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Arab States Weekly Review July 13th – 19th 2013

admin — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 14:30:57 +0000

More than 50 supporters of Mohamed Morsi were shot dead by security forces in Cairo while demonstrating for his reinstatement. The interim president, Adly Mansour, unveiled a timetable for enacting a constitution to be followed by parliamentary and presidential elections early next year. Hazem el-Beblawi was appointed prime minister, while Mohamed El-Baradei was appointed vice-president.

Arab States Weekly Review March 2nd – 8th 2013

admin — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 14:20:38 +0000

Egypt’s general election, which was planned for April 22nd, is to be delayed after an administrative court ruled that the electoral law must first be reviewed by the Supreme Constitutional Court. The opposition threatened to boycott the vote because it claimed that the law favoured the ruling Islamists.

Arab States Weekly Review Feb 23rd – Mar 1st 2013

admin — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 13:30:01 +0000

The National Salvation Front, a combination of Egyptian opposition parties, has decided to boycott the parliamentary elections on April 22nd. The move will likely ensure that Islamist parties retain control of the legislature. The group’s spokesman said the poll would not be fair.

A string of missile attacks carried out by the Syrian government killed 141 people in Aleppo, according to Human Rights Watch.

Arab States Weekly Review Jan 26th – Feb 1st 2013

admin — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 07:39:33 +0000

At least 50 people died in Egypt following clashes between security forces and opponents of Egypt’s Islamist government. Some of the country’s generals warned that the state could collapse if the violence doesn’t stop.

Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN and Arab League envoy to Syria, told the UN Security Council that the country is being destroyed “bit by bit”. The UN Refugee Agency estimates that more than 700,000 Syrians have fled abroad.

Arab States Weekly Review Jan 5th – 11th 2013

admin — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 07:20:33 +0000

Syrian President Bashar Assad gave his first public speech in nearly seven months, denouncing the rebels seeking to overthrow him and criticizing western countries for meddling in domestic affairs.

Egypt’s President Muhammed Morsi mediated talks in Cairo between the leaders of Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas, in an attempt to implement a unity pact signed in 2011.

Arab States Review Dec 22nd 2012 – Jan 4th 2013

admin — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 10:28:20 +0000

A controversial constitution won the approval of 64% of Egyptians in a national referendum. Critics say the constitution favours Islamists and ignores the rights of minorities. The turnout was less than 33%. Parliamentary elections are to be held next month, where secular opposition hopes to perform better.

At least 60,000 people have been killed in Syria’s civil war, according to the UN’s commissioner for human rights.

Arab States 2012 Review

admin — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 20:39:02 +0000

Opposition to the Assad regime in Syria escalated into a full-scale civil war, resulting in at least 30,000 deaths. Fighting reached the capital Damascus, and the rebels gained control over large parts of the country. Turkey occasionally exchanged artillery fire with Syria.

Egypt was plagued by further sporadic violence as the Arab spring of 2011 failed to bring stability. Mohamed Morsi won the presidential election and became the first elected Islamist head of state in the Arab world. He proposed a new constitution that critics say is excessively Islamist and endangers minorities.

The National Transitional Council in Libya handed over power to an elected congress, though factional fighting continued. The American ambassador to Libya was killed on the 11th of September in an attack on the US consulate in Benghazi.

A week-long war in Gaza was sparked by Israel’s air strike which killed the head of Hamas’ military wing, which left 140 Palestinians and six Israeli’s dead. Egypt brokered a ceasefire.

Arab States Weekly Review Dec 8th – 14th 2012

admin — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 15:56:59 +0000

The stand-off between opponents and supporters of President Morsi intensified in Egypt, where the nation is due to vote on a controversial constitution. The opposition is campaigning against the draft constitution, claiming it will take the country further in an Islamist direction.

Delegates of more than 100 countries, including America, formally recognised Syria’s opposition as the country’s legitimate government. Reports suggested that President Assad’s fired Scud missiles at rebel forces.

Arab States Weekly Review Dec 1st – 7th 2012

admin — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 15:53:06 +0000

Violent demonstrations occurred in Egypt as liberals and secularists rallied in Cairo and other cities against President Morsi’s decree that gives him wide-ranging extra powers. Morsi’s supporters held large counter-demonstrations. The president seemed determined to hold a referendum quickly on his proposed new constitution.

While the UN General Assembly recognised Palestine as a non-member observer state, Israel pushed ahead with its plans to build 3,000 settler homes on part of the West Bank.

On reports of the Syrian regime moving chemical weapons around the country, US president Barack Obama warned the Assad regime that any use of chemical weapons would be “totally unacceptable” and would result in “consequences”. Increasingly confident rebel forces were preparing for a battle for Damascus.

Arab States Weekly Review Nov 24th – 30th 2012

admin — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 05:56:19 +0000

Egypt’s president Mohamed Morsi issued a decree that vastly increases his powers in office, plunging the country into a new crisis as it triggered massive street protests. Morsi claims the decree is necessary to overcome resistance to the government from Mubarak-era judges.

A ceasefire held in Gaza as indirect talks were held in Cairo between mediators for Israel and Hamas.