people. All it does is to help isrælerne perpetuate a basic untenable situation.

The newspaper Haaretz reported on 2 March, Prime minister Binyamin region Netanyahu worked on a plan for the creation of a Palestinian State with provisional borders as part of interim peace arrangements. We have heard it all before.

Netanyahu plan is nothing new. It is a reproduction of the earlier plans, all with the aim to give the Palestinians a reduced version of the West Bank. Former defence minister, Shaul Mofaz, who is now President of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, came up with a similar idea, which would have given the Palestinians back about half of the West Bank.

An earlier version of Netanyahu strategy was tried of labour when Ehud Barak was Prime minister. Barak, not complete a promised three-phase withdrawal from the West Bank, pulled the PLO negotiators to a Summit at Camp David in 2000, and then ensured that the Summit would lead to something.

Kadima tried the same, when Ariel Sharon was Prime minister. Arafat snubbed him and was subjected to a cruel siege, which ended in his death. Grab the Netanyahu was Abbas, can he get a similar fate. But Abbas does not seem too eager to take a position.
Arafat stood firm, even when he ran out of options. He told his people the truth. He told them that he cannot give up their rights, froze PLOS participation in negotiations and told the Palestinians that they would have to live and die for their rights. "Millions of martyrs will go to Jerusalem," was his famous last words.

You cannot have a national unity Government, without the need to have credibility. The most Abbas and Prime minister Fayyad has so far suggested is a Government of technocrats. How can the technocrats resolve an issue that is so politically Central? Reconciliation is a political quest and the concessions, it requires no "technocratic" in nature.

The PLO does not partner with Hamas before reconciliation is achieved, told the Fatah Central Committee member Jamal Moheisen Golf news on 28 February. This makes good sense, but reconciliation comes at a price. And so far I do not believe that the PLO is willing to pay that price. The way I see it, the PLO worries more for the peace negotiations than for national unity.

You can not negotiations without resistance, just as you might have democracy without fighting for it, we have always known it, and we have to prove the Intifada. We cannot be United until we are willing to fight against occupation. And we cannot be democratic, until we have learned how to share. So far, neither the sharing or fighting the PLO, and its quest for peace is doomed.

-Nicola Nasser is a veteran Arab journalist based in Birzeit, in the West Bank of the isrælsk-occupied Palestinian territories. He contributed this article to PalestineChronicle.com. (This article was translated from Arabic and published by Al-Ahram Weekly 10-16 March 2011.)

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A new isrælske team?

By George S. Hishmeh – Washington, D.C.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas took the right step in condemning heavy-handedly massacre last week of a five-Member isrælske family members, including two children and an infant, are living in an illegal isrælske settlements in the occupied Palestinian West Bank. No one in his right eye would not abhor this callous event, if the perpetrators are still unknown.

"A man is not capable of something like," Abbas told Israel Radio. "Scenes such as these – murder of infants and children and woman slaughtered – cause any person with humanity to hurt and to cry."
But what has been appalling was the official isrælske response. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that his Government would build 500 new homes in retaliation for three other isrælsk-occupied settlements in the West Bank without having to find out whether the Assailants were Palestinians. This step was condemned by Palestinians, it is recalled that, since the Isræls existence in 1948, many Palestinians have been massacred by the isrælerne-the most infamous was on Deir Yassin, a small town close to Jerusalem, in 1948 and the Lebanese refugee camp of Sabra and Shatila massacre in 1982. No isrælske official had ever expressed regret at these bloody events. But meeting that Netanyahu's calls for Abbas reiterated its earlier condemnation for isrælske audiences.

In addition, Awarta, the closest Palestinian village to the isrælske settlements, Triton, is placed under curfew by the isrælske military — in four days at the time of writing, and was declared a closed military zone. The situation in the village has been described as "deteriorating" and some Palestinian landsbybebørne have complained that some of their household possessions have been damaged during the aggressive isrælske searches. Tritons Thai workers have been rounded up, while some European members of the International solidarity movement, which is fine with Palestinian village to accord was not permitted to leave.

The isrælske prime minister and his right-wing supporters was reported doing everything they can to take advantage of this terrible event. Nehemia Shtraster, writing in Haaretz, the isrælske newspaper, said that Netanyahu "rushed to move it to the political arena," promising "' we must build our land ' thus reveals his true thoughts."

According to Shtraster, "Netanyahu, after all. never believed in the two-State solution despite the speech Bar-Ilan (University) for Him, the whole of the (Palestinian) land belongs to us, and two-governmental shibboleth is thought only to buy a little sympathy from u.s. President Obama.

Netanyahu's real plan, he continued, is "' to annex as much of the open (Palestinian) territories as possible," as he said some years ago – somewhere around the 50 percent mark, while you hold down the Jordan Valley as a safety-belt in the East. In the small, unconnected territory, which is still he would be prepared to give the Palestinians autonomy, which would be called a "State".

The Palestinian Authority said the isrælske action was "unacceptable" and the Foreign Ministry added more to the punch by declaring that "continued isrælske settlements are illegitimate and run counter to efforts to resume direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

About Netanyahu can get away with his plans seem doubtful at this point, even if he is planning a major American address in the next few weeks, thanks to its Congressional supporters on Capitol Hill. Defense minister Ehud Barak has already warned that Israel could face a "diplomatic tsunami", it should pursue this discredited course and meanwhile isrælske President Shimon Peres appeared eager to pull the rug out from under his feet in his attempts to meet President Obama map to kick start peace talks.

What escapes the isrælske triumvirate – Peres, Netanyahu and Barack-is the comprehensive political scene in the Arab world, particularly in Egypt, where new Egyptian foreign minister, Nabil Elaraby, is an essential addition to the Cairo Government since his vision of the Palestinian-isrælske conflict is much appreciated by the Palestinians and other Arabs. The Palestinians movements also apparently steps towards reconciliation klassifikationssyn of their authorisation of marches in Ramallah and Gaza where tens of thousands of Palestinians appealed for reconciliation.

If all of this comes out in life, as expected, can isrælerne feel forced to change their leadership and bring a new reasonable teams can come to terms with their Arab neighbours. A step in this direction will be well received across the world.

-George s. Hishmeh is a Washington-based columnist. Contact him at: Hishmehg@aol.com.

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A Gazan considerations about the murder of Jews in Triton

By Samah Sabawi

Morning news of Inspired murder broke out, I got a call from my father, a man from Gaza whose entire life was derailed by Isræls occupation of his country. He fuming: "nothing could justify these murders," he cried "even if we were to put an end to the occupation, harassment, brutality Isræls army and settlers-minute we entertain Act so criminals to kill a child with cold blodVi becomes no better than those whose actions we despise." His comment on my Facebook Wall licensed.

A day later, sent some of my Jewish friends me messages inquiring if it was true that the Palestinians in Gaza celebrate the killing of Jews. One of them asked "Is there a custom to distribute sweets after such events?" The messages came with multiple hyperlinks. I expected to see the usual calm hasbara websites, but to my surprise was a link to the Australian Herald Sun, which brings me to an article titled ' White House condemns assassination '.
The article had no mention of any Gaza celebrations, but was accompanied by a large AFP credited photograph of a man standing in a street in Gaza offers a small plate of sweets to two stick core flotte Hamas policemen. The only reference or clue to the banquet came in fotøts caption: ' a Palestinian man distributes sweets in the streets in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah on 12 March 2011 to celebrate an attack which killed five isrælske settlers on inspired solution near the West Bank city of Nablus. " I did some more research and found that the same article also appeared on Perth now, News.com.au and The Daily Telegraph.
From here I began an extensive search on the Internet. There were references to Gaza celebrations in a number of international media sites including Fox News and the Washington Post, but all references pointed to one original source – three photos of AFP cameraman posted at Getty images, so I followed the trail.
The three original pictures starred the same man with the same small sweet plate.  In the first shot he offers to plate for the two police officers; Second, he offers it to a man in a car at a traffic light that looks a little confused, but accepts the offer of sweets; and in the third photo, offers the same man candy small plate for an old Lady sitting on a sidewalk. In the light of the photos revealed nothing more than an average busy day in a street in Gaza with the normal amount of traffic, a couple of cars, vans, etc. There was nothing in the images to convey a feeling of joy or feast: there were no crowds, no smiling faces, no banners, no flags and no scarfs … in reality no people appeared in photos except for the man with the plate and his subjects. This was extremely unusual for a Gaza banquet.
But even if one assumes that this lone man with the sweet plate really celebrate, how on earth are doing something in the direction of making the international media? A Palestinian man in a population of 1.5 million offers a tray of deserts? The same newspapers that published these pictures also publish photos of coaches isrælske tourists standing on top of a Hill are celebrating while watching phosphourous rain falls on Palestinians under Isræls bombardment of Gaza in 2009? Double standards here is amazing.
It mattered little to no Palestinian faction claimed responsibility and even Hamas issued a statement saying that the Palestinians are not aimed at children. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in an interview on Israel Radio: "Scenes such as these – murder of infants and children and woman slaughtered – cause any person with humanity to hurt and to cry." Frenzy of demonisation continues even though until this article was written, there was no real evidence that any Palestinians were involved in the murder.
Photos of the so-called Gaza celebrations become an internet sensation, because they provide desperately needed proof that the Palestinians are evil in nature. A headline from a hasbara site read "how to start a party in Palestine? You kill a Jewish family. "
The campaign to demonise, of course, is in full swing, and seems to have no moral boundaries. Hardly had the blood of murdered children's dried up the Ministry of public diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs in Israel rushed to free graphics images murdered children should be used as feed in the war to demonise the Palestinian people. The Minister – which authorised the release – said in an interview with the daily Haaretz isrælske "on the Internet the pictures really catch and circulating". What could be worse than people who murder children and then celebrate?
We do not learn from the tragic experiences of the Jewish history of the evil demonisation of a whole people? My reply to my Jewish friends inspired was quite simply; "Your people and mine deserve better than this".

