The Tunisia Effect - Continuing Coverage of the Revolutions of 2011

[Kyriakos]

It is rather an "interesting coincidence" that all these revolts are happening just as the 'Leviathan' gas field in the sea under Crete and above Egypt and Lybia has been starting to get focused upon.
I am not that sure if it is just a coincidence either.

 

[asbestos]

nm. --- (Please delete)

 

[West 36]

Spoiler :

Algeria police prevent fresh opposition rally
An anti-government protesters holds a sign on which reads "Corrupted system" during a demonstration in Algiers on 19 February 2011. Opposition parties have been staging pro-democracy rallies in the capital

Algerian security forces have prevented anti-government protesters from staging a march through the capital.

Several hundred members of an umbrella group for some opposition parties, human rights bodies and trade unions, gathered in central Algiers but were dispersed by police in riot gear.

One opposition leader was injured after being hit by officers, his party said.

A week ago police disrupted a similar rally in Algiers calling for better living conditions and greater freedom.

President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's government has banned large rallies.

Algeria's main opposition parties stayed away from Saturday's planned march - organised by the the National Co-ordination for Change and Democracy.

El Watan newspaper says about 1,000 protesters gathered, shouting slogans such as "Bouteflika out".

Tahar Besbes, a leader of the Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD), was attacked by police and hit his head as he fell, the RCD said.

Inspired by the popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, Algerian opposition parties and other groups have been staging rallies.

They say they will march every Saturday until democratic change is introduced.

Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia has said the government will lift a 19-year state of emergency by the end of the month.

So that's the latest from Algeria. 19 year state of emergency? That's insane. But seems to be the norm in the region- what prompted these? I hope the protesters make progress, wonder if the state of emergency has a real chance of actually being lifted.
Interesting if not exciting times, these.

 

[mechaerik]

Whats happened in Palestine?

According to Wiki:

Spoiler :

Haaretz suggested that an announcement by the Palestinian Authority on 1 February to hold municipal elections in July is in reaction to the anti-government protests in Egypt. PA municipal, legislative and presidential elections were last held in 2004–2005, 2006, and 2005, respectively, leaving the president and members of parliament in office after their elected terms had ended.[222] Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad admitted that the protests had changed his mind about elections, which he had previously seen as divisive, and views the short-term unrest as a trend toward long-term 'positive change' in the Arab world's politics.[223] An aide to President Abbas said that the Palestinians will hold a election by September,[224] however the move was immediately condemned by Hamas who said they would boycott the election.

On 14 February, Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority Salam Fayyad and his cabinet resigned amid pan-Arab calls for reform. Abbas tasked him with forming a new government after consultations with other factions, institutions and civil society groups.[225] The reshuffle was long demanded by Fayyad and some in Abbas's Fatah faction.[226]

Also, there was apparently supposed to be some protests in China, but the police showed up in full force in all the planned locations, as well as taking down the internet postings and such announcing the protests:

Spoiler :

PRC Government officials arrested activists, added to the normal police presence, disabled some cell phone text messaging services and deleted Internet postings about protests planned for 2 p.m. on February 20 in Beijing, Shanghai and 11 other cities.[230] On the day of the protests, the police turned out en masse to all of the potential protest locations.[231] However, silent protests arose in Beijing, Shanghai and 11 other Chinese cities, where people gathered but did not chant slogans or hold signs.[232][233][234][235] President Hu Jintao responded by calling top leaders into a "study session" to root out and tackle social issues before they "become threats to stability".[231] In a speech at the Central Party School, Hu called out for tighter restrictions to the internet.[236]

 

[GamezRule]

We need to call out for tighter restrictions on Hu.

 

[Karalysia]

Protesters in Libya have seized military bases, weapons, tanks and the like. I think in Libya we might have a serious possibility of civil war since the military is breaking into factions.

 

[Cutlass]

Protesters in Libya have seized military bases, weapons, tanks and the like. I think in Libya we might have a serious possibility of civil war since the military is breaking into factions.

I can live with that

 

[Karalysia]

The question is how many Libyans will live?

 

[Silurian]

Gaddafi's son who made the rambling speach on TV an hour ago indicated that parts of the country were no longer under control

 

[Incodcito]

The question is how many Libyans will live?

Live free or die. Pithy but true.

 

[Tee Kay]

Protesters in Libya have seized military bases, weapons, tanks and the like. I think in Libya we might have a serious possibility of civil war since the military is breaking into factions.

It appears Gaddafi is 2011's Ceausescu.

 

[Tani Coyote]

I lament not owning oil stocks.

Current status of Protests:

Spoiler :

Revolution
Governmental Changes
Major Protests
Minor Protests
Other Arab League Nations
Other Nations

I feel like I'm playing Balance of Power! But it's IRL!

Protesters in Libya have seized military bases, weapons, tanks and the like. I think in Libya we might have a serious possibility of civil war since the military is breaking into factions.

Excellent, excellent. The void of chaos just keeps growing.

Hopefully something good will come out of the bloody mess.

 

[amadeus]

It appears Gaddafi is 2011's Ceausescu.

Gadhafi and Ceausescu were close allies too. Pacepa wrote at length about the relationship between the two in his book. Gadhafi also received from Ceausescu the first copy of the Koran translated to Romanian.

Also, I already compared him to Ceausescu. Follow along more carefully next time.

 

[aronnax]

The Military in Benghazi has defected and more influential has voiced their opinions. The ambassadors to India, the Arab League and I think China has resigned in support of the Protesters.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12520586

In another blow to Col Gaddafi's rule, representatives of the Warfla tribe, Libya's biggest, have endorsed the protests.

The leader of the eastern al-Zuwayya tribe threatened to cut oil exports unless authorities halted what he called the "oppression of protesters", Reuters reported.

Libya's envoy to the Arab League, Abdel Moneim al-Honi, announced he was "joining the revolution" and its ambassador to India, Ali al-Essawi, told the BBC he was resigning in protest at his government's violent crackdown on demonstrators.

 

[Tee Kay]

If the military defects, then it's just a matter of time.

 

[Karalysia]

So the protesters have seized control of the second largest city, by force. Libya is basically having a civil war right now.

 

[dannyshenanigan]

It would be nice to see it in Libya too, but I think any revolution there would be a whole lot uglier.

I really thought Libya was going to be the next to fall just after Mubarak resigned. Even if it was just a guess I'm patting myself on the back right now.

Maybe the Swiss can take this opportunity to strike. After all Gaddafi declared a jihad against Switzerland last year.

 

[Cheetah]

Gaddafi is bombing Libya!

From Dagbladet (Norwegian):

17.59: It is reported that jet fighters are firing live rounds against demonstrators.

18.40: Libya's vice ambassador to USA says that Gaddafi has declared war against his own people.

18.45: Al Jazeera reports that bombers are attacking several places in Tripoli.

18.48: Rumor has it that the death toll is over 250.

18.49: Mercenaries are driving around in Tripoli and firing machine guns.

18.51: The electricity in Tripoli is gone.

18.53: It's reported that bombers have attacked a funeral.

19.02: Al Manar reports that three top officers now are supporting the demonstrators.

19.05: AFP writes that all military airports in Italy are put on high alert.

19.07: Libya's ambassador to the UN asks Gaddafi to step down.

19.08: BBC reports that two jet fighters from Libya have landed on Malta. The pilots are requesting political asylum.

19.16: Arabiya TV reports that the death toll so far today is 160.

 

[Joecoolyo]

Jesus

 

[Frozen In Ice]

This is definitely a full scale civil war in Libya then. I wish the protesters luck in ridding this murderer from their government.