Japan Earthquake: Residents Flee as Quake Fears Spread
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: They'd been evacuated once already, pushed from pillar to post, and told that everything was fine. Now the truth was out, and they were fleeing, in their thousands.

The railway station at Nasushiobara, the last one still operating near Japan's nuclear crisis area, was jammed with frightened people. In this ghost town of closed shops and offices, pedestrian-free pavements, and empty petrol pumps, the station was the only place still alive, and the only escape route that most had left.

The Tokyo highway a mile to the west was busy, too – but you needed a lot of petrol to get to Tokyo. At the only garage which still had it, there was a five-hour queue. With radiation now leaking from the stricken plant just down the road, there might not be five hours to spare.

From the town and the whole surrounding region, on foot, by bicycle and using the last fuel in their tanks, the people came to the railway station, a river turning into a flood as word spread of just how serious the danger now was.

"I couldn't sleep and I was watching TV," said Noriyuki Fukada, an English teacher. "Then it was announced that there would be a government statement at 6.30. I thought, if the government announces something at 6.30am, it cannot be good."

It wasn't. Radioactive fuel rods in one of the stricken Fukushima nuclear reactors, the official spokesman admitted, were now "fully exposed", at risk of meltdown, and radiation had escaped into the atmosphere. Ninety per cent of the plant's own staff were evacuated, leaving only a skeleton team fighting off catastrophe. Most serious of all, an explosion the previous day – the plant's third – might have damaged a reactor containment vessel.

The containment vessels are the last barriers between the reactors' cores and the outside world, the very things the government has spent the last several days promising will protect us. A few hours later, the chief cabinet secretary, Yukio Edano, appeared on television.

"Now we are talking about levels [of leakage] that can impact human health. I would like all of you to embrace this information calmly," he said. But the beads of sweat were clearly visible on his own brow. » | Andrew Gilligan, Nasushiobara | Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Why Has Bahrain Decided to Call in the Troops?
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Bahrain monarchy's reflexive fear of Iran drove its decision to call out Saudi Arabian troops

"That programme must be stopped," thundered Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, Bahrain's King, in 2009. "The danger of letting it go on is greater than the danger of stopping it."

King Hammad's deep fears about Iran's nuclear programme, contained in a leaked diplomatic cable recording his conversation with a US military commander, help explain his decision call in Saudi Arabian troops to help quell the protests now sweeping the tiny Gulf emirate.

The protests are modest by standards of the protests sweeping the Middle East: there has been no violence, like in Libya, nor a giant, regime-threatening mass mobilisation, like in Egypt. Last month, seven protesters were shot dead by police – but most experts agree the violence was caused by the excessive use of force by authorities, not uncontrollably-large protests.

Bahrain, though, sees the protests through the prism of its relationship with its militarily-powerful neighbour – which it fears could use the religious affiliations of the majority of the emirate's population to sweep the monarchy aside.

The central issue is this: Bahrain's rulers are Sunnis, the descendants of the central Arabian Bani Utbah clan who seized power in 1783. Four in five people they rule, though, are Shi'a, linked by faith and politics to Iran. For decades, Bahrain's rulers allowed raiders from central Arabia to pillage Shi'a villages – and Bahrain's democratic movement isn't, its leadership has been pointing out, exclusively Shi'a: the two sects haven't had significant problems coexisting, and share concerns ranging from unemployment to housing.

The Shi'a do, however, have a unique problem with the monarchy. Even though four in five of Bahrain's citizens are Shia, for example, they make up just 60 per cent of the military, a consequence of fears that the community had been radicalised by the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran.

Bahrain's Shi'a are also under-represented in the bureaucracy, which is increasingly staffed by puritanical Salafists hostile to Bahrain's majority on theological grounds. » | Praveen Swami, Diplomatic Editor | Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Emperor, in Rare Address, Expresses Deep Concern Over Nuclear Crisis
THE NEW YORK TIMES: TOKYO — Emperor Akihito of Japan, in a rare televised address to the nation, on Wednesday expressed his concern for the survivors of the tsunami and thanked the rescue teams working under difficult conditions in the north.

Akihito also said that he was “deeply worried” about the ongoing nuclear crisis at several stricken reactors. The address was the first taped video message by a Japanese emperor.

The remarks were the first public comments from Akihito, 77, since the earthquake and tsunami struck northern Japan last Friday, and underscored the urgency of multiple crises confronting the country.

A huge rescue and relief operation continued as hundreds of thousands of people prepared to spend a sixth night in temporary shelters amid freezing temperatures. » | Mark McDonald and Kevin Drew | Wednesday, March 16, 2011

THE STAR ONLINE: » | Reporting by Shinichi Saoshiro, Writing by Linda Sieg; Eding by Nick Macfie | Wednesday, March 16, 2011

FAZ.NET: Kaiser Akihito ist „zutiefst besorgt“: Die Lage im havarierten Kernkraftwerk Fukushima in Japan ist außer Kontrolle. Erstmals äußerte sich der japanische Kaiser: Er sei „zutiefst besorgt“, die Lage sei „unvorhersehbar“, sagte er bei einer Fernsehansprache. Im Großraum Tokio wächst die Sorge vor einer radioaktiven Wolke. » | FAZ.NET | Mittwoch, 16. März 2011

Japan Faces Food and Power Shortages
Mar 14 - Japan faces uncertainty over food and energy supplies in the wake of Friday's devastating quake and tsunami, as the threat of a nuclear crisis continues. Dan Sloan reports

Bahrain Police Clear Protest Camp
Mar 16 - Bahrain police clear Shi'ite protest camp in Manama, using teargas; fleeing protesters throw petrol bombs. Marie-Claire Fennessy reports

Thousands Protest Outside Saudi Embassy
Mar 16 - Thousands of Bahrainis demonstrated outside the Saudi embassy after Saudi troops rolled into the country. Marie-Claire Fennessy reports

Clinton Visits Post-Mubarak Egypt
Mar 15 - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday began the highest-level visit to Egypt by a U.S. official since an uprising toppled President Hosni Mubarak. Jon Decker reports

Libya Rebels Face Last Stand as Gaddafi Forces Zero In on Benghazi
THE GUARDIAN: Government troops close in on centre of resistance as western powers continue deliberations on whether to aid oppostion

Libya's revolution was facing collapse as Muammar Gaddafi's forces broke through the last major line of resistance before Benghazi, the heart of the uprising and the seat of the rebel administration.