-Samah Sabawi is a public advocates of the Australians for Palestine. She contributed this article to PalestineChronicle.com.

Freedom Road

By John Simpson
BBC World Affairs Editor

There is nothing quite as exciting as the revolution. People of all types, and Sweeps the categories and makes them more men, more resourceful than studies, their normal selves, arjen.

All of a sudden be head long years after they are ready to give their lives to freedom-or at least you can instant print film, the upstairs window to the street Shooting.

Revolution, a few days at least, allows people to be what they ideally wants to be.

Bahrain, Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, in their different ways, all taken in the sense of liberation noted this uplifting.

"Welcome, welcome!" cried is central to the coastal regions of the roadblock on the road in Libya the revolutionary military, the other day my team and I drove toward the front line.

He pressed the water and the fruit and bread for us. All of the revolution at the beginning of the suppliers are always treated in the days of the uprising of friends. Is not necessarily true, and perhaps it never is.

But this Government loyalists See as part of the international press is generally harmful to the process that has brought trouble to greet you, the revolutionaries about sabbatical.

When you share all the dangers and privations, and they love you for it. And, of course, the side of the story are shown for the first time.

To reveal the truth

41 years, Colonel al-Gaddafi has completed his Unconventional, sometimes cruel Government experiment.

Presumably it all has been done, and the people. And these people suddenly can tell the world that the corrupt and the press openly hated clique actually performs the liberation of the old system is itself.

Sometimes this information, what they really think is enough in itself energy imports the ancient system.

In Eastern Europe in 1989 revolutions occurred, mainly because the people rose up and confronted the fiction Bullshit, that State was to run them, and them.

So a large part of the foreign press to call on all of the revolution.

In the Middle East, which could easily switch suppliers-in Bahrain, Egypt, Tunisia and Libya-the four countries as a result of a sudden have specifically, if there has been a major convulsions.

Special press visas from Egypt or Tunisia, Bahrain is not needed. And Libya, Egypt, in the East of the neighbouring States, which is part of the first Colonel al-Gaddafi was returned by the rule, so it was easy to fly to Cairo on the edge of the drive, and open arms to revolutionaries with a positive, Libya which were in existence in the control.

In countries where the comings and goings of the international press is heavily controlled in places such as Algeria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran, and so on – it is much more difficult to show the outside world, what happens.

Insanely revolutionaries cannot retrieve the external data behaves like draught is the open fire and will import the all the accounts of the White House and Downing Street, and at United Nations Headquarters.

The revolutionary process

It was Edmund Burke back to the first modern revolution-one in France-which was that the area of freedom, equality and veljeys would disappear quickly from a very early days and terrible excesses-of executions, torture, repression of leading.

Šaahi fled to Iran still objections after months in 1979

It is, what happened in Libya in 1969, Colonel al-Gaddafi since the coup d ' état took place, only the journalists could not get there.

It also happened in Iran 10 years later, when the Shah was overthrown, but was easy to go there.

Press attention in the West and play the part of it should block the combination bringing him.

All about myself, and reported only a few days in London, near my house, elderly refugees from Iran began shouting me on the street: "now you can see what you started the revolution has made the entire world."

The country is more vulnerable to pressure the leaders of the West are more likely to step down after the revolution.

If the President Hosni Mubarak had not been American ally, he still have the impressive Palace, Heliopolis now.

Colonel al-Gaddafi has so far failed to break because he is too way out, too, for the friendless internationally anyone can stop her, his own people bombard the tanks and the air force.

So West care of human life and the free press is a major obstacle to the extreme, less is not so good for dictators, and the really nasty ones in order to overcome the obstacles.

It is one of the muse.

My team and me, we are taking a few days from a revolution and we have come here in Cairo.

We have had a change of clothes for the shower or the day, and we fired at any time, and the 3D maze to safety as we remember.

Turns against them, who, all of the basic similarity.

To report this one in Libya or Egypt, within the previous month, makes you part of a process which moves to the right storming back in the Bastille.

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Golan Heights

Rocky Plateau to the South of the Golan and the West, Syria, is a political and strategic importance, which belies its size.

Israel seized in the Golan to Syria to close the six-day war in 1967. Most of the Syrian Arab Republic, of the inhabitants fled during the conflict in the region.

The line was established on the basis of a truce, and came under the supervision of the Israeli military region. Israel began almost immediately to resolve the Golan.

Syria tried to test on the Golan Heights in the 1973 Middle East war. Despite the heavy losses meant that the Israeli troops, the surprise attack was thwarted. Both countries signed a truce in 1974 and the UN observer force has been in use for a ceasefire line since 1974.

Facts on the Golan Heights

Name: Golan Heights status: in the Israeli occupied. Syria captured in 1967 Middle East war and annexed in 1981, a move condemned internationally. Lebanon claims the Shab'a farms area.Estimated population: 20 000 Israeli settlers 20,000 Syrian

Israel unilaterally annexed Golan Heights in 1981. The move has been recognised internationally.

More than 30 Jewish settlements, the heights, it is possible that the estimated 20,000 settlers. In the area, most of them members of the Druze sect is around 20 000 Syrian.

The strategic importance of

The southern capital of Damascus, Syria, and about 60 km (40 miles) to the North, are clearly visible on the height from the top, even if the Syrian artillery shelled Northern Israel regularly, the 1948, 1967, when the height of the control of Syria.

Height to give Israel an excellent vantage point of the Syrian movements. The natural topography provides a buffer against the military thrust on Syria.

The water in the arid area is also a key area of the data source. Rainwater catchment keen on Golan to make cultural heritage in Istanbul. The third area provides the water supply in Israel.

The land is fertile, cultivated vineyards and fruit orchards and raising cattle volcanic outbreaks with the soil. Golan is also the home of Israel's only ski resort.

Kompastuksia

Syria wants the return of the Golan Heights to protect any part of the peace agreement. At the end of 2003, the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he was ready to revive peace negotiations with Israel.

In Israel, in return for peace, the principle has already been established. The US brokered peace negotiations during the 1999-2000, then Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Barak had offered the highest returns to the Golan to Syria.

But the main point in the 1999 discussions sticking is also likely to bedevil in future discussions. Syria wants a full Israeli withdrawal in the pre-1967 border. This would give Damascus control of Galilee, Israel's main source of fresh water in the Eastern Shore.

Israel wants to retain control of the Galilee and the border is located, says a few hundred metres of the beach to the East.

Work with the Syrians in the territory of the Jewish settlements also would be required. The Israeli newspaper estimated in 1999 that the settlers compensation is carried out at 10 billion dollars.

Public opinion in Israel would not favour the withdrawal. Opponents say are too strategic height will be returned. In January 2004, the poll suggested that a majority of Israelis opposed the plans to hand back the Golan to Syria.

Use keskeydyttyä

Indirect negotiations between Israel and Syria resumed in 2008, the Turkish Government through intermediaries, but the resignation of the Prime Minister of Israel suspended the Ehud Olmert corruption during the course of the investigation.

The new Israeli Government was elected in February 2009, according to Benjamin Netanyahu declared that it was taken over by the kiristyvään line in the Golan to Syria in June 2009, the Director said, there was no partner for negotiations on the Israeli side.

