Libya (and Beyond) LiveBlog: A Friday of Counting Protests

2245 GMT: A video of State Security Headquarters in Alexandria after protesters entered the building:

2150 GMT: The scene in front of the State Security Headquarters in Alexandria tonight:

2110 GMT: Eyewitnesses in Alexandria tell Al Jazeera that protesters have taken control of the State Security Headquarters' ground floor.

A witness said petrol bombs were thrown earlier in the direction of the demonstrators, setting four State Security cars on fire. Demonstrators smashed the glass of the State Security vehicles, including armoured cars.

The witness said live ammunition was fired during the confrontation.

Protesters say they besieged the headquarters because State Security officers have been shipping out crates of documents since yesterday, raising the possibility that they are hiding evidence of past abuses.

2050 GMT: The Associated Press summary of the battle for Zawiyah, 55 km (35 miles) east of Tripoli, today:

Friday's assault on the rebel city of Zawiya, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) west of Tripoli, appeared to be the strongest yet by Gadhafi's forces after repeated earlier forays against it were beaten back.

In the morning, troops from the elite Khamis Brigade --- named after the son of Gadhafi who commands it --- bombarded the city's western edges with mortars, heavy machine guns, tanks and anti-aircraft guns, several residents said. By the evening, they had also opened a front on the eastern side. Armed Zawiya citizens backed by allied army units were fighting back.

The commander of the rebel forces --- Hussein Darbouk --- was shot to death by fire from an anti-aircraft gun, said Alaa al-Zawi, an activist in the city. Darbouk was a colonel in Gadhafi's army who defected along with other army troops in Zawiya early on in the uprising.

A witness who was at Zawiya's hospital said at least 18 people in the city were killed and 120 wounded. Libyan state TV claimed the attackers had retaken the city. But al-Zawi, the witness and other residents said it remained in opposition hands, with skirmishes continuing after nightfall.

2045 GMT: Protests for jobs and political reforms continued across Oman on Friday.

Around 200 protesters gathered in the capital Muscat at the headquarters of the Shura Council, a quasi-parliamentary advisory body. In a silent demonstration, they held placards, "We want an elected cabinet of ministers" and "End corruption and create jobs."

Similar numbers demonstrated in Salalah, the eastern coastal town of Sur where Oman's liquefied natural gas export facilities are based, and Sohar, where medical sources said six people were killed earlier this week.

2030 GMT: Footage has been posted of Saudi Arabian security arresting a protester, Mohammed Al-Wadaani, in Riyadh:

2025 GMT: Al Jazeera is reporting that the opposition has shot down a regime helicopter.

2020 GMT: An activist claims, from a doctor, that 42 people have been injured in the clashes at the State Security Headquarters in Alexandria.

2010 GMT: Al Jazeera reports that 17 people were killed and 20 injured in today's bombing by a regime jet of a weapons depot east of Benghazi.

1920 GMT: In Egypt, there are serious clashes tonight as protesters try to storm the headquarters of the State Security Police in Alexandria. The army has reportedly "disappeared", leaving State Security agents inside the building, shooting live ammunition at the demonstrators. There is a claim of "critical injuries" amongst the protesters.

A video of the protest just before violence erupted:

1900 GMT: In Egypt, several hundred workers, professionals and labor activists attended the preparatory conference for the Egyptian Federation of Independent Unions, the country's first independent trade union federation since 1957.

For more than five decades, the state-run Egyptian Trade Union Federation (ETUF) has been the only labour organisation allowed by law.

1805 GMT: New Tunisian Prime Minister Beji Caid Essebsi has promised a Cabinet within two days.

Several Ministers resigned from the Cabinet this week, complaining about the hesitant approach under former Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi.

1800 GMT: Yemen clerics have offered an 8-point initiative to President Ali Abdullah Saleh to end the crisis in the country. Points include a national unity government, new election and referendum laws, a mediation committee, release of political prisoners, and anti-corruption investigations.

1755 GMT: Interpol has delivered a global "Orange Notice" alert against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and 15 members of his inner circle to help police around the world enforce United Nations sanctions.

The alert is not an arrest warrant but a notice to ensure border agents comply with travel bans and asset freezes against the 16 men.

1725 GMT: Al Jazeera is now reporting that opposition forces have taken the oil port of Ras Lanuf, with the pre-1969 Libyan flag flown over the east entrance. Its correspondent says the insurgents decided to move after a regime commander defecting from the brigade defending the city.

The al-Maghribiyah tribe gave support to the opposition.

1720 GMT: An audio report from a witness of protesters being shot at, and many arrested, in the Ain Zara suburb of Tripoli after Friday Prayers.

1715 GMT: The Egyptian Government has said on its Facebook page that the Supreme Military Council has ordered a referendum on reforms to the Constitution on 19 March.

1710 GMT: There are unconfirmed reports that the opposition has taken the oil port of Ras Lanuf in north-central Libya. Revolutionaries claim that they have found 20 dead bodies, handcuffed, at a base in the city.

1655 GMT: Back from a break to find a series of clashes, ranging from skirmishes to all-out battles in Libya.

Libyan State TV are claiming that Qaddafi forces have re-taken Zawiyah, 55 km (35 miles) west of Tripoli. Last week, just after the Libyan leader had spoken from the city, it was taken by the opposition.

Earlier today, residents had said more than 30 people had been killed amidst reports of heavy shelling. An opposition spokesman, Youssef Shagan, said about 2000 fighters were making a last stand: "We are on the square, all of our forces are here The square is safe but they (government forces) are attacking from east and west. We will fight until the end."

Regime forces have also been asserting control in the capital of Tripoli, both clamping down on protests after Friday Prayers and preventing people from going to Zawiyah to reinforce the opposition. A witness told the BBC:

Many people were arrested. A couple of my friends were arrested and we don't know where they are taking people to. It's very scary. The place is full of foreigners, Gaddafi supporters. I live in this city, I am one of the protesters. But we haven't seen these people before. They are from the outside, brought in by Gaddafi and they are controlling the situation at the moment.

1415 GMT: AFP and Reuters report heavy shelling heard near Ras Lanuf in central Libya. The oil port, 660 km (410 miles) east of Tripoli, is held by regime forces, but truckloads of armed opposition have been moving towards it.

A BBC correspondent in Tripoli says journalists were hit by tear gas canisters amidst protests in Tajoura, east of the capital.

1350 GMT: Journalist Prashant Rao says there were 2000 people in today's protest in Baghdad's Tahrir Square today.

1325 GMT: Associated Press now reports that four people were killed by security forces in Harf Sufyan today. Witnesses said the shootings occurred as soldiers tried to disperse thousands who took to the main street for Friday Prayers.

Troops in an army post opened fire with heavy machine guns, believing the protesters were trying to attack the position. Protesters threw rocks at the troops and called for Saleh to step down, shouting: "Leave! Leave!"

1320 GMT: Video of last night's protest in Qatif in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, calling for reforms and freedom for Shi'ite detainees.

1315 GMT: There are two pro-democracy protests in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, today. One has moved toward Bahrain TV, considered by many to be a propaganda outlet for the monarchy and Government.

1310 GMT: Reuters and the BBC are reporting that the sound of gunfire and use of tear gas as Libyan forces try to disperse protesters in Tajoura to the east of Tripoli.

1215 GMT: Reuters reports that pro-Qaddafi forces have clashed with rebels on the outskirts of Ras Lanouf in north-central Libya. In Tripoli's Tajoura district, hundreds are reportedly protesting.

1200 GMT: A BBC Arabic reporter, observing the funeral of three demonstrators in Aden in Yemen says this is the largest protest against the government of President Ali Abdullah Saleh to date.

Earlier today, security forces reportedly killed two protesters and injured at least seven in in the northern city of Harf Sufyan.

1150 GMT: More on the Libyan regime's shutting away of foreign journalists in their hotel rooms today, preventing them from covering possible protests at and after Friday Prayers. Around 130 reporters are locked in at the Rixos Hotel. A group of journalists, including some from Reuters, was stopped by guards when they tried to exit the building.

1135 GMT: Immediate reactions to Prime Minister Essam Sharaf's speech in Tahrir Square in Cairo are promising. One activist writes, "What happened today in no way guarantees Essam Sharaf will live up to the expectations, but its a VERY good start."

Sharaf was carried away from the platform on the shoulders of demonstrators.

1128 GMT: In Iraq, thousands of followers of the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr have rallied in Sadr City, supporting the Libyan uprising.

1127 GMT: Eyewitnesses tell a CNN reporter that a protest is happening now in Saudi Arabia in the Eastern Province town of Al-Hassa, calling for the release of Shi'ite prisoners.

1125 GMT: Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf is now speaking, saluting the martyrs of the uprising, in Tahrir Square in Cairo.

Sharaf says he wants a free Egypt and will be removed if he cannot perform his duties. The people respond, "We want the end of State Security." They answer Sharaf's assertions, "Promise us. Promise us."

1123 GMT: The head of the opposition's National Libyan Council in Benghazi has said, "We will not stop until the entire country is free." The spokesman for the Council said last night it had 10,000 recruits and volunteers and was organising them in preparation for the liberation of the the remaining cities in the west of Libya.

1120 GMT: CNN now reports that two people died and nine were injured when security forces opened fire on protesters in the northern Yemeni city of Harf Sufyan.

1115 GMT: More from the demonstration in Cairo in Tahrir Square: "The people want the whole regime on trial" and fireworks as soon as Friday Prayers were completed.

Prime Minister Essam Sharaf is about to speak. He is standing on the platform next to Mohammed Beltagi of the Muslim Brotherhood, banned from politics for more than 50 years until a few weeks ago.

1100 GMT: In the northern Yemeni city of Harf Sufyan, two people were killed and nine were injured due to fire opened by security forces. 

1045 GMT: A footage from Al-Jazeera English's Evan Hill when opposition forces were bombed by regime jets near Brega:

1030 GMT: Iraqi government has given protestors near Green Zone 15 minutes to disperse.

Al-Jazeera's Gregg Carlstrom reports Iraqi protestors' chanting: "Wahad! Ithnaen! Floos al-nafuth wayn?' (One! Two! Where is the oil money?"

1020 GMT: Journalists have been barred from leaving Tripoli hotel. Libyan government spokesman says press banned from reporting due to safety issues 

1000 GMT: It is reported that Qaddafi forces launched ground offensive on Zawiya now.

0945 GMT: Al-Jazeera's Tristian Redman reports that there is a sand storm in Ajdabiya and Brega and a little chance of Qaddafi air strikes in these conditions.

0930 GMT: Libyan state TV accuses detained Dutch marines of entering Libyan airspace 'without authorisation' and violating 'international norms'

0900 GMT: Al-Jazeera's Rawya Rageh reports that the Friday Prayer leader in Tahrir square in Cairo demanded the release of political prisoners. He also urged dissolving municipal councils, state security and Mubarak's National Democratic Party and sadi: "Today we call off our sit-in and rebuild."

0830 GMT: Egypt's new Prime Minister Essam Sharaf has arrived in Tahrir Square in Cairo for Friday Prayers and the demonstrations.

0800 GMT: Al-Jazeera reports that one person was killed as army uses artillery to disperse anti-govt protesters in Yemen.

0710 GMT: Another interview from Said Al Islam Qaddafi, the son of the Libyan leader, but this time is with the regime's hate figure of Al Jazeera --- "We know the organised media campaign against Libya....They want to split the country":

0655 GMT: Jacky Rowland of Al Jazeera English reports on funerals for six opposition members killed in the regime's attempt to re-take the towns of Brega and Ajdabiya:

0650 GMT: In Tunisia, interim President Fouad Mbazaa announced that the vote for a Constitutional Assembly will be held on 24 July, with those elected writing a Constitution which is "a mirror of the people's aspirations and the principles of the revolution".

0620 GMT: In Libya,, the opposition continues to hold the port town of Brega despite more regime air attacks. Witnesses say hundreds of reinforcements are moving from the city of Ajdabiya, 80 km (50 miles) to the east.

0610 GMT: At one point last Friday we were watching six protests --- Bahrain,Yemen, Egypt, Tunisia, Iraq, and Libya --- at the same times. Later in the day we learned of a seventh and Jordan. 

Anti-regime rallies after Friday Prayers are now established after they contributed to the downfall of Zine Abedine Ben Ali and Hosni Mubarak in Tunisia and Egypt, respectively. Six of the seven countries above featured mass protests during the week; only Jordan returned to "normal", and protesters against the Omani regime stepped up to take its place.

Some observers are already getting excited. Mona Eltahawy, the journalist who was so prominent during the Egyptian rising against Mubarak, is looking at Libya and hoping to crown a Friday of Toppling Dictators. We are not so grandiose in our projections, but then a Friday of More of the Same is not going to capture much attention.

So on to today....