Egyptian report details brutality against protesters before Mubarak’s fall
More than 800 protesters were killed and thousands wounded as the Mubarak regime attempted to put down Egypt’s uprising, according to a report from the new Egyptian government.
Egypt’s Mubarak seeks to stay in Red Sea retreat
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, April 20 (Reuters) – Hosni Mubarak has asked Egypt’s ruling generals to keep him in Sharm el-Sheikh despite an order to leave, army sources said, a further sign of the deposed president’s resistance to facing trial.Army sources said on Wednesday 82-year-old Mubarak wants to remain in hospital in the Red Sea resort, where he took refuge after pro-democracy protests ousted him from power in February.
Egypt’s general prosecutor considers moving Mubarak to jail
CAIRO, April 21 (Xinhua) — Egypt’s General Prosecutor Abdel Maguid Mahmoud considers moving former President Hosni Mubarak to a prison, state MENA news agency said on Thursday., Mahmoud decided to delegate head of forensic medicine to check the conditions of Torah prison hospital and provide all the medical requirements in order to transfer Mubarak to jail, it added., Mubarak was forced to step down on Feb. 11 and then moved with his family to the Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh. He was hospitalized in Sharm el Sheikh International hospital after suffering a heart attack and was questioned there by the general prosecution., Mubarak was detained on April 13 for 15 days on accusation of using violence against protesters during the nationwide demonstration. His two sons, Alaa and Gamal, were sent to the Torah prison in Cairo on the same day.
Mubarak name to be removed from public places
Court orders that Hosni and Suzanne Mubarak’s names be removed from all public places, including schools and streets.
Muslim Brotherhood chief claims that Mubarak detained 40000 of its members
The Supreme Guide of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood has claimed that ex-president Hosni Mubarak and his ousted regime imprisoned 40000 Muslim Brotherhood members for at least 6 years. In total, said Mohammed Badie, Brotherhood members served 20,000 prison years; they included university professors, medical doctors, engineers, agricultural professionals, and others from all backgrounds. The ex-goverment’s oppressive policies deprived the country of their many and varied skills. The former prime minister Aziz Sidqui criticised this situation and apologised: “We are sorry that Egypt has missed out on the efforts of this group while they were in prison.”
Iran, Egypt keen on developing relations: Iranian FM
TEHRAN, April 21 (Xinhua) — Iranian Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi said the Islamic republic and Egypt are keen on developing their relations, the local satellite Press TV reported Thursday. “Both sides are keen to develop the current level of ties. This process would take time but I hope that would happen soon,” Salehi was quoted as saying on Thursday. Earlier this month, Egyptian and Iranian officials called for normalization of ties and improving long-frozen relations between the two Muslim countries after the anti-government protests and unrest in Egypt. Iran severed ties with Egypt after Cairo signed the 1978 Camp David Accords with the Israeli regime and offered asylum to Iran’s deposed Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
Israeli Ambassador Leaves Cairo Amid Speculations of Opening Egypt’s Border with Gaza Soon
We are told that Egypt could open the border with Gaza at any time and is considering tearing down the “Berlin wall” barrier that imprisons the population there. When and if that happens, Israel’s blockade of Gaza by sea immediately be considered illegal, an unenforceable “paper blockade,” according to the Congress of Paris 1856, which is the current binding “rule of law” in such matters.
Amr Musa: this will freak Zionists out
“The Camp David Accords signed between Egypt and Israel have expired, Arab League chief and potential Egyptian presidential candidate Amr Moussa has said.”
Revolt in Egypt: An Interview
[The below excerpt is from a New Left Review interview with Hazim Kandil on the origins, course, and future trajectory of the Egyptian Revolution. For the full interview, click here] Mubarak has gone, but the apparatuses on which his dictatorship rested have not vanished. The armed forces currently hold ultimate power, in the shape of the Supreme Military Council. How should the Egyptian military be characterized, and what role is it now likely to play?
And more news from the Arab uprisings:
Bahrain
Top Bahrain activist ‘on trial’
Leading Bahraini human rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja is standing trial in a military court, his daughter believes.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-middle-east-13156129
Bahrain Security Forces attack Iraqi commercial ship crew
Iraq Ministry of Transportation said on Wednesday that Bahraini Security Forces attacked and knocked the crew of an Iraqi mercantile ship at Bahrain port and stressed that the attack was unjustified.
http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Iraq-News/1-63269-Bahrain-Security-Forces-attack-Iraqi-commercial-ship-crew.html
Photos: Lebanon Shias Commemorate Martyrdom of Abdul Karim Fakhrawi
A Shi’ite businessman and a member of Bahrain opposition group Wefaq “Karim Al-Fakharawi”, 49, martyred in police custody on Tuesday, due to severe torture of Al Khalifa forces, the group said, and the daughter of an arrested activist said she was on a hunger strike.
http://abna.ir/data.asp?lang=3&id=237697
Bahrain’s secret terror
The intimidation and detention of doctors treating dying and injured pro-democracy protesters in Bahrain is revealed today in a series of chilling emails obtained by The Independent.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/bahrains-secret-terror-2270675.html
Hezbollah Challenges Bahrain Govt, Mona Alami
BEIRUT, Apr 21, 2011 (IPS) – Hezbollah’s hardening stance in the Bahraini crisis has sowed discord between Lebanon and the Gulf island, currently home to about 5,000 Lebanese expatriates. As the situation escalates, many fear that the status of other Lebanese in the rest of the Gulf could come under threat.
http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=55335
Libya
Libyan rebels ‘seize border post’
Rebels in western Libya overrun a post on the Tunisian border, eyewitnesses say, amid reports of army defections and continuing fighting in Misrata.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-africa-13156199
Civilians killed in Misurata fighting
Deaths reported in besieged Libyan city as US offers “non-lethal” aid to rebels fighting Gaddafi forces.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/04/20114202007911902.html
Mortars kill three rebels in Misrata, rebels say
MISRATA, Libya, April 21 (Reuters) – Mortar fire killed three rebel fighters and wounded 17 in the besieged Libyan town of Misrata on Thursday, rebel spokesmen said. Heavy mortar fire hit the western Libyan town overnight. Weeping rebels stood over the bodies of their dead comrades in the town hospital. Misrata, Libya’s third largest city and the only rebel stronghold in the west of the country, has been under siege by forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi for seven weeks. Hundreds of people are reported to have died.
