Unrest spreads across the Arab world
CAIRO — Key events around the Arab world on Friday, as the revolts that began on January 14 in Tunisia continue:EGYPTJanuary 25 saw the start of massive demonstrations against President Hosni…
CAIRO — Key events around the Arab world on Friday, as the revolts that began on January 14 in Tunisia continue:EGYPTJanuary 25 saw the start of massive demonstrations against President Hosni Mubarak's regime, in power since 1981. The unrest has left at least 300 dead, according to unconfirmed figures from the United Nations, and thousands injured.On Friday tens of thousands of Egyptian protesters massed for an 11th day in Cairo's Tahrir Square in a bid to force Mubarak to quit. Arab League chief Amr Mussa also visited the scene.On Tuesday Mubarak said he will not seek re-election in September and pledged to ease conditions for rival candidates to stand.YEMENProtests have spiralled since mid-January calling for the departure of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in power since 1978.On Thursday tens of thousands of protesters massed in Sanaa for a "day of rage" calling for Saleh's ouster, while a similar number of government loyalists flooded a central square.The demonstration went ahead despite concessions by Saleh, who on Wednesday called for dialogue with the opposition, pledging not to stand for re-election in 2013, nor to transfer power to his son, Ahmed.JORDANOn Friday around 1,000 protesters gathered outside the prime minister's office to demand reforms, before staging a sit-in near the Egyptian embassy in support of anti-regime protests there.King Abdullah II, in power since 1999, on Tuesday sacked the government after weeks of protests.Demonstrations against the cost of living have been held over the past month, but the number of protesters has decreased amid talks between the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood and the administration.SYRIAIn Syria, where President Bashar al-Assad has been in power since 2000, a call to protest by online activists found no support in Damascus which was quiet after the main Friday prayers.A similar call for a sit-in outside parliament in solidarity with "student, workers and penniless pensioners" failed to draw crowds.On Wednesday, some 20 people in civilian clothi
last modification 2011-02-04 18:30:04
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