President Barack Obama, who took office in January 2009-new farming is, however, reported that the negotiations between Israel and Syria, one of the main objectives of its foreign policy.

Egypt supports the amendments to the Constitution

20 March 2011, last updated at 18: 05 ET, Pro-democracy activists, who ousted President Mubarak said the changes did not go far enoughEgyptians have strongly backed the changes to the Constitution, which allows you to move quickly to elections, the country.

Official results show that supporters of the referendum on Saturday, 77% were in favour of the changes.

The former President Hosni Mubarak elections stage-managed with the parties, on the one hand, and the results and the overall turnout was very low.

By vote of the people's representative body can now take place at an early stage than in September.

Mohammed Ahmed, a top legal Committee Attiyah, which monitor the voting, the Manager said, 18.5 million people voted for the changes. Overall turnout was 41.2% of all households were made up of 45 million of the eligible electorate.

The changes are:

• Reduce the six-year presidential terms to four years, and bounded by the two terms, the Chairman of the

• The Obligation to choose a substitute within 30 days of the date of the elections, the Executive Director

• Install the new criteria for the evaluation of "Innocence", and a rule that they must be more than 40 years old and married to a non-Egyptian

Continue reading be added to the main story

Egyptian journalists caught in a US security guard cries to the love we have heard about the referendum, otherwise a very pronounced in the news conference, the stipulation of the result of the qualification. One man reported that solo honest turnout statistics had reason to celebrate. "Just imagine, we were told in the past, if it was only 41% of the long queues of lies," He commented.

-Tahrir Square, the protests, which overthrew the President, the focus was on the higher division. Angry, the group opposes the amendments of the Constitution of the revolutionary slogan of reviving the "illegitimate". "We need a new Constitution," they shouted. Had the Muslim Brotherhood, which is called the "Yes" vote in the end, and is expected to benefit from criticism.

Other demonstrations called to stop watching the 1. "We have just appear nervous and vengeful, ourselves," said Ahmed Mustafa. "All must accept this and begin to build our country."

The two main political groups in the country, Mr. Mubarak's National Democratic Party and the Muslim Brotherhood backed proposals.

Essam al-Aryan Brotherhood spokesman, called the result "the victory of the Egyptian people," which allows the country to "turn the page and enter a new phase."

He rejected the Brotherhood had been used in its religious influence to persuade their people support the proposed changes, or that his vote was the victor.

The Pro-Democracy activists, said the changes did not go far enough and wanted to be completely rewritten the Constitution before the elections, could be held.

Activists have argued that, without violating the established parties stand for holding the highest profit quickly.

But the activists, the revolution, the Youth Coalition, the umbrella group, posted a message on Facebook to make the citizens to accept the outcome of the referendum.

"We call the Facebook page of the will of the people's respect and the members of the selection after the break-up of the democratic Practice, which we consider to be the historic departure from Egypt's political life," the message said.

The US Ambassador to Egypt, Margaret Scobey, said the referendum was "a major step in the use of 25 January on the efforts of the revolution".

Many Egyptians had never voted on Saturday was the first time.

Turnout was very low, under Mr. Mubarak, the lack of real political competition and votes were positioning means assumption.

Egypt

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While best known for its pyramids and ancient civilisations, Egypt has played a central role in Middle East politics in modern times.

Its wars with Israel in 1948, 1956, 1967 and 1973, then its eventual peace with its adversary in 1979, have seen Egypt move from being a warring nation to become a key representative in the peace process.

Egypt's ancient past and the fact that it was one of the first Middle Eastern countries to open up to the West following Napoleon's invasion have given it a claim to be the intellectual and cultural leader in the region. The head of Cairo's Al-Azhar Mosque is one of the highest authorities in Sunni Islam.

But the historic step by President Anwar Sadat to make peace with Israel in the 1979 Camp David agreement led to Egypt being expelled from the Arab League until 1989, and in 1981 Mr Sadat was assassinated by Islamic extremists angry at his moves to clamp down on their activities.

Since then, President Hosni Mubarak took a more moderate line, but Islamic groups have continued their campaigns sporadically. They have been responsible for deadly attacks that have often targeted tourists and resort areas, and more recently have begun to target Egypt's Coptic Christian community.

Campaigners for political reform have become more vocal in recent times and have taken to the streets in defiance of an emergency law, in force since 1981.

Widespread anti-government demonstrations in January 2011 - encouraged by the flight of the long-term leader of Tunisia amid unrest - eventually led President Mubarak to step aside.

The military is now in charge but pro-democracy demonstrators have been maintaining their pressure for an interim government, a new constitution and parliament, an end to emergency law and democratic elections.

Egypt's teeming cities - and almost all agricultural activity - are concentrated along the banks of the Nile, and on the river's delta. Deserts occupy most of the country.

The economy depends heavily on agriculture, tourism and cash remittances from Egyptians working abroad, mainly in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries.

However, rapid population growth and the limited amount of arable land is straining the country's resources and economy.

Full name: Arab Republic of Egypt Population: 84.5 million (UN, 2010) Capital: Cairo Area: 1 million sq km (386,874 sq miles) Major language: Arabic Major religions: Islam, Christianity Life expectancy: 69 years (men), 73 years (women) (UN) Monetary unit: 1 Egyptian Pound = 100 piastres Main exports: Petroleum, petroleum products and cotton GNI per capita: US $2,070 (World Bank, 2009) Internet domain: .eg International dialling code: +20

President: Muhammad Hosni Mubarak (resigned)

Hosni Mubarak, Egypt's longest-serving ruler since Muhammad Ali in the early 19th century and one of the longest-serving leaders in the Arab world, stepped down in February 2011 after 30 years in power.

President Mubarak has pursued economic, but not political reform

He was responding to weeks of street protests, which began in January 2011, only days after the president of Tunisia fled a popular uprising.

His vice-president announced Mr Mubarak's resignation and said he had handed power to the army.

Mr Mubarak gained a fifth consecutive term in presidential elections in September 2005, when he was aged 77. The poll was the first under a new system which allows multiple candidates to stand. In previous elections Egyptians voted yes or no for a single candidate appointed by parliament.

However, the only opposition organisation which has broad public support, the Muslim Brotherhood, is banned from open political activity and could not field a candidate.

Mr Mubarak succeeded Anwar Sadat, who was assassinated in 1981. He is seen as Egyptian politics' great survivor, having escaped no fewer than six assassination attempts.

He is an economic liberal and his government promised economic reforms. But Egypt remains plagued by high unemployment and low standards of living.

Mr Mubarak has pursued friendly relations with the West, breaking the isolation imposed on Egypt by Arab countries opposed to peace with Israel.

As a military man he modernised the air force after Egypt's defeat in the six-day war with Israel in 1967. He helped to plan the 1973 Yom Kippur War - an Egyptian-Syrian attack on Israeli forces on the Suez Canal and in the Golan Heights.

In March 2010, Mr Mubarak underwent gall-bladder surgery in Germany, renewing speculation over whether he will run for re-election in 2011.

Since 1952, when army officers led by Gamal Abdel Nasser overthrew the monarchy, Egyptian leaders have been drawn from the military.

Hosni Mubarak was born in 1928. He and his wife Suzanne, who is part Welsh and part Egyptian, have two sons, Ala and Gamal.

Vice-president: Omar Suleiman

Omar Suleiman was appointed as vice president in January 2011 amid a popular uprising against the government and given the task of opening talks with the opposition.

Omar Suleiman addresses the nation after his appointment

The post is the one that President Mubarak occupied before he was promoted to the presidency, but which he kept vacant until 2011.

Mr Suleiman has been intelligence chief since 1993 and has played a prominent public role in diplomacy - including in Egypt's relations with Israel and key aid donor the United States.

As head of intelligence he was said to be the mastermind behind the fragmentation of Islamist groups which led the uprising against the state in the 1990s. He is described as a long-term confidant of Mr Mubarak.

Egypt is a major regional media player. Its press is one of the most influential and widely-read in the region, and its TV and film industry supplies much of the Arab-speaking world with shows from its Media Production City.

Press laws allow prison sentences for libelling the president, state institutions and foreign heads of state. Nevertheless, journalists openly express their views on political and social issues, including vigorous criticism of government officials and policies.

President Hosni Mubarak's departure precipitated an editorial u-turn among state media outlets that had served for decades as government mouthpieces.

Television is the most popular source for news. There are two state-run national TVs and six regional channels, but many viewers turn to pan-Arab stations for news.

Egypt is a big force in satellite TV. Most leading Arab pay TV networks have a presence at Media Production City in Cairo. Egypt was the first Arab nation to have its own satellite, Nilesat.

