The turmoil of the MidEast continues as Islamists in Egypt, Turkey, and Yemen make gains in attacks, political or violent, against democratic rule.
In Libya, the "justification" for specific attacks is becoming even more specious as NATO suggests that Qaddaffi's words threaten civilians physically. Meanwhile, "Who shot the General?" points to several potential reasons for the assassination of the top rebel commander. The death of the former confidant of Qaddaffi turned Rebel Military leader casts suspicion on Qaddaffi spies, rivals, and Rebel leadership.
In Syria, the oppression of protestors remains violent as many more civilians are killed by government forces.
And the government run press in Iran is speculating that the American hikers illegally imprisoned there may finally be released at the beginning of Ramadan.
Previously reported: Iraq has decided 46 Ministers of Government is 50% too many to effectively run a government, while it weighs whether or not to request that US Troops stay, in accordance with pleas by the Obama Administration. Security in Iraq continues to deteriorate, as evidence of Iran-Al-Qaeda connections continues to mount.
In Egypt, Tens of Thousands of Egyptians turned out for an Islamist Protest for Sharia Law
There are more questions than answers in the killing of a senior member of Libya's opposition Transitional National Council, or TNC. Reports out of eastern Libya include allegations that pro-Gadhafi agents killed the senior opposition figure, while others allege members of the opposition were behind the attack.
EGYPT: Egyptian officials say gunmen have attacked a pipeline once used to supply gas to Israel – the fifth assault on the facility in the Sinai region since February. A state-run media report says masked men launched rocket-propelled grenades at the al-Shulaq natural gas terminal on Saturday. It says the pipe was hit but the line contained no gas and had not been operating for some time.
The attack took place a day after at least four people were killed in clashes between an armed group and Egyptian security forces in the Sinai region.
Egyptian officials say the unrest started on Friday when at least 100 armed men rode into the town of el-Arish and tried to storm a police station. A state-run media report says an army officer and three civilians were killed during the incident and at least 19 others were injured. It says security forces have arrested four suspects. Authorities have not identified the attackers but witnesses say some waved flags with Islamic slogans [Muslim Brotherhood] as they fired shots into the air.
In a separate development, an Egyptian appeals court said the August 3rd trial of former President Hosni Mubarak will be held at the Cairo Police Academy, instead of the city's Convention Center.
Appeals Court President Abdel Aziz Omar announced the change on Saturday, saying it will be easier to maintain security for the former president at the new venue.
SYRIA: Syrian security forces have had a deadly clash with rock-throwing residents near the eastern town of Deir el-Zour. Activists and witnesses say at least three people were killed during the confrontation on Saturday after Syrian forces opened fire on residents.
Earlier Saturday, activists said at least five people were killed as security forces conducted overnight raids in an apparent crackdown on dissent.
YEMEN: Yemeni officials say an air raid targeting al-Qaida-linked militants in the country's south has mistakenly killed at least eight pro-government tribesmen. Officials say the tribesmen were battling militants Friday east of Zinjibar, the capital of volatile Abyan province, at the time of the air raid.
Meanwhile, authorities said clashes in the south killed at least six members of the army and at least five militants.
Al-Qaida-linked militants have seized areas in southern Yemen during the six-month-old uprising pressing for President Ali Abdullah Saleh's resignation. President Saleh remains in Saudi Arabia where he is recovering from injuries sustained in a June attack on his presidential compound.
TURKEY: Turkish President Abdullah Gul says the resignation of Turkey's entire military command Friday will not cause a crisis. Mr. Gul spoke to reporters Saturday in Ankara. He said the resignations were “extraordinary,” but said there will be no power vacuum.
General Necdet Ozel was appointed Turkey's top military commander Saturday. The head of the armed forces, General Isik Kosaner,and the army, naval and air commanders resigned amid escalating tensions between the secularist military and Islamist party in power of government.
The resignations came after Kosaner met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Gul to discuss key promotions of military staff at a meeting of the Supreme Military Council next week. Mr. Erdogan is reported to have signaled he would block promotions for officers he believed were part of a conspiracy to bring down his government.
Authorities have detained more than 300 people as part of a wide-reaching investigation into alleged plots to undermine the government. Some 200 active and retired military officers, including 30 generals, have been charged in the probe. Most of the officers who have been charged are being held in prison.
Kosaner said in his resignation statement that he cannot defend the rights of those military men who are unfairly imprisoned.
IRAN: The lawyer for two Americans jailed in Iran on spying charges says a Sunday hearing in their case could be an indication that they will be freed soon. Attorney Masoud Shafiei says the fact that the hearing coincides with the second anniversary of Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal's arrest could indicate that Tehran intends to release them. He also suggested on Saturday that their two years in detention may serve as their sentence.
Iranian authorities arrested the two men and a third American, Sarah Shourd, in 2009 on charges that they had illegally crossed into Iran from Iraq. The three hikers have denied the charges. Shourd was released last September on bail for about half a million dollars.
The state-run ISNA news agency also quotes Shafiei as saying his clients may be freed because their hearing coincides with the start of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month. A Muslim tradition allows for prisoners to be pardoned at the start of Ramadan.
Shafiei says he has not been allowed to meet privately with his clients before what Tehran has called the “final” hearing in their case.
On Friday, family members and supporters in New York rallied outside of Iran's mission to the United Nations and again called for the hikers' release. Also, Amnesty International urged Iran to free the men, saying they were apparently being held for “political reasons.” In a Friday statement, an official with the rights group called for an end to what she described as a “parody of justice.”
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