Saudi Arabia Bans All Demos After Shi'ite Protests
REUTERS: Saudi Arabia said on Saturday it would ban all protests and marches after minority Shi'ites staged small protests in the oil-producing eastern province.

Security forces would use all measures to prevent any attempt to disrupt public order, the interior ministry said in a statement carried by state television.

The ban follows a series of protests by Saudi Shi'ites in the kingdom's east in the past weeks mainly to demand the release of prisoners they say are long held without trial. >>> Reporting by Ulf Laessing; Editing by Jon Hemming | Riyadh | Saturday, March 05, 2011

Related >>>

REUTERS: Saudi minister says economy in excellent shape –TV: Saudi Arabia's economy is in an "excellent" shape and a rise in oil prices will boost the strong economic and financial position of the world's top oil exporter, its finance minister said on Saturday. >>> Khobar, Saudi Arabia | Saturday, March 05, 2011

Afghan Kids Suffer Abuses
Afghan youth are regularly recruited to join both the army and the Taliban. Children arrested by police also suffer torture and abuse in detention. The UN Security Council has urged Afghanistan's government to do more to protect the young victims of the country's conflict. Al Jazeera's Sue Turton reports from Kabul

US Anti-Muslim Rally Raises Fears
The US based advocacy group, the Council on American Islamic Relations, has published a video of an anti-Muslim protest, at a fundraising event in California last month.

 Muslim residents say the demonstration has raised fears in their community.
 Al Jazeera's Rob Reynolds reports from Yorba Linda in California's Orange County

Egypt: Feared Former Interior Minister El-Adly On Trial
BBC: Egypt's feared former Interior Minister, Habib el-Adly, has denied charges of corruption at the opening of his trial in Cairo.

"It didn't happen," he said to allegations of laundering money and unlawfully acquiring public money.

He was arrested in mid-February, days after President Hosni Mubarak resigned in the face of popular protest.

The hearing was adjourned to 2 April as the defence argued for more time to study court papers.

Mr Adly appeared in the dock dressed in white prison clothes, and delivered his answers in a calm voice, an AFP news agency correspondent reports. >>> | Saturday, March 05, 2011

Rebels 'Beat Back Libyan Troops'
BBC: Rebels in Libya say they have repelled an attempt by government forces to retake the key city of Zawiya, just 50km (30 miles) west of Tripoli.

Following heavy fighting on Saturday morning, government forces were pushed out of the city centre, though recent reports suggest they have regrouped and may be preparing for a fresh assault.

The number of casualties is unclear.

Meanwhile, rebels fighting Col Muammar Gaddafi have taken control of the port of Ras Lanuf to the east of Tripoli.

Observers say the overall balance of power is difficult to assess as the struggle for control over Libya continues.

In Tripoli, there is an air of growing confidence among regime loyalists as their control appears to be consolidated in Tripoli and other central areas, our correspondent there says.

But elsewhere, correspondents say rebel forces have an enormous determination to overthrow his regime. Gaddafi troops 'flee' >>> | Saturday, March 05, 2011

Yemen: Foreign Office Travel Advice Tightened
BBC: The Foreign Office is warning Britons against all travel to the Middle Eastern state of Yemen.

Officials say the advice has been reviewed and reissued because of increasing violence in the country.

UK nationals already in Yemen without a pressing need to stay are advised to leave by commercial means.

There have been protests against the government in several cities, and there are reports of clashes between police and demonstrators.

The Foreign Office says there are reports of violence being used to disperse crowds, and of a number of deaths.

Further protests are expected, say officials, and violence is likely. >>> | Saturday, March 05, 2011

Food Supply Worries in Libya
The UN recently announced that global food prices have hit an all-time high, and nowhere is this more evident than in Libya, a country that depends on imports for more than 90 per cent of its food. 

High oil prices and the rising cost of basic food could threaten future political stability, too.

 Al Jazeera's Tim Friend reports

Zbigniew Brzezinski on Al Jazeera
The Obama adminstration is under increasing pressure to impose a no-fly zone over Libya. But so far it's ruled out getting involved in any military action.

 Zbigniew Brzezinski, a former National Security Adviser to the Carter administration, spoke to Al Jazeera.

He said that the US should play a more strategic role.

Libya: Fierce Day of Raids and Clashes Signals Shift towards Civil War
THE GUARDIAN: Pro-Gaddafi forces launch widespread offensives and rebels fortify their positions as diplomatic efforts fail

Libyan rebels are under intensifying pressure as forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi launch new offensives on several fronts to regain control of key rebel-held towns and oil facilities, and international efforts to mediate an end to the fighting appear to run into the sand.

Some of the fiercest clashes since the uprising began on 15 February took place in rebel-controlled Zawiyah, about 30 miles west of the Libyan capital, according to Arab media reports. Al-Arabiya television quoted a local doctor as saying at least 13 people were killed there, and al-Jazeera TV gave a figure of 50 dead and more than 300 wounded.

