The Contagion Today

Yemen Separatists see hope in unrest ADEN, Yemen (Reuters) – Revolts in southern Yemen, inspired by popular uprisings that toppled leaders in Tunisia and Egypt, are taking on a different tone, raising hopes in the south that an independence lost two decades ago can be regained.

Iran trying to influence Mideast uprisings: Clinton US secretary of state Hillary Clinton says Iran is communicating with opposition groups in Egypt, Bahrain and Yemen in a bid to shape events in the strife-torn Middle East.

Friday protests set to jolt Arab world (Press TV) Demonstrations are to take place in Tunisia and Egypt, where popular revolutions have already toppled the decades-long autocratic rule of their Western-backed dictators, setting off a whole host of anti-government protest movements in a number of other Arab countries.

Don't Fret Lost Libyan Oil But Worry Plenty About Algeria Algeria has been through two months of strikes, sit-ins and attempted protest marches. The government just lifted a state of emergency after 19 years. It’s anyone’s guess whether measures like those mean Algeria goes the way of Egypt or Libya.

Libya lurches towards civil war Rebel Libyan forces moved further west into government-held territory on Thursday, amid attacks by Muammer Gaddafi’s jets and a warning from President Barack Obama that the conflict could become a bloody stalemate.

Bahraini opposition demands government resignation before dialogue Manama, Bahrain - Opposition groups called Thursday for the government to resign and all political detainees to be freed before they can sit down to a national dialogue aimed at ending weeks of political tension in the Gulf kingdom.

Oman: The sultanate suddenly stirs An outburst of anger expressed mainly by jobless or ill-paid youths in the port of Sohar left at least one person dead; some reports put the toll as high as six. Few Omanis think Sultan Qaboos, who recently celebrated 40 years on the throne, is wobbling. Still, even he will have to heed the more disgruntled of his subjects. And calls for giving more power to his majlis al-shura, a partially elected advisory council, may well grow louder.

Iran Continued Disappearance of Opposition Figures Raises Concerns of Torture (3 March 2011) Iranian officials should immediately end the illegal, incommunicado detention of four leading opposition figures: Mehdi Karroubi; Mir Hossein Mousavi; Fatemeh Karroubi; and Zahra Rahnavard, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today.

Middle East unrest: All quiet in Saudi Arabia? Saudi officials insist that the kingdom will not fall prey to the wave of popular unrest sweeping the Middle East - despite some early warning signs.

Shi'ites stage small protest in Saudi oil province (Reuters) AWWAMIYA (Reuters) - Around 100 Saudi Shi'ites staged a protest in Saudi Arabia's oil-producing Eastern Province on Thursday, demanding the release of prisoners they say are being held without trial, witnesses said.