Bahrain (and Beyond) Live: An Agenda for a National Dialogue?

See also Syria Live: Insurgent Attacks in Central Aleppo
Monday's Mali (and Beyond) Live: At Least 7 Killed in Timbuktu Fighting

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1745 GMT: Tunisia. Tunisian officials and personnel from the International Monetary Fund will begin a week-long meeting on Monday, with a view to completing a $1.78 billion loan by late April or early May.

The IMF loan accord would require Tunisia to commit to a set of structural economic reforms. While the government sees the IMF loan as key to advancing development in Tunisia, there has been considerable criticism of the measure within the country.

1725 GMT: Egypt. The State Investment Authority has said it will revoke the license of the private TV station that feature popular satirist Bassem Youssef, arrested for insulting President Morsi and denigrating Islam.

The Investment Authority said it has received complaints about Youssef's ridicule of "symbols of the nation", together with insults and sexual innuendos violating conditions of the operating license.

Youssef was questioned by prosecutors on Sunday before being released on bail.

1315 GMT: Yemen. The International Monetary Fund is discussing new financial aid with the government, a senior IMF official has said.

The IMF resumed lending to Yemen in April last year, approving the payment of a $93.7 million loan to help the country with its balance of payments deficit, worsened by the 2011 uprising against the Saleh regime.

Ibrahim al-Nahari, Yemen's central bank sub-governor for foreign operations and research, said the new IMF facility might be as large as $500 million.

1145 GMT: Turkey. Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç has said the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) and security officials will oversee the withdrawal of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) fighters from Turkey, adding that the Government will not pass any law concerning the withdrawal.

“Some parties say Parliament should pass a law for the safe withdrawal of PKK terrorists, but no such step will be taken,” Arınç said.

On 21 March, PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan called on insurgents to declare a cease-fire and withdraw. However, he said Parliament should also be involved in the settlement process, passing a law to assure the safe withdrawal of the Kurdish fighters.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government has opposed the demand because it believes a law would mean official recognition of the PKK, giving it international legal status.

0845 GMT: Sudan. Six political prisoners were freed early Tuesday, a day after President Omar al-Bashir vowed to free all political detainees.

The six men were met by relatives waiting outside Kober Prison in Khartoum North. Most of them are believed to have been held for more than two months in connection with a conference in Uganda in January, which led to a charter for toppling Bashir's 24-year regime using both armed and peaceful means.

In a speech opening a new session of parliament on Monday, Bashir said all political prisoners would be freed as the government seeks a broad political dialogue, a move welcomed by the opposition as tensions ease with South Sudan.

0545 GMT: Bahrain. Participants in the National Dialogue, after almost two months of meetings, have agreed a preliminary agenda.

The accord, reached on Sunday evening , includes nine sections and 12 principles drafted by an eight-member working group, drawn from the two political coalitions, Parliament, and the Government participating in the national dialogue. It will now have to be endorsed by the 27 participants at a meeting on Wednesday.

Topics covered include executive, legislative and judicial authority; diversity and national unity; civil society; respect and protection of human rights; the fight against corruption; enforcement of social equality; political societies; and security.

"There was a common ground that allowed shaping a preliminary agreement,” said Minister of Education Majid Al Nuaimi, one of three Government representatives at the talks.

Opposition delegates indicated that approval might not be given on Weddnesday. Their proposals for a King's representative at the talks, a referendum on the outcome, and a new, "independent" team to replace the Parliamentary group have been set aside.

Majid Milad, on behalf of the coalition of the opposition, said, “We will discuss all pending points at the session on Wednesday because it makes no sense to put them off until the very end."