The leader of the rebels in Zawiyah, Colonel Husein Darbouk, was among those killed when his position was hit by anti-aircraft fire. Following attacks including an artillery bombardment by mercenaries and militia in Gaddafi's pay, the rebels were said to be pinned down in the central square. State media predicted the town would fall by Saturday.

A witness contacted by the Guardian inside Zawiyah said the assault began at about 10am from the west when government-controlled forces in pick-up trucks entered the city. "There has been fighting here all day," he said. "We are in a very difficult position. They have snipers and have used mortars and rocket-propelled grenades." >>> Martin Chulov in Benghazi, Peter Beaumont in Tripoli and Simon Tisdall | Friday, March 04, 2011

Interpol lance une alerte contre Kadhafi et ses proches
LE POINT: Interpol a émis une notice orange envers Kadhafi et quinze de ses proches, mais ne demande pas leur arrestation.

Interpol a alerté vendredi les polices de ses 188 États membres sur le colonel Muammar Kadhafi et 15 de ses proches, afin de faciliter la mise en oeuvre des sanctions de l'ONU et l'enquête ouverte par la Cour pénale internationale (CPI). En émettant une "notice orange", destinée à alerter sur "les évènements qui sont susceptibles de constituer une menace pour la sûreté publique", l'organisation policière ne demande pas l'arrestation de ces 16 Libyens mais met à disposition des informations les concernant. >>> Source AFP | Vendredi 04 Mars 2011

News from an Australian Perspective
ABC – AM: AM is Australia's most informative morning current affairs program. AM sets the agenda for the nation's daily news and current affairs coverage.

Listen to Saturday’s program >>>

Die al-Qaida ringt um Aufmerksamkeit
TAGES ANZEIGER: Durch die Aufstände in Nordafrika fürchtet die al-Qaida in der Bedeutungslosigkeit zu versinken. Nun erwägt die Extremistengruppe eine Strategieänderung.

Die Verblüffung über die unerwarteten Volksaufstände in der arabischen Welt hat al-Qaida fast verstummen lassen. Die sunnitische Terrororganisation findet keine Antwort auf den plötzlichen Ruf nach Demokratie.

Die Extremisten sind kleinlaut: Die Umstürze in Ägypten und Tunesien stellen eines ihrer Kernargumente in Frage - nämlich, dass sich politischer Wandel in der Region nur durch terroristische Gewalt bewirken lasse. Inzwischen ist im extremistischen Dschihad- Milieu eine Debatte entbrannt, wie das Abdrängen in die Bedeutungslosigkeit verhindert werden kann. >>> mrs/sda | Freitag, 04. März 2011

Kadhafi verrouille le Nord-Ouest de la Libye
LE FIGARO: À Tripoli et Zawiya, les forces fidèles au régime sont intervenues brutalement vendredi.

Assises en rang d'oignons dans une salle de cours, une vingtaine d'adolescentes s'adonnent à un cours d'accordéon. «Les écoles sont ouvertes, la vie continue, il n'y a pas d'attaques contre la population. N'écoutez pas les chaînes étrangères, elles ne font que vous mentir !», raconte l'une d'elles, un micro sous la bouche. Le reportage, diffusé vendredi après-midi sur la télévision nationale libyenne, omet sciemment d'évoquer les nouvelles manifestations, violemment réprimées à coup de matraque et de gaz lacrymogène, à la sortie de la prière du vendredi.

«Il n'y aura pas de démocratie sans notre leader», promettaient depuis plusieurs jours des panneaux publicitaires qui ornent les carrefours de Tripoli. La démocratie version Kadhafi a pourtant une étrange couleur. Depuis jeudi, des chars ont été déployés tous les dix mètres sur l'autoroute principale qui mène vers la capitale. Le réseau Internet est totalement bloqué dans la partie nord-ouest du pays. L'accès aux principales chaînes satellitaires en langue arabe, al-Jezira et al-Arabiya est, lui, complètement brouillé. Quant à la centaine de journalistes actuellement présents à Tripoli, encombrants témoins d'une répression sans faille contre toute nouvelle tentative d'insurrection, ils ont été assignés à résidence dans leurs hôtels tout au long de la journée de vendredi. >>> Par Delphine Minoui | Vendredi 04 Mars 2011

Une ONG * dénonce des tortures et des viols contre des manifestants au Soudan
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Des "dizaines" de manifestants soudanais réclamant plus de libertés politiques au Soudan ont été torturés ces dernières semaines, a affirmé vendredi l’organisation américaine de défense des droits de l’homme Human Rights Watch (HRW), qui cite aussi des cas de viol.

Des "dizaines" de manifestants soudanais réclamant plus de libertés politiques au Soudan ont été torturés ces dernières semaines, a affirmé vendredi l’organisation américaine de défense des droits de l’homme Human Rights Watch (HRW), qui cite aussi des cas de viol.

Les mauvais traitements ont eu lieu à la suite d’arrestations massives fin janvier à Khartoum et dans la ville voisine d’Omdurman, d’après les témoignages recueillis par l’ONG. >>> AFP | Vendredi 04 Mars 2011

* Organisation Non-Gouvernamentale

Gaddafi Forces Surge in West Libya, Rebels Gain in East
REUTERS: Muammar Gaddafi's forces wrested back part of a town in western Libya from rebels, but his foes said they had seized the oil port of Ras Lanuf, expanding their grip in the east of the country in a two-week-old uprising.

Counter-attacks by Gaddafi loyalists this week suggest the flamboyant autocrat in power for 41 years will not go quietly or relatively quickly as leaders in neighboring Egypt and Tunisia did in a tide of popular unrest rolling across the Middle East.

An upsurge of fighting appears to be cementing a de facto split of the oil-producing desert state, Africa's fourth biggest, into a government-held western area round the capital Tripoli and an eastern region held by ragged but dedicated rebel forces.

In diplomacy aimed at quelling upheaval that has jacked up oil prices, a group of mostly Latin American states in a leftist bloc behind Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez endorsed his plan on Friday for an international mediating mission on Libya.

But Chavez's chances looked slim for now since the rebels have ruled out talks unless they lead to Gaddafi's resignation or exile, outcomes he has categorically ruled out.

Disaffected Libyans see Chavez as too close to Gaddafi, whom the Venezuelan leader calls a friend. It was unclear whether the plan has gained any traction with other countries. >>> Mohammed Abbas, Ajdabiyah, Libya | Friday, March 04, 2011

Britain at Risk of Another Financial Crisis, Bank of England Chief Warns
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Britain risks suffering another financial crisis without reform of the country’s banks, the Governor of the Bank of England warns today.

In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Mervyn King says that “imbalances” in the banking system remain and are “beginning to grow again”.

Mr King urges high street banks to take a better, longer term view towards their customers and to stop focusing on the need to “simply maximise profits next week”.

He accuses them of routinely exploiting their millions of customers. “If it’s possible [for financial services firms] to make money out of gullible or unsuspecting customers, particularly institutional customers, [they think] that is perfectly acceptable,” he says.

The Governor criticises the “weight put on the importance and value of takeovers” and raises concerns that companies with good reputations have been “destroyed” in the search for short-term profits.

Mr King expresses regret for not sounding a louder warning over his concerns before the last banking crisis.

The Governor’s remarks are a warning to George Osborne, the Chancellor, as a government commission considers whether to force high street banks to sell off their investment banking arms. Continue reading and comment >>> Robert Winnett, Deputy Political Editor | Friday, March 04, 2011

Web Extra: For the Love of the Leader - Libya
Moammar Gadhafi and the female bodyguards who protect the "Mad Dog" of Tripoli are interviewed. Produced by Jane Kokan, freelance reporter and documentary producer based in Vancouver

Libyan Ambassador to U.S. Speaks Out on Conflict
Mar 4, 2011 – Ambassador Ali Aujali on 'Studio B'

Inside Story - Muammar Gaddafi: Fighting for Survival?
Protests in Libya continue to be met with harsh violence and the death toll has now topped 1,000. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is warning Muammar Gaddafi, the country's leader, that he will be held criminally responsible for his regime's reaction to the protests that have been taking place since February 15. It took only five days for Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the ICC's chief prosecutor, to confirm that there was sufficient evidence to warrant an investigation. And for the first time in the court's history, the probe is being actively supported by the US and other long-standing critics of the ICC, including China and Russia. The investigation is seen as a way to pressure Gaddafi loyalists to defect, thus weakening the war against the rebels. But is ICC involvement an incentive for the Libyan leader to respect human rights or will he simply fight harder for his political survival so as to avoid prosecution?

LSE Head Quits Over Libya Links
Organisations with links to the Libyan regime have come increasingly under the spotlight. In the UK, Sir Howard Davies , the head of the prestigious London School of Economics has resigned after disclosures the university accepted multi-million dollar donations from former student Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, a son of the Libyan leader.
Al Jazeera's Paul Brennan reports

Related >>>

Oman Protesters Call for Reform
Hundreds of protesters rallied across Oman on Friday, demanding political reform and better working conditions.

Rival demonstrations also took place in support of Oman's ruler, Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

In the industrial city of Sohar, protestors called for an end to corruption and higher wages.

Libyans Face Down Gaddafi
Muammar Gaddafi may be fighting hard to regain control of Libya, but people in the eastern city of Benghazi say they will not give up their aspirations to wrest the country from his grip.

From religious leaders to people on the street, they say they are keeping up the fight.