Pro-Gaddafi troops pushed back the rebels in an air and land assault on the town of Ajdabiya, as the regime moved to crush the revolution once and for all before foreign powers could agree measures in support of the uprising, including a no-fly zone.

The rebels had pledged a vigorous defence of Ajdabiya but swiftly lost control of large parts of the town, including the strategically important coastal road, although pockets of fighting continued. The regime's advance leaves the road open to Benghazi, 90 miles away, where there was growing alarm as word of the assault spread.

"The battle is lost. Gaddafi is throwing everything against us," a rebel officer who gave his name as General Suleiman told Reuters.

The revolutionary leadership promised a fight to the death but some Benghazi residents were fleeing to the Egyptian border last night amid considerable bitterness at the failure of western countries to back up vocal support for the rebels with practical help, including a no-fly zone and military equipment to fight Gaddafi's better armed forces, some of them trained by the British army.

"They have betrayed us," Ahmed Malen, one of the revolutionary volunteers pasting anti-Gaddafi posters on walls in Benghazi. "If they kill us all, the west will have blood on its hands. They do not believe in freedom. They are cowards." » | Chris McGreal in Benghazi | Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Two Killed as Bahrain's King Declares Martial Law
THE GUARDIAN: Government-backed security forces clash with Shia demonstrators in the capital city, Manama

The sectarian standoff between Bahrain's Shia majority and its Sunni elite deteriorated further on Tuesday when the king declared martial law and security forces clashed violently with protesters throughout the capital, Manama.

At least two people were killed in fighting between the civilian protesters and government-backed security forces that included Saudi soldiers invited into the kingdom on Sunday.

Hospitals were again teeming with wounded demonstrators in scenes reminiscent of earlier clashes in February, that severely tested the legitimacy of the US-backed government.

Soldiers were active in numerous areas that had been flashpoints in past clashes. Doctors and medical staff reported that troops had taken over a medical centre in the Sitra area and, in some cases, prevented them from tending to casualties. Doctors in the medical centre claimed they were being prevented from leaving by troops stationed outside.

"They are shooting at us, they are shooting," one doctor told the Guardian. "Get help, get the international community to help."

Up to 200 people were reported to have been treated at some point during the day, which is being seen as the start of a new phase in the increasingly bitter clashes that are steadily gaining a regional dimension in the Gulf.

Bahrain withdrew its ambassador to Tehran in protest at a warning from the Iranian foreign minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, to the kingdom not to harm demonstrators, almost all of whom are Shias. Meanwhile, the Gulf states and Saudi Arabia said they felt obliged to intervene, claiming that continuing unrest in Bahrain could threaten them. » | Martin Chulow | Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Who Is Winning the Libyan Conflict?
Both rebels and forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi have claimed victory in fights over key towns

News Bulletin - 1735GMT Update (March 15, 2011)
The main headlines on Al Jazeera English, featuring the latest news and reports from around the world

Interview: Riad Kahwaji
Is there any hope of Libya's rebels regaining the territory that they have lost to Gaddafi's forces?
Riad Kahwaji, a military analyst in Dubai, tells Al Jazeera the rebels need to resort to "guerrilla warfare tactics" in order to repel Gaddafi's forces.

Die unglaublichen Geschichten der Überlebenden

Taliban töten Dutzende Menschen

Außenminister bei Flugverbotszone uneins

Verbunden/Related »

Bahrain Declares Martial Law as Protesters Clash with Troops
THE GUARDIAN: Kingdom's rulers tell police and army to take all measures against uprising but deny Saudi soldier was killed

The streets of Bahrain's capital, Manama, have again erupted in violence as the kingdom's besieged monarch declared martial law and ordered troops - including Saudi forces - to take all measures to quell a festering rebellion.

The clashes had been anticipated since more than 1,000 troops from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states arrived in Bahrain on Sunday, after being invited by the ruling dynasty to help restore order.

Demonstrators and security forces faced off from mid-morning in the Sitra area on the outskirts of Manama. Bystanders reported the sound of gunfire and the scent of teargas by early afternoon, followed by the familiar cacophony of ambulance sirens as they sped casualties towards the city's two main hospitals.

By late afternoon, there were numerous reports of clashes inside Shia villages throughout Manama that had led to dozens of injuries.

At least nine people were admitted to hospital with moderate to serious injuries. Hospital officials reported that two victims had what appeared to be gunshot wounds. Many more appeared to be unconscious as they were wheeled into wards amid chaotic scenes. » | Martin Chulov | Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Related material here and here

Germany Blocks Plans for Libya No-fly Zone
THE GUARDIAN: G8 talks stall after Germans refuse to support military intervention backed by Britain and France


Germany has again blocked Anglo-French plans for the imposition of a no-fly zone over Libya.

Reports from talks held by G8 ministers in Paris said German objections, backed by Russia, meant the communique from the meeting would make no mention of a no-fly zone.

Speaking during the meeting, Germany's foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle, said his country remained "very sceptical" about the prospect of a no-fly zone.

He recommended instead more "political pressure" against the Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi. He said Germany did not want "to get sucked into a war in north Africa".

"We need to send a clear signal … Gaddafi must stop his civil war against his own people, he must be held responsible for his crimes. The security council must take action." But Westerwelle also made clear Germany would not support military intervention.

His comments echoed the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, who told an EU summit last week that the no-fly zone idea was potentially dangerous. "What is our plan if we create a no-fly zone and it doesn't work? Do we send in ground troops?" she said. "We have to think this through. Why should we intervene in Libya when we don't intervene elsewhere?" » | Simon Tisdall | Tuesday, March 15, 2011

'Brutal Attacks' Alleged in Bahrain
The king of Bahrain has declared a state of emergency across the country for three months. Local police are now being backed up by 1,000 Saudi troops, who entered the country on Monday following weeks of political unrest.
Among those wounded in violent protests are undercover police found in the Shia areas of Bahrain, where hospital staffers are overwhelmed by the influx of the injured.
Al Jazeera's correspondent sent this report from a hospital in the capital, Manama

King of Bahrain Declares State of Emergency
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The king of Bahrain has declared a three month state of emergency following weeks of unrest in the kingdom.

