When the world gets closer.

We help you see farther.

Sign up to our expressly international daily newsletter.

Geopolitics

ARABICA - A Daily Shot Of What the Arab World is Saying/Hearing/Sharing

ARABICA - A Daily Shot Of What the Arab World is Saying/Hearing/Sharing
Kristen Gillespie

A R A B I C A ارابيكا


LIBYAN WAR

* CNN Arabic reports Libyan state television declaring east Ajdabiya under control of Muammar Gaddafi's forces, and broadcasting a warning to residents in Benghazi that the armed forces are "coming to liberate them and cleanse the city of gangs."

*Gaddafi's forces appear to be encroaching on Misurata in the west, with resident Mohammed Ali telling CNN: "Gaddafi does not care if he kills all the inhabitants of Misurata."

*Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi tweets, "It is not manly to bomb your people and your cities and then claim victory afterwards and that you represent the people."

SYRIAN CRACKDOWN

"Disperse the demonstration..." exclaims the man in this cartoon by Ali Ferzet labeled "Interior Ministry," who is seen waving at drowning protesters.

*In response to the authorities breaking up protests and arresting about two dozen demonstrators, a facebook page has been set up to invite the public to take to the streets on March 18th.The location? "Following the noon prayer in public squares in all Syrian towns and cities, pointing toward the holy city of Mecca." A total of 628 people have confirmed that they will attend. Comments include "Syria, we're waiting for you"… "good luck to the young heroes of Syria"… and one Syrian in Finland writes, "our hearts are with you."


EGYPTIAN DEMOCRACY

*"No to the amendments," tweeted Egyptian opposition leader and possible presidential candidate Mohammed ElBaradei. He posted a link to a short video explaining why he thinks people should reject the proposed constitutional amendments during the national referendum on March 19th. "My honest opinion is that we should say ‘no"," ElBaradei says. By saying ‘yes', Egyptians will allow a second ruling party to emerge that resembles Mubarak's National Democratic Party and will not represent the people. "A new constitution is the place to start," he says, not with new amendments.

* Tweet from @fhilal on Egypt: "My new thought is that the negative attitude of many people was created by the hegemony of the regime and its monopoly on power… i.e., the lack of democracy."

March 17, 2011


photo credit: illustir


You've reached your limit of free articles.

To read the full story, start your free trial today.

Get unlimited access. Cancel anytime.

Exclusive coverage from the world's top sources, in English for the first time.

Insights from the widest range of perspectives, languages and countries.

FOCUS: Russia-Ukraine War

Ukrainians In Occupied Territories Are Being Forced To Get Russian Passports

Reports have emerged of children, retirees, and workers being forced by the Russian military and occupying administration to obtain Russian Federation passports, or face prison, beating or loss of public benefits.

Image of a hand holding a red Russian passport.

Russian passport

Iryna Gamaliy

It's referred to as: "forced passportization." Reports are accumulating of police and local authorities in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine requiring that locals obtain Russian passports. Now new evidence has emerged that Ukrainians are indeed being coerced into changing their citizenship, or risk retribution from occupying authorities.

Stay up-to-date with the latest on the Russia-Ukraine war, with our exclusive international coverage.

Sign up to our free daily newsletter.

Ever since late September, when President Vladimir Putin announced Russia hadd unilaterally annexed four regions in eastern and southern Ukraine (Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson), Moscow has been seeking ways to legitimize the unrecognized annexation. The spreading of Russian passports is seen as an attempt to demonstrate that there is support among the Ukrainian population to be part of Russia.

Keep reading...Show less

You've reached your limit of free articles.

To read the full story, start your free trial today.

Get unlimited access. Cancel anytime.

Exclusive coverage from the world's top sources, in English for the first time.

Insights from the widest range of perspectives, languages and countries.

The latest