Yet the price Libyans are paying for their uprising is high and the death toll is rising every day, even in this revolutionary stronghold.

With Gaddafi unlikely to step down willingly, people in Benghazi told Al Jazeera's Tony Birtley that they hope the international community will intervene.

Funerals Held for Libyan Rebels
Hundreds of mourners bury victims of clashes between pro- and anti-Gaddafi forces as opposition fighters regroup

Saudis Mobilise Thousands of Troops to Quell Growing Revolt
THE INDEPENDENT: Saudi Arabia was yesterday drafting up to 10,000 security personnel into its north-eastern Shia Muslim provinces, clogging the highways into Dammam and other cities with busloads of troops in fear of next week's "day of rage" by what is now called the "Hunayn Revolution".

Saudi Arabia's worst nightmare – the arrival of the new Arab awakening of rebellion and insurrection in the kingdom – is now casting its long shadow over the House of Saud. Provoked by the Shia majority uprising in the neighbouring Sunni-dominated island of Bahrain, where protesters are calling for the overthrow of the ruling al-Khalifa family, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia is widely reported to have told the Bahraini authorities that if they do not crush their Shia revolt, his own forces will.

The opposition is expecting at least 20,000 Saudis to gather in Riyadh and in the Shia Muslim provinces of the north-east of the country in six days, to demand an end to corruption and, if necessary, the overthrow of the House of Saud. Saudi security forces have deployed troops and armed police across the Qatif area – where most of Saudi Arabia's Shia Muslims live – and yesterday would-be protesters circulated photographs of armoured vehicles and buses of the state-security police on a highway near the port city of Dammam.

Although desperate to avoid any outside news of the extent of the protests spreading, Saudi security officials have known for more than a month that the revolt of Shia Muslims in the tiny island of Bahrain was expected to spread to Saudi Arabia. Within the Saudi kingdom, thousands of emails and Facebook messages have encouraged Saudi Sunni Muslims to join the planned demonstrations across the "conservative" and highly corrupt kingdom. They suggest – and this idea is clearly co-ordinated – that during confrontations with armed police or the army next Friday, Saudi women should be placed among the front ranks of the protesters to dissuade the Saudi security forces from opening fire. >>> Robert Fisk, Middle East Correspondent | Saturday, March 05, 2011

Saudi Arabia Drafts in Up To 10,000 troops Ahead of Protests
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Saudi Arabia is drafting in up to 10,000 security forces to the north eastern Muslim Shia provinces ahead of mass protests planned next week.

Desperate to avoid mass uprisings against the House of Saud, security forces have deployed in huge numbers across the region.

King Abdullah is also reported to have told neighbouring Bahrain that if they do not put down their own ongoing Shia revolt, his own forces will.

In response to the massive mobilisation, protesters are planning to place women on the front ranks to discourage Saudi forces from firing on them. >>> | Saturday, March 05, 2011

Britain Seizes Libya-bound Ship Carrying £100m Cash
THE INDEPENDENT: A cargo ship carrying £100m worth of Libyan currency destined for Colonel Gaddafi's regime was escorted into a British port and the money seized after officials warned the vessel's owners that the cash was the subject of United Nations sanctions.

The Sloman Provider, which had abandoned its journey to the Libyan capital Tripoli because of the ongoing violence, was accompanied into the Essex port of Harwich on Wednesday by a UK Border Agency vessel, and containers holding the bank notes were taken under guard to a secure location. >>> Cahal Milmo, Chief Reporter | Saturday, March 05, 2011

DAILY EXPRESS: >>> David Pilditch | Saturday, March 05, 2011

Prince Andrew Hosted Tunisian Dictator's Son-in-law at Palace
THE GUARDIAN: Sakher el-Materi, son-in-law of deposed president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, attended lunch just months before uprising

The government's special trade representative, Prince Andrew, entertained a leading member of the deposed Tunisian dictatorship at Buckingham Palace just three months before the regime collapsed, the Guardian has learned.

Sakher el-Materi, the 29-year-old son-in-law of Tunisia's deposed president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, attended a lunch given for him by the Duke of York. They were joined by more than a dozen executives from British multinationals hoping to win business in Tunisia. Materi has since fled the north African country and is under investigation for money laundering.

The meeting took place as part of the duke's government-appointed role to help broker deals for British businesses overseas, and its emergence will intensify calls for him to step down because of his contacts with controversial figures in the Middle East.

He met Colonel Gaddafi in Tripoli on government trade business in November 2008 and lunched with his cabinet chief, Bashir Saleh, in London in July 2009 after giving a seminar at St James's Palace for the dictator's £5bn Libya Africa Investment Portfolio, which Bashir chairs. >>> Robert Booth | Friday, March 04, 2011

THE GUARDIAN: Prince Andrew's relations with Tunisian dictator's son-in-law in spotlight: Andrew's role as government's special trade representative is controversial – but to some in government he is secret weapon >>> Robert Booth | Friday, March 04, 2011

Wales Votes 'Yes' to More Devolved Powers
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The vote in the Welsh referendum for more legislative powers has been described as a historic day in the nation's history by first minister Carwyn Jones.