State radio's monopoly was broken with the arrival of private music stations in 2003.

Around 17 million Egyptians were online by February 2010 (InternetWorldStats.com). Bloggers have uploaded videos showing human rights violations and activists have embraced Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

Internet access was cut for a time in early 2011 in an effort to curb protests which eventually forced President Mubarak to resign. Social networks were used to organise the demonstrations.

Israel launches air strikes in Gaza

21 March 2011, last updated at 19: 35 -YOU DO NOT include many of the buildings had Hamas been infecting at least 17 people have been injured in the Israeli air strikes in Gaza several strikes, Palestinian medics said.

The responses of a maximum of nine explosions were reported in Gaza City and in the North and the South side of the area.

Witnesses say militant training camps operated by the Hamas and the cement factory's workshop were targeted as well.

On Saturday a Palestinian fired dozens of mortars, the southern Egypt to Israel, which was reportedly the heaviest barrage of such two-year period.

Of Monday's air strikes had seven children, was seriously wounded in a Palestinian medical officials said.

BBC Jon Donnison Gaza City says warplanes could be heard over the Gaza Strip for more than an hour.

Many of the buildings belonging to the Islamist Hamas group, which controls the Gaza Strip, had been infecting strikes in advance, he says.

Air strikes in Gaza is not unusual, but this seems to be one of the heaviest since Israel's significant military offensive between December 2008 and January 2009, the reward.

More than 1,300 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed.

View the original article here

Dozens injured in Yemen in the conflict

16 March 2011, last updated at 10: 14 -ET's protests took place across the country, dozens of people were injured as police attempted to Yemen, the anti-government demonstration in the city of al-Hudaida West chop in recent weeks.

Police opened fire and used TEAR GAS after the pro-government loyalists, attacked Klimaflüchtlinge batons and stones, witnesses said.

Demonstrators called for President Ali Abdullah Saleh step down after 32 years in power.

Protests, which began last month, have left at least 30 people, who are dead.

A local doctor told Reuters that the security forces and by armed plainclothes police attacked demonstrators, hundreds of which were made on the main Square.

"He was wounded in the attack on the Klimaflüchtlinge and about 120 people. The doctor, with Klimaflüchtlinge they used TEAR GAS, rubber bullets and live fire, baseball, "said.

Yemen is one of the North African and Middle Eastern countries in the region, which have seen increasing unrest, because of the Presidents of Egypt and Tunisia, had ousted the popular revolts earlier this year.

Bahrain raises the stakes

15 March 2011, last updated at 17: 24 By State-of-the-art ET Frank Gardner BBC security contact person of the Anti-government Klimaflüchtlinge say the move as "invasion" of Bahrain is the tipping point. The additional 1 500 in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates troops to help restore order in the communities of al-Khalifa family has dramatically raised the small Gulf Kingdom, the stakes.

It is a controversial and somewhat desperate measure as the police and security forces of their own Bahrain are patently incapable of handling a willingness on the part of the anti-government protests to date.

Follows a series of behind-closed-doors discussions between key figures within each of these countries in crisis ".

This has led to the Gulf rulers would like to present the almost "an internal family matter," one or the other fraternal country to another helping. In practice, it is an unprecedented and potentially very Prostatitis. How is it crashed with the various stakeholders?

The opposition leader have been quick to condemn the "invasion" of this meeting, "occupation" and "an act of war". Klimaflüchtlinge fear, they now have foreign troops of excessive violence. They do not accept the Government's assumption that the sets are called the key sites such as the security measures of the oil storage locations, points out that they have attacked them.

Social networks sites such as Twitter and Facebook, a brilliant, such as the insane comments this one on Tuesday: "is it to say, the first ever held in the history of the Bahrain's war was responsible for bringing any action against the peaceful citizens?"

In the case of the al Khalifa family and the State media has enabled many of the statements, saying, this was the necessary action to restore law and order.

Bahrain says Saudi Arabia needed reinforcements to restore law and order

The night before the Saudi Arabian forces went to the Government official told the BBC: "the situation has stabilized, because this is getting out. Hopefully, the rule of law can be enforced and discussions [with opposition leader] may be obtained from the running. "

Is almost certainly differences of opinion, which the family. Seven Klimaflüchtlinge prosessoitiin last month, it was the crown prince of personal action, which led to the withdrawal of security forces and the search for dialogue and compromise to be stepped up.

But not to other family, which implements the kiristyvään line "in its" home market that unless these protests are down ruthlessly throughout the dynasty, they could be threatened.

A set of analysts believe that Bahrain had little choice but to call the Saudi forces, Saudi Arabia authoritarian rulers was adamant that the unrest to be killed before it roiskunut into the Shiite dominated by Saudi Arabia's oil-producing and the Eastern Province.

There has been some small troubles already, but nothing compared to what could erupt if the neighbouring Shiite Bahrain saw a full-scale revolution. Saudi Arabia is Bahrain's mainly in the Gulf ally and the two countries often work in concert.

Iran has called the Saudi Arabian forces in Bahrain, the introduction of "unfair". Bahrain has responded by saying, effectively, "and" as available "basis, taking into account their own company," and has withdrawn its Ambassador to Tehran Protest. The Government of Bahrain has long suspected Iran's persistent attempts to Bahrain, "the fifth column" subversives, but critics say this is just an excuse to round up its domestic opponents.

Although many Bahrainis have been appalled and alarmed by the arrival of foreign troops, the other, perhaps, did a bizarrely sigh of relief. They are, I hope, it is assigned to the Asian Klimaflüchtlinge illegal and intimidated, sometimes the checkpoints, which has grown from around the country, the emissions permits the use of the business and choking the economy.

The Shiite Bahrainis to complain to the local gangs to reduce manning checkpoints, you can see the certificates of the persons and taking of the person demanding back to anyone who is from the Sunni minority.

However, this pales next to the horrific casualties caused by the Klimaflüchtlinge when they are brought into the hospital, you must have the following reports.

Many want to anything else than the elected Parliament with full executive powers, but the others are being radicalised as part of the Kingdom of demanding and perhaps the entire Court, leaving the family violence.

Change audio

18 March 2011, last updated at 18: 22 ET Jonathan head of BBC News By , Cairo is an exciting but splits the vote has only five weeks after President Hosni Mubarak, will be invited to vote on the amendments to the Egyptians to the Constitution, the referendum and it is difficult to predict the final result.

The old Constitution, drawn up in 1971, was suspended by the new military Council, two days after the Resignation of Mr Mubarak. It was one of the main requirements of the Klimaflüchtlinge-Tahrir Square.

Nine amendments are proposed by limiting the presidential term of Office, elections, improving transparency and by limiting the imposition of emergency rule.

In such a way as to enable them to have been generally positive. But more than the opinion of the army's rapid timetable for the restoration of democratic rule to the civilian population, divided into sharply.

Mousa Atteya Café is an old market in Central Cairo clinking hub. Men of all ages to stop football mint tea, coffee or water pipe, puff.

Share your shows

This neighbourhood is much involved in the recent uprising. But now, when it was committed, is a record of the first voting of the Mubarak era motivated debate.

"Yes, a thousand times" Yes "," a retired men who say they want life to return to the pre-Mubarak normality as soon as possible to the kertosäkeet group. Such measures shall be adopted by the younger man, this is the root of the transition., he says, and we always make more changes later.

But the two men say they will vote "No". The Constitution further gives too much power to the President, the claims of one. Other human objects speed where things are now occurs.

"We have only repairing the old system," he says. "Why do they have such a hurry?

In a hurry-up, changes were only of the legal experts of the Committee hastily 26. February-that the promotional activities only started this week.

State television has been running recurring broadcasts for what tomorrow's news will be "Yes". And dozens of home-made videos have appeared on the same social networking sites, which had a prominent role in unseating Mr. Mubarak human body voting "no".

Departments are divided into anti-Mubarak Movement held together so well during the protests on the square-Tahrir. For the most part, the movement of the younger leaders are against the changes to the Constitution.

"People should vote" no ", because this is what we had a revolution," says Shadi Al Ghazali Harb, a revolutionary activist of the Youth Coalition. "We do not want this in the old Constitution, and we must change, not only to change it."

He is the more serious of the military observer group of the Parliament, the Council intends to hold the referendum after the elections, perhaps as soon as June worry.

Exciting

"We must organize ourselves at least a year, and taking into account fair competition in the European Parliament election, he says," come "and leave it solely to the Muslim Brotherhood and the regional development strategy for winning, because they are the most organised."

