NYTIMES Joy as Tunisian President Flees Offers Lesson to Arab Leaders By ANTHONY SHADID The day’s seismic events in Tunisia, the broadcaster, Abeer Madi al-Halabi, went on, would serve as “a lesson for countries where presidents and kings have rusted on their thrones.” Tunisia’s uprising electrified the region. The most enthusiastic suggested it was the Arab world’s Gdansk, the birthplace of Solidarity in Poland, which heralded the end to Communist rule in Eastern Europe. That seemed premature, particularly because the contours of the government emerging in Tunisia were still unclear — and because Tunisia is on the periphery of the Arab world, with a relatively affluent and educated population. Yet the street protests erupted when Arabs seemed more frustrated than ever, whether over rising prices and joblessness or resentment of their leaders’ support for American policies or ambivalence about Israeli campaigns in Lebanon in 2006 and Gaza in 2009. Tunisia’s protests were portrayed as a popular uprising, crossing lines of religion and ideology, offering a new model of dissent in a region where Islamic activists have long been seen as monopolizing opposition. Even if they serve only as inspiration, the protests offer a rare example of success to activists stymied at almost every turn in bringing about change in their own countries. “A salute to Tunis, which has opened the road to freedom in an Arab world devastated by years of waiting on the curb,” said Burhan Ghalioun, head of the Centre d’Études sur l’Orient Contemporain in Paris and a political science professor at the Sorbonne. That the events in Tunisia took place far beyond the region’s traditional centers of power did little to diminish the enthusiasm they seemed to generate. In fact, the very spectacle of crowds surging into the streets and overwhelming decades of accumulated power in the hands of a highly centralized, American-backed government seemed an antidote to the despair of past years — carnage in Iraq, divisions among Palestinians and Israeli intransigence and the yawning divide between ruler and ruled on almost every question of foreign policy. The protests’ success gripped a region whose residents have increasingly complained of governments that seem incapable of meeting their demands and are bereft of any ideology except perpetuating power. The combustible mix that inspired them — economic woes and revulsion at corruption and repression — seemed to echo in so many other countries in the Middle East, American allies like Egypt foremost among them. Al Jazeera headlined its broadcasts: “Tunisia ... the street creates change.” Mohammed al-Maskati, a blogger in Bahrain, put it more bluntly on Twitter. “It actually happened in my lifetime!” he wrote. “An Arab nation woke up and said enough.” Through the eight years of the Bush administration, democratization was at least a rhetorical priority of American policy in the Middle East, even as the United States maintained its support for Egypt, Saudi Arabia and other authoritarian governments in the region. On Thursday, as the protests in Tunisia were escalating, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton issued a scathing critique of Arab leadership and the region’s political and economic stagnation. Her comments seemed one attempt to reposition the United States, which backed Tunisia’s dictatorial leader as a partner against terrorism. In the end, the most dramatic change in the old Arab order in years was inspired by Mohamed Bouazizi, the 26-year-old university graduate who could find work only as a fruit and vegetable vendor. He set himself on fire in a city square in December when the police seized his cart and mistreated him. A Facebook page called Tunisians hailed him as “the symbol of the Tunisian revolution.” “God have mercy on you, Tunisia’s martyr, and on the all free martyrs of Tunisia,” it read. “One candle burns to create light and one candle beats all oppression.” In Egypt, his name came up at a small solidarity protest. “Egypt needs a man like Mohamed Bouazizi,” said Abdel-Halim Qandil, a journalist and opposition leader who joined dozens of others at the Tunisian Embassy. The momentum of Tunisia’s street protests overshadowed other instances of dissent in the Arab world. In Egypt, protesters, often lacking in numbers, are occasionally beset by divisions between secular and religious activists. The mass protests in Lebanon that followed the assassination of Rafik Hariri, a former prime minister, in February 2005 ended up deepening divisions in a country almost evenly split over questions of ideology, sectarian loyalty and foreign patrons. Tunisians’ grievances were as specific as universal: rising food prices, corruption, unemployment and the repression of a state that viewed almost all dissent as subversion. Smaller protests, many of them over rising prices, have already taken place in countries like Morocco, Egypt, Algeria and Jordan. Egypt, in particular, seems to bear at least a passing resemblance to Tunisia — a heavy-handed security state with diminishing popular support and growing demands from an educated, yet frustrated, population. In Jordan, hundreds protested the cost of food in several cities, even after the government hastily announced measures to bring the prices down. Libya abolished taxes and customs duties on food products, and Morocco tried to offset a surge in grain prices. “It’s the creeping realization that more and more people are being marginalized and pauperized and that, increasingly, life is more difficult,” said Rami Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut. “You need little events that capture the spirit of the time. Tunisia best captures that in the Arab world.” Despite the enthusiasm, the scene Friday night in Cairo might serve as caution. The protesters who gathered at the Tunisian Embassy in the upscale neighborhood of Zamalek chanted slogans into a megaphone and waved red Tunisian flags. They went through a litany of the region’s strongmen — from Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi of Libya to Hosni Mubarak of Egypt — and warned each that his day of reckoning was coming. “Down, down with Hosni Mubarak!” some chanted. “Ben Ali, you fraud! Mubarak, you fraud! Qaddafi, you fraud!” others shouted. They were ringed by police officers in black berets, and outnumbered by them, as well. They had little room to maneuver. And an hour later, the protesters went their way, a Tunisian flag flying from one of the cars, as it ventured down a largely empty street. Nada Bakri contributed reporting from Beirut, and Liam Stack from Cairo

Morocco is monarchy, the last remaining in North Africa but I think Algeