See also Syria Video Feature: Friday's Protests Across the Country
Syria Transcript: Kofi Annan's Speech to the UN General Assembly
Thursday's Syria (and Beyond) Live Coverage: More than 140 Die as US and Russia Talk of "Plan B"
2105 GMT: Syria. The Salaheddin section of Aleppo tonight:
2035 GMT: Syria. Security forces fire at protesters in Aleppo today:
Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at 11:53 | James Miller in Africa, EA Global, EA Middle East and Turkey, Middle East and Iran 1924 GMT: Syria. Speaking of gasoline, scenes like the one below, reportedly taken today in Kanaker, Damascus, are increasingly common. The prices of refined gasoline and diesel have skyrocketed, and widespread shortages are reported. The government claims that the shortages are the result of sanctions, but as Robert Ford points out (in the previous update) refined oil was exempt from foreign sanctions in order to avoid this problem. These shortages are the result of the military using up all the fuel.
1835 GMT: Syria. The Syrian government claims that foreign economic sanctions have cost the country $4 billion, a number which is low, according to many other estimates:
Yesterday we reported that Manal al-Sharif, who not only defied Saudi Arabia's ban on women driving but also posted a YouTube video of herself behind the wheel to inspire others, had been released after nine days in detention.
Now it appears that the price for al-Sharif's freedom is her promise of self-imposed silence.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 20:55 | Scott Lucas in Africa, EA Global, EA Middle East and Turkey, Middle East and Iran Claimed footage of security forces firing on mass crowd in Taiz in Yemen today
1950 GMT: The Italian Foreign Ministry says it has temporarily shut the Embassy in Yemen and withdrawn all staff.
1940 GMT: Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa has called for talks on reform involving all parties as the regime says it will lift a state of emergency on Wednesday.
Al-Khalifa said the discussions would begin on 1 July, according to the State news agency BNA: "The king called on everyone to take part...to push forward reform for development in all areas and to firmly anchor the bases of the reform process." Al-Khalifa had told journalists that the talks would be "comprehensive, serious, and without preconditions".
Last week, we featured Manal al-Sharif, the Saudi woman who challenged Saudi Arabia's ban on females driving and to put up a YouTube video of her defiance, inviting others to follow her example.
Today an English-language version of the video and a poster in support of al-Sharif, updating the US "Rosie the Riveter" campaign of World War II.
Sunday, May 29, 2011 at 10:14 | Scott Lucas in Africa, EA Global, EA Middle East and Turkey, Middle East and Iran 2055 GMT: Another clip of protest in Morocco today --- at the end of the footage, the marchers flee from security forces:
Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 9:38 | Scott Lucas in Africa, EA Global, EA Middle East and Turkey, Middle East and Iran 2145 GMT: The Egyptian regime has appointed former Assistant Foreign Minister Hani Khalaf as the special envoy to the Libyan opposition in Benghazi.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil al-Araby said the decision follwed Egypt's determination to follow up on developments in Libya and ensure the safety and rights of Egyptian citizens in the country.
2140 GMT: Claimed video of a protest in Daraa in southern Syria today:
2130 GMT: Fighting continues tonight in Yemen's capital Sana'a, in the Hasaba neighbourhood and near the airport.
UPDATE 1220 GMT: Manal al-Sharif has reportedly been sentenced to five days in prison for bypassing rules and regulations, driving a car within the city, enabling a journalist to interview her while driving a car, deliberately disseminating the incident to the media, inciting Saudi women to drive cars, and turning public opinion against the regulations.
Al-Sharif's lawyer has not confirmed the sentence.
Human rights activist Waleed Abu Alkhair, has posted a petition to King Abdullah on al-Sharif's behalf.
