Syria (and Beyond) Live Coverage: New Opposition Coalition Formed "In Principle"

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2025 GMT: Kuwait. Tens of thousands of people have protested new electoral rules, declared by the Emir last month, in an opposition-led rally in Kuwait City.

With Parliamentary elections set for 1 December, the crowd in front of Parliament chanted, "The people want the repeal of the law."

Organisers estimated the gathering at around 200,000 people, which would be the largest rally in Kuwait's history, but onlookers said the number was around 50,000.

2015 GMT: Syria. The new opposition umbrella Syrian National Coaliation has chosen Damascus cleric Moaz al-Khatib as its head.

Al-Khatib, the former Sunni Muslim imam of the Umayyad Mosque, left the country for Cairo in July after several periods of detention.

Leading dissident Riad Seif said a "12-point agreement" had been sealed. Proposals include an assembly of 55-60 members, with representation for ethnic Kurds, Christians, Alawites, and women, and from the SNC. The new body will also have a military council that will include the Free Syrian Army.

The Syrian National Council, the previous umbrella leadership, was reportedly given a deadline of 10:00 (0700 GMT) to join the Coalition or risk being left out.

Bassem Said Ishak of the SNC said the Kurds required 48 hours to get the approval of their leadership.

1945 GMT: Lebanon. Shooting between Sunni and Shiite Muslim gunmen in Sidon in the south has killed three people and wounded at least five.

The clash between followers of Sunni cleric Sheik Ahmad al-Assir and members of the Shiite militant group Hezbollah broke out after Shiite religious banners were raised to mark Ashura, an annual 10-day mourning period that begins Thursday.

Officials said al-Assir's bodyguard, a supporter, and an Egyptian boy nearby were killed in the shooting, while the wounded included a Hezbollah commander.

Shortly afterward, a Lebanese army force arrived in the Taameer area, on the edge of the Palestinian refugee camp Ein el-Hilweh, to split the two groups apart.

1609 GMT: Bahrain. A court sentenced 19 people to 5 years each today on charges relating to the "attempted murder" of a policeman last December. AFP reports that the men were found guilty of "setting an ambush for police and attacking them with Molotov cocktails during demonstrations last December 23-30" in Nuidrat. Nine other defendants were acquitted.

The 19 guilty verdicts are likely to further raise questions the fairness of sentencing and the independent of the judiciary. In September, two unnamed policemen were acquitted on charges of murdering Isa Abdulhasan Ali Hussain (60) and Ali Ahmed Abdulla Moumen (22). Both men were killed on 17 February 2011. The deaths were investigated by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry which attributed the deaths to "the use of excessive force by police officers".

1609 GMT: Bahrain. A court sentenced 19 people to 5 years each today on charges relating to the "attempted murder" of a policeman last December. AFP reports that the men were found guilty of "setting an ambush for police and attacking them with Molotov cocktails during demonstrations last December 23-30" in Nuidrat. Nine other defendants were acquitted.

The 19 guilty verdicts are likely to further raise questions the fairness of sentencing and the independent of the judiciary. In September, two unnamed policemen were acquitted on charges of murdering Isa Abdulhasan Ali Hussain (60) and Ali Ahmed Abdulla Moumen (22). Both men were killed on 17 February 2011. The deaths were investigated by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry which attributed the deaths to "the use of excessive force by police officers".

1527 GMT: Bahrain. Disturbing footage shot covertly by a citizen journalist in Bani Jamra this week captured around 8 members of the security forces beating a young man, then dragging him to a police car to be arrested. He is kicked repeatedly, even as he is entering the car. This all takes place in broad daylight.

Today, referring to the footage as a "viral video", the Ministry of Interior tweeted that the men will be investigated, however they currently have not been named:

Chief of Public Security: Policemen in viral video shot in Bani Jamra this week were referred to Legal Affairs for investigation #Bahrain

— Ministry of Interior (@moi_bahrain) November 11, 2012

1523 GMT: Bahrain. Earlier this week, the Bahrain government revoked the citizenship of 31 opposition members, leaving many stateless. One such man is 45-year old Sayed Alawi Al-beladi, currently resident in Melbourne, Australia. World News Australia reports on his case:

1511 GMT: Bahrain. The leader of Bahrain's largest opposition society, Sheikh Ali Salman, has spoken to Associated Press about the escalating crisis in the country:

The head of Bahrain's main opposition group says envoys from the U.S. and other countries are acting as intermediaries with the Gulf nation's rulers, seeking to ease 21 months of unrest.

Sheik Ali Salman says there is little hope for breakthrough dialogue.

He also told The Associated Press on Sunday that Bahrain's main anti-government factions, including his Al Wefaq group, are unable to rein in breakaway protesters using increasingly violent tactics, including homemade firebombs....

Salman told The Associated Press that American envoys and others are serving as "indirect mediators through meetings with the opposition and the (government) authorities ... These communications are efforts to end the crisis."

But Salman said there are fading hopes for dialogue to resolve the crisis because of the escalating crackdowns and convictions of opposition figures, including some sentenced to life in prison.

"Things are getting worse ... After 21 months, we did not see any preparations or serious initiatives to enter into dialogue with the opposition," Salman said in an interview.

The admission that US envoys have been acting as intermediaries will likely cause consternation amongst hardliners in the government and their loyalist supporters. Last month, members of parliament voted unanimously in favour of a proposal which called upon the government to take action to stop US Ambassador Thomas Krajeski from any involvement in domestic affairs, specifically calling for and end to his meetings with opposition societies.

1505 GMT: Jordan. Former intelligence chief Mohammed al-Dahabi has been sentenced to 13 years on corruption charges. Al-Dahabi headed Jordan's intelligence service from 2005 to 2008. Al-Jazeera English reports that the prosecution "accused Dahabi of embezzling public funds, money laundering and abuse of public office". Alongside the maximum 13 year sentence, he was also fined nearly $30m, and ordered to pay back the $34m he is accused of embezzling.

1354 GMT: Syria/Israel. An IDF spokesperson seeks to calm tensions after Israel fires "warning shots" into Syria, the first time it has publicly attacked the country since 1973. Speaking to Associated Press, Lt. Col. Avital Leibovich said:

We answered with a warning shot toward Syrian areas. We understand this was a mistake and was not meant to target Israel and then that is why we fired a warning shot in retaliation.

The claim that the shell from Syria struck a military post somewhat contradicts an earlier report by Hareetz, which suggested that the shell "overshot the Golan disengagement fence ... exploding near a northern Israeli community without causing casualties". It is unclear who fired the shell.

1335 GMT: Syria/Israel. Israel has fired "warning shots" into Syria. A security source told Reuters that the IDF claimed that they fired at an army mortar crew in Syria, who had reportedly launched a shell that exploded in the Israeli occupied Golan Heights. The Israeli military released a statement, saying in part:

The IDF has filed a complaint through the UN forces operating in the area, stating that fire emanating from Syria into Israel will not be tolerated and shall be responded to with severity.

1245 GMT: Syria. Activists report that Syrian helicopters and artillery bombarded the Ras al-Ain area near the border with Turkey today.

The Free Syrian Army took the area, with a large Kurdish population, this week.

Helicopters fired rockets at a grain storage area near the village of Tal Halaf and shells hit a border crossing in Hasaka Province. Tank rounds appeared to strike the western part of Ras al-Ain, and black smoke could be seen rising. Some artillery rounds appeared to land just inside the Turkish border.

1222 GMT: Syria. Hassan Hassan of The National summarises today's agreement in Doha among opposition groups for a "Syrian National Coalition":

The 'opposition' formed a national coalition, which will choose its technical & specialist committees. 1/3

— Hassan Hassan (@hhassan140) November 11, 2012

After this national coalition gains international recognition, it will form an interim government. #Syria 2/3

— Hassan Hassan (@hhassan140) November 11, 2012

The coalition & interim government will be terminated after holding a general national conference & formation of transitional gov. 3/3

— Hassan Hassan (@hhassan140) November 11, 2012

Hassan is not impressed:

"Initial agreement" is the word for "bullshit". Carry on, nothing has happened.

— Hassan Hassan (@hhassan140) November 11, 2012

Remember the people meeting in Doha are not all opposition forces. If the plan fails (for now), it just puts Syria on pause. That's all.

— Hassan Hassan (@hhassan140) November 11, 2012

1204 GMT: Bahrain. Al Jazeera English reports on the deployment of security forces, including the National Guards with foreign officers, at "strategic locations" throughout the Kingdom:

0806 GMT: Israel and Palestine. Palestinian fighters in the Gaza Strip have followed the deaths of at least five people from Israeli shelling (see 0709 GMT) with the firing of six rockets into southern Israel.

Israeli officials said three people were lightly wounded in Sderot and in the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council.

An Israeli airstrike killed an Islamic Jihad member of a rocket crew in Jabalya in northern Gaza this morning.

Islamic Jihad has reportedly fired 70 short-range rockets and mortar bombs across the border since Saturday.

0721 GMT: Bahrain. A telling comment from Saqer AlKhalifa, the former Media Attache at the Bahrain Embassy in the US and a prominent defender of the regime on social media....

On Saturday, AlKhalifa complained about the funeral procession for 16-year-old Ali Abbas Radhi, killed on Friday when he was hit by a car as he was chased by police:

@leahmcelrath it's disgusting how low ppl are when they use the dead for their own political motives. I'm not surprised, it did happen b4.

— Saqer S Al Khalifa (@SaqerAlKhalifa) November 10, 2012

Challenged that it was more disgusting that a 16-year-old had died unnecessarily, AlKhalifa responded:

@scottlucas_ea yes of course. We need to enforce jaywalking laws here.

— Saqer S Al Khalifa (@SaqerAlKhalifa) November 10, 2012

Claimed footage of the burning of a farm on Friday, causing by fire from security forces trying to block protesters from reaching prayers in Duraz:

0709 GMT: Israel and Palestine. Israeli tank shells have killed at least five Palestinians and wounded 30 in the Gaza Strip, retaliating for an attack on an Israeli army patrol in the border area.

At least five of the injured, some of them children, are in critical condition, medical sources said.

Residents said a crowded of mourners, paying respects to a bereaved family, in the Shijaia neighbourhood near Gaza City was hit by a shell.

"The occupation's targeting of civilians was a grave escalation that must not pass in silence," Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said. "Resistance must be reinforced in order to block the aggression."

Israeli military sources said that Palestinian fighters had fired anti-tank missiles at an Israeli border patrol. They said four soldiers were wounded, two of them seriously, as army radio said a jeep was blown up.

The attack was claimed by the armed wing of the Popular Front Liberation of Palestine, which said its fighters had fired two anti-tank rockets at Israeli troops.

In another incident, one person was wounded in an Israeli air strike inKhan Younis. On Thursday, an Israeli soldier was wounded east of the town when a tunnel packed with explosives was detonated in an attack claimed by Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, hours after a Palestinian teenager was shot dead by Israeeli troops.

Shortly after the shelling, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held consultations with Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Benny Gantz "to discuss the situation in the south."

Barak issued a statement, "The Israel Defense Forces responded severely to the incident and additional responses will be examined in the coming days."

The armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees in Gaza released a statement vowing that "the Zionist enemy will pay a high price for this crime against Gaza." Islamic Jihad also issued a warning, "Every aggression against the Palestinian people will be followed by a response from the resistance."

0700 GMT: Syria. After almost a week of meetings in Qatar, Syrian opposition groups  have agreed in principle to form a new umbrella organisation, the Syrian National Coalition.

Details of the executive boards, with the number of seats given to each of the main parties --- including the Syrian National Council, supplanted by the new Coalition --- are still being discussed.

The SNC, which promoted its own re-structuring this week with the selection of a new Executive and President, had considered staying out of the Coalition, despite pressure from international backers to accept the changed situation.

The SNC's new leader, George Sabra, said before the announcement of the Coalition, "We have started an open dialogue with our brothers and looked at their initiative, but we have our own point of view and our own ideas that we plan to put forward."

Sabra said then asserted the primacy of the Council, "The SNC is older than...any other initiative," adding that no opposition group should be forced under the banner of another.

Ahmad Ramadan, a senior SNC official, also indicated the Council might remain separate from the Coalition: "We are being submitted to pressure to accept being part of a new formation, in exchange for international promises but with no guarantees."

Ramadan had suggested it would be "difficult to reach an agreement" on Saturday, but added the meeting may come up with a "declaration of principles" in order not to end in failure.

However, Burhan Ghalioun, the former head of the SNC, was optimistic: "The meeting is still on, but there has been real progress. There will be a political agreement for common action, a political body to supervise military action."