A total of 517,132 people voted in favour compared to 297,380 against.

The result gives Wales powers to pass its own laws in its 20 devolved areas - like Scotland and Northern Ireland - without the approval of Westminster.

Mr Jones said: ''This is a historic day for Wales. It is a clear and concise Yes vote across whole of Wales from the coast to the border.''

Twenty-one out of 22 constituencies in Wales voted in favour of gaining primary law-making powers - with the only No vote coming from Monmouthshire.

Welsh national party Plaid Cymru, which is in a coalition government with Labour, expressed delight at the win. >>> | Friday, March 04, 2011

Related >>>

Fissures au sommet du clan Kadhafi
Saïf Al-Islam, fils de la deuxième épouse du chef d'Etat libyen. Photo : Paris Match
PARIS MATCH: Entre le chef d’Etat libyen Mouammar Kadhafi et son fils Saïf Al-Islam les tensions s’accumulent, explique Zidan Mohammed, universitaire proche du pouvoir de Tripoli. Interview exclusive.

Docteur en sciences politiques de l’université Paris V, Zidan Mohammed est actuellement directeur du Centre des études diplomatiques, à Janzour, au Nord-Ouest de la Libye, à 12 kilomètres de Tripoli. Toujours en poste au ministère des Affaires étrangères, il explique les raisons de la décomposition du régime du Guide...

Quel est l’entourage de Kadhafi ? 
Il y a autour de lui une ancienne garde composée de militaires, notamment les plus gradés qui ont profité du système pour s’enrichir avec leurs familles sur le dos de la population, des technocrates et des affairistes peu qualifiés qui contrôlent une bonne partie de l’administration. A cela, il faut ajouter les membres des “Communautés Révolutionnaires” que le peuple, dans sa majorité, déteste depuis longtemps et qui ne font rien pour attirer la sympathie. Cette ancienne garde s’était organisée pour mener une guerre silencieuse contre les réformes de Saïf Al-Islam, le fils du Guide, en corrompant les nouveaux responsables et en barrant la route aux jeunes diplômés comme moi. Le poste de directeur de section France au ministère des Affaires Étrangères, dont j’assume la responsabilité, ne sert à rien car j’occupe d’anciennes toilettes comme bureau et je ne dispose d’aucun collaborateur!

Quel est le rôle de Saïf Al-Islam, le fils de la deuxième épouse de Kadhafi ? 
Ayant passé ces dernières années en Occident, en Autriche et en Angleterre, Saïf Al-Islam a montré une méconnaissance flagrante de la société libyenne. Il a ouvert une discussion avec les opposants politiques, mal perçue à l’intérieur du pays par les partisans du régime. Ces pourparlers avec les groupes salafistes, qui avaient promis d’abandonner la lutte armée en échange de la libération de tous les prisonniers islamistes, ont été un échec. C’est ce qu’on a appelé chez nous l’opération “Les Vagues de Liberté”, dont les derniers bénéficiaires ont pu quitter leurs cellules le 18 février, soit deux jours après la première manifestation ! Ils sont même parvenus à créer deux “émirats”, à Derna et à Al-Baida, dans l’Est du pays. >>> Interview Pascal Meynadier, Parismatch.com | Vendredi 04 Mars 2011

Huge Explosion at Weapons Depot in Benghazi

Fighting Rages in Libya's East
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH: At least 30 civilians killed after Gaddafi loyalists try to retake rebel-held town of Az Zawiyah, witnesses say.

At least 30 civilians have been killed after security forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi, Libyan leader, attempted to retake the rebel-held town of Az Zawiyah, near the capital Tripoli, that has for days been defying his rule, witnesses have said.



The rebellion in Az Zawiyah - the closest rebel-held territory to the capital and also the site of an oil refinery - has been an embarassment to the Libyan authorities who are trying to show they control at least the west of the country.



Eastern regions of the country, around the city of Benghazi, have already fallen out of Gaddafi's control after a popular revolt against his four decades of rule.

At least nine people have been killed and 10 others injured outside an ammunition depot near Benghazi. There are conflicting reports about the cause of Friday's blast.



Hospital sources said it was triggered when people went into the storage facility to collect weapons, however, others blamed pro-Gaddafi forces for the blast. 



In Az Zawiyah, Mohamed, a resident of the town, told the Reuters news agency: "I have been to hospital less than 15 minutes ago. Dozens were killed and more were wounded."