The financial district of Manama was deserted, shops and malls were shuttered and Sunni and Shiite vigilantes armed with metal pipes and clubs were in the streets after hundreds of troops rolled into Bahrain from Saudi Arabia.

State television interrupted normal programming to announce the state of emergency in the strategic Gulf state, which is home to the US Fifth Fleet and major international banks and finance institutions.

"Due to the ongoing circumstances in Bahrain ... King Hamad has announced a state of national emergency as of Tuesday for three months," it said.

Armoured troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had earlier rolled across the causeway from Saudi's Eastern Province to help Manama deal with pro-democracy protests which have shaken the kingdom for the past month.

Saudi Arabia's staunchly Sunni government said it had responded to a call for help from its neighbour under a mutual defence pact of the six-country Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

But Iran's foreign ministry described the intervention as unacceptable and said it would complicate the already volatile situation. » | Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Wall Street Tumbles as Japan Fuels Gobal [sic] Sell-off
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Wall Street fell 2pc on Tuesday as a global stock market sell-off intensified with investors dumping shares in a flight to safety, panicked by Japan's growing nuclear crisis.

The Dow Jones Industrial Index dropped 2.3pc - or 280 points - to 11,699.96 within minutes of opening, with shares seen as exposed to the disaster sliding. Insurer AIG fell 4pc and General Electric fell 5pc.

European bourses were dragged lower. Britain's FTSE 100 fell 2.6pc - or 154 points - to a fresh year low of 5622.53 at 1.30pm in London, wiping around £32bn off the value of the blue-chip index. Germany's DAX plunged 4.8pc and France's CAC 3.9pc.

The fall followed a 10.6pc dive - 14pc at one stage - in Japan's Nikkei after the government warned of dangerous levels of radiation following a third explosion at the earthquake-damaged Fukushima nuclear plant. The benchmark index ended down 1,015.34 points at 8,605.15, while the broader Topix plunged 9.5pc in its worst two-day fall since 1987.

This caused a ripple effect through Asia, Europe and the United States as investors reassessed the impact of last Friday's earthquake and tsunami and the growing nuclear disaster on a fragile global economy.

Brent crude dropped $4.80 to $108.93 a barrel in London and fell below $100 in New York as markets bet on a dramatic loss of demand for oil from the world's third largest economy.

"Last night’s move was the third worst decline in the Nikkei’s history and there’s fear that there could be more to come," said Simon Denham, the managing director of Capital Spreads. » | Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Is Britain's Foreign Policy Anti-Christian? Not particularly: We Just Don't Care
TELEGRAPH – BLOGS – DAMIAN THOMPSON: Britain’s plans to increase foreign aid to Pakistan while the country turns a blind eye to religious persecution is “tantamount to an anti-Christian foreign policy”, says Cardinal Keith O’Brien. Needless to say, those words “tantamount to” haven’t made it into many news reports, but they weren’t intended to. He knows how to grab a headline, does +Keith Patrick, unlike his risk-averse opposite number in Westminster.

Still, “tantamount to” is actually right. Britain is not deliberately pursuing an anti-Christian foreign policy. But we don’t waste time worrying about foreign Christians when we’re distributing largesse to Islamic countries that make life hell for non-Muslim minorities. Continue reading and comment » Damian Thompson | Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Dispatches: Britain's Secret Fat Cats
On the eve of a major report looking at public sector pay, Dispatches investigates whether private outsourcing companies are benefiting from government cuts
Watch the programme here

Dispatches: Selling Off Britain
Join Channel 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy and a host of experts in this studio debate - recorded and originally shown live - and play our 'sell or not game' to vote on which assets you want us to flog or keep.
Dispatches reveals the billions of pounds worth of assets we own as a nation, from ancient silver candlesticks to missiles, from football clubs to huge houses for judges to sleep in. Should we sell the government wine cellar, Gibraltar, Buckingham Palace? The entire armed forces? Or even Birmingham? Should we be selling these off rather than sacking council workers and cutting the NHS? And how far should we go?
Watch the programme here

French Far-right Leader Visits Lampedusa
Just weeks into her new job but France's far right leader was heckled during a visit to the Italian island of Lampedusa. 
Marie Le Pen arrived there to visit a centre for illegal migrants. Nearly 9,000 people have arrived on the island since January, many fleeing unrest North Africa. 
Al Jazeera's Shamim Chowdhury reports

Related articles here, here, and here

Japan Facing 'Nuclear Nightmare'
Japan is facing a nuclear nightmare after a series of explosions at a power station. The country's prime minister is warning that radiation from the Fukushima power plant is likely to spread. The International Atomic Energy Agency says radioactive material has leaked into the atmosphere.
Anyone living within 20km of the site has been warned to move away, and those 10km beyondthat are advised to stay indoors. Al Jazeera's Harry Fawcett reports from Iwate prefecture

Les Bourses européennes dans la tourmente
LE FIGARO: Le CAC 40 perd plus de 3% et s'enfonce sous les 3800 points. Londres et Milan suivent le même chemin tandis que Francfort lâche 5%. Les opérateurs s'inquiètent de l'aggravation de la situation nucléaire du Japon.

Encore une journée morose à la Bourse de Paris. Le CAC 40, qui a plongé sous les 3900 points hier, reste ce mardi ancré dans le rouge. Après un démarrage en forte baisse de 2,17% à 3793,95 points, l'indice phare de Paris creuse ses pertes et lâche 3,43% à 3744 points vers 10h30. À Londres et Milan, les Bourses suivent le même chemin et abandonnent également plus de 3%. La Bourse de Francfort creuse ses pertes à près de -5%.

Les indices ont du mal à retrouver le chemin de la hausse alors que la situation nucléaire japonaise s'est encore aggravée. Une nouvelle explosion et un incendie ont eu lieu au sein de la centrale de Fukushima Dai-ichi. «Le niveau de radioactivité a considérablement augmenté» et devient dangereux pour la santé, a déclaré le premier ministre japonais, Naoto Kan, à la télévision, provoquant un vent de panique sur les marchés d'Asie. La Bourse de Tokyo, pour sa part, s'est écroulée de 10,55%. » | Par Hayat Gazzane | Mardi 15 Mars 2011

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: London joins global sell-off as Japan crisis fuels panic: London shares fell sharply on Tuesday as investors in Europe joined a global market sell-off that started with a 10.55pc plunge in the Nikkei as panicked investors dumped stocks in the face of an escalating nuclear crisis in Japan. » | Tuesday, March 15, 2011

L’adhésion aux idées de l’extrême droite progresse en France
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: L’adhésion des Français aux idées du Front National (FN) a progressé de 6 points depuis le début de l’année. Quelque 28% d’entre eux se déclarent être en accord avec les opinions du parti d’extrême droite.

Désormais, seulement 61% des Français disent ne pas adhérer aux idées du FN alors que celles-ci, depuis une dizaine d’années, étaient jusqu’ici désapprouvées par 80% des sondés, précise le sondage réalisé par l’institut TNS Sofres et diffusé mardi matin par la chaîne de télévision privée Canal+.

Avec 28% de Français d’accord avec les idées du FN, on retrouve le niveau de mai 2002, lorsque Jean-Marie Le Pen s’était qualifié pour le second tour de la présidentielle. » | ATS / AFP | Mardi 15 Mars 2011

Gaddafis Angriffe nähern sich Benghasi
FAZ.NET: Die Truppen des libyschen Machthabers Gaddafi sind am Montag weiter in den Osten Libyens vorgedrungen. Unterdessen tagte der UN-Sicherheitsrat in New York und erörterte ein mögliches Flugverbot über Libyen. Außenminister Westerwelle äußerte sich abermals skeptisch.

Libysche Kampfflugzeuge haben am Montag die ostlibysche Stadt Adschdabija angegriffen. Adschdabij liegt östlich der Hafenstadt Brega und ist der letzte größere Ort vor Benghasi, dem Sitz des Nationalen Rats der Opposition, der sich als Übergangsregierung versteht. Aus Adschdabija zweigt auch eine wichtige Wüstenstraße in Richtung Tobruk und der ägyptischen Grenze ab. » | F.A.Z./hcr./rüb./sat. | Montag, 14. März 2011

Arabische Truppen in Bahrain: Internationale Kritik an Militärintervention
FAZ.NET: Amerika und Iran haben den Einmarsch saudi-arabischer Truppen in Bahrain scharf kritisiert. Ein Sprecher des Weißen Hauses rief die Staaten des Golfkooperationsrates zur Zurückhaltung auf.

Die Stationierung arabischer Truppen in Bahrain ist international auf Kritik gestoßen. Sowohl die Vereinigten Staaten als auch der Iran und UN-Generalsekretär Ban Ki-moon warnten vor einer weiteren Eskalation der Auseinandersetzung zwischen den vorwiegend schiitischen Demonstranten und der sunnitischen Herrscherfamilie um König Hamad bin Issa al-Chalifa. „Wir glauben, dass die Forderungen des Volkes in Bahrain legitim sind“, sagte der Sprecher des iranischen Außenministeriums, Ramin Mehmanparast, am Dienstag in Teheran.

Jede Einmischung von außen mache die Situation nur noch komplizierter. Viele Beobachter am Golf sind der Meinung, dass die iranische Führung Schiiten in Bahrain und Saudi-Arabien gegen die sunnitischen Herrscher dieser Staaten aufwiegelt. Das iranische Außenministerium wies die Frage jedoch als „irrelevant“ zurück, ob Iran selbst möglicherweise Truppen nach Bahrain schicken könnte. Washington ruft zu Zurückhaltung auf » | FAZ.NET mit dpa/Reuters | Dienstag, 15. Marz 2011

We Won't Trouble Saudi's Tyrants with Calls to Reform While We Crave Their Oil
THE GUARDIAN: Unrest will be seen as destabilising for western governments too until our dependency on Riyadh's tap is curbed

Did you hear it? The clamour from western governments for democracy in Saudi Arabia? The howls of outrage from the White House and No 10 about the shootings on Thursday, the suppression of protests on Friday, the arrival of Saudi troops in Bahrain on Monday? No? Nor did I.

Did we miss it, or do they believe that change is less necessary in Saudi Arabia than it is in Libya? If so, on what grounds? The democracy index published by the Economist Intelligence Unit places Libya 158th out of 167, and Saudi Arabia 160th. At least in Libya, for all the cruelties of that regime, women are not officially treated as lepers were in medieval Europe.

Last week, while explaining why protests in the kingdom is unnecessary, the foreign minister, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, charmingly promised to "cut off the fingers of those who try to interfere in our internal matters". In other parts of the world this threat would have been figurative; he probably meant it. If mass protests have not yet materialised in Saudi Arabia, it's because the monarchy maintains a regime of terror, enforced with the help of torture, mutilation and execution.

Yet our leaders are even more at ease among the Saudi autocracy than they were in the court of Colonel Gaddafi. The number of export licences granted by the UK government for arms sales to the kingdom has risen roughly fourfold since 2003. The last government was so determined to preserve its special relationship with the Saudi despots that it derailed British justice by forcing the Serious Fraud Office to drop its inquiry into corruption in the al-Yamamah deals.

Why? Future weapons sales doubtless play a role. But there's an even stronger imperative. A few days ago the French bank Société Générale warned that unrest in Saudi Arabia could push the oil price to $200 a barrel.

Abdullah's kingdom is the world's last "swing producer": the only nation capable of raising crude oil production if it falls elsewhere, or if demand outstrips supply. As a result, political disruption there is as threatening to the stability of western governments as it is to the Saudi regime. Probably more so, as our leaders wouldn't get away with gunning us down in the street. Continue reading and comment » | George Monbiot | Tuesday, March 15, 2011

My comment on this article:

Excellent article! Thank you, Mr. Monbiot.

Western leaders, including British politicians and captains of industry, perhaps more especially the British trolls, have been a-scraping, brown-nosing in the Gulf for as long as I can remember. They don’t give a-you-know-what for the well-being of the British expats that work in the Kingdom. Nor do they care about democracy. They care only for their order books. Anybody and anything that comes in the way of a good order just gets trampled on. The British establishment’s behaviour is quite disgusting and despicable in this regard. They are all self-aggrandizing, self-serving, unprincipled hypocrites, almost to a man. They couldn’t give a damn about principles; they care only about lining their own pockets. It’s a case of ‘Yes, Sir! Yes, Sir! Three bags full, Sir!’ – © Mark

This comment also appears here

On a Visit to Saudi Arabia, Doing What the Saudis Do
THE NEW YORK TIMES: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” is a maxim derived from advice that St. Ambrose is said to have offered to St. Augustine in the late 4th century.

It’s still a pretty good idea, which would partly explain why Karen Post said she went shopping not long ago for an abaya, the robelike dress worn by some Muslim women. Ms. Post, who is a branding consultant, was headed for Saudi Arabia on a business trip.

“Online, I found a company that sells Islamic clothing,” she said. “For like $49, I found a really nice black abaya that fit perfectly.”

Late last month, she flew to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to give a talk on branding to about 400 executives and marketing employees with Saudi Arabian Airlines.

Now, doing as the Romans do is one thing. Doing as the Saudis do, especially for a woman, is something else.

A State Department travel warning advises American citizens to take precautions in the country, where laws against alcohol and even playing music in public are strictly enforced. Women are especially restricted. State Department guidelines note, for example, that the religious police can “pressure women to wear” the full-length black covering known as an abaya, “and to cover their heads.” Women can’t drive in the country and are strongly advised not to appear in public without an approved male escort.

Nevertheless, Western female business travelers do venture these days into Saudi Arabia. Like Ms. Post, they make it a point to learn the drill. » | Joe Sharkey | Monday, March 14, 2011

’Very High’ Risk of Radioactive Material


THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Japan's Nuclear Crisis Escalates: Damage Spreads to Fourth Reactor; Prime Minister Warns of Radiation Release, Tells Residents in 18-Mile Zone to Stay Indoors » | Yuka Hayashi and Phred Dvorak| Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Efforts Continue to Free Guardian Reporter
THE GUARDIAN: Amnesty International has added to the calls for the Libyan authorities to release Ghaith Abdul-Ahad

Intensive efforts are continuing to persuade the Libyan government to release Guardian correspondent Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, who was detained 11 days ago while reporting from the country.

Libya's foreign ministry confirmed last week that it was holding Abdul-Ahad, but there has been no word on his whereabouts and no explanation of why he is still being detained after a Brazilian journalist he was travelling with was freed last Thursday.

Abdul-Ahad and Andrei Netto, a correspondent for the Brazilian newspaper O Estado de S Paulo, were picked up in the coastal town of Sabratha on March 2 then moved to a prison on the outskirts of the capital Tripoli.

The Guardian has been in contact with Libyan officials in Tripoli and London as well as Arab and international figures and asked them urgently to give all assistance in securing Abdul-Ahad's release. There is particular concern that he has had no access to a lawyer. » | Ian Black | Sunday, March 13, 2011

Libyan Rebels Urge West to Assassinate Gaddafi as His Forces Near Benghazi
THE GUARDIAN: Appeal to be made as G8 foreign ministers consider whether to back French and British calls for a no-fly zone over Libya

Libya's revolutionary leadership is pressing western powers to assassinate Muammar Gaddafi and launch military strikes against his forces to protect rebel-held cities from the threat of bloody assault.

Mustafa Gheriani, spokesman for the revolutionary national council in its stronghold of Benghazi, said the appeal was to be made by a delegation meeting the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, and the US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, in Paris on Monday, as G8 foreign ministers gathered there to consider whether to back French and British calls for a no-fly zone over Libya.

"We are telling the west we want a no-fly zone, we want tactical strikes against those tanks and rockets that are being used against us and we want a strike against Gaddafi's compound," said Gheriani. "This is the message from our delegation in Europe."

Asked if that meant that the revolutionary council wanted the west to assassinate Gaddafi, Gheriani replied: "Why not? If he dies, nobody will shed a tear." » | Chris McGreal in Benghazi | Monday, March 14, 2011

Yemen Deports 4 Journalists
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Armed Yemeni security forces raided an apartment shared by four Western journalists on Monday and deported them because of their coverage of a gathering uprising against the country's longtime ruler, one of the reporters said.

The journalists, two Americans and two Britons in their 20s, contribute to publications including The Daily Telegraph, the Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post.

"They came into our apartment this morning and they told us all to come to the immigration office," said Oliver Holmes, 24, a Briton. "They sat us down and said, 'You're being deported."'

In the car on the way to immigration, the journalists were allowed to make phone calls. But their phones and passports were confiscated for hours while they were held at the immigration office and then as they packed up their apartment under the gaze of armed agents.

One of the agents told Holmes they were being kicked out because of their coverage of the uprising, which was inspired by the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt. » | Monday, March 14, 2011

Marine Le Pen Says Europe Can't Handle Migrants
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Marine Le Pen, the daughter of France's longtime far-right leader who now heads his National Front party, on Monday advocated turning migrants back to sea before they can reach European shores after she toured a centre for illegal migrants on Italy's southernmost island of Lampedusa.

A group of young protesters yelled "racist" at Miss Le Pen as she toured the island, where some 8,700 north Africans have fled unrest that has spread from Tunisia to Egypt and Libya since January.

Despite her party's anti-immigrant politics, Miss Le Pen, 42, had insisted before her arrival that the visit is aimed at gathering information, not at provocation.

"Europe is impotent and has not come up with any solution," Miss Le Pen said. Instead of patrolling near European shores, she said Europe's navies "in reality ... should go as close as possible to the coasts from where the clandestine boats departed to send them back."

Europe, she said, cannot handle the influx, which "is adding poverty to poverty, and disorder to disorder."

She warned that the migrants were arriving "in proportions that Italy can no longer handle."

"In truth, we are about to witness a catastrophe," she said. » | Tuesday, March 15, 2011

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Japan Shares Tumble as Nuclear Crisis Fears Create Panic
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Tokyo shares closed down 10.55pc on Tuesday as panicking investors dumped stocks after the government said levels of radiation leaking from a stricken nuclear plant posed a threat to health.

Japan's Nikkei index clawed back some ground from an earlier freefall - sliding more than 12pc at one stage - to close down 1,015.34 points at 8,605.15. The broader Topix plunged 9.5pc in its worst two-day fall since 1987.

Other Asian markets suffered a ripple effect as investors fled stocks as the crisis in the world's No. 3 economy seemed only to escalate after a third explosion at the crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in Fukushima province. » | Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Saudi Troops Enter Bahrain
Mar 14 - Analysts say the troop movement signals concern in Saudi Arabia that its own Shi'ite minority could follow the Shi'ite majority in Bahrain. Deborah Lutterbeck reports

REUTERS: Saudi sends troops, Bahrain Shi'ites call it "war": Saudi Arabia sent troops into Bahrain on Monday to help calm weeks of protests by the Shi'ite Muslim majority, a move opponents of the Sunni ruling family on the island called a declaration of war. » | Lin Noueihed and Frederik Richter | MANAMA | Monday, March 14, 2011

Bahrain 'Arena' for Gulf Forces and Wider Fears
HOUSTON CHRONICLE: MANAMA, Bahrain — A Saudi-led military force crossed into Bahrain Monday to prop up the monarchy against widening demonstrations that have sent waves of fear through Gulf states over the potential for enemy Iran to take new footholds on their doorsteps.

The Bahrain conflict is sectarian as much as pro-democracy, as the strategic Gulf island nation's majority Shiite Muslims see an opportunity to rid themselves of two centuries of rule by a Sunni monarchy.

But Gulf Sunni leaders worry that might give Shiite Iran a stepping stone to its arch-rival Saudi Arabia, connected to Bahrain by a wide causeway.

Instead, the Saudis and the other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council sent forces the other way, deploying about 1,000 troops by land and air and cementing the entire six-nation alliance to the fate of Bahrain's rulers, key U.S. allies as hosts of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.

The first cross-border offensive against one of the rebellions sweeping the Mideast was not greeted with celebrations.

Shortly after word of the foreign military reinforcements began to spread through the island nation, protesters blocked roads in the capital Manama. Thousands of others swarmed into Pearl Square, the symbolic center of the monthlong revolt.

Shiite-led opposition groups denounced the Gulf military task force as an occupation that pushes the tiny island kingdom dangerously close to a state of "undeclared war." » Reem Khalifa and Brian Murphy | The Associated Press | Monday, March 14, 2011

Tsunami-Opfer überlebt zwei Tage auf hoher See

Saudische Truppen in Bahrain einmarschiert

Gaddafi lässt das Geld sprechen

Violent Clashes in Bahrain

Libyan Jets Bomb Rebels; Gaddafi Confident of Success
THE JERUSALEM POST: Gov't forces have pushed insurgents 160 km eastwards in counter-offensive; France presses for no-fly zone, analysts fear it may be too late.

AJDABIYAH, Libya - Muammar Gaddafi's jets bombed Libyan rebels on Monday, aiding a counter-offensive that has pushed insurgents 100 miles (160 km) eastwards in a week, as France pressed for a no-fly zone "as fast as possible".

Gaddafi's government, at first reeling from widespread popular uprisings last month, is now confident of success. "We are certain of our victory, whatever the price," state TV said.

Government troops took Brega on Sunday, but the rebels said they had moved back into the oil terminal town during the night and surrounded Gaddafi's troops.

"Some of them (government troops) have been killed and some have been captured. But they are still in Brega. It is still dangerous and there is still fighting but today we will squeeze them hard," said Idriss Kadiki, a rebel fighter.

Behind rebel lines, Libyan planes bombed Ajdabiyah on Monday, the only sizeable town between Brega and the rebel stronghold of Benghazi. From Ajdabiyah there are roads to Benghazi and to Tobruk to the east, which could allow Gaddafi's troops to encircle Benghazi.

There is now a very real possibility that by the time world powers agree on a response to the conflict in Libya, Gaddafi's forces may already have won, analysts said. » | Reuters | Monday, March 14, 2011

Saudi Arabia Polices the Region as Trouble Stirs at Home
THE GUARDIAN: The Saudi regime is stepping up its regional security role, but it is clear that it is not immune from 'contagion'

Saudi Arabia's decision to send troops into Bahrain to help stabilise the country following violent anti-government demonstrations marks another stage in Riyadh's reluctant emergence as a regional policeman at a time when the Arab world faces unprecedented turmoil.

The Saudi move, requested by Bahrain's embattled Sunni Muslim royal family, is motivated primarily by self-interest. If Bahrain, with its majority Shia population, succumbed to an Egyptian-style popular uprising then the regime in Riyadh would fear, rightly, that its oil-rich eastern province, where many Shia live, might be next.

But Saudi actions are also influenced by larger geostrategic considerations. One is Riyadh's close military and economic alliance with the US – its defender of last resort – which in effect embraces Bahrain, home to the US fifth fleet. The move by the Gulf Cooperation Council will not have come without prior consultation with Washington.
Another crucial consideration is Riyadh's intensifying rivalry with Iran, which has powerful political and religious aspects (Iran is majority Shia Muslim, Saudi Arabia is majority Sunni).

The developments in Bahrain follow stepped-up Saudi involvement in other regional flashpoints. They include Lebanon, where King Abdullah tried unsuccessfully last year to persuade Syria and Iranian-sponsored Hezbollah to take a less confrontational line; and Yemen, where Saudi Arabia has supported the government of Ali Abdullah Saleh, an American ally, against Iranian-backed rebels and al-Qaida infiltrators.

The Saudis have also been actively involved, with the Obama administration, in international efforts to forge an Israel-Palestine settlement, another regional running sore exploited by Iran. The Saudi peace plan of 2002 remains the most likely basis for ending the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Saudi efforts to keep a lid on unrest in the region extend to Oman – like Bahrain, a relatively poor country that acts as a base for the US military. Read on and comment » | Simon Tisdall | Monday, March 14, 2011

Second Plant Explosion
Mar 14 - A second hydrogen explosion occurs at a nuclear power plant in Fukushima Japan. Julie Noce reports

REUTERS: Japan grapples with nuclear crisis after tsunami » | Taiga Uranaka and Ki Joon Kwon | FUKUSHIMA, Japan | Monday, March 14, 2011

Search Intensifies for Japan Survivors
Disaster experts say the next 48 hours are critical when it comes to finding survivors in Japan.
 To try and improve their chances, the number of military personnel has been doubled to 100,000, as Al Jazeera's Steve Chao reports from Natori

Saudi Arabian Troops Sent to Bahrain as Protests Escalate
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: More than 1,000 Saudi Arabian troops have been deployed in Bahrain, following fresh protests over the weekend that pitted protesters from the tiny Gulf monarchy's Shia majority against riot police.

Local residents say they saw Saudi troops driving across the causeway that links the two countries early on Monday.

There was no official comment on the presence of the troops, but a Saudi official said "the force will work under the directions of the Bahraini government and protect vital facilities like oil and power."

The opposition Wefaq movement, however, described the presence of the troops as "an undeclared war" and "a blatant occupation."

Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Bahrain's crown prince offered opposition groups a dialogue on Sunday, but added that "right to security and stability transcends any other consideration." Prince Salman's offer came after protesters after barricaded a road leading into its financial district on Sunday, a working day in the Kingdom, sparking off a two-hour street battle with police.

The clashes were the worst since February 17, when seven protesters were shot dead by police The protests broke out soon after Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, met Bahrain's king to persuade him to undertake reforms Washington believes are necessary to prevent Iran from capitalising on the arrest. » | Diplomatic Editor | Monday, March 14, 2011

Related »

Marine Le Pen à Lampedusa pour parler immigration
LE POINT: La présidente du FN doit se rendre sur l'île italienne, où accostent de nombreux clandestins venus d'Afrique du Nord.

La présidente du Front national Marine Le Pen devait se rendre lundi sur l'île italienne de Lampedusa, où accostent les clandestins venus d'Afrique du Nord, une façon spectaculaire de reparler immigration, thème fétiche de son parti, en pleine campagne électorale en France. Une visite éclair, à peine quelques heures en début d'après-midi sur cette île entre la Sicile et les côtes africaines, où ont accosté depuis quelques semaines des milliers de clandestins fuyant la Tunisie, peut-être la Libye. » | Source AFP | Lundi 14 Mars 2011

Why All Is Quiet on the Syrian Front
THE DAILY STAR: As millions of Arabs stir their respective countries with demonstrations and slogans of change and transition, certain Arab states have been generally spared, including some oil-rich countries and Syria. Syria stands out as a powerful regional player without the benefit of economic prosperity and with a domestic political climate that leaves a lot to be desired. Some say it combines the heavy-handedness of the Tunisian regime, the economic woes of Egypt, the hereditary rule aspects of Morocco and Jordan, and a narrower leadership base than any other country across the Arab world. Why, then, is all relatively quiet on the Syrian front?

We can delude ourselves by resorting to facile explanations related to the threat of severe coercion facing a potential uprising in Syria – which certainly does exist. But the reality of the matter is more complex. To begin with, one must account for the unexpected: a clumsy incident involving a disproportionately brutal reaction against civilians, even in Syria, will spin structural variables out of control.

Any cursory review of the Syrian press, or the press on Syria, reveals that many Syrians empathize with the grievances of their rebellious Arab brethren and share many of them. This includes those who actually protested in small numbers and were harassed or beaten, or both, on Friday, Feb. 4, the planned “Day of Anger” in Syria, and during the few days prior. Other sporadic incidents took place in the past few weeks, but none rose to the level of an explicit anti-regime demonstration, as happened in Egypt and elsewhere. This puts Syria in stark contrast with Egypt. >>> Bassam Haddad | Monday, March 14, 2011

As Afghanistan Falters and the Middle East Burns, How Obama Is Missing in Action
MAIL ONLINE: Every time I come to Washington, I pay a ritual visit to the White House, to stand among the tourists gawping through the railings, fantasising about about what great affairs its tenant might be engaged upon.

On a brisk, grey, early spring morning last week, the wedding-cake residence of the most powerful man on earth looked pretty much the way it did in December 1941 when Roosevelt welcomed Churchill to create the Grand Alliance; in 1962 when Kennedy faced the Cuban missile confrontation; in 1972 when Nixon launched détente with China.

But amid today’s historic upheavals in the Middle East, the occupant of the White House has taken the amazingly insouciant decision that he will watch this global crisis from the bench.

The world reels before the spectacle of the Arab oil nations in turmoil. There seems a danger that Libya’s civil war could merely be the first of a succession in the region. Yet the leader of the Western world has almost nothing to say about it all.

Last Thursday, President Barack Obama’s spokesman made it plain that the United States is content to let other countries lead the pack in forging a Western position.

Obama’s foreign policy is characterised by caution: towards Iran, China and now Libya. Most Europeans find this a welcome change from the adventurism of George W. Bush.

Few sensible people on either side of the Atlantic are clamouring for military intervention - the British Government’s fumbles and lunges have seemed cringe-making.

But, even if this is no time for Western troop engagement, it seems bizarre that Obama, the great speechmaker, is also so parsimonious with words.

America’s allies are bemused by the almost Trappist silence of this U.S. President, his reluctance to engage with many of the huge things that are happening both to his own country and to the world. >>> Max Hastings | Monday, March 14, 2011

Japan Reels from Tsunami Disaster
Al Jazeera's Gerald Tan reports on the emergency confronting Japan after a tsnumai devastates its Pacific coast.

Inside Story - Japan: Mixed messages
As some 200,000 people are evacuated from the area, is Japan facing a nuclear disaster?

Saudi Troops Enter Bahrain
THE AUSTRALIAN: MORE than 1000 Saudi troops, part of the Gulf countries' Peninsula Shield Force, have entered Bahrain where anti-regime protests have raged for a month, a Saudi official said.

The troops entered the strategic Gulf kingdom on Sunday, the official said, requesting anonymity.

The intervention came "after repeated calls by the (Bahraini) government for dialogue, which went unanswered" by the opposition, the official said.

According to the regulations of the Gulf Cooperation Council, "any Gulf force entering a member state becomes under the command of the government," the official added. >>> AFP | Monday, March 14, 2011

Related >>>

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Bahrain protests intensify as Foreign Office advises against travel to country: Thousands of anti-government demonstrators cut off Bahrain’s financial center and drove back police trying to push them from the Pearl Square in the most disruptive protests since calls for more freedom erupted a month ago. >>> | Monday, March 14, 2011

Gaddafis Truppen auf dem Vormarsch nach Bengasi
WELT ONLINE: Stück für Stück erobern die Soldaten des libyschen Machthabers das Land zurück. Die Arabische Liga fordert eine Flugverbotszone. Doch der UN-Sicherheitsrat zögert.