Although the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's oldest non-contractual, and the opposition party, and has the most advantage of the early elections. Is not a surprise, then, is to progress, its followers to vote "Yes".

Continue to be added to the main story

For 60 years we have had with the elections only to take only the 99.9% of all voting, Mubarak was, all the voting was, all of the voting was in the hundreds of Nasser-this is the sound "

(A) stop the invitation to tender for the export of Hatem Aly "Yes" voter "this is the first step is a long road to the democratic system," said the spokesman, Essam el-Erian. "The army's schedule, there is no connection. But it is not too quickly. These amendments are solely for the purpose of ensuring free and fair elections. The new Constitution to add over the changes. "

But when the new Parliament is chosen, then the Committee shall be appointed by the establishment of a new Constitution. A lot of power in the hands of either party shall bring the very shape of the election of the future of Egypt. The Muslim Brotherhood, and perhaps the Reincarnation Mr Mubarak is dominated by the preparation of the national development plan would be a bitter disappointment to those of Parliament, who struggled so hard with a completely new beginning for the country.

Political freedom still seems exciting, this novelty. I went to Cairo University, the alma mater and Yasser Arafat, Saddam Hussein, Mohamed ElBaradei, the first free political debate, anyone will be able to cancel the harvemmilla's campus.

The Muslim Brotherhood called on supporters to back changes

Hundreds of students, men and women, listen to a lecture hall packed with speakers, and the changes to the Constitution, arguing against the Panel. The score was fierce and a passionately, and they were challenged by questions from the floor to robustly. Mubarak's stifling censorship of these young people, disabled students, the future of Egypt could feel the weight of the shoulders.

One of the organizers of the debate was Hatem Aly, recently graduated from the medical student who, after taking part in the movement-Tahrir Square, traveled to Libya to help the wounded fighters of the opposition there. Hatem shall have the right to vote "Yes", his friend Khaled, vote "No".

"Khaled is a friend of mine, but I like the variety's opinion," said Hatem. -"60 years, we have had with the elections only to take only the 99.9% of all voting, Mubarak was, all the voting was, all of the voting was in the hundreds of Nasser-this is healthy."

The army of the Supreme Council has stated that if the amendments are rejected, it sets its own temporary, until a new Constitution is drawn up. Whether the vote is "Yes" or "no", the army will leave the political stage as quickly as possible and return to its primary role of the power behind the scenes.

Bahrain calls for troops to rein

17 March 2011, at 11: 45 ET, BahrainThe UN ' Smoking ' bullets last updated human rights chief condemned by the security forces against Bahrain is governed by the laws of the Klimaflüchtlinge the use of force, "shocking".

Navi Pillay said the reports of the military takeover, the hospital was a blatant violation of international law.

He called on the authorities of the Member State in which their forces on the Rhine and the arrested men are beaten or killed in the reports.

At least six opposition figures have reportedly been detained in Bahrain the night raids and the soldiers are back on the streets of the capital Manama.

Anti-Klimaflüchtlinge in the city centre to the left of the government at least three civilians and three police officers died Wednesday at the teloitukset.

Riot police closed off the main hospital in Manama: n and some smaller health centres and rights activists said the medics were to have won, as they tried to help the wounded on the streets.

"We have reports of arbitrary arrests, kidnappings, Hakkaamisia and Klimaflüchtlinge and medical personnel, hospitals and health centres, according to the different security forces of taking the" Ms Pillay, human rights, the UN High Commissioner for refugees wrote was published in the Thursday statement.

"This is a shocking and illegal."

The Government said previously, it was taken to hospital because it had become the stronghold's argument.

Deductions

Klimaflüchtlinge the largest Shia population, mostly from, say, the violence which denies Bahrain's Sunni rulers.

BBC: Caroline Hawley Manama, says, the streets are calm but very tense, soldiers Patrolling after the overnight curfew.

Continue reading be added to the main story of King Hamad, 61, has been controlled by the 1999Population, was published; the land area of 717 sq km or 100 times less than that of the Republic of Ireland with a population of median 30.4 years and the literacy rate is 91%, youth unemployment is 19.6% of the gross national income per capita: $ 25,420 (World Bank 2009) for the rights groups said riot police had fired TEAR GAS Thursday to disperse a small protests in Shiite village in Daih, the capital, which is a key area to the West side of the argument.

They said roads near the villages of Sanabis and Jidhafs was denied access to military vehicles.

State television read a military statement said, "the objective of the programmes of the leaders," was arrested in foreign countries, and called for the system are.

And to say how many opposition figures were arrested, and it was to rename them.

Groups and the rights of the arrested activists of the opposition, said the men include the Haq party, which had been a test day to try to overthrow the Presidency, even though the charges were removed to calm tensions after unrest began to bid, Hassan Mushaima and Abdeljalil al-Singace.

Moderate constitutional monarchy Klimaflüchtlinge call, and the Government of the United States cessation of repression and corruption. However, Haq-party wishes to set up a Republic.

Shiite activist Abdel Wahhab Hussein, Ibrahim Sharif, who leads the Party of the Sunni maallistunut, was also arrested.

Guns pointed out

Ibrahim Matar, a former opposition MP-Bahrain's the majority of the Shia, who recently resigned in Protest at the crackdown on the BBC, said the Government had completely ignored the message from the United States that it was the wrong time.

US-Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also criticized the excessive use of force and the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called for dialogue.

Mr. Ibrahim told the BBC: "we refuse to enter a dialogue, even if our heads drew guns."

Bahrain, which has a population of 800,000, and is the Navy's Fifth Fleet home, sweeping wave of civil unrest in the Arab countries, the instability of money. Protests began last month.

On Tuesday, King Hamad Bin Isa al-Khalifa declared the three-month State of emergency and Saudi troops were called to keep order.

The next day at dawn to move troops, tanks and helicopters, to remove the central square and a Pearl Klimaflüchtlinge was made several weeks.

The crackdown on protests in sympathy with the request is from the Shias in the region, including Iran and Lebanon, where a few hundred of the people of Bahrain and the denunciation of the Treaty on the Saudi Arabian authorities through the sudden rise.

Iran has withdrawn its Ambassador to Bahrain, Mahdi Aghajafrari Klimaflüchtlinge anti-government Protest in Manama.

On Tuesday, Bahrain's Ambassador to Tehran after Iran condemns was cancelled by the Saudi Arabian troops arrival in Bahrain.

Bahrain's Nebula is closely allied to the Kings of Saudi Arabia. It has long suspected Iran of encouraging the Klimaflüchtlinge, which are mostly Shia majority.

Send pictures yourpics@bbc.co.uk and videos, or they 61124 text (UK) or the Service Centre 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can download here.

Algeria

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Algeria, a gateway between Africa and Europe, has been battered by violence over the past half-century.

More than a million Algerians were killed in the fight for independence from France in 1962, and the country has recently emerged from a brutal internal conflict that followed scrapped elections in 1992.

The Sahara desert covers more than four-fifths of the land. Oil and gas reserves were discovered here in the 1950s, but most Algerians live along the northern coast. The country supplies large amounts of natural gas to Europe and energy exports are the backbone of the economy.

Algeria was originally inhabited by Berbers until the Arabs conquered North Africa in the 7th century. Staying mainly in the mountainous regions, the Berbers resisted the spreading Arab influence, managing to preserve much of their language and culture. They make up some 30% of the population.

Part of the Turkish Ottoman empire from the 16th century, Algeria was conquered by the French in 1830 and was given the status of a "departement". The struggle for independence began in 1954 headed by the National Liberation Front, which came to power on independence in 1962.

In the 1990s Algerian politics was dominated by the struggle involving the military and Islamist militants. In 1992 a general election won by an Islamist party was annulled, heralding a bloody civil war in which more than 150,000 people were slaughtered.

An amnesty in 1999 led many rebels to lay down their arms.

Although political violence in Algeria has declined since the 1990s, the country has been shaken by by a campaign of bombings carried out by a group calling itself Al-Qaeda in the Land of Islamic Maghreb (AQLIM).

The group was formerly known as the Salafist Group for Call and Combat, and has its roots in an Islamist militia involved in the civil war in the 1990s.

Although experts doubt whether AQLIM has direct operational links with Osama Bin-Laden, its methods - which include suicide bombings - and its choice of targets, such as foreign workers and the UN headquarters in Algiers, are thought to be inspired by Al-Qaeda. North African governments fear that local Islamist groups in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia may be linking up under the umbrella of the new movement.

After years of political upheaval and violence, Algeria's economy has been given a lift by frequent oil and gas finds. It has estimated oil reserves of nearly 12 billion barrels, attracting strong interest from foreign oil firms.

