The Contagion Today

Despotism can only exist in darkness, and there are too many lights now in the political firmament to permit it to remain anywhere, as it has heretofore done, almost everywhere.
James Madison

Kuwait key opposition group calls for PM ouster KUWAIT CITY — A key Kuwaiti opposition group on Monday demanded the ouster of the prime minister as youth activists called for a rally on March 8 to force the premier to quit.

UDPATE 1-Saudi activists eye protests, wait for new cabinet Activists have set up Facebook pages calling for protests on March 11 and 20, with more than 17,000 supporters combined, but police managed to stifle two attempts to hold protests in the Red Sea city of Jeddah last month, highlighting the difficulties of such mobilisation in the conservative kingdom.

Military agrees to dismiss Egypt's current cabinet THE YOUTH coalition that launched the uprising in Egypt has announced that the ruling military council has agreed to dismiss the current government headed by prime minister Ahmad Shafiq ahead of parliamentary elections.

Libya revolt as it happened: Monday (BBC)

Bahrain protesters blockade Parliament MANAMA: Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman said Monday efforts were under way to launch talks with the opposition, which is demanding major political reforms amid a wave of anti-government protests. On Monday, anti-government protesters blockaded the country's Parliament and massed outside the state broadcaster

'Day Of Rage' Protests Continue In Iraq He recently encouraged his 6000 Facebook followers to protest against corruption. A few days ago, he was eating lunch with other journalists when soldiers pulled up, blindfolded them, and whisked them away.

Syrian repression: Security thugs threaten and intimidate protesters The plainclothes not-so-secret police, or moukhabarat, arrived early, more than 40 minutes before the protest was due to start at 5 p.m. opposite the three-story Libyan Embassy in Damascus last Wednesday.

Oman City sealed off as Sultan bids to placate protesters

Oil price spikes as unrest hits Oman Hundreds of protesters blocked access to Oman's second biggest port, Sohar, on Monday and called for "the trial of all ministers" and "the abolition of all taxes".

Dissidents 'denied care' in Zimbabwe Harare - Prison authorities in Zimbabwe have ignored court orders for 12 activists accused of planning an Egyptian-style uprising against President Robert Mugabe to receive medical treatment for torture-inflicted injuries, their lawyer said on Monday.

Another leading dissident arrested, tortured, lawyers say (Roundup) Job Sikhala, the leader of a small offshoot of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change, was arrested on Friday in connection with an alleged plan to stage demonstrations like those in Egypt in a bid to overthrow the 87-year-old Mugabe, a statement from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said.

Yemen power sharing option fails to woo tribesmen Powerful Yemeni tribal leaders have thrown their weight behind opposition demonstrators who have taken to the streets of Sanaa, spurning a power sharing from Ali Abdullah Saleh, the country's President.

Keep in mind calls have been made for March 8th(Kuwait) and 11th(Saudi Arabia) for protests.

Bloomberg Journalist Assaulted as China Heightens Security By Bloomberg News - Sun Feb 27 16:07:50 GMT 2011 A Bloomberg News journalist was assaulted yesterday in Beijing while covering the deployment of police in response to online calls for protests in the Chinese capital.