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3rd March 2011
During my first and only visit to Libya, in 2004, I came across a book entitled "Libya and the XXI Century". Since copies were on offer free of charge and the author was Gaddafi's playboy son, Saif al-Islam, I decided to take one.
Inside the front cover it says:
"Taken from a University Thesis… Read more
2nd March 2011
The tribal dimension in the Libyan uprising has not received much attention so far – probably because hardly anyone outside the country knows much about it. It certainly is a factor, but how big a factor is still unclear.
Several recent articles cast a bit more light on the tribal situation and its… Read more
28th February 2011
Nobody can govern in Yemen without support from the tribes and on Saturday influential figures from the country's two main tribal groupings – the Hashid and the Bakil – abandoned President Salih.
"I announce my resignation from the General People's Congress [the ruling party] in protest at the… Read more
28th February 2011
One of the great mysteries of the Mubarak era in Egypt was the disappearance, in August 2003, of journalist Reda Helal. Helal was not typical of the country's opposition journalists. He was a senior staff member at the semi-oficial al-Ahram newspaper and held generally pro-American views.
His… Read more
28th February 2011
Egypt went into information lockdown last night as the regime cut off internet access along with SMS and BlackBerry messaging ahead of today's demonstrations, with the apparent aim of hampering communications among the protesters. There are also reports of mobile phone systems being turned off… Read more
27th February 2011
With Gaddafi on the way out, the mantle of longest-surviving Arab autocrat will shortly pass to Sultan Qaboos, the British-backed ruler of Oman. Or perhaps not, since his regime is now coming under popular pressure too.
Protests have been reported this weekend in two Omani cities at opposite ends… Read more
27th February 2011
The committee charged with drafting amendments to the Egyptian constitution issued its proposals yesterday. They are now up for public discussion and will eventually be submitted to a referendum.
The amendments are mainly concerned with preventing the recurrence of another Mubarak-style presidency… Read more
27th February 2011
This is a guest post by Parvez Sharma
Sitting at a Manhattan Starbucks, enjoying the free wireless and watching the snow fall softly outside, a definitely less-wired Cairo seems a million miles away. This greatest of Arab cities has always been the city of my dreams and many passions and very much… Read more
22nd February 2011
My talk at Café Diplo last night. Read it here.
Posted by Brian Whitaker, 22 Feb 2011
16th February 2011
Just in case anyone is wondering ... after a period of very intensive blogging here since the events of Sidi Bouzid in December, I have to take a short break in order to catch up on a few other things.
One of them is to prepare a talk on Saudi Arabia (to be given at Café Diplo in London next… Read more
ARAB ART ONLINE: Susan Hefuna: Al Sabr Gamil (Patience is Beautiful) 2007. Ink stained on wood 140 x 170 cm. More information | Click to enlarge
