The Syrian government approved a law to allow formation of opposition political parties—but protestors seek an end to Article 8 of the Syrian constitution, which declares the Baath Party leader of the state and society.
An independent commission is investigating human rights violations related to the ongoing pro-democracy protests in Bahrain, following pressure from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Libyan and Syrian opposition leaders met with NATO and EU diplomats in Istanbul, winning support for their efforts to oust their respective dictators—while Yemeni protest leaders elected a transitional council under siege in violence-torn Sanaa.
Egypt’s ruling military council announced a purge of police officers accused of killing protesters in the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak in February, as Cairo’s Tahrir Square is again occupied by thousands of protesters.
An attack on a Sinai gas pipeline pumping Egyptian natural gas to Israel and Jordan interrupted supply for the fourth time this year. No group has claimed responsibility for of the attacks, but authorities suspect Sinai-based Bedouins.
The US and French ambassadors visited the army-besieged city of Hama during Friday protests to express their “solidarity” with the demonstrators—allowing the Assad regime to portray the protesters as pawns of Western imperialism.
Hillary Clinton acknowledged that the US has established contact with Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood—just as the organization has broken with the protest movement and closed ranks with the ruling military council.
At least two protesters were killed in the Syrian city of Hama, where tanks are advancing on demonstrators who have erected barricades in the city center. Hama was the scene of a massacre of some 30,000 protesters in 1982.
At least 24 were killed in Friday protests across Syria, as thousands again took to the streets throughout Yemen, and some 5,000 led by the families of those killed in the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak filled Cairo’s Tahrir Square.
The UN Special Tribunal for Lebanon released to Lebanese authorities an indictment with four arrest warrants of Hezbollah figures in relation to the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri.
Clashes between protesters and police again erupted in Cairo’s Tahrir Square after authorities attempted to bar surviving family members from an official ceremony honoring those killed in the uprising against Hosni Mubarak.
Security forces opened fire as thousands took to Syria’s streets for Friday protests to demand the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad. At least 15 people were killed and many more injured in demonstrations following evening prayers.
