Rolling Rebellions Topics

The revolution in Tunisia inspired people in Egypt to brave a popular uprising of their own. And now pro-democracy protests are spreading throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Democracy Now! follows the political unrest closely.

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  • Phyllis_libya_button

    As Fighting Continues in Tripoli, A Look at Role of the U.S., NATO and Oil Firms in Libya Uprising

    Fighting continues in parts of Tripoli, the capital of Libya, where rebels are reportedly battling with Muammar Gaddafi’s forces outside his heavily fortified compound. Reports by the Libyan Rebel Council that Gaddafi’s son, Saif al-Islam, had been captured were contradicted late Monday when he emerged amongst supporters in front of foreign journalists in Tripoli. The International Criminal Court had claimed he had been in the custody...
    Aug 23, 2011 | Story
  • Libya_button

    The One Billion Dollar Question: Who Are the Libyan Rebels?

    Libyan rebels have consolidated their grip on the capital of Tripoli by capturing Col. Muammar Gaddafi’s main compound, but the whereabouts of the Libyan leader remain unknown, and he has vowed his forces would resist "the aggression with all strength" until either victory or death. Reporters in Tripoli say heavy gunfire could still be heard nearby the area of the Rixos Hotel, where dozens of international journalists guarded by...
    Aug 24, 2011 | Story
  • Syria_button

    Amnesty International Decries Assad Regime's "Brutal" Crackdown on Syrian Protesters

    The top legal official in the embattled Syrian city of Hama has defected to the opposition in protest of what he called crimes against humanity committed by security forces. Many of the incidents he has referred to are documented in a report released Wednesday by Amnesty International on the killing and torture of anti-government activists in Syria since the uprising began there in mid-March. Researchers documented that at least 88 people have...
    Sep 01, 2011 | Story

  • A Lifetime of Resistance in Syria

    Democracy Now! correspondent, Sharif Abdel Kouddous profiles renowned Syrian human rights lawyer, Haitham al-Maleh, for The Nation magazine. Maleh, 81, has spent most of his life fighting against government oppression in Syria. Today, he believes victory could be at hand.
    Sep 02, 2011 | News
  • Libya_update

    Libyan Rebels Try to Stabilize Tripoli as Weapons from Gaddafi Compounds Go Missing

    In Libya, rebel forces say Col. Muammar Gaddafi’s stronghold of Bani Walid is ready to come under the National Transitional Council’s authority, despite pockets of resistance. Meanwhile, rebel troops say they have advanced about five miles towards Gaddafi’s hometown of Sirte in heavy fighting today. Reuters reports the U.S. government has urged Niger to detain senior officials from the Gaddafi government who it believes crossed...
    Sep 07, 2011 | Story
  • Libya_cia

    Discovered Files Show U.S., Britain Had Extensive Ties with Gaddafi Regime on Rendition, Torture

    Human Rights Watch has uncovered hundreds of letters in the Libyan foreign ministry proving the Gaddafi government directly aided the extraordinary rendition program carried out by the CIA and the MI6 in Britain after the 9/11 attacks. The documents expose how the CIA rendered suspects to Libyan authorities knowing they would be tortured. One of the most prominent suspects rendered to Libya was an Islamic militant named Abdelhakim Belhaj, who...
    Sep 07, 2011 | Story
  • Chomskyweb

    Pt. 2: Noam Chomsky on Libya, Israel & GOP Presidential Candidates' "Utterly Outlandish" Positions

    In our extended interview with Noam Chomsky, he discusses the case against participating in Libya’s civil war, the increasing isolation of Israel in the Middle East, and his shock at the Republican presidential candidates’ positions on issues such as climate change. [includes rush transcript]
    Sep 13, 2011 | Web Exclusive
  • Libya2_web

    After Gaddafi's Fall, A Revitalized Libya Tackles Militarization, Reconciliation & NATO's Presence

    As Libya’s former rebels begin to govern the country after the ouster of longtime leader Col. Muammar Gaddafi, we look at those who remain. Democracy Now! correspondent Anjali Kamat has just spent 10 days crossing Libya, speaking with fighters, former political prisoners, journalists, and advisers to the new government. "Even though Gaddafi’s whereabouts remain unknown and his sons’ whereabouts remain unknown, in a sense,...
    Sep 14, 2011 | Story
  • Mahmood4

    Mahmood Mamdani on Libya, an African Union in "Crisis" & the Outlook for South Sudan

    As the African Union meets today, Columbia University professor and Africa scholar Mahmood Mamdani joins us to give his take on the regional and global implications of NATO’s intervention in Libya, which he says threatens to increase the militarization of the African continent. Mamdani is the author of several books, including "Saviors and Survivors: Darfur, Politics, and the War on Terror" and "Good Muslim, Bad Muslim: America,...
    Sep 14, 2011 | Story
  • Yemen_web

    "They Just Started Shooting Us from Everywhere": Scores of Protesters Killed in Yemen

    In Yemen, the government’s violent crackdown on protesters has intensified, leading to the bloodiest two days in several months. At least 21 protesters have been killed today in the capital of Sana’a. On Sunday, 26 demonstrators were gunned down, and hundreds were injured. Demonstrators are calling for an end to President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s 33-year rule as he has repeatedly broken promises to step down. Last week, Saleh authorized...
    Sep 19, 2011 | Story