Syria, Bahrain (and Beyond) LiveBlog: And There Will Be Marches....

Bahrain security forces charge in their jeeps this morning at protesters, who respond by throwing stones

See also Middle East Special: Will the Monarchies Survive?
Israel-Palestine Feature: Another Flotilla Tries to Reach Gaza
Bahrain Feature: A New "Martyr"? The Death of Ali Hassan Al Daihi
Thursday's Syria (and Beyond) LiveBlog: Hollow Declarations

See Also our Separate Video Entry, Syria Video Special: Another Friday of Protests

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2118 GMT: The cynics said that the Syrian President was trying to buy time when he signed a deal two days ago with the Arab League. Today, the Syrian people tested the claims made by the regime, taking to the streets in nearly every major city and in every region across the country.

And now we have our answer from the regime: as many as 25 civilians are dead.

For two days, the video evidence, verified by shots of newspapers, protest signs, landmarks, and comparison against eyewitness accounts, has pointed towards a single conclusion. The Syrian military regime, led by Bashar al Assad, has no interest in negotiating, reforming, or ceding power. Today the regime sent two messages, as it showed that if you surrender then you may be spared, but if you continue to resist, we will shoot.

The first message was sent via State TV (SANA), but the regime has so little credibility that the US State Department advised Syrians not to take up Assad's offer of amnesty. The second message was sent with weapons, troops and tanks --- the instruments that the regime has used all along.

So, we have a return to a tag line we've written many times since March. The protesters, undeterred by violence, refuse to give in, the people want the "fall of the regime," and the regime, thus far, refuses to fall. So...what happens next?

Reports of a defection inside the Baath party, and continued reports of army defections, and new and troubling signs of sectarian violence all offer, perhaps, some clue as to the answer to that question.

2106 GMT: It seems that the Bahraini police logs read very differently than the story our sources have told us:

The General Director of Northern governorate Police announced on Friday that around 600 individuals went into illegal procession and involved in rioting, vandalism and blocking of roads by trash bins and stones after the funeral of Ali Hassan Al Daihi , therefore security forces dealt with them according to the law to bring situation back to normal.

The General Director completely denied announcement made by Matar Matar to a news agency that police patrols tried after the funeral to run over protesters, while highlighting that such allegation wasn't true, as the rule of the police is to protect the safety of citizens and residents and properties.

2035 GMT: More confirmation of the clashes between security forces and demonstrators in Bahrain today, with yet another angle on police jeeps charging at people:

And an EA source sends us this picture, reportedly showing a protester hiding from the police behind a home-made shield in Mehaza:

1959 GMT: A large and jubilant protest in Dael, Daraa, Syria (MAP):

1834 GMT: Al Jazeera summarizes today's news from Bahrain that we've covered below:

1828 GMT: This video was reportedly taken today in Hama. Protesters, who appear to be unarmed, run down the street. At the end of the clip, a man who appears to be a member of the Syrian security forces turns the corner and fires at the protesters:

1822 GMT: A leading Syrian activist posts this video, reportedly showing "high security presence next to Al-Majed mosque in the Midan area of central Damascus today":

1803 GMT: Our focus today has been on Syria, as we've been trying to see how both the opposition and the Assad regime would respond after Assad signed a deal with the Arab League. However, Yemen has also had very large demonstrations today, as in Sana'a and Taiz funerals were helf for 19 people killed in recent days:

Under the slogan "Remaining Peaceful is Our Choice," anti-regime protesters gathered in Sittin Road in Sanaa's northern district chanting: "Peaceful peaceful, no to civil war," witnesses said.

The crowds took part in the funeral of three people killed in clashes between tribesmen and security forces in the northern Al-Hasaba district, the same sources said.

A massive protest was also held in the second-largest city Taiz as demonstrators took part in the funeral of 16 people killed in deadly clashes that have rocked the city over the past two days, organisers there said.

