Bahrain crushes protest camp, locks down capital

Troops and tanks locked down the capital of this tiny Gulf kingdom after riot police swinging clubs and firing tear gas smashed into demonstrators, many of them sleeping, in a pre-dawn assault Thursday that uprooted their protest camp demanding political change. Medical officials said four people were killed. (more…)

Harb: Consultations aim at confronting Lebanon president, PM

Lebanon Caretaker Labor Minister Boutros Harb said on Thursday that the “current
consultations are are aimed at confronting the positions of the presidency and the premiership” (more…)

LBC: No Lebanon cabinet this week

“The cabinet will not be formed at the end of this week”, LBC quoted on Thursday unnamed source close to Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati as saying. (more…)

Lebanon warns Israel: Invasion won’t be a walk in the park

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman condemned in a statement Thursday Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak’s threat that Israel might invade Lebanon again by saying invading Lebanon is no loner a walk in the park as demonstrated by the July 2006 war.” (more…)

ABC’s Miguel Marquez attacked in Bahrain protests

ABC News correspondent Miguel Marquez was attacked today in the Persian Gulf nation of Bahrain as government security forces moved in on protesters. (more…)

‘Day of rage’ kicks off in Libya

Protesters in Libya have defied a security crackdown and taken to the streets in four cities for a “day of rage,” inspired by uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, reports say. (more…)

Bahrain authorities launch surprise attack on protesters

Security forces in tiny but strategic Bahrain launched a brutal assault early Thursday against at least 1,000 defiant anti-government protesters, including women and children, camped out in tents in the capital’s Pearl Square. (more…)

Iranian warships didn’t apply for passage thru Suez canal yet, report

“The Suez Canal authorities does not usually deny passage to any commercial ships when they pass through the canal as long as (more…)

Libya frees 110 jailed Islamists

Libya has released 110 Islamists of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG), the eve of a “Day of Anger” called by activists on Facebook, an AFP correspondent witnessed. (more…)

2 Protesters die in Libya’s unrest

At least two people have been killed in clashes between Libyan security forces and demonstrators in the town of Bayda, east of Benghazi, the second largest city, as activists plan major anti-government protests throughout the country on Thursday.

The victims’ names were: Khaled ElNaji Khanfar and Ahmad Shoushaniya. (more…)