Elitetruppen des libyschen Machthabers Muammar al Gaddafi sind im Osten des Landes offenbar auf dem Vormarsch Richtung der Rebellenhochburg Bengasi. >>> dpa/dapd/ks | Montag, 14. März 2011

Japan Earthquake & Tsunami
This disaster is of epic proportions. Whoever could have imagined such a disaster? It has surely touched us all. The Japanese are in need of our help at this extremely difficult time. Let us HELP them NOW. Please make a GENEROUS donation.

BRITISH RED CROSS: Japan Tsunami Appeal >>>
Or donate by phone: 08450 53 53 53
AMERICAN RED CROSS: American Red Cross Responding to Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami >>>
FACEBOOK: 10,000 strong to donate $10 each to the Japan disaster relief fund >>>

Moroccan Police Break Up Rally, Hurt Dozens-Witness
REUTERS AFRICA: RABAT - Dozens of people were injured in Morocco's biggest city, Casablanca, on Sunday when riot police used truncheons to break up a rally by several hundred demonstrators demanding reforms, witnesses said.

"This was a peaceful rally, we don't know what made the police attack a peaceful protest," Ghizlaine Benameur, an opposition activist who took part in the rally, told Reuters by telephone from Casablanca.

"This has been their most violent intervention since the start of the protests last month," she said.

Spokesmen at Morocco's interior ministry could not immediately be reached for comment. >>> Reuters | Monday, March 14, 2011

Pitched Street Battle in Yemeni Capital
Two more people have been killed and scores injured in the latest anti-government protests in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, bringing the number of deaths to more than 30 in just two months.
 According to medical sources, the latest violence erupted when police fired live rounds and tear gas.
 Claims that riot police are using excessive force and suspected prohibited nerve gas have been denied by General Yahya Saleh, the head of the Yemeni security forces.
 Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra reports from a makeshift clinic set up by protesters near University Square, the scene of ongoing protests. (Mar 14, 2011)

Iran Clamps Down On Ancient Spring Festival Fearing It Could Spark Off Political Protests
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Police in Iran have imposed restrictions on an ancient festival which celebrates the triumph of good over evil, fearing that it could catalyse growing public anger against the country's theocratic leadership.

Iranians traditionally leap over bonfires and set off fireworks to mark the pagan festival of Chahar Shanbeh Soori, which is celebrated on the last Tuesday before March 21, the Persian new year.

This year, faced with an increasingly repressive crackdown on dissent, opposition leaders [have] been calling on supporters to use the festival to express their resentment against the regime.

Esmail Ahmadi Moqaddam, a commander with the state security forces, warned that "buying and selling fireworks is illegal, and the police the police [sic] will severely confront offenders on the basis of the law."

Bahman Kargar, another security official, told state television that "more than 3,059,000 fireworks have been confiscated and 65 individuals distributing such material have been arrested."

Iran's rulers have become increasingly worried that they could be swept away by the rising tide of political protest across the region. >>> | Monday, March 14, 2011

Saudi Arabian Forces Prepare to Enter Bahrain after Day of Clashes
THE GUARDIAN: Crown Prince of Bahrain expected to invite Saudi support following anti-government demonstrations in capital

Saudi forces are preparing to intervene in neighbouring Bahrain, after a day of clashes between police and protesters who mounted the most serious challenge to the island's royal family since demonstrations began a month ago.

The Crown Prince of Bahrain is expected to formally invite security forces from Saudi Arabia into his country today, as part of a request for support from other members of the six-member Gulf Co-operation Council.

Thousands of demonstrators on Sunday cut off Bahrain's financial centre and drove back police trying to eject them from the capital's central square, while protesters also clashed with government supporters on the campus of the main university.

Amid the revolt Bahrain also faces a potential sectarian conflict between the ruling minority of Sunnis Muslims and a majority of Shia Muslims, around 70% of the kingdom's 525,000 residents.

The crown prince, Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, said in a televised statement that Bahrain had "witnessed tragic events" during a month of unprecedented political unrest.

Warning that "the right to security and safety is above all else", he added: "Any legitimate claims must not be made at the expanse of security and stability."

The crown prince has also promised that national dialogue would look at increasing the power of Bahrain's parliament, and that any deal could be put to nationwide referendum.

However, some protesters have pressed their demands further to call for the toppling of the Sunni dynasty. >>> Ben Quinn | Monday, March 14, 2011

Prime Minister: Japan Will Overcome Crisis
Mar 13 - Prime Minister Naoto Kan says he is confident Japan will overcome the earthquake-tsunami crisis. Deborah Lutterbeck reports

Prayers for Japan
Mar 13 - The Pope calls on the faithful to pray for the victims of Japan's earthquake as citizens of Germany and Russia offer condolences. Deborah Lutterbeck reports

Bahrain Erupts in Violence
Police fire tear gas to disperse crowds in Bahrain as violence erupts. Deborah Lutterbeck reports

More Than 800 Injured in Bahrain Political Clashes
USA TODAY: MANAMA, Bahrain — Hundreds of people were injured in violent clashes Sunday between protesters and armed civilians backed by police in this small island nation.

The latest violence came after a month of protests led by the Shiite majority to demand sweeping political reforms and possibly the ouster of the nation's Western-allied Sunni monarchy.

The government's Ministry of Interior said in a statement that protest camp tents from near the harbor were "removed." The statement said attempts by uniformed police officers to persuade the protesters to re-open a road reached an impasse and that a group of protesters attacked unarmed police officers.

Police then sought to disperse approximately 350 protesters by using tear gas in order to clear the road, the statement said. >>> Nada Alwadi, USA TODAY | Sunday, March 13, 2011

Saudi Troops Intervene in Bahrain, Reports Say
TEHRAN TIMES: MANAMA – There are reports that Saudi Arabian troops have entered Bahrain to help put down the worst unrest in the country since the 1990s, BBC Arabic said on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, thousands of anti-Khalifa-regime protesters cut off Bahrain’s financial center and drove back police trying to push them from the capital’s central square -- shaking the tiny island kingdom with the most disruptive demonstrations since the calls for more freedom began a month ago. 



Demonstrators also took on King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa’s security forces and his supporters on the campus of the country’s main university. 



Riot police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the demonstrators and surrounded the protesters’ main camp in Manama, AP reported. 



However, the authorities failed to dislodge the thousands of protesters blocking King Faisal Highway in Manama, who were demanding a greater political voice in the strategic Persian Gulf kingdom, the home of the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet. >>> Staff and agencies | Monday, March 14, 2011