1749 GMT: There is something inherently strange about a major newspaper running this headline:

ELDERLY BAHRAINI MAN DIES OF NATURAL CAUSES

Think about how many "elderly men" must die of natural causes every day. It's also strange that the Information Affairs Authority would release a press release about the death of a 78 year old man. Unless, of course, that man is Ali Hassan Al-Daihi, who activists claim died in a hospital in Manama, Bahrain, after he was beaten by security forces, sparking yet another wave of large protests.

Our favorite line? "He had reportedly fainted at home and injured his lower lip, according to a Health Ministry source." That's a lot of details in a press release about the death of an old man. Also noteworthy, according to the report Al-Daihi was conscious when he arrived at the hospital, but suffered a heart attack and died of hypertension.

Sure he did. There must be very few heart attacks in Bahrain.

1724 GMT: This video claims to show Kastoun, Hama, this evening. The large amount of outgoing gunfire, and tracer fire, suggests that whoever is doing the shooting (presumably Syrian military) is attempting to target a particular target. Perhaps defected soldiers? We've seen several videos like this from the Hama area over the last week. but none this dramatic:

1713 GMT: The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has raised today's civilian death toll to 17. The Guardian reports:

Unsurprisingly, Homs again emerges the worst hit with six people killed. The towns of Kanaker and Hama have both seen four deaths, while one person died in Hamoria.

Two people were shot while trying to cross the border with Jordan, where many people are fleeing for refuge and medical treatment. There are also reports of clashes between the army and dissident soldiers in Kanaker, the Observatory added, but it could not yet report on the number of casualties.

1538 GMT: The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights is reporting that 1 person has been killed and 5 wounded in the town of Kanaker, Damascus (MAP).

1530 GMT: The Guardian has posted a transcript of a speech by Mohammed Ahmed al-Bakr, the Baath party member who defected earlier:

"I have one piece of news for you today. There are a lot of people who are silent and scared but we hope that with the changes that are happening in Syria now we will we be able to put an end to the Assad era...I want to tell you there are a lot of members of the party who could resign at any moment but they need someone to give them a push."

1516 GMT: Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has admitted for the first time that several Syrian opposition activists have been kidnapped inside his country. Though Mikati is trying to maintain Lebanon's neutrality, Hezbollah has openly supported the Assad regime, and a growing protest movement in Lebanon is supporting the opposition.

Turning to the events in Syria, Mikati said "we are not partisan, neither for nor against ... We have adopted a position of neutrality."

But Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour, who represents the Hezbollah-led, and Syrian-supported, majority in Mikati's government, has stressed his country's support for the Assad regime at a string of Arab League meetings on Syria.

On Wednesday, Lebanon's opposition called on the government to end what it charged was its support for the Syrian regime, warning that Beirut risked isolation.

"We demand the government immediately cease its support for the Syrian regime, including its diplomatic support, so as to ensure Lebanon does not find itself isolated from Arab ... and international legitimacy."

1512 GMT: Protests in Tal, Damascus, disrupted by tear gas (MAP):

1508 GMT: Protesters in Al Ghouta, Homs, protest in a side street. A few shots are fired, and a protester across the way falls down, apparently shot:

1504 GMT: Male and female protesters run from Syrian security riot vehicles in Douma:

1456 GMT: While there are reports of protests around Damascus, there are also signs of a heavy security presence. This video reportedly shows security near the Al-Khoulani mosque in Hammouriye, Damascus (MAP):

Security in Qaboun, Damascus (MAP)

Forces in civilian clothes man a checkpoint in Qadsieh, Damascus (MAP):

1450 GMT: The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports, "There were reports of heavy gunfire in ‘Taakaia Street’ and the neighbourhood of ‘Al-Joubaila’ and ‘Al-Hamedia’ in Deir Ezorr to break-up the demonstrations.

"There was a report of 4 explosions in the city of ‘Al-Jassem’ in Daraa earlier today.

Security forces have surrounded the mosque of ‘Abu Baker Al-Sedeeq’ in Baniyas and attacked the prayers leaving the place. They also have besieged people inside the mosque to prevent them from demonstrating."

1446 GMT: Scott Lucas writes up a report from a source in Bahrain:

MP Ali Abbas Shamtoot has threatened that he will resign if the Ministry of Interior does not starts an investigation of the death of Ali Hassan Al Daihi: "what happened is a disregard for the lives of citizens by the authorities, who are supposed to be maintaining the safety of citizens and residents." how high his ranking is has the right to underestimate the Bahrainis issues and their lives".

1428 GMT: Two very important videos. The first shows protesters in the Saqba suburb of Damascus. This neighborhood is just outside the city, and at least one casualty is reported. The people appear to be keeping off the main road:

The second video claims to be a large demonstration in Tel, Aleppo:

1417 GMT: The Guardian reports a high-profile defection in Syria:

A brave member of Syria's ruling Ba'ath Party has announced his resignation in the town of Dirbasieh, according to this footage. The official is named as Mohammed Ahmed al-Bakr.

This is the first high-profile civilian defection in months.

1412 GMT: A large anti-government protest in the large city of Al Rastan, Syria:

1406 GMT: Tear gas rises above Hama as police break up a protest:

1403 GMT: Another dramatic video showing Bahraini jeeps trying to run over protesters. It compliments the video in our header:

1355 GMT: This video was reportedly taken in Deir Ez Zor. Note the heavy security, and the gunfire. Also note that the soldiers in uniform are mixing with plain-clothed men, Shabiha, who are also armed. In recent weeks, we've seen more action by the military but less by the Shabiha. Before this, the Shabiha were often the ones doing much of the shooting, which the military was blaming on "armed gangs."

1347 GMT: Another protest in an Aleppo suburb, this one in the larger town of Haritan (MAP):

1342 GMT: A large anti-government protest is reported in Al Bab, Aleppo (MAP). At the end of the video, sirens can be heard, and the protesters turn around to look:

1337 GMT: The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports:

‎4 people were killed today’s morning in Syria. Two were in Daraa, a defected soldier from the village of ‘Nawa’ and a civilian from ‘Al-Heraak’, who were shot by Military Intelligence Force (Al- Mukhabarat) in the area of ‘Tel Al-Shehab’ by the Syrian-Jordanian border as they were trying to flee to Jordan. Two more were killed in Homs, including a man and a woman, as the neighbourhood of ‘Bab Amr’ is subjected to heavy machine guns since early morning.

1332 GMT: Gunfire rings out in the city of Kelley, in Idlib province. While there may be protesters on the street, it appears that the gunfire is happening while the streets are filled with cars and buses:

1326 GMT: BBC Arabic says they've received reports of a pro-government rally in the coastal city of Tartus, Syria (MAP). We've now received reports of anti-government protests in cities and towns in all regions of Syria.

1322 GMT: This video reportedly shows an anti-regime protest in an ally in Baba Amr, Homs. The neighborhood has been ground zero for the military crackdown. The protest is in a small side street, perhaps to protect the protesters from more violence:

1320 GMT: An activist shares this video, reportedly showing gunfire in the streets of Hama, Syria. The sign held by the videographer has today's date:

1314 GMT: According to Reuters, Syrian State TV (SANA) has released a statement over the air that all "insurgents" have 1 week to turn themselves in to receive amnesty.

We've seen this scenario before too. Here's what happened. The "insurgents," who were only protesters and pro-democracy activists before but now include defected soldiers, saw what happened in Syria prisons (allegations of torture and execution) and didn't turn themselves in. The Syrian regime cited this as evidence that the opposition was not willing to cooperate, and the security forces could not be pulled off the streets.

