Live: Libyan rebel advance westwards is checked at Sirte

The rebel advance westwards in Libya is checked at Gaddafi's hometown Sirte, while in Syria, a high-ranking official says the government is expected to resign.

By FRANCE 24 (text)

Live Blog Middle East 29/03/2010

(03/29/2011)

13:50

More than 140 people have been killed since March 18 in Libya's Misrata, reports AFP quoting a medic in the city. Tuesday March 29, 2011 13:50

13:21

AFP reports Gaddafi forces sweep through Misrata, quoting Libyan rebels. Tuesday March 29, 2011 13:21

13:04

AFP repeats its earlier report that the government in Syria, which has been hit by a deadly wave of dissent for two weeks, will resign today and a new one will see the light within 24 hours, the agency says, quoting a high-ranking official. Speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, the official said the government would "tender its resignation today and a new cabinet should be formed within 24 hours." Tuesday March 29, 2011 13:04

12:58

(Reuters) More than 40 governments and international bodies have gathered in London today to plan for a Libya without Muammar Gaddafi, with Italy and Britain suggesting he might be allowed to go into exile. With fighting raging between rebels and Gaddafi loyalists, Italy has put forward a proposal for a political deal to end Libya's crisis, including a quick ceasefire, exile for Gaddafi and dialogue between rebels and tribal leaders. British Foreign Secretary William Hague also implied exile might be a way to take Gaddafi out of the picture and settle the six-week-old uprising against his 40 years in power. Tuesday March 29, 2011 12:58

12:50

In a statement, Libya's interim council promises free and fair elections after Gaddafi has been defeated. Tuesday March 29, 2011 12:50

12:02

Reuters reports on the rebel retreat in eastern Libya: Muammar Gaddafi's forces attacked rebel fighters with a hail of machinegun and rocket fire, prompting a panicked, chaotic retreat to the town of Bin Jawad, a Reuters witness said. As the onslaught began, rebels jumped behind sand dunes to fire back but they gave up after a few minutes, jumped into their pick-up trucks and sped off down the road to Bin Jawad, about 150 km (100 miles) east of Gaddafi's home town of Sirte. Tuesday March 29, 2011 12:02

11:23

In Libya, AFP reports that rebel forces have been forced to retreat in the east after making rapid gains over the weekend. Tuesday March 29, 2011 11:23

11:19

FRANCE 24's Gaelle Le Roux writes on diplomatic tensions between France and Turkey over the military mission in Libya. Tuesday March 29, 2011 11:19

11:17

THE_47th: All schools & Govt offices received memos yesterday saying Tuesday was off bcz everybody was "expected" 2 show up for pro demos. #syria [via Twitter] Tuesday March 29, 2011 11:17 THE_47th

11:17

THE_47th: FYI #Syria has about 2.5 million Gov’t workers. Gov’t affiliates employ almost the same. Don’t be surprised to see a million Pro Assad today [via Twitter] Tuesday March 29, 2011 11:17 THE_47th

11:10

Seleucid: You’d be amazed how many of the Bashar loyalists are middle class "T-shirt and Jeans" girls #Maseera [via Twitter] Tuesday March 29, 2011 11:10 Seleucid

11:08

Seleucid: This is the first time the president will do a live speech, I want to be in Al-Jabri square when it happens #maseera [via Twitter] Tuesday March 29, 2011 11:08 Seleucid

11:08

Seleucid: The best way to describe the crowd to people not here: It’s as if their football team won the game, and Bashar is their star player #Maseera [via Twitter] Tuesday March 29, 2011 11:08 Seleucid

11:06

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is expected to address the nation "soon". Tuesday March 29, 2011 11:06

10:50

FRANCE 24's Leela Jacinto writes that the case of Iman al-Obeidei, who rushed into a Tripoli hotel over the weekend claiming she was raped and tortured, may be the tip of the iceberg of abuses committed by the Gaddafi regime. Tuesday March 29, 2011 10:50

10:46

Thousands have turned out in Syrian capital Damascus in support of President Bashar al-Assad, AFP reports. All roads leading to Sabeh Bahrat ("Seven Seas") square in Damascus were cut off by police armed with batons, as men, women and children raised Syrian flags and pictures of Assad and his father, late president Hafez al-Assad. "The people want Bashar al-Assad," they chanted in unison, under a massive picture of their blue-eyed president that had been hoisted on Syria's central bank. Tuesday March 29, 2011 10:46

10:31

In Syria, a high-ranking official tells AFP that the government is expected to resign today. Meanwhile, pro-democracy protests continue, although it is difficult to get an accurate picture of what is going on on the grouind. Tuesday March 29, 2011 10:31

10:29

In Yemen, at least 150 people were killed in an explosion at an explosives and weapons factory. Officials said the plant was briefly taken over by Islamic militants and then looted byresidents of the area. Tuesday March 29, 2011 10:29

10:28

In Libya, Muammar Gaddafi's forces have fired heavy weapons at rebels on the road east of the Libyan leader's home city of Sirte overnight, pushing them back towards the town of Bin Jawad, Reuters quotes rebel fighters saying. Tuesday March 29, 2011 10:28

10:26

Good morning. We start with a round-up of the news across the Middle east. Tuesday March 29, 2011 10:26

Tuesday March 29, 2011