middle east unrest

In Syria, security forces have opened fire on demonstrators in at least 6 locations. Unrest continues in Jordan with nearly 200 dead after police broke up a pro-reform protest camp in Amman. We look at the cultural and historical factors leading individual governments to respond in different ways.

One thousand troops from Saudi Arabia, and backed by other Gulf nations, have reportedly been invited by Bahrain today to protect the government from pro-democracy demonstrators.

As Libyan warplanes launch air strikes, many countries continue to debate creating a no-fly zone over Libya. Britain and France want the UN to create one, the US is debating one, too. But what about the Arab League and Turkey?

As events unfold in Libya, Moammar Gadhafi’s children have increasingly taken center stage. One son commands a personal army believed to be behind brutal attacks against demonstrators, another reportedly plotted a coup against his father.

As anti-regime and pro-Gadhafi forces battled in the eastern oil port of Brega, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi said he would fight to the “last man and last woman” to defend his country. The BBC’s Abdul Rahim Al Farsi was present for Gadhafi’s address and he has a update from Tripoli.

Witnesses say pro-Gadhafi forces battled opposition forces in the city of Zawiya, outside of Tripoli, for six hours overnight, but could not retake control of the city 30 miles west of Tripoli.

A UN official expressed concern that racism may be a factor in what the organization warns is a looming crisis along the Libya-Tunisia border, as tens of thousands flee unrest in Libya.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Geneva, Switzerland today to rally international pressure against Libya, as the European Union agreed to an economic blockade of the country. We look at the international community’s options in Libya.

As the fight for control of Libya continues, world markets are fluctuating as they traders to determine how Libya’s political future will affect its oil future. We examine Libya’s oil reserves and how important they are to world oil production.

As opposition leaders close in on Tripoli, American business and consulting firms that work in the country are keeping a close eye developments there. We take a look at one Boston-based firm that Libya hired to improve its image after sanctions were dropped in 2004.