1307 GMT: The LCCS is reporting that 11 civilians have already been killed today:

Syria: 11 martyrs in the first Friday after the regime pledged to stop violence against the demonstrators, five martyrs in Homs, two martyrs in Kanaker, a martyr in Saqba in Damascus Suburbs, two martyrs in Daraa, and a martyr in Hama

1303 GMT: Activists posted that previous video, security outside a mosque in Daraa. Now the LCCS reports that there was gunfire in that area, and they post this video (we believe of the same mosque, Musa Bin Naseer) in the Al Kosor neighborhood of Daraa:

1254 GMT: James Miller takes the blog. Below we've posted just a small sample of videos pouring out of Syria. This video reportedly shows Syrian police massing outside a mosque in Daraa:

A mass protest in Salahadin, Aleppo, that was reportedly broken up by "Shabiha," plain-clothed thugs:

This video has been moved to our Separate Video Entry, Syria Video Special: Another Friday of Protests

An anti-regime protest in Edleb’s Maarat an-Naaman:

This video has been moved to our Separate Video Entry, Syria Video Special: Another Friday of Protests

Children at the front of a large anti-government protest in the Waar neighborhood of the embattled city of Homs:

This video has been moved to our Separate Video Entry, Syria Video Special: Another Friday of Protests

1235 GMT: We are getting video of mass rallies across Syria --- Harak in Daraa Province in the south:

This video has been moved to our Separate Video Entry, Syria Video Special: Another Friday of Protests

Idlib in the northwest:

This video has been moved to our Separate Video Entry, Syria Video Special: Another Friday of Protests

Qamishli in the northeast:

This video has been moved to our Separate Video Entry, Syria Video Special: Another Friday of Protests

Tal Rafaat in Aleppo Province:

This video has been moved to our Separate Video Entry, Syria Video Special: Another Friday of Protests

1105 GMT: Opposition MPs in Kuwait have said they will question the Minister of Interior after two youth activists were arrested and interrogated over remarks on their Twitter accounts.

Authorities claimed Hamad al-Olayan and Tareq al-Mutairi posted tweets which were offensive to the monarchy. Olayan and Mutairi were released without bail, pending further investigations after the end of the Eid Al-Adha holidays on 12 November. They face charges which could bring several years in prison.

About 200 youth activists rallied Wednesday night outside the Parliament building.

Last month, Kuwaiti courts jailed, for three months each, a Sunni tweeter for remarks offensive to Shiites and a Shiite activist for tweets deemed insulting to Gulf leaders.

0945 GMT: The Los Angeles Times is the latest newspaper to note, "Egypt military giving signs of not wanting to relinquish power", even with the start of campaigning for Parliamentary elections.

Marina Ottaway of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, in her study of the political situation, evaluates, "While the SCAF [Supreme Council of the Armed Forces] does not want to replace a civilian government, it has no intention of subordinating itself to one; instead, it wants to remain free of civilian oversight, particularly where its budget and its economic interests are concerned....It is becoming evident that the military is no longer in a hurry to relinquish power and that it is interested in influencing the outcome of elections before it does so."

0935 GMT: Claimed footage of a protest in the Syrian capital Damascus this morning:

This video has been moved to our Separate Video Entry, Syria Video Special: Another Friday of Protests

0845 GMT: Bloomberg reports that the Italian company Area SpA is installing a surveillance system for the Syrian regime, giving it the power to intercept, scan, and catalog almost every e-mail in the country.

A source claims the Italians, flying in shift into Syria, are being pushed by Damascus's intelligence services to complete the system. It is currently in a testing phase.

Area is using equipment from American and European companies, includes California's NetApp Inc., Paris-based Qosmos SA, and Germany’s Utimaco Safeware AG.

When the system is complete, Syrian security agents will be able to follow targets on flat-screen workstations that display communications and Web use in near-real time, appearing alongside graphics that map citizens’ networks of electronic contacts.

