Live Blog: Middle East protests April 15

Live Blog: Middle East protests April 15

As the unrest  in the Middle East continues, we update you with the latest developments from across the region.

Read on for the latest from our correspondents, news agencies and citizens across the globe.

Al Jazeera is not responsible for content derived from external sites.

Region in turmoil - Syria Unrest - Yemen's Uprising - Battle for Libya - Egypt's Revolution - Bahrain Protests

(All times are in GMT)

• Timestamp: 

  11:30pm SYRIA

  Al Jazeera speaks to Malik al Abdeh, from movement for justice and development, about the latest in Syria.
  

• Timestamp: 

  9:00pm SAUDI ARABIA

  Reuters news agency has reported that hundreds of Saudi Shia protested in the centre of Qatif in eastern province and in the nearby village of Awwamiya for a second day on Friday, calling for the release of prisoners held without trial and political and religious rights, activists said.
  
  They carried banners showing solidarity with the Shias of neighbouring Bahrain who have been targeted by police after the government cracked down on a protest movement.

• Timestamp: 

  5:41pm

  SYRIA: Watch our report on today's protests:

• Timestamp: 

  8:18pm YEMEN

  Thousands of anti and pro-government protesters took to the streets in Yemen. Here are some pictures from AFP news agency.

  
  
  

  
  
  

• Timestamp: 

  8:00pm SYRIA

  The New York Times writes about how Syrians renew protests despite concessions made by president Bashar Assad.

• Timestamp: 

  7:30pm JORDAN

  AP news agency has reported that hundreds of Salafi Muslims have clashed with supporters of Jordan's king in Zarqa on Friday, wounding dozens. The Salafi movement, an ultraconservative version of Islam is banned in Jordan.
  
  Their demonstrations are separate from the 14-week-old wave of anti-government protests by leftists and more moderate Islamists demanding democratic reforms.
  
  
  
• Timestamp: 

  6:30pm SYRIA

  This video has been posted on YouTube showing protesters in Latakia.
  

• Timestamp: 

  6:23pm YEMEN

  A YouTube video was posted by the Al Houthi group a rebel group that is active in the north of Yemen showing anti-government protests in the city of Sadaa. We can't verify the authenticity of the video.

  
  
  

• Timestamp: 

  3:15pm

  SYRIA Haitham al-Maleh, an activist and lawyer in Damacus, tells Al Jazeera that the protesters entering Damascus from Douma were close to Abasyeen Square when "the intelligence services brought several buses" with men "carrying pisols and sticks" who attacked the people. He said injured people were taken away by medics.

  Commenting on the government's approach to the protests spreading across the country, he says thugs are being used to attack protesters so that security forces cannot be blamed.

  "They have farm workers, people from schools, students, they bring them to attack the others," he says.

• Timestamp: 

  3:03pm

  SYRIA Al Jazeera's Rula Amin says the protesters who tried to enter Damascus from Douma have been dispersed by security forces using teargas.

• Timestamp: 

  4:30pm YEMEN

  Al Jazeera spoke to Mohamed al-Qadhi, the National Newspaper about the deadline given by religious and tribal leaders asking the Yemeni president to leave office within 14 days.
  

• Timestamp: 

  2:23pm

  SYRIA: A witness tells Al Jazeera that security forces have used teargas to prevent up to 50,000 protesters from entering Damascus from the suburb of Douma and neighbouring areas.

  Sources tell us protests are also held elsewhere in the country: about 2,000 people rally in Latakia, 1,500 in Baniyas, and thousands in Baida and Daraa. No clashes have been reported in those places.
  
  

• Timestamp: 

  3:20pm EGYPT

  Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr reporting from Cairo said: " Just a short while ago the prosecutor general announced that the ousted president will be moved from the hospital in Sharm el Sheikh to a military hospital in Cairo.
  
  "We know that there are a number of military hospitals in and around the capital, they didn't mention when or which hospital [Mubarak] was going to.
  
  "This is a logistical nightmare for the army because of security reasons, they can't check him in to a private hospital because of the fear of pro- and anti Mubarak protesters that could gather outside."

• Timestamp: 

  12:17pm

  SYRIA: More video from opposition agency Shams has been posted online. This one claims to show protesters today in the Damascus suburb of Douma. The people are chanting:

  No emergency law ... no corruption ... with our blood and our souls, we sacrifice for you, Daraa.