However, poverty remains widespread and unemployment high, particularly among Algeria's youth. Endemic government corruption and poor standards in public services are also chronic sources of popular dissatisfaction.

Major protests broke out in January 2011 over food prices and unemployment, with two people being killed in clashes with security forces. The government responded by ordering cuts to the price of basic foodstuffs, and repealed the 1992 state of emergency law.

In 2001 the government agreed to a series of demands by the minority Berbers, including official recognition of their language, after months of unrest involving Berber youths demanding greater cultural and political recognition.

Full name: The People's Democratic Republic of Algeria Population: 35.4 million (UN, 2010) Capital: Algiers Area: 2.4 million sq km (919,595 sq miles) Major languages: Arabic, French, Berber Major religion: Islam Life expectancy: 72 years (men), 75 years (women) (UN) Monetary unit: 1 dinar = 100 centimes Main exports: Oil, gas GNI per capita: US $4,420 (World Bank, 2009) Internet domain: .dz International dialling code: +213

President: Abdelaziz Bouteflika

Abdelaziz Bouteflika won the presidency in 1999 polls, promising to end the violence that exploded after the cancellation of the 1992 parliamentary election which an Islamic party was set to win.

President Bouteflika was elected to a third term of office in 2009

Since then he secured landslide election victories in 2004 and again 2009.

After having amended the constitution to remove the two-term limit on the presidency in November 2008, Bouteflika has effectively allowed himself to remain head of state for life - changes criticised as a setback for democratic reform.

On first taking office in 1999 he promised to restore national harmony and to end years of bloodshed.

He released thousands of Muslim militants and won backing for a civil concord in 1999 which offered an amnesty to armed militants.

Many of the rebels accepted and the violence declined. Voters backed a second amnesty for the remaining militants, laid out in the president's "charter for peace and reconciliation", in a 2005 referendum.

Algeria under President Bouteflika has won praise from the West for backing the US-led "war on terror". At home, many credit him with the return of security, though attacks by Islamist militants have increased again since 2006.

Mr Bouteflika has overcome years of isolation for Algeria, welcoming a succession of foreign heads of state and government to Algiers, but his socialist-orientated economic policies have failed to wean the economy off reliance on oil and gas.

A veteran of the war for independence from France, Mr Bouteflika was Algeria's foreign minister for 16 years until 1979. He went into self-imposed exile for several years in the 1980s to escape corruption charges that were later dropped.

Power is concentrated in the presidency, with parliament considered a rubber-stamp body. Mr Bouteflika is widely credited with normalising the presidency's ties with the military, which played a key role under the state of emergency that prevailed from 1992 until February 2011.

Algeria's TV and radio stations are state-controlled, but there is a lively private press which often criticises the authorities.

There is no direct censorship, but laws set out prison terms and fines for insulting or defaming the president, MPs, judges and the army.

Algeria's private press can be lively

"Although journalists no longer fear for their lives, their room for manoeuvre in terms of freedom of expression is limited," Reporters Without Borders said in 2010.

Satellite TV is popular; stations based in France target viewers in Algeria. European channels are widely-watched.

There were 4.1 million internet users by September 2009 (InternetWorldStats). Most surfers rely on dial-up connections and cybercafes.

No widespread filtering is reported, but the blocking of a political website in January 2010 was said to be the first known instance of online censorship.

Writing in Arabic, English and French, Algerian bloggers cover social, cultural and political topics. There are more than 5,000 Algerian blogs, a newspaper suggested in late 2008.

The press:

El Khabar - private, Arabic daily; website has pages in Arabic, French and English Ech Chourouk - private, Arabic daily; website has English-language pages Le Quotidien d'Oran - private, French-language daily El Moudjahid - state-run, French-language daily; website has English-language pages Ech Chaab - state-run, Arabic daily El Watan - private, French language daily Le Soir d'Algeria - private, French-language daily Liberte - private, French-language La Tribune - private, French-language Algerian Press Portal - press directory

Television:

Radio:

Algerian Radio - operated by state-run Radio-Television Algerienne, runs national Arabic, Berber and French networks and several local stations

News agencies:

Arab world protests at a glance (AP)

A summary of Tuesday's development in the Arab world, as instability and anti-Government protests inspired by uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia scattered in the region.

Libya

Moammar Gadhafi swear to fight on to its "last drop of blood" and tells supporters to take to the streets against demonstrators after two nights of bloodshed in the capital as his forces tried to crush the uprising which have fragmented his regime.

___

Bahrain

Tens of thousands of protesters from overrunning the capital Tuesday, demonstrating against the monarchy as the King makes a second concession — a promise to release some political prisoners.

___

Egypt

Egypt's military rulers swears in a new chassis, which replaces multiple Mubarak-era Cabinet Ministers

___

GAZA

Euphoria spread through Gaza, which people hope Egypt's new rulers will end the economy-stifling blockade, which was supported by Hosni Mubarak regime.

___

Jordan

Jordan's powerful Muslim Brotherhood swear to resume protests, says the Government did not keep the promise of rapid reforms.

___

Iraq

Thousands marched in the northern city of Sulaimaniyah, demanding political reforms and an investigation of the fatal shootings of two protesters last week.

___

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia oil Minister says oil powerhouse has plenty of spare capacity to make up for any supply disruption.

___

Yemen

Around 5000 government protesters rally in Eastern Yemen, was driven out of the President is looking for.

___

Algeria

Algeria's Cabinet approves a plan to lift state of emergency, which has been in existence for 19 years, a Move seen as an attempt to defuse dissatisfaction.

At the edge of Yemen

21 March 2011, the Virginia Hill, Chatham House, 11: 11- YOU last updated by the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to celebrate his 66th birthday on Monday, the powerful military that encountered by the competitor is in the name of a popular revolution-Yemen is his family from power submitted a tender are referred to the reality.

Tanks in the Commission's eldest son, Ahmed Saleh, the authority of parked at the gates of the palace is located in the capital Sanaa. Tanks for the transport of dangerous goods is also of the armed forces of the Ministry of defence, as well as outside of the Central Bank.

These defensive deployments, in order to protect the Commission's control follow that Saleh military commander, Gen Ali Mohsin al-Ahmar is taking aid to Yemen, the pro-democracy Klimaflüchtlinge notification.

The General Defection follows a similar development in the growing number of Ministers, Committee of ambassadors, parliamentarians and prominent business men during the last few days.

The rapid pace of Defections by Friday, when the snipers opened fire on pro-democracy camp, killing more than 50 people in the capital.

US officials condemned Friday's violence, "the strongest terms" and expressed hope that Yemeni may yet achieve the negotiations and dialogue on a political solution.

Patti

The US authorities with a view to the completion of the negotiations and in the same line of dialogue from the Yemen, the pro-democracy movement began to gain momentum in January.

The Commission has adeptly played Saleh fear chaos if he loses control of Yemen

However, the confidence required to achieve a political solution has been absent, and the Yemeni Opposition politicians is that they had to in order to obtain the power-sharing Deal.

As a result of this stalemate situation, the conclusion, even though the young Yemenis-blank with the entire generation of politicians were becoming more and more errors to street numbers.

The US authorities, in the light of the recent attempts to encourage both the dialogue is based on the dynamics of real political interpretation of fundamental rights in Yemen.

Although concentrating attention to diplomats are set out in the political parties, official agencies and the State of complex networks of patronage and corruption, which are closely entwined with that of the Commission's system of monetary situation gradually Saleh has been moving in the open view.

Continue to be added to the main story 40% of the poorest countries, the Yemenis who live less than $ 2 (£ 1.25) for the Middle East, at least two-thirds of the population of the dayMore is less than 24, more than a third in jobless; illiteracy rate is more than 50% of the Dwindling oil reserves and the falling oil revenue; a little water in the internal investmentAcute shortageWeak Central governmentWith Gen Ali Herring's Defection, the long-standing competition vis-à-vis the various parties within the system, finally been exposed.

Now Yemenis are waiting to see what happens next, and Twitter is buzzing with speculation. Many Yemenis expressing love or stunned disbelief, that the Commission may be removed from Office after Saleh, more than 30 years at the prospect of power. Others are warning of the massacre or the civil war.

The Pro-Democracy Klimaflüchtlinge are nervous, according to settled case-law of the military and commercial interests, who simply appoint a new face to govern the country without making significant changes to the status quo from a popular revolution.

Tipping point

In this scenario, the Gen Ali herring is likely to work when the opposition politician and kingmaker, Hameed al-Ahmar could emerge as one of the beneficiaries.

