Events in the Arab World - Friday 8 July
Our Friday news blog about unfolding events in the region. We'll be updating this throughout the day
16.40
Sudan recognises the Republic of South Sudan
16.15 BBC report on how Israel is blocking the flytilla protest. The Greeks detain yet another boat
16.10 The main opposition group in Bahrain says it will shun some parts of the national dialogue
16.00
Syrian officials says Syrians do not want the US Ambassador in Hama. Maybe. This is how the people of Hama reacted
15.50
Pcitures of the rally in Egypt on the BBC website
The Guardian has translated the LCCS demands re national dioalogue in Syria
Stop all forms of killing and violence against peaceful demonstrators
• Lift the siege imposed on the provinces and cities in Syria and return all the military units to their military sites.
• Release of all the political detainees (including peaceful demonstrators) in Syria
• Take responsibility for ensuring the safety of the demonstrators
• Stop all forms of pro-regime propaganda in which people who call for freedom are being accused of treason
• Allow foreign media to have access to Syria in order to cover the current events
1540
Up to 8 killed in Syria now according to the LCCS.
Al Jazeera says that it is the biggest demo in #egypt since Mubarak fell. Muslim Brotherhood is involved having previously not been participating
An article on South Sudan in the Guardian
1430
11 die in Yemen according to reports following President’s speech.,
1400
Claims that 450,000 have been marching in Hama.
In Tahrir square, Cairo, state TV is chased out of the square. Large demo in Alexandria.
Check out Reuters Factbox on the security situation in Iraq
1345
Great report from Tai'izz in Yemen
Reports say four killed in Syria, including three in Ma’arat Nuaman and one in Damascus
13.15
Protests look massive again in Hama - video here
13.00
FT reports on strikes in Syrian cities yesterday
A note via a friend: 'Syrian State TV just announced that Al Jazeera is filming a "fake" film around a "massacre" in a Mosque in Hama. My worry is that they TV is trying to pre-empt this event so that when it does happen any news that come out they can say that it is fake !!!'
Nadim Houry from Human Rights Watch asks a pertinent question: Why don’t Arab ambassadors go check the protests? Arab League rep must have plenty of free time on his hands... BTW Reuters says that France's Ambassador is also in Hama
12.30
In Libya, NATO denies helping rebel advances.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/07/20117861330649170.html
In the US the House of Representatives has voted against giving the rebels any weapons. Is that because they think it is a bad idea, or because they wish to clip Obama’s wings
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14074546
Check out Reuters latest Fact Box on the Libya conflict
12.00
Thousands praying in Tahrir square. The demo is called “The March of the Million” See photo here
Yemeni President makes his first and very long delayed TV appearance since bomb attack
US Ambassador in Hama
11.30
Syria: Protests across the country. Reports that Mosques of Al Msayfra #Daraa are all completely surrounded by security forces and shabiha