"We have counted 30 dead civilians. The hospital was full. They could not find space for the casualties. >>> Al Jazeera and agencies | Friday, March 04, 2011

Disgrâce de Kadhafi: des personnalités occidentales dans l’embarras
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Nombre de personnalités et institutions occidentales sont plongées dans l’embarras après la mise en lumière de leurs relations privilégiées avec le clan Kadhafi.

Nombre de personnalités et institutions dans le monde occidental sont plongées dans l’embarras après la révélation au grand jour de leurs relations avec le régime de Mouammar Kadhafi, en butte à une révolte populaire dans son pays et à la réprobation internationale.

La prestigieuse London School of Economics (LSE) vient ainsi de payer au prix fort les liens qu’elle entretenait depuis plusieurs années avec la famille du chef de l’Etat libyen, dont le fils, Seif al-Islam, est diplômé de cette université. Rattrapé par le scandale, son directeur a démissionné jeudi soir.

En ligne de mire notamment: une dotation de 1,5 million de livres, dont 300.000 (350.000 euros) ont déjà été versées, faite à cet établissement d’excellence par la fondation dirigée par le cadet des fils Kadhafi.

S’y ajoute une série de contrats, dont une mission menée par le directeur de l’établissement, pour contribuer à la modernisation des institutions financières libyennes. Sans compter des soupçons de plagiat pesant sur la thèse de philosophie soutenue par Seif al-Islam et consacrée au "rôle de la société civile dans la démocratisation des institutions de gouvernance internationale". >>> Rédaction Online | Vendredi 04 Mars 2011

Newt Gingrich will US-Präsident werden
DIE PRESSE: Der renommierte Republikaner Newt Gingrich bereitet seine Präsidentschaftsbewerbung vor. Andere potenzielle republikanische Bewerber halten sich noch zurück. Sarah Palin werden geringe Chancen eingeräumt.

In den Vereinigten Staaten zeichnet sich der offizielle Startschuss zum Präsidentschaftswahlkampf 2012 ab. Als erster namhafter Republikaner leitete der frühere Präsident des Abgeordnetenhauses, Newt Gingrich, erste Schritte zu seiner Bewerbung ein. Gingrich will nun konkret erkunden, wie groß seine Erfolgschancen sind und ob er auch finanziell einen schlagkräftigen Wahlkampf auf die Beine stellen könnte, wie er auf einer Pressekonferenz am Donnerstag in Atlanta (Georgia) mitteilte. Zweiter Schritt wäre dann die offizielle Einsetzung eines "Erkundungsausschusses". >>> Ag. | Freitag, 04. März 2011

Rebels on the Road in Libya
Mar 4 - Anti-Gaddafi rebels tell Reuters that they had taken control of the airport in the eastern oil town of Ras Lanuf. Deborah Lutterbeck reports

Gaddafi Parodies Go Viral
Mar 2 - Libya's besieged leader Muammar Gaddafi is a big hit on the Internet as his troubles create endless fodder for spoofs. Tara Cleary reports

Libya: Protesters Killed As Army Opens Fire
SKY NEWS: Dozens of people have been killed and many more injured after the army opened fire on protesters in the Libyan city of Zawiyah.

It is thought pro-Gaddafi forces entered the city and fired at protesters, who then returned fire.

A number of people were shot, including a main rebel commander who was killed.

This then set off another march of thousands of people, many of whom were unarmed, who were subsequently shot at by the military who were using rocket-propelled grenades and sniper fire.

Many of the demonstrators were shot in the head, neck and chest. (+ video) >>> Alex Crawford in Zawiyah, and Adam Arnold | Friday, March 04, 2011

'Germans Have to Distinguish between Muslims and Murderers'
SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: Investigators now believe that the man who killed two US airmen at Frankfurt Airport on Wednesday was acting alone. Still, German commentators find little comfort in knowing that. To them, it just means no one's safe anymore.

Germany is in a state of shock following Wednesday's fatal shooting at Frankfurt Airport, which left two US airmen dead and two wounded. It appears to have been the first deadly attack with an Islamist motive on German soil.

Twenty-one-year-old Arid U. has already confessed to being the gunman and to acting alone, but that doesn't seem to be of much comfort to Germans. Instead, the incident, which took place in a public area of the airport, has highlighted just how little can be done to prevent a lone gunman from carrying out an attack.

The man, who lived in Frankfurt but was originally from Kosovo, was not previously known to authorities and appears not to have been a member of an Islamist group. However, the suspect's Facebook page, which has now been taken offline, indicates that he had contacts to Islamists from the radical Salafist movement. >>> David Gordon Smith | Friday, March 04, 2011

Libyen: Prügeleien und Schüsse in Tripolis
FAZ.NET: In der libyschen Hauptstadt ist es nach dem Freitagsgebet zu Zusammenstößen zwischen Gegnern und Anhängern von Machthaber Gaddafi gekommen. Unterdessen rollt internationale Hilfe für die vielen in Tunesien festsitzenden Flüchtlinge an.

