Al-Qaida calls for revolt against Arab rulers

Feb 26, 1:24 PM (ET)

CAIRO (AP) - Al-Qaida's offshoot in Yemen urged Muslims to revolt against Arab rulers and establish governments based on Islamic law, according to an audio tape posted Saturday on militant websites.

The appeal came at a time of growing political unrest in the Arab world. Popular uprisings have deposed the leaders of Tunisia and Egypt, and anti-government protests are gaining momentum in Libya, Yemen and Bahrain.

The speaker on the audio tape is identified as Ibrahim al-Rubeish, a former detainee at the U.S.-run Guantanamo Bay lockup. The tape was produced by al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, a Yemen-based offshoot of the terror network, according to the SITE Intel group, a U.S.-based group that monitors extremist websites.

In the 10-minute recording, Al-Rubeish criticized Saudi Arabia for providing a haven for deposed Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

He also said toppling longtime rulers is not enough and that new governments must be established based on Islamic religious law, or Shariah.

"One tyrant goes, only to be replaced another who may fix for the people some of their worldly issues by offering job opportunities and increasing their income, but the greater problem remains," al-Rubeish said, according to a translation provided by SITE.

Egypt

Egyptian Armed Forces Fire At Christian Monasteries, 19 Injured
http://www.aina.org/news/20110223210634.htm

Father Hemanot Ava Bishoy said the army fired live ammunition and RPGs continuously for 30 minutes, which hit part of the ancient fence inside the monastery. "The army was shocked to see the monks standing there praying 'Lord have mercy' without running away. This is what really upset them," he said. "As the soldiers were demolishing the gate and the fence they were chanting 'Allahu Akbar' and 'Victory, Victory'."

Egypt protesters dispersed by force

Army uses batons to break up demonstrations in capital Cairo demanding purging of Mubarak loyalists from government.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/mi...221957428.html


Yemen

Thousands rally in Yemen's capital

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/201121211858966496.html

Anti-government protesters inspired by Egypt's revolution call on Saleh to step down as president.


Al-Jazeera 12 Feb 2011 13:17 GMT

Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in the Yemeni capital, calling on President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down.

Clashes broke out in Sanaa between groups supporting and opposing the government after men armed with knives and sticks forced around 300 anti-government protesters to end a rally, the Reuters news agency quoted witnesses as saying on Saturday.

The Associated Press news agency reported that troops beat some anti-government protesters.


Yemeni protesters scuffle after overnight clashes

http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE71B11020110212

Sat Feb 12, 2011 11:11am GMT
By Khaled Abdallah


SANAA (Reuters) - Thousands of Yemeni demonstrators, inspired by Egyptian protests that toppled the president, called on Saturday for a similar revolution and clashed with government supporters with fists and batons in the streets of Sanaa.


The scuffles came hours after men armed with knives and sticks forced around 300 anti-government protesters to quit a demonstration in the Yemeni capital, witnesses said.


Tunisia forces fire in air, fail to end rally

Published Date: February 21, 2011

KUWAIT TIMES


TUNIS: Tens of thousands of people defied security forces yesterday to rally in the Tunisian capital calling for a new interim government, a Reuters witness said. It was the second straight day of mass protests in the North African country's main city, in defiance of a government ban on rallies, after a lull following the popular uprising last month which overthrew President Zine Al-Abidine Ben Ali. As many as 40,000 marchers gathered in front of the prime minister's building in downtown Tunis shouting slo
gans such as "Leave!" and "We don't want the friends of Ben Ali!" Others were demanding pay rises.

Security forces fired several times in the air, while two military helicopters circled over the rally, a Reuters reporter said. The protesters remained in place and there was no sign that anyone had been wounded. More than a month after Ben Ali's departure-which inspired a wave of protests across the Arab world-some Tunisians accuse the caretaker government of failing to provide security amid a surge in crime, and doing little to help the poor. "They're all liars," said a protester who identified himself o
nly as Mokthar. "There's no security. There's nothing but words," he said, adding that he had no job.


Violent Clashes Erupt in Tunisia

FEBRUARY 26, 2011, 1:09 P.M. ET

By DAVID GAUTHIER-VILLARS

TUNIS—Protesting youths clashed with riot police in this capital city on Saturday afternoon, amid signs that Tunisia's interim government is struggling to assert its authority little more than a month after the downfall of the country's authoritarian ruler.
The Habib Bourguiba boulevard, in central Tunis, was the center of violent clashes. Several cars burned as protesters and policemen pelted each other with rocks. An army helicopter was flying over the neighborhood, which was enveloped in tear gas. Gun shots ripped through the city.
-snip-
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...googlenews_wsj


Police Fire Tear Gas to Disperse New Tunisian Protest

Published : Saturday, 26 Feb 2011, 9:46 AM CST


(NewsCore) - TUNIS, Tunisia -- Security forces in the Tunisian capital fired tear gas Saturday to disperse about 300 protesters chanting anti-government slogans during a fresh protest outside the interior ministry.

more: http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpps/new...02-bb_12065078

Authorities ban traffic on main Tunis avenue as protests again turn violent

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/authorities...12639-083.html