0835 GMT: Activists say Syrian tanks have continued their shelling of the Bab Amr neighbourhood of Homs today, killing at least three people.

0825 GMT: Footage of Bahraini security forces preventing mourners at the funeral of Al Hassan Al Daihi from reaching Pearl Roundabout/Martyrs Roundabout, the central site of the demonstrations in February and March:

Bahrain's Minister of Interior puts out the message, "About 500 vandals went into unlicensed procession on Budaiya Road after the funeral of Ali Hassan Ali [Al Daihi], police forces deal with them."

0745 GMT: I may have written too soon (see 0715 GMT) about the regime's search for further punishment of doctors and nurses detained this summer, even if their prison sentences are lifted....

It appears the call to prevent the medical staff from returning to their jobs, which I thought was prompted by officials, was made "independently" by the head of the Bahraini Medical Society. And he's so upset that the dismissals will not occur that he is resigning his post.

Nabeel Ansari, who took over in March after the BMS board was disbanded during the protests, has also quit as Arab Board training co-ordinator at the Ministry of Health:

It is not possible for me to continue as head of the BMS or at the Health Ministry in the light of what has been happening. The government and the Health Ministry are not taking any action against any of the medical professionals who have been involved in illegal acts and most of them are back at work in their private practice. The government seems to be not able to do anything about it. This is unacceptable and I cannot see this happen.

0735 GMT: Video from the funeral of Ali Hassan Al Daihi in the Bahraini village of Al Daih:

0715 GMT: The Bahrain regime may have to back away, amidst international criticism from lengthy prison sentences imposed on 20 doctors and nurses last month, but it is signalling that it can still punish them:

A top medical official said that doctors who had been pardoned should not be allowed to treat patients in hospitals.

The government has been kind enough by not considering a few charges against these doctors, but they were proven guilty, Bahrain Medical Society, President Dr Nabeel Ansari pointed out.

“This gesture of pardon is welcome, but the common man who suffered the consequences of the unethical behaviour will never be able to forgive them,” he said.

Dr Ansari stressed that the medical professionals were found guilty of their crimes by the ministers of health and justice, media and the royal leadership themselves.

“Hence, the people who lived through the atrocities directly will not pardon them, as they lost their trust in these doctors,” Dr Ansari added. “The doctors should not be out in front line where they get to treat patients.”

“We should not be forcing people to go to these doctors,” he said. “Let them be permitted to have their own private clinics, where the choice is that of the patients, but appointing them at government hospitals will be disastrous.”

0655 GMT: We will make the far-from-daring prediction that Syria will see large opposition rallies today. 

The charade of the Assad regime's "agreement" with the Arab League demand for a withdrawal of heavy units, including tanks, from cities and a cessation of violence has already been exposed, particularly in the ongoing conflict in Homs. There were more deaths on Thursday, and that will mean --- in addition to the ritual of anti-regime demonstrations after Friday Prayers --- funeral processions in Syria's third-largest city and other locations.

Look for mass rallies in Yemen, largely overlooked by international media as it is stuck in the stalemate over President Saleh's refusal to step down. And in Bahrain, there may be new energy for protest after the death --- allegedly caused by riot police --- of Al Hassan Al Daihi, the father of the Deputy Head of the opposition party Al Wefaq (see separate entry).

The regime is reportedly trying to limit the significance of ceremonies for Al Daihi this morning.Nabeel Rajab of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights sent the message, "I am trying to get there as government blocked all roads so people do not take part in the funeral." Activist Zainab Al Khawaja echoed, "Was almost impossible to reach Daih village; all streets leading to the village closed. Village of martyr is very close to Pearl Square", the symbolic centre of February's protests.

However videos of Al Daihi's funeral this morning are already appearing, such as this clip of mourners chanting, "Down with [King] Hamad" and another of the declaration, "Sooner of later, this nation will be victorious".

Al Daihi's coffin being carried through the village of Al Daih:

Women in the funeral procession: