Recap of developments in Middle East, North Africa
AFP
CAIRO- Latest developments in the unrest sweeping the Middle East and North Africa.
LIBYA: Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi said his followers were ready to die for him as Western nations mulled military options to prevent massacres and protect thousands fleeing violence in his country and his opponents closed in on his Tripoli lair.
- The European Union agreed to slap an asset freeze and travel ban on Kadhafi and 25 members of his family and inner circle.
- The US military is moving naval and air forces into position around Libya, the Pentagon said, and the White House raised the prospect of exile for Kadhafi.
- Britain is working with its allies to draw up a plan for a military no-fly zone over Libya, said Prime Minister David Cameron.
- Kadhafi forces attacked Misrata and killed two people, a witness said.
- Regime opponents said they had hit a military helicopter near the town of Misrata (150 km east of Tripoli) after the aircraft had fired rockets at the transmitting antenna of the local radio .
- The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced a preliminary probe of possible crimes against humanity committed in Libya, after a referral by the United Nations.
- Libya's opposition said it was resuming oil exports and had loaded a tanker with one million barrels of crude for China.
- Kadhafi's regime no longer controls most of Libya's oil and gas fields, the European Union's energy commissioner said.
- The US State Department said Libya replaced ambassador who defected.
- Kadhafi fired his intelligence chief, a Libyan newspaper reported.
- The US government said it froze $30 billion in Libyan assets.
- Kadhafi is "delusional" and "unfit" to lead, the US ambassador to the UN Susan Rice said.
- More than 100,000 people have fled the Libya strife into Egypt and Tunisia over the past week, the UN emergency relief coordinator said.
- Two US humanitarian teams are being sent to Libya's borders with Egypt and Tunisia to provide aid to refugees fleeing the country, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.
OMAN: Fresh clashes erupted between Omani police and protesters a day after police killed at least one as the turmoil rocking the Arab world reached the normally calm Gulf sultanate.
BAHRAIN: Crown Prince Salman said efforts were underway to launch talks with the opposition, which is demanding major political reforms amid a wave of anti-government protests.
EGYPT: The public prosecutor slapped a ban on ousted president Hosni Mubarak and his family travelling abroad, and also imposed a freeze on their assets.
TUNISIA: Two ministers in Tunisia's interim government quit, a day after the prime minister resigned following deadly clashes at protests demanding the removal of figures from the toppled hardline regime. Those resigning were the minister of industry and technology and the minister of international cooperation.
YEMEN: President Ali Abdullah Saleh warned that Yemen would fracture if his regime falls, as protests calling for his ouster raged across the Arabian Peninsula state and four people were hurt in clashes.
- Germany issued a travel warning for Yemen.
DJBOUTI: President Ismael Omar Guelleh, who is seeking a third term in April elections, accused the opposition of choosing the path of violence.
KUWAIT: A key opposition group demanded the ouster of the prime minister as youth activists called for a rally on March 8 to force the premier to quit.
ALGERIA: An Algerian man has died after setting himself alight at the weekend in a protest in front of a government office, the El Watan daily newspaper reported Monday.
IRAQ: Iraq's prime minister -- who has warned his cabinet to shape up within 100 days or face "changes" -- apologised to a reporter after the journalist alleged assault at the hands of security forces during massive demonstrations in Baghdad last week.
JORDAN: The premier pledged on Sunday to bring about "true and gradual" reforms, a day after the opposition threatened more pressure on the government, accusing it of not taking the process seriously.
MOROCCO: The authorities said they cut short a music festival in the Western Sahara town of Dakhla after Sunday disturbances "exploited by separatists" left 15 people injured.
SAUDI ARABIA: More than 100 Saudi academics, activists and businessmen have called for major reforms including the establishment of a "constitutional monarchy" in the Gulf kingdom, in a statement posted on the Internet.
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- The US military is moving naval and air forces into position around Libya, the Pentagon said, and the White House raised the prospect of exile for Kadhafi.
- Britain is working with its allies to draw up a plan for a military no-fly zone over Libya, said Prime Minister David Cameron.
- Kadhafi forces attacked Misrata and killed two people, a witness said.
- Regime opponents said they had hit a military helicopter near the town of Misrata (150 km east of Tripoli) after the aircraft had fired rockets at the transmitting antenna of the local radio .
- The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced a preliminary probe of possible crimes against humanity committed in Libya, after a referral by the United Nations.
- Libya's opposition said it was resuming oil exports and had loaded a tanker with one million barrels of crude for China.
- Kadhafi's regime no longer controls most of Libya's oil and gas fields, the European Union's energy commissioner said.
- The US State Department said Libya replaced ambassador who defected.
- Kadhafi fired his intelligence chief, a Libyan newspaper reported.
- The US government said it froze $30 billion in Libyan assets.
- Kadhafi is "delusional" and "unfit" to lead, the US ambassador to the UN Susan Rice said.
- More than 100,000 people have fled the Libya strife into Egypt and Tunisia over the past week, the UN emergency relief coordinator said.
- Two US humanitarian teams are being sent to Libya's borders with Egypt and Tunisia to provide aid to refugees fleeing the country, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.
OMAN: Fresh clashes erupted between Omani police and protesters a day after police killed at least one as the turmoil rocking the Arab world reached the normally calm Gulf sultanate.
BAHRAIN: Crown Prince Salman said efforts were underway to launch talks with the opposition, which is demanding major political reforms amid a wave of anti-government protests.
EGYPT: The public prosecutor slapped a ban on ousted president Hosni Mubarak and his family travelling abroad, and also imposed a freeze on their assets.
TUNISIA: Two ministers in Tunisia's interim government quit, a day after the prime minister resigned following deadly clashes at protests demanding the removal of figures from the toppled hardline regime. Those resigning were the minister of industry and technology and the minister of international cooperation.
YEMEN: President Ali Abdullah Saleh warned that Yemen would fracture if his regime falls, as protests calling for his ouster raged across the Arabian Peninsula state and four people were hurt in clashes.
- Germany issued a travel warning for Yemen.
DJBOUTI: President Ismael Omar Guelleh, who is seeking a third term in April elections, accused the opposition of choosing the path of violence.
KUWAIT: A key opposition group demanded the ouster of the prime minister as youth activists called for a rally on March 8 to force the premier to quit.
ALGERIA: An Algerian man has died after setting himself alight at the weekend in a protest in front of a government office, the El Watan daily newspaper reported Monday.
IRAQ: Iraq's prime minister -- who has warned his cabinet to shape up within 100 days or face "changes" -- apologised to a reporter after the journalist alleged assault at the hands of security forces during massive demonstrations in Baghdad last week.
JORDAN: The premier pledged on Sunday to bring about "true and gradual" reforms, a day after the opposition threatened more pressure on the government, accusing it of not taking the process seriously.
MOROCCO: The authorities said they cut short a music festival in the Western Sahara town of Dakhla after Sunday disturbances "exploited by separatists" left 15 people injured.
SAUDI ARABIA: More than 100 Saudi academics, activists and businessmen have called for major reforms including the establishment of a "constitutional monarchy" in the Gulf kingdom, in a statement posted on the Internet.
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