In Tripolis sind Gegner und Anhänger von Staatschef Gaddafi aneinandergeraten. Vor einer Moschee in der Innenstadt der libyschen Hauptstadt gingen nach dem Freitagsgebet mehr als tausend Regimegegner und Gaddafi-Anhänger mit Fäusten aufeinander los. Die eine Seite rief: „Das Volk will den Sturz des Oberst (Gaddafi).“ Die andere Seite rief: „Das Volk will Muammar, den Oberst.“

Gaddafi-treue Milizionäre, die grüne Armbinden trugen, schossen nach Angaben von Augenzeugen in die Luft, um die Regimegegner zu vertreiben. Die Stadtteile Tadschura und Souk al-Jumaa, in denen es ebenfalls größere Anti-Regime-Proteste gab, wurden nach Berichten von Augenzeugen inzwischen von Gaddafi-Truppen mit Panzern umstellt.

Bereits seit Tagen kommt es in Tripolis regelmäßig zu Verhaftungen. Die Leichen von Menschen, die plötzlich verschwunden waren, wurden häufig später auf offener Straße abgeladen. Videoaufnahmen zeigen, dass Milizen auch nachts mit Geländewagen durch die Stadtviertel fahren und Oppositionelle aus ihren Häusern verschleppen. „Während wir hier sprechen, sind überall um uns herum Agenten, die uns genau beobachten“, sagte ein Anwohner der Nachrichtenagentur AP. >>> FAZ.NET mit dpa/Reuters | Freitag, )4. März 2011

Printemps arabe : une victoire de George Bush ?
LE POINT: En renversant Saddam Hussein, l'ancien président américain a-t-il semé les germes de la démocratie dans le monde arabe ?

L'expédition en Irak de George Bush aurait-elle permis la révolte actuelle du monde arabo-musulman ? Photo : Le Point
L'idée fait son chemin : George Bush aurait été un précurseur, peut-être même un visionnaire. Il voulait diffuser la démocratie à travers tout le grand Moyen-Orient, d'Alger à Karachi. L'expédition d'Irak devait constituer la première étape d'un ébranlement qui allait répandre les lumières à travers tout le monde arabo-musulman. L'entreprise a paru sombrer dans la triste réalité du chaos irakien et se noyer dans la colère suscitée entre Nil et Euphrate par l'intervention américaine dans l'ancienne Mésopotamie. Mais voici que ces jours-ci, les néo-conservateurs qui entouraient George Bush relèvent la tête. Et si, finalement, le printemps arabe leur apportait a posteriori une éclatante justification ? Si, au fond, la soif de liberté qui pousse les peuples à se révolter était la meilleure preuve de la justesse de leurs analyses ? L'argumentaire est séduisant, la dialectique subtile mais largement biaisée. >>> Par PIERRE BEYLAU, RÉDACTEUR EN CHEF DU SERVICE MONDE | Vendredi 04 Mars 2011

Fresh Protests Hit Libyan Capital
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH: Government forces reportedly fire tear gas on protesters rallying against Gaddafi following Friday prayers.

At least 1,000 people protesting against the rule of Muammar Gaddafi have taken to the streets of Tripoli, the Libyan capital, raising fears of fresh conflict between anti-government protesters and loyalist forces.



Protests called by the opposition began on Friday when worshippers streamed out of a mosque in the centre of the city, chanting "Gaddaf is the enemy of God", witnesses said.



"This is the end for Gaddafi. It's over. Forty years of crimes are over," Faragha, an engineer at the protest, told the Reuters news agency.



Pro-Gaddafi forces fired tear gas at protesters, the AP news agency said, saying at least five cannisters were fired at the crowd in the district of Tajoura in the capital.

"They fired teargas. I heard shooting. People are scattering," a reporter from the Reuters news agency in Tajoura said.



Anita McNaught, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Tripoli, said it was not possible to immediately verify the reports, but that there was a heavy security presence in the city.



"There is some evidence that there's been burning tyres, but beyond that it has been essentially a state of lockdown. The shops are shut, the streets are empty, minimal traffic and an extremely high and visible security presence in all major intersections in the city."



Government forces set up checkpoints in Tripoli ahead of the action, and residents said soldiers had been roaming the city in civilians cars. >>> Al Jazeera and agencies | Friday, March 04, 2011

Talk to Jazeera - Saif al-Islam
Saif al-Islam, one of Muammar Gaddafi's sons, has been the public face of the Libyan regime since the unrest in the country began. He has accused the international media, including Al Jazeera, of blowing the crisis out of proportion. In an interview with Al Jazeera's Anita McNaught, he repeated the allegation and claimed that the West was trying to take over Libya's oil.