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/mortars-kill-three-rebels-in-misrata-rebels-say
Restropo director and photographer killed in Libya
MISRATA, Libya, April 20 (Reuters) – Two photojournalists — Oscar-nominated filmmaker Tim Hetherington and Getty photographer Chris Hondros — were killed on Wednesday after coming under fire in the besieged Libyan town of Misrata. Hetherington, co-director of Afghan war documentary “Restrepo”, and Hondros were among a group working together on Tripoli Street, a main thoroughfare and scene of fighting between rebels and forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi.
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/restropo-director-and-photographer-killed-in-libya
Rebels will accept foreign forces to protect Libyans
BENGHAZI, Libya, April 20 (Reuters) – Libyan rebels would not object to the presence of foreign ground forces to protect a safe haven for civilians, a senior rebel spokesman said on Wednesday. Abdel Hafiz Ghoga, spokesman for the rebel National Council, also said that NATO had been doing more to protect civilians through its campaign of airstrikes.
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/rebels-will-accept-foreign-forces-to-protect-libyans
Libyan officers turn themselves over to Tunisia-report
TUNIS, April 21 (Reuters) – Thirteen Libyan officers and soldiers, including a general, turned themselves over to the Tunisian military at a border crossing after clashes with Libyan rebels, Tunisia’s state news agency TAP said on Thursday. TAP cited a military source, but gave no further details. Earlier on Thursday, two witnesses in the southern Tunisian border town of Dehiba said the rebels appeared to have taken control of the Libyan side of the border crossing after fighting with forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi.
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/libyan-officers-turn-themselves-over-to-tunisia-report
New Libya constitution ready, Gaddafi son says
CAIRO, April 20 (Reuters) – The son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said the government would prevail over rebels trying to oust his father and a new constitution was ready for when the insurgency was defeated, Al Arabiya TV reported on Wednesday. The Dubai-based satellite channel said Saif al-Islam, speaking on Libyan state television, accused the Benghazi-based rebel national council as being motivated by “power and oil wealth”.
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/new-libya-constitution-ready-gaddafi-son-says
US: Libya Rebels To Receive Non-Lethal Aid
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration plans to give the Libyan opposition $25 million in non-lethal assistance in what will be the first direct U.S. aid to the rebels after weeks of assessing their capabilities and intentions, officials said Wednesday. Amid a debate over whether to offer the rebels broader assistance, including cash and possibly weapons and ammunition, the administration has informed Congress that President Barack Obama intends to use his so-called “drawdown authority” to give the opposition up to $25 million in surplus American goods to help protect civilians in rebel-held areas threatened by Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s forces, the officials said.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/20/us-libya-rebels-aid_n_851539.html
Worsening humanitarian crisis in Libya
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG-c8ItVxeY&feature=youtube_gdata
Video: Donald Trump- “We Should Take Libya’s Oil”
April 20, 2011: Donald Trump offer’s his uninformed two-cents on the situation in Libya. He says if it were up to him he would only intervene in Libya if America takes Libya’s oil.
http://feb17.info/media/video-donald-trump-we-should-take-libyas-oil/
Libya’s rebel army – who is in charge?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xWNuFBjHEM&feature=youtube_gdata
Syria
Syrian president names new Homs governor
Witnesses say security forces deployed across the city as protesters call for nationwide protests on “Good Friday”.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/04/20114219212559268.html
Syrian protesters keep up pressure
Anti-government activists to continue rallies and strikes despite cabinet approval for bill to scrap emergency laws.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/04/2011420152422234120.html
Ammar Abdulhamid, a leading Activist, and Joshua Landis Discuss the Syrian Uprising
http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/?p=9259&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Syriacomment+%28Syria+Comment%29
Syrians Comment on Homs and Syria’s Future (20 April 2011)
http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/?p=9227&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Syriacomment+%28Syria+Comment%29
Yemen
Gulf mediators urge Yemen’s Saleh to quit
Plan calls for a unity government to be formed and for the president to step down in three months.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/04/2011421115926585667.html
Yemeni president ‘resists’ calls to step down
Ali Abdullah Saleh ignores GCC efforts to broker his exit and says he will relinquish power only through elections.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/04/201142023116475280.html
Yemeni activist at risk as death toll mounts
Yemeni authorities urged to ensure the safety of a prominent human rights activist accused of passing information to the UN. Amnesty International has today urged the Yemeni authorities to ensure the safety of a prominent human rights activist after she was warned anonymously for allegedly passing information to the UN Security Council.
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/yemeni-activist-threatened-death-toll-mounts-2011-04-20
Other Mideast
Jordan protester who set himself ablaze dies
AMMAN, Jordan, (AP) – A Jordanian forensics official says a protester who set himself on fire outside the prime minister’s office last week has died of his wounds.
http://www.aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=1&id=24913
Stirring from slumber
Will Oman and Qatar join the spring of Arab unrest?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-middle-east-13147271