US officials now have to be made swiftly using the recalculation of their short-term and long-term interests of Yemen.

By this time, however, is to be taken, the Commission's approach-one that Saleh appeared to step out of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak delivered much stronger messages and Muammar al-Gaddafi, Libya which were both reported that the game was up to the popular unrest in their countries to achieve the critical tipping point during the day.

Affect us policy makers as is their assessment that al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen, which is based on the global terror organization to be classified by the most active branches.

For many years the US authorities not to provide military support and the training of the elite security and intelligence services of the Commission on the activities of the unit, the son of Saleh and grandchildren command. The White House is nervous about losing these relationships with the local proxy servers, which have been ready to cooperate with the counter-terrorism activities of the United States.

However, the longer the US officials try to keep the Commission Saleh and his family at the place, the more their risks, their own interests. Yemenis are furious that the United States backed the Commission's Central security forces, one of the grandchildren commanded units played Saleh article on pro-democracy protests in cracking a prominent role.

In the United States made the gas canisters of CS, allegedly intended for counter-terrorism activities, also used in the pro-democracy against Klimaflüchtlinge.

For several years the Commission has adeptly play Saleh, fear chaos if he loses control of Yemen but his internal support ebbing away quickly.

Ginny Hill is carried out in Yemen in the Chatham House, the independent forum of International Affairs think tank.

Country pop. (m), the median age in jobless (%) of the below poverty line (%) of internet users (m)

Bahrain and Iran expel diplomats from the national

20 March 2011, last updated at 20: 09 -ET to the authorities of Bahrain is trying to take control of the anti-government protests in Iran is a country of Bahrain diplomatic responses to move constantly, in the event of a dispute, the anti-government protests in Bahrain are in the middle.

Bahrain had previously expelled Iran's charge d'affaires.

Tehran is using the other Gulf States accused Sunni rulers Bahrain's forces take control of the mainly Shia Klimaflüchtlinge.

Bahrain has accused Iran, the Gulf of its internal affairs in the absence of the main Shiite.

Both countries withdrew their ambassadors to the Committee earlier this week.

"After expelling diplomats, in particular, one of our reprisal, attache, Embassy of Bahrain's is to be summoned and told that one of the diplomats from the embassies of Iran, Bahrain will leave the Government's inconsistent and incomprehensible actions" of the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said.

Refer to the legitimate needs of the population ", as the case may be," he said, "the repression of inconsistent measures and peaceful protests only aggravates the crisis and deepening the wounds."

On Wednesday, at least three people, the authorities of Bahrain prosessoitiin deleted months old Protest Camp Pearl Roundabout in Manama.

A brief Protest in Manama on Sunday, the main opposition group, appealed to the UN Wafeq to protect against violence and pressure forces the United States, to help the other Gulf States to leave Bahrain.

Under the leadership of the opposition groups, the Wafeq, they said, with the Government hold talks until the troops were removed from the streets and the prisoners are released.

Bahrain's of the Council of Ministers, said it regretted the "negative" of the Crown Prince, Sheikh Salman dialogue offer to answer.

Some 1,000 troops in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to 500 arrived in Bahrain on Monday at the invitation of the Government.

Broken silence

19 March 2011, last updated at 14: 24 ET Lina Sinjab By BBC News, four people were killed during a protest Friday in Syria, the silence is broken Deraa.

"Rage" in several cities is now found in Damascus, Homs, State-of-the-art Banyas and Deraa, south of Damascus.

Syria is not the Facebook generation which is taking the streets. It is the people who are tired of poverty and repression.

-If the police have reacted to the most brutally-Deraa demonstrations began on Friday.

Several families had gathered the 15 school children who require out-of-the-Tunisia and Egypt-inspired Protests, wrote the popular revolution of the slogan on the wall the publication: "the citizens want to belong to the system".

Residents say the President of the Office of the children in the area of the deductions thus deepened the repression of emotions and helped the protests in Deraa.

Security forces opened fire on Friday, killing three of the Klimaflüchtlinge people. The fourth died of his wounds Saturday, rights groups say.

One of the YouTube video Friday show Klimaflüchtlinge chanting "freedom, not to fear after the current day."

Second, people are carrying Amer al-Jawabra, one killed bloodied body. Before long, aseidet and men are forced to work on the cover.

' Rise Up '

Today, the police used TEAR GAS, thousands of which were attending the funeral of two of the victims.

Now the slogan appear more stringent. Mourners called "revolution" in Syria, the rulers since the uprisings began sweeping the Arab countries in the boldest challenge.

"The revolution, a revolution. Rise up, "the mourners chanted Hauran Deraa, the strategic Plateau, the administrative capital of the Hauran, as they marched to the simple wood coffins Ayyash and Wissam Mahmud al-Jawabra, behind.

"God, Syria, freedom."Anyone who kills his own people is a traitor, "they were quoted by Reuters news agency as saying.

Eyewitnesses told the BBC that the residents were expecting more problems Deraa in the coming days and hours. Communication-lines look down and security is high.

Analyst and author of Louai al-Hussein, say that the inevitable had happened.

"Syria is now the countries of the region with the uprising on the map," he said.

Al-Watan newspaper, which is close to, say, the authorities have decided to open the assassination of a high level of research on Friday.

They have also pledged to respond to the demands of the people arrested for school pupils from Deraa.

Deductions

The Government has announced several measures to improve the situation in Syria after Egypt and Tunisia, which toppled the Presidents of these countries popular uprisings.

President Bashar al-Assad told the Wall Street Journal in January that the leadership in Syria, was "very closely with people's beliefs" and there was no mass discontent.

Many hope for, say, Syria has been the use of a public authority, in particular the actual change in their employment prospects and to improve living conditions.

Syria suffers from similar problems of poverty in Egypt and Tunisia-are high and the country has been one of the parties, in accordance with the rule in nearly 50 years.

But the margin is less freedom in Syria. Syria has been the emergency law since 1963, in accordance with economic and political freedoms are almost completely absent.

On Wednesday, police arrested around 36 Klimaflüchtlinge, who went to the Interior Minister calling for the release of political prisoners.

30-the three of them, including women, without weakening national morale and charged, endanger the State.

They have been reported since the start of the hunger strike and the Orso, which stopped the Hirvin of drinking water, is said to be an important prerequisite.

How things go now depend on the Government's response, said Louai al-Hussein of the author.

"They either oppress, and cause more serious or [they could] allow peaceful demonstrations in Syria," he says.

Bahrain

-Whose name means "two seas"-Bahrain was once viewed the ancient Sumerians as the island paradise, which was established on the basis of the wise and the brave, enjoy eternal life.

It was one of the Gulf to find oil and refineries in the build; the first of the United States as it benefited from the oil assets before most of the neighbouring countries.

Bahrain never reached those enjoyed by the Kuwait or Saudi Arabia, production levels and diversify its economy forced.

Bani Utbah, the country has been in the tribe that expelled-persialaisten-the head of the family of the Khalifa since 1783. in 1861, When the agreement was signed with Britain, until independence in 1971, Bahrain had almost a British Protectorate.

The King is the Supreme authority and ruling Sunni Muslim family members hold the key political and military action. There are no long-running tensions in the Muslim Sunnis and Shi'ite Bahrain's maximum. Sometimes these are the roiskunut appears in the unrest.

In 2001, Bahrainis was strongly in favour of United Kingdom-by now-the proposals of the constitutional monarchy in the country to become elected Parliament and an independent judiciary.

Elections due at the request of a member of Parliament for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City 40 alternates, of the Council. It was the first such poll in almost 30 years. The new body included a dozen of Shi'ite MPs.

The country has enjoyed, by increasing the freedom of expression and human rights monitors say the situation has improved. However, opposition groups and the Replica will continue to press for political reforms, including the powers of the elected Assembly.

Inspired by the collected for several days in the middle of protestors Manama February 2011, thousands of popular uprisings that toppled leaders of Tunisia and Egypt. The King responded to public anger by some political prisoners, and several people prosessoitiin the security forces, which are incompatible with the common market.

Bahrain-about 30 Islands in the chain-has been the territory of the tourists, who take advantage of the relaxed social environment haven. Close ally the United States, it is the home of the US Navy Fifth Fleet.

Full name: The Kingdom of Bahrain population: 807,000 (UN, 2010) capital: Manama region: 717 sq km (277 sq miles) Major language: Arabia Major religion: Islam life expectancy: 75 years (men), 78 years (women) (UN) monetary unit: , 1 Bahraini dinar = 1000 fils Main exports: oil and aluminium for petroleum products, the GNP per capita: US $ 25,420 (World Bank, 2009) Internet domain: . bh the code for the international phone number: + 973

King: Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

Sheikh Hamad, the title changed to the Kingdom of Bahrain on their computer to the Kingdom of the emirate in February 2002.