Inside Story - Libya on the Brink
Wednesday, February 23, 2011: Libya's embattled leader clings to power, with his military unleashing the bloodiest crackdown among the wave of protests sweeping the Arab world. But how long can Muammar Gaddafi survive? And what are the risks if his regime is toppled?

Inside Story - What Now for Egypt?
The resignation of Egypt's prime minister, Ahmed Shafiq, has seen the country take another step towards ridding itself of the old Hosni Mubarak regime. Shafiq was appointed by Mubarak, the former Egyptian president, just days into the momentous protests that led to his own fall from power. But Egypt's pro-democracy campaigners demanded that the prime minister follow the president. Shafiq has been replaced by Essam Sharaf, a former transport minister who took part in the protests. Despite this latest development, hundreds of demonstrators are continuing to gather in Tahrir Square, demanding further change. Key among their demands are the removal of the country's 30-year-old emergency law that allows people to be arrested and held without charge, the dissolution of the State Security Investigation Bureau and the immediate release of all political prisoners. So, just what is next for Egypt's revolution?

Sectarian Clashes Erupt in Bahrain
Mar 04 - Clashes break out between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims in Hamad in Bahrain while protesters in the capital marched through the city pressing the Sunni-led government for swift democratic change. Marie-Claire Fennessy reports

Mosque Blast Kills 9 in Pakistan
Mar 4 - A bomb explodes in a mosque after Friday prayers in Pakistan's Peshawar province, killing at least nine people and injuring over 30. Travis Brecher reports. Travis Brecher reports

News Bulletin - 1400GMT Update (March 4, 2011)
The main headlines on Al Jazeera English, featuring the latest news and reports from around the world

Libyan Rebels Hold Their Position
Mar 04 - Libyan rebels hold their position against Gaddafi forces while the operation director for one of Libya's largest refineries says it is operating normally. Marie-Claire Fennessy reports

LSE Head Quits Over Gaddafi Scandal
THE GUARDIAN: LSE director Howard Davies resigns after fresh allegations over links to Libyan regime as PR firm admits errors over lobbying

A deepening row over the London School of Economics and its dealings with the Gaddafi regime has claimed the career of the university's director.

Sir Howard Davies resigned after fresh revelations that the institution had been involved in a deal worth £2.2m to train hundreds of young Libyans to become part of the country's future elite.

An independent inquiry headed by Lord Woolf, a former lord chief justice, will examine the LSE's relationship with Libya and with Muammar Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam. It will also establish guidelines for international donations to the university.

Davies said: "I have concluded that it would be right for me to step down even though I know that this will cause difficulty for the institution I have come to love. The short point is that I am responsible for the school's reputation, and that has suffered." >>> Jeevan Vasagar and Rajeev Syal | Friday, March 04, 2011

For the LSE, in Thrall to a Dictator, Gaddafi Was Pure Roast Duck
THE GUARDIAN: The school's association with Libya's leader is just an extreme version of the predicament now facing all UK universities

Pity the poor university. Told for 25 years to get into bed with big money, the London School of Economics found big money sometimes stinks. This week, as the Blairites bobbed and weaved their way out of the sleazy embrace of their friend, Gaddafi of Libya, someone forgot to tell the old school tie. The LSE thought it was helping the cause by giving Gaddafi's son a dodgy PhD, for which it accepted a £1.5m "donation". When the Blairites did a runner, the LSE was left looking like Bugs Moran's gang after the St Valentine's Day massacre.

With felicitous timing, London's Royal Court theatre is staging Richard Bean's hilarious if chaotic play, Heretic, about a university department eager for a grant from a multinational company and ready to suppress academic rigour to do so. It is clearly based on the University of East Anglia and climate change, but the words LSE and Gaddafi could be substituted throughout.

The global-warming sceptic, played by Juliet Stevenson, is ostracised and driven to madness by her colleagues, as her professor argues that their department is merely a unit to "service clients … a virtual budget centre providing tools to the market". Eager for money, he quotes a Chinese proverb: "Man must stand for long time with mouth open before roast duck fly in."

For the LSE, Gaddafi of Libya was pure roast duck. Journalists trawling through the recent jobs, contacts and pronouncements of LSE academics, including directors Lord Giddens and Sir Howard Davies – who has now resigned – have been aghast. Despite references to "the context of the times", the story is of a respected academic institution apparently in mesmerised thrall to a dictator, and actively participating in sanitising his image.

Gaddafi was seen praised by LSE luminaries in a cringe-making video link as "the world's longest serving leader". His son, Saif al-Islam, settled in a north London palace to write an LSE PhD and dispense trips and contracts. He was declared as being committed to "democracy, civil society and deep liberal values" and was even invited to give the Ralph Miliband memorial lecture, an unusual honour for any student. His appreciation was swift. The university accepted a £1m contract to train 400 regime-approved "future leaders" from Libya. The mind boggles at it all. >>> Simon Jenkins | Thursday, March 03, 2011

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