Libya (and Beyond) LiveBlog: Peace Plans?

2230 GMT: Judges threaten to strike if Mubarak's Minister of Justice, Mamdouh Marei, is included in the new cabinet.

2215 GMT: The latest pictures taken at Roundabout 7, in Bahrain. 

2200 GMT: Sir Howard Davies, the director of the London School of Economics & Political Science, has resigned from his position. In his letter of resignation, he said:

I advised the Council that it was reasonable to accept the money and that has turned out to be a mistake. There were risks involved in taking funding from sources associated with Libya and they should have been weighed more heavily in the balance.

Also, I made a personal error of judgment in accepting the British government’s invitation to be an economic envoy and the consequent Libyan invitation to advise their sovereign wealth fund. There was nothing substantive to be ashamed of in that work and I disclosed it fully, but the consequence has been to make it more difficult for me to defend the institution.

2145 GMT: Dr. Walter Armbrust's piece on Al-Jazeera is questioning the underlying reason(s) of the problems, mainly in Egypt, all of which are called in one word - the "corruption". Armbrust argues that unless the neo-liberal economic and political dynamics are changed, millions will feel cheated. He says:

The generals who now rule Egypt are obviously happy to let the politicians take the heat. Their names were not included in the lists of the most egregiously corrupt individuals of the Mubarak era, though in fact the upper echelons of the military have long been beneficiaries of a system similar to (and sometimes overlapping with) the one that that enriched civilian figures much more prominent in the public eye such as Ahmad Ezz and Habib al-Adly.

To describe blatant exploitation of the political system for personal gain as corruption misses the forest for the trees. Such exploitation is surely an outrage against Egyptian citizens, but calling it corruption suggests that the problem is aberrations from a system that would otherwise function smoothly.

But the real problem with the regime was not necessarily that high-ranking members of the government were thieves in an ordinary sense. They did not necessarily steal directly from the treasury. Rather they were enriched through a conflation of politics and business under the guise of privatization. 

2130 GMT: Al-Jazeera reports that The Network of Free Ulema - Libya, a group of clerics in that country, alleges that pro-Gaddafi forces have been carrying out a "massive kidnapping campaign" in Tripoli.

2120 GMT: UK froze assets of Libya’s sovereign wealth fund. The total amount is over $3 billion. UK government had already frozen over $1.5 billon in assets linked to Qaddafi and his children.

2115 GMT: Saudi police vs demonstrators in Awwamiya.

2110 GMT: The claim of mass detentions of young people in Libya (see 1840 GMT) has been confirmed now. The Telegraph's Richard Spencer has reported that secret police arrested hundreds of people ahead of demonstrations planned for prayers on Friday. 

2100 GMT: An activist reports from Egypt that around 200 people have gathered in the middle of Talaat Harb square near Tahrir square. 

2045 GMT: Video of a captured mercenary in Libya today.

2040 GMT: Al-Jazeera's Sima Khatib reports that Saudi Arabia is considering letting women vote in municipal elections to be held in April, but not be candidates. 

2030 GMT: 18 Egyptian Sufis agreed to form a political party. Possible names are “Freedom Party,” “Egypt Today Party,” “Social Coexistence Party” or “Elite Party”. 

2020 GMT: Rabih Torbay, International Medical Corps’ Vice President of International Operations, said: “We are extremely concerned that as the conflict escalates in and around the capital Tripoli and other areas of the country – that the violence is only going to get much worse, leading to large numbers of casualties and further displacement.”

According to Al-Jazeera, a new video clip released by Libya's Feb17 Facebook page shows hospitals overcrowded with severely injured, some children http://on.fb.me/fKO2Zl

2015 GMT: Ali Zeidan, a spokesman for the Libyan Human Rights League, told reporters that "victims in the whole country were 6000."

2010 GMT: An activist claims that about 10,000 Qaddafi mercenaries and security officers gathered outside of Ras-Lanouf city.

1945 GMT: Around 100 Saudi Shi'ites staged a protest in Saudi Arabia's oil-producing Eastern Province, demanding the release of prisoners they say are being held without trial. It was followed by a group of women.

1915 GMT: Benghazi's doctors and nurses went to streets to request blood donations from the people.

1900 GMT: Tunisia's interim President Fouad Mebazza is talking to his people now. He is saying that elections will be held on 24 July to form a constituent assembly.

1855 GMT: The Guardian's Martin Chulov reports that rebels captured six African mercenaries in Libya and they were not executed. He also added that the captured mercenaries said they had entered Libya through an air base in the south.

1840 GMT: An activist from Libya tweets: "Tonight, there are very worrying reports of mass detentions of young people in Tripoli by Qaddafi." Nothing confirmed yet.

1830 GMT: Al-Jazeera delivers an excerpt from Obama's press conference. He said: "The United States and the entire world continues to be outraged by the appalling violence against the Libyan people. Going forward, we will continue to send a clear message: The violence must stop. Gaddafi has lost legitimacy to lead and he must leave... The US is examining the full range of options in dealing with Libya."

CNN's Elise Labott reports more on Obama's press conference. Obama said that Ghadafi needs to step down for power and leave and that those around him "should know history is moving against." Obama added that those responsible for violence against peole in Libya "will be held accountable."

1810 GMT: CNN's anchor Hala Gorani reports Obama's statement that he has authorized the use of US military aircraft to help repatriate Egyptians at Tunisian border back home.

1800 GMT: Live broadcast from Bahrain's Pearl Roundabout. 

1745 GMT: A spokeswoman for Allawi, Intisar Allawi, said that Iraqiya Party's leader Iyad Allawi wouldn't head of the National Council for Strategic Policies, a post offered by the government headed by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. It is considered as a move that could marginalize Sunnis at a time when anti-government protests are continuing. 

1740 GMT: British Foreign Minister William Hague said that France and Britain want to put "bold and ambitious measures" to next week's emergency European Union summit on the Libyan crisis.

1730 GMT: According to Sheik Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa, the head of Bahrain's Economic Development Board, member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council, or GCC, are planning an economic aid package for Bahrain and Oman.

1720 GMT: Saudi activists have claimed security forces shot dead Faisal Ahmed Abdul-Ahadwas, who was a leading on-line organiser of "Day of Rage" on 11 March.

Abdul-Ahadwas was believed to be one of the main administrators of a Facebook group, which has over 17,000 members, calling for nationwide protests and reforms, including election of governors and members of the upper house of parliament, the release of political prisoners, and increased employment.

1715 GMT: A short clip of the opposition's efforts to push Qaddafi forces out of the airport near Brega in north-central Libya.

1705 GMT: In Egypt, two leading Muslim Brotherhood members have been released from prison.

Khairat Al-Shater, Second Deputy Chairman of the Brotherhood and businessman Hasan Malek were freed from Tora Prison earlier today. Al-Shater had been jailed since 2006 after trial by a military tribunal, accusing of funding a militia.

1555 GMT: Following days of protests, Iraqi Kurdistan Region’s President Massoud Barzani said: "I urge the Parliament to negotiate with other parties and study possibilities for early elections."

1545 GMT: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's "Qaddafi must go" speech which includes the "competition with China":

1540 GMT: Libyan rebels reject Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez's proposal to Qaddafi. Abdul Hafif Goga, the spokesman of the national committee in Benghazi, said: "No one has told us a thing about it and we are not interested anyway. We will never negotiate with him."

1520 GMT: A government fact-finding committee tasked with investigating oppression during recent protests, police snipers shot protesters from tops of buildings in Tahrir Square. 

1510 GMT: Qaddafi's son Saif said that the bombing raids on Brega were to scare rebels and not to kill.

1500 GMT: In response to Chavez's proposal, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said: "Any mediation that allows Colonel Gaddafi to succeed himself is obviously not welcome." 

1455 GMT: According to Al-Jazeera, Germany's foreign minister Guido Westerwelle says foreign military action against Libya would be counterproductive, called for more sanctions against Qaddafi.

1450 GMT: A video clip showing the refugee crisis located between Tunisia and Libya.

1445 GMT: The Washington Post says that at least three powerful air strikes hit demonstrators in Libya this morning. There has been no ground fighting. 

It is reported that Brega is under attack from Gaddafi’s forces in its second day. 

1440 GMT: Syria has reportedly agreed to allow U.N. nuclear inspectors in April into a plant with possible uranium material. 

1430 GMT: Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said: "We have been informed of President Chavez's plan but it is still under consideration." 

However, the Venezuelan information minister, Andres Izarra, said: "We can confirm Libya's interest in accepting this proposal, as well as the Arab League's interest."

1420 GMT: European Commissioner for International Cooperation Kristalina Georgieva announced that the organisation will give €30 Million in aid to cope with the refugee crisis taking place in the border areas of Tunisia and Egypt due to the unrest in Libya. She had stated yesterday that the financial aid was increased from 3 million to 10 million euros.

The World Food Program said that it was launching a $38.7 million operation to feed up to 2.7 million people in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya itself.

1410 GMT: After more than six years, an Iraqi government official said that Al-Jazeera can re-open its bureau in Baghdad. 

1400 GMT: Although it was reported earlier today that Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has rejected the opposition demand to step down by the end of 2011 (See 0935 GMT), a senior aide said later that he will respond "positively".

1345 GMT:  A suicide bomber targeting a government bank in the northern Iraqi town of Haditha killed at least eight people and wounded 13.

1330 GMT: "Russia is to lose $4 billion in arms exports to Libya due to the imposition of UN sanctions against Moamer Kadhafi's regime", Sergei Chemezov, the head of state industrial holding Russian Technologies says.

1325 GMT: Al-Jazeera English's Rawya Rageh reports that Mubarak and his family have hired a lawyer to represent them in investigations. 

1320 GMT: Turkish President Abdullah Gul is visiting Egypt upon invitation of chairman of the armed forces. Talking to reporters on the plane, Gul said: "The transition period is the best way to meet people's expectations. This process shall be transparent, open and satisfactory."

1310 GMT: While Bahrain's opposition groups are getting ready for dialogue with the Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa received U.S Assistant Secretary of State Foreign Affairs Jeffrey Feltman and "expressed the Kingdom’s appreciation to the United States’ support of His Royal Highness's call for National Dialogue to maintain peace and stability in the Kingdom."

1250 GMT: Talking to Venezuelan state media, Hugo Chavez said: "Let's not get carried away by the drums of war, because the United States, I am sure that they are exaggerating and distorting things to justify an invasion." (see 0535 GMT for Chavez's mediation plan that is accepted by Qaddafi)

1230 GMT: Following Ahmad Shafiq's resignation, new PM  Essam Sharaf is reportedly in the Tahrir Square, with the demonstrators and may recite oat of office there.  

1215 GMT: Opposition groups in Bahrain are ready to talk to the monarchy about political change after weeks of protests, a leading opposition member, Abdul Jalil Khalil, has said.

Khalil said the opposition will accept the invitation of Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa; ""We will talk to the crown prince, but we are not going to sit together for a casual chat, but for a meaningful dialogue only." said Khalil, a leader of the gropu Al Wafaq.

The opposition parties have set out an agenda for discussions, which they say should not exceed three weeks and which should not preclude demonstrations. They are calling for a removal of the Government and suspension of the 2002 Constitution to open up space for discussion of political reforms.

Khalil said no date has been set for the beginning of the talks. A large rally is planned tomorrow under the banner "Down with the Government".

1100 GMT: The White House has said that Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh apologised on Wednesday for remarks claiming that the US and Israel were behind opposition protests.

1050 GMT: Miguel Marquez of American ABC News reports soldiers, anti-aircraft guns, and tanks at checkpoints five miles from the Libyan capital Tripoli.

Al Arabiya says that the International Criminal Court is beginning investigation into eight members of the Qaddafi regime for "crimes against humanity".

Among the eight are Muammar Qaddafi and three of his sons: Saif Al Islam, Khamis, and Moatassim. Libya's Foreign Minister and former Minister of Intelligence Musa Kusa is also on the list, as is Abu Zayd Dorda, the director of the external security organisation and former Ambassador to the United Nations.

The New York Times map of the situation on the ground in Libya on Tuesday --- red squares mark areas controlled by the opposition, black-bordered squares mark those held by the Qaddafi regime:

0950 GMT: New Politics, New Media --- the resignation of Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmad Shafiq was announced by Egypt's military on its Facebook page. A spokesman then confirmed the news to journalists.

A 2006 profile of the new Prime Minister begins, "As a kid growing up in Egypt, Essam Sharaf was fascinated with puzzles: assembling the pieces to form the whole. And that, for him, is the essence of engineering. 'It’s not a science,' he says. 'Rather, it is a profession that is based on assembling, or using, facts and basic sciences—math, physics, chemistry, etc.—to get a product usable by living beings.'"

0935 GMT: Al Jazeera is reporting that Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has rejected the opposition demand that he commit to stepping down by the end of 2011.

0931 GMT: Reports are coming in that regime jets have dropped two bombs on opposition positions in east Libya near Ajdabiya and Brega, following yesterday's battle for control of the latter.

0930 GMT: Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmad Shafiq has resigned. Essam Sharaf, a former Minister of Transportation, has been asked by the Supreme Military Committee, to form a government.

0845 GMT: Evan Hill of Al Jazeera English posts a vivid account of yesterday's battle for the port town of Brega in Libya. He concludes:

Despite the show of air power, the early-morning assault on Brega appeared to either have been a failure or an attempt to probe the revolution’s front lines. With thousands of young men reportedly signing up to join the new army of liberated eastern Libya, and defected army officers working to bring organisation to the front lines, the chance of Gaddafi being able to regain a foothold in the strategic lands east of Sirte appears to be shrinking.

0800 GMT: The split-screen shot of Al Jazeera as Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi was speaking on Tuesday, juxtaposing the address with images of an opposition protest in Benghazi in "Free Libya":

0750 GMT: Yemeni opposition groups have offered to call off protests if President Ali Abdullah Saleh agrees to step down by the end of 2011.

Last night it was reported that Saleh and the opposition were discussing a five-point plan under which Saleh would depart (see Wednesday's updates).

0722 GMT: The Dutch defence ministry has confirmed that Libyan authorities are holding three of its marines, captured whilst evacuating Dutch nationals.

0720 GMT: News outlets are now carrying this morning's breaking news (see 0535 GMT) that Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi has agreed to a mediation plan proposed by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said the plan was "under consideration".

0700 GMT: An activist says Tunisia has freed the last of the political prisoners held by the regime of ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in January.

Samir Ben Omar, the Secretary-General of International Association for the Support of Political Prisoners secretary general, said, "In total about 800 political prisoners have been freed in groups since Monday evening. Between 300 and 400 were freed on Wednesday."

An amnesty for the detainees, some of whom were held on charges of terrorism, was announced on January 20, nearly a week after Ben Ali fell, and came into force on 19 February.

0535 GMT: The day opens with the news flash  that "Libyan leader [Muammar Qaddafi] and Arab League president [Amr Moussa] reportedly accept peace-talk plan offered by Venezuela President [Hugo] Chavez".

Libya was headlined on Tuesday not by peace talks but Qaddafi's speech of 2 1/2 hours to a conference of his followers in Tripoli and, far more significantly, the opposition's repulsion of a regime attack on the port of Brega in north-central Libya. Reports in the morning were that the Qaddafi forces had taken the lightly-defended town, but by late afternoon it was clear that the opposition had held out, despite not only the ground assault but also bombing by jets.

However, amidst continuing substantial protests in other countries, there was intriguing discussion of "peace" last night in Yemen. President Ali Abdullah Saleh's offer of talks on Monday was followed by the claim, from a reporter for Time magazine, that Saleh had gone further in a five-point plan by promising to step down in nine months.