Sheikh Hamad succeeded his father in the year 1999

He had been crown prince since 1964, when his father Sheikh Isa dies in March 1999, he became Emir.

Born in 1950, he attended public school in Cambridge, England, and went to study in the Mons Officer cadet school, Aldershot, England, and the US army command and Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

In 1968 he founded and became the President of the Bahrain Defense Force Commander-in-chief (BDF). He served as Deputy Minister of defence in 1971, 1988.

The Government has over the years, with the largest Shiite protests experienced demonstrators, saying Sunni minority communities as they ran out of homes, you can choose to turn off, health care and Government jobs.

Is a lively private press, but most of the Bahrain radio and television stations are State. 2008-the investigation it was found that almost 99% of households had a satellite Receiver.

Press law guarantees journalists the right to act independently, but they are liable to jail terms for criminal offences which includes the Kingdom and self-censorship is carried out in the course of the offensive.

The BBC World Service is available on FM in Manama (101 MHz in English; 103.8 in Arabic).

June 2010, Bahrain had 649,300 internet users (InternetWorldStats.com).

Strict filtering is directed at the political, human rights, religious material, and content shall be deemed to be obscene vanhenemiselle. "Many websites run by national or international non-governmental organisations, are not available," Reporters without borders notes.

In The Press

Tv

Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation (BRTC) mode-then run; operates five terrestrial TV networks Radio-Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation (BRTC) mode-then run; acts of the General programme for the Arabic, the second with the program of cultural and local programmes, the Holy Koran programme, sports Service, English audio, Radio Bahrain FM-private, Indian listeners

News Agencies

Al-Gaddafi Libya since the ultimatum

18 March 2011, last updated at 15: 04 ET President Obama: "the American leadership is important," the Libyan leader, Colonel al-Gaddafi must comply with UN demands or face military action, US President Barack Obama says.

Mr. Obama said Thursday the United Nations resolution, which called for an immediate ceasefire was not negotiable.

He said the entire region could be destabilised if Col al-Gaddafi had the opportunity to continue to attack their own people.

Al-Gaddafi-system announced in the past, it had stopped fighting with the rebels and the UN Security Council resolution to monitor the promised.

Mr Obama said the forces must pull Col al-Gaddafi, back to the rebel-held cities, including Benghazi, and the authorities must allow for humanitarian aid.

"If he does not meet the requirements of the international community set the consequences," said Mr. Obama. "The resolution to be military action."

But the President stressed that the initiative at the international level.

"The United States does not intend to use the surface of the ground forces in Libya and we will use force is not yet beyond the strictly objective, in particular Libya, the civilians," he said.

Col al-Gaddafi Libya has held more than 40 years. Uprising against him in recent months after daily began as the leaders of the neighbouring countries of Tunisia and Egypt toppled.

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Abbas to make rare visit to Gaza

16 March 2011, last updated at 14: 36 -ET is Mahmoud Abbas visited Gaza for nearly four years of the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says he is ready for the Gaza Strip to try and end the Division of his Fatah party and the Islamist movement Hamas to travel.

Mr Abbas has not set foot in Gaza violent Split in 2007, which left the Fatah controlled the West Bank, even though Hamas was left to run the Gaza Strip.

Hamas on Tuesday urged him to come in is pleased with the transfer.

Thaw in relations comes after mass demonstrations called for the Palestinian national unity in several cities.

"I am ready to play tomorrow in Gaza to stop sharing," Mr Abbas said to the President of the Central Bank Council of the Palestine Liberation (PLO).

Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas, from the upper Tribunal, gave a positive response, Mr. Abbas, saying preparations for his visit.

Airstrike

Both parties appear to be responding to the recent demonstrations, which inspired the rest of the Middle East, reports BBC Jon Donnison-Ramallah uprisings.

But the Palestinians have not held their breath, which is the end of the feud, says us with the contact person.

Years from the date on which they have heard pledges and promises that their leaders will try to stop the distribution, all of which have come to nothing, he adds.

In the meantime, the doctors in Gaza, said at least two Palestinians in the Gaza Strip the Israeli airstrike in Central prosessoitiin.

The Israeli army confirmed the attack, saying it was responding to the rockets, the Gaza starts.

Israel says Egypt has sent dozens of rockets into Israel at the beginning of the year.

On Wednesday, on the occasion of an incident before the UN figures showed at least eight Palestinians in Gaza kill Israeli military operation in 2011.

Acute wounds

15 March 2011, last updated at 10: 24 -YOU DON'T have a strong military presence in the narrow streets of the Church of the Sol rebuilding begins in Egypt, the army has begun rebuilding the Church, which had burnt up to the Muslims, sparking a wave of sectarian unrest. Thirteen people in conflict with the prosessoitiin, which will be carried out in accordance with the mass protests earlier this month in Cairo to the Christians. The BBC's Jonathan Head went to visit the community, where the violence began.

Sol village sitting on a Helwan industrial province, about two hours south of Cairo.

It is a small, rural community, farmers and miners; the surrounding land is green and fertile Nile water, but also for the dotted-line brick ovens with chimneys, steel furnaces and cement factories.

One of the street to prevent the use of the armed forces. Two Armoured vehicles stand Sentinel outside. Two hundred metres behind the road block, the soldiers to clear the rubble and charred shell of the building to the other run of the rack.

This is the Shahadin Church, which had burned down, the crowd of Muslim men in the 5 March, following the family feud is the ratio of a Christian man and a Muslim woman.

The two men, the father of the woman prosessoitiin feud with his cousin and his brother, cousin. As victims and perpetrators were all the same family.

The problem, in other words, the villagers had to fulfil its obligations-failure to preserve the family honour to the father by killing his daughter. Such disputes are not unusual, and generally, it is settled case-law of the community.

So why escalate the violence at this time? It seems that no one in the village, but they are all very eager to ensure that the traffic that does not have a deep-rooted problem.

The show of unity

Muslim street pointed to down one out of the mud-brick houses, Taha, who was Muslim and that was a Christian.

At the same time, there are Christians, and Muslims maintain the stereotypes of their differences, the Sol village becomes the subject of the

He took me into a Christian home, with additions of neighbouring Jesus Christ adorned the walls.

Both the nine hands of the men held each other and insisted they are similar to the one in the family.

Christians pulled up their sleeves to reveal is their arms crosses the page boundary.

The problems caused by outside provocateurs, they said. Like all other villages they accused the media exaggerating what had happened.

More than anything else they appeared overwhelmed by the negative attention to getting their village was suddenly.

The symbol of the stocks

Yet back in Cairo, one of the young people's Christian doctor, Bassim Shenouga, thinking it has brought a sharp focus on the religious discrimination becomes a problem.

He was more than a thousand Christian Klimaflüchtlinge, who had nine days of the eve of State television offices outside.

Christian Klimaflüchtlinge, who claimed the Muslims attacked the Church charged

"We want the Church to be rebuilt in the same place," he said, "and we want to change the legislation for the construction of the Church, the same for the construction of the mosque."

Other crowd called for those who had burnt up to the court handling the Sol worship the place down. They accused ruling now Egypt, Marshal Mohamad Hussein Tantawy, ignoring their head of the Supreme Council of the army's plight.

"Tantawy, you have blood on your hands, from a Christian point of view", the song was one of the Church.

The demonstrators were angry, feeling of victimhood flame settings up and apparently interest in compromise.

To change the

Yet only one kilometre away, last Friday-Tahrir square was a very different atmosphere.

The relations between the of delivered sermons preaching tolerance to followers. Families wandered in the middle of the street-in stalls selling snacks. Persons in possession of the posters crosses the page boundary and the Islamic crescents entwined. They spoke nostalgically revolution into a fraternal spirit.

The army, which has found itself in the running for the country, Mr. Mubarak after leaving the sudden, wants to resolve quickly the religious problems.

The seal of the Cairo if last deadly occurred, and offered again to put an immediate end to the use of the regions of the Church of Shahadin. It must be kept until its suppliers was cleaning up the site and the soldiers were already beginning on the date of the building.

Sol of women seemed less of a stir than men, there in recent events.

"They should be punished, the girl and the son, and God is not burned down," said Marian Narouz. "We should not retaliate and burn down mosques either, although I am very sad about what they did."

But he was adamant. "The Christian should marry a Muslim," he said. "That would create problems with only."