  Daraa is a "flashpoint" city in the south of the country that has seen many deaths in the past weeks of anti-government protests. 

  As with earlier footage from Shams, and other third-party sites, Al Jazeera cannot independently verify where or when this video was filmed.

• Timestamp: 

  12:10pm

  YEMEN: You can read more on Saleh's speech on our main story: Yemen's Saleh calls for talks

  

• Timestamp: 

  12:04pm

  YEMEN: In a speech to thousands of supporters, President Ali Abdullah Saleh said his opponents should join him for talks. He said:

  We call on the opposition to consult their consciences and come to dialogue and reach an agreement for security and stability of the country ...

  These crowds are a clear message to those inside and outside the country ... on constitutional legitimacy.

  He also said opposition rallies which included both men and women stood contrary to religious law.

  Meanwhile, as many as 3million protesters demanding his resignation gathered across 16 provinces in the country, said the Yemen Post.

• Timestamp: 

  11:55am

  SYRIA: Another video has been published online by the opposition Shams news agency, this one purporting to show a large and loud protest in the coastal city of Jableh from today.

  As with the earlier content from Shams, Al Jazeera can't independently verify this video.

   

• Timestamp: 

  11:53am

  EGYPT: State news agency MENA says former president Hosni Mubarak is to be transferred to amilitary hospital, where he will remain under guard pending interrogation.

• Timestamp: 

  11:48am

  JORDAN: Dozens of people have been wounded as around 350 conservative Salafi Muslims faced off with a slightly smaller group of pro-royalty supporters in the town of Zarqa, says the Associated Press news agency.

  Their reporter says people threw stones and others were beaten with batons.

• Timestamp: 

  11:44am

  YEMEN: At least 13 people have been injured in "attacks by thugs" in southern city of Taiz, witnesses tell Al Jazeera.

• Timestamp: 

  11:39am

  SYRIA: A quick roundup from our correspondents - Thousands of people are protesting in Daraa, where security forces have so far maintained a low profile. 

  Protests in Latakiya have also drawn thousands, Al Jazeera's Cal Perry tells us.

  Some 1,500 people are still chanting "freedom" in Baniyas.

  "At least a few hundred" have gathered in Damascus suburb Douma.

  Around 250 people have gathered in front of the Salam mosque in Damascus.

  Hundreds are also calling for "freedom" and the release of prisoners in the north-eastern town of Qamishli, witnesses tell Al Jazeera.

• Timestamp: 

  11:32am

  SYRIA: This video has emerged online and purports to show anti-government protesters being kicked around by security forces in Baida. It was put out by Sham press, an opposition news source ['Sham' is another term for Damascus]

  Al Jazeera can't independently verify the veracity of this video.

• Timestamp: 

  11:20am

  SYRIA: Al Jazeera's Rula Amin tells us that state security in the town of Daraa have relaxed their presence during today's protest there. She says families of those killed in earlier protests are demanding soldiers responsible to be brought to justice, but that protests today have been more calm. 

• Timestamp: 

  11:14am

  YEMEN: Here's that interview with Hakim Almasmari, editor in chief of the Yemen Post - along with footage from state TV of the pro-Saleh demonstration in Sanaa, and webcam footage of the protests demanding he leaves office.

• Timestamp: 

  11:09am

  JORDAN: US citizens have been warned of protests demanding political reform planned in capital Amman, as well as Maan, Karak and Aqaba. A statement reads:

  US citizens are reminded that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence.

  If the protests do take place, we'll keep you updated right here, and on our live TV stream, which you can watch by clicking here.

• Timestamp: 

  11:03am

  YEMEN: Youcef Bouandel, professor of international relations at Qatar University, tells Al Jazeera that Saleh enjoys a lot of support from within his tribe and across his administration, "who are scared of their own positions if he goes". He told us:

  Obviously, there is some kind of support for Saleh from Saudi Arabia, and the Saudis have been trying to find some way to keep him there. The country [Yemen] has been described as a base for Al Qaeda, and there is concern about what might happen if he were to be ousted. 

• Timestamp: 

  10:48am

  YEMEN: President Ali Abdullah Saleh now speaking live on Al Jazeera English. Watch here.

• Timestamp: 

  10:45am

  SYRIA: Around 1,500 people have gathered in the Syrian city of Baniyas, chanting "Freedom" - despite presence of the army, says the Syrian observatory for human rights

• Timestamp: 

  10:16am

  YEMEN: Hakim Almasmari tells us that the US may be withdrawing support from Saleh, but "it is not willing to hand power to the opposition either".

• Timestamp: 

  10:07am

  YEMEN: Hakim Almasmari, editor in chief of the Yemen Post, tells Al Jazeera that more than 3million anti-regime protesters have gathered across 16 provinces of the country, demanding the resignation of President Saleh. He tells us:

  The anti-government protests are much, much larger than the pro-Saleh demonstrations. They can't be compared, as the anti-government protests go on every day, and every hour of every day - whereas the pro-government demonstrations come out for one hour a week.

  The momentum is with the anti-government protests. Taiz is the heartland of the revolution, with 800,000 to 1million people on the streets.

  Many here believe the only reason President Saleh is still in power thanks to the Saudi initiative.

• Timestamp: 

  10:02am

  YEMEN: President Ali Abdullah Saleh is due to address crowds understood to be up to half a million strong, who have gathered in Sabeen Square in central Sanaa to support the embattled leader.

  The government is calling today the "Friday of dialogue" - while protesters demanding he leaves office have dubbed it the "Friday of insistence".

• Timestamp: 

  9:56am

  IRAQ: Hundreds more Iraqis are heading to Baghdad's Tahrir Square for the "Friday of the Free" protest, called for by "The youth of the Iraqi revolution" - despite a government ban on protests in the square.

  Protesters are calling on Prime Minister Nouri Maliki to step down and for the release of prisoners. We'll keep you updated.

• Timestamp: 

  9:42am

  SYRIA: Security forces have arrested hundreds of people arbitrarily since pro-democracy protests erupted a month ago and subjected them to torture and ill-treatment, says a Human Rights Watch report published today.

  The torture included electric shocks and sleep deprivation, says the report.

  Nadim Houry, senior Syria researcher at HRW, speaks to Al Jazeera.

• Timestamp: 

  9:17am

  SYRIA: John Kerry, US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, says Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should order his army and police not to use violence against peaceful demonstrators. 

  Assad must seize the opportunity and open a genuine dialogue to achieve the aspirations of the Syrians, Kerry added.

  He said that the world will be "closely watching" demonstrations expected to be held in Syria today. 

• Timestamp: 

  8:58am

  EGYPT: Al Jazeera's Adam Makary in Cairo tells us that a pro-military demonstration has been called for 2:30pm (GMT) in Nasr City - according to plans published in the government-owned Al Ahram newspaper.

• Timestamp: 

  8:47am

  BAHRAIN: More on those reports of Bahrain backing down on moves to ban opposition Shia parties. Mattar Ibrahim Mattar, a former Wefaq member of parliament, says:

  It's reached a stage where they say there are no more moderates; that the entire opposition consists of extremists. This is the wrong message.

  Read more at our main story: Bahrain backs off on opposition party ban

  

• Timestamp: 

  8:39am

  SAUDI ARABIA: Right now on our TV channel, Riz Khan examines Saudi Arabia's agenda as rifts between regional powers emerge. But if you don't get Al Jazeera on your TV, don't worry - you can watch online, live, right now - by clicking here.

  Missed the show? Saudi Arabia's counter-revolution will be repeated at 1430GMT today, and online very soon.

• Timestamp: 

  8:35am

  SAUDI ARABIA: Protesters hold a mock coffin of Muhammad Hayak, who disappeared in 1996 and pictures of men said to held prisoner without trial, in a rare protest in the country's eastern coastal town of Qatif.

  Hundreds of Saudis took to the streets yesterday, calling for the release of those jailed without trial.

  

  [Picture: Reuters]

• Timestamp: 

  8:22am

  SYRIA: Iran is helping Syria put down anti-government protests with advice on monitoring and blocking internet use, training security forces and supplying anti-riot equipment, an unidentified US official tells Reuters.

  But Syrian officials have denied the claim, saying:

  If [the US] has the evidence, why doesn't it announce it?

   

• Timestamp: 

  7:55am

  YEMEN: Reuters says that religious scholars and tribal leaders will "support the demands of the youth revolution" and called on President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down immediately.

  They said the peaceful demands of protestors should be met and urged "the immediate stepping down of the President of the Republic and the dismissal of all his relatives from the military and security apparatus of the state."
• Timestamp: 

  7:44am

  IRAQ: Al Jazeera's Jane Arraf, reporting from Baghdad, tells us some 300 protesters have gathered in the city's Tahrir Square - defying a ban announced yesterday by state security officials.

  Several have burned their Iraqi identity cards in protest against the government.

  Military and police units deployed at the square did not prevent the gatering, and have not (yet) attempted to disperse the crowd.

• Timestamp: 

  7:26am

  GAZA: Al Jazeera's Nicole Johnston, reporting from Gaza City, tells us that Hamas is organising a rally after lunchtime prayers in memory of murdered Italian activist Vittorio Arrigoni.

• Timestamp: 

  7:21am

  BAHRAIN: Officials appear to be pulling back from plans to dismantle main Shia opposition parties after criticism from the United States and other allies, says the Associated Press.

  the island nation's Sunni rulers had earlier said the groups would be shut down for alleged links to the uprising in the strategic Gulf kingdom that hosts the US Navy's 5th Fleet.

  Wefaq, the country's largest opposition party, has withdrawn its politicians from Bahrain's parliament to protest the government's crackdown on dissent, including a declaration of martial law.

• Timestamp: 

  7:17am

  IRAQ: Al Jazeera's Jane Arraf, reporting from Baghdad, has spoken to a government official about the deaths of 34 Iranian MEK dissidents reported by the UN yesterday to have been killed in Camp Ashraf in the Diyala province.

  The official tells her that the Iraqi government is investigating these deaths, and says that some were executed by members of their own group.

  The MEK was given sanctuary by Saddam Hussein in the 1980s, and have refused to leave the country since he was toppled. 

• Timestamp: 

  6:06am

  SYRIA: Protests planned for today in several cities, but all appears quiet at the moment. President Bashar al-Assad announced a new cabinet yesterday. Some key positions - foreign and defence ministers - stayed the same, but others featured new faces, such as the head of the state news agency becoming Minister of Information.

  For more details, click here: Assad forms new Syrian government

  

• Timestamp: 

  5:45am

  YEMEN: In case you missed it: Human Rights Watch said yesterday that child soldiers recuited by the Yemeni army are being used by a breakaway unit to protect anti-government protesters. The organisation's Joe Stork said:

  The Yemeni government has for too long placed children at grave risk by deploying child soldiers on the field of battle.

  President Saleh's opponents should not perpetuate the problem by using children for security on the field of protest.

  You can read HRW's report here: Yemen: Stop using children in armed forces 

   

• Timestamp: 

  4:58am

  Al Jazeera cameraman Kamel Al-Tallou has been released from detention in Libya. He is the third of four Al Jazeera journalists, held by Gaddafi's administration since March 31, to be released. Ammar Al-Hamdan is still in detention, and Al Jazeera continues to call for his liberty to be restored. 

  Kamel Al-Tallou joined Al Jazeera as a cameraman recently, driven by his passion for journalism despite his medical education and background as a doctor. Al-Tallou studied medicine in Tripoli before working as a doctor in England until 2009. Kamel, a 43-year-old UK citizen, is married with three sons and one daughter.

  More details on the four can be found here: Free the four: Release Al Jazeera journalists held in Libya 

• Timestamp: 

  4:40am

  With reports of further deaths in Yemen as security forces clashed again with anti-government demonstrators in recent days, protesters  are again planning on taking to the streets in cities across the country.

  The unrest comes as the opposition rejected Gulf states' mediation on the transfer of power.

  President Ali Abdullah Saleh is refusing to stand down - but the opposition want him out in 14 days.

  Al Jazeera's Caroline Malone has more details.

• Timestamp: 

  4:15am

  Hello and welcome to today's liveblog for protests across the Middle East. With action planned in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and elsewhere, we'll be keeping you updated right here.

  And don't forget, you can tune into our TV stream - live - by clicking here: Watch Al Jazeera!