Thousands of Egyptian protesters have gathered at Tahrir Square in the capital city of Cairo, to denounce the authorities' violent tactics against demonstrators. At least 17 people have been killed last week in clashes between military and protesters demanding the ruling military council give up power. Images of women being stripped and beaten have caused particular anger. On Tuesday this week, the generals agreed to stop the violent suppression of rallies ... Read more »

Two bllasts have been heard in the west of Damascus. State television said suicide bombers from al-Qaeda had detonated vehicles packed with explosives near two different security services facilities. But opposition activists said the government had organized the attacks to influence an Arab League observers. Witnesses told the bbc.co.uk that Friday's blasts were heard from the western Qaboun district of Damascus, close to Abbasiyyin Square, and from the Jam... Read more »

A wave of obviously co-ordinated bomb attacks hit the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, has killed at least 63 people and injured around 185. The interior ministry told bbc.co.uk 14 blasts occured in various locations, including al-Amil in the south and Halawi and Karrada closer to the centre. The bombings are the worst in last months - and follow the withdrawal of US army. It was not immediately clear who was behind the blasts.Baghdad residents expressed anger at Ir... Read more »

Algerian troops have crossed border with Mali to help authorities combat groups affiliated to Al-Qaeda. "Algerian troops are currently stationed in northern Mali to assist the Malian army in the fight against terrorism," Middle-east-online.com quotes high-ranking military official as saying. Customs officers said they saw a convoy carrying Algerian military between towns of Kidal and Tessalit, near the Algerian border. "We know there is a team of instructor... Read more »

Syria has signed a deal to allow observers to monitor its implementation of an Arab League plan to end the crackdown on anti-government demonstrations. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said the Arab League had accepted amendments demanded by Syrian authorities. Later, the UN General Assembly voted by a strong majority to condemn Damascus for the crackdown, which has left 5,000 people dead since March. The resolution demanded an immediate end to human r... Read more »

Tunisians have unveiled a monument in honour of the man who burnt himself a year ago, triggering a protest movement that ended President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali's 23-year rule. Tunisia's newly appointed President Moncef Marzouki joined flag-waving crowds in Sidi Bouzid in commemoration. Fruitseller Mohamed Bouazizi's suicide caused a wave of unrest which swept from Sidi Bouzid across the Arab world. Bouazizi was rushed to hospital in a coma with 90% burns, ... Read more »

Kuwaiti riot police have had to use tear gas and water cannons to cope with hundreds of stateless demonstrators who were demanding citizenship and other basic rights. The police attacked at least 400 people who gathered following noon Friday prayers in Jahra, 50km northwest of the capital city of Kuwait , raising national flags and banners reading: "We demand Kuwaiti citizenship". Police detained at least six stateless people, a journalist and a photographe... Read more »

The flag of American troops in Iraq has been ceremonially lowered in Baghdad, bringing nearly nine years of US military operations in Iraq to a formal end. The US Defence Secretary, Leon Panetta, told soldiers the mission had been worth the cost in blood and dollars. Only about 4,000 US soldiers now stay in Iraq, but they are due to leave in the next two weeks. At the peak of the mission, US troops there numbered 170,000, Bbc.co.uk reported.

Yesterday Egyptians started flocked to the polling stations in nine provinces across the country for the second round of voting in the first parliamentary election since former president Hosni Mubarak was toppled. The voting will last two days, which saw Egyptians turning out in large numbers, but still less than what was observed during the first round. At one polling station on the outskirts of Cairo, there was an accident: seven people were arrested afte... Read more »

Escalating violence in Syria leaves many. Human right activists say reprisal ambush in Hama province resulted eight soldiers dead after government forces killed five civilians. At least thirteen people have been killed in Hama province after troops burnt a car and provoked a reprisal ambush in the latest bloodshed in a nine-month-old uprising against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Wednesday was the second day in a row in which an attack by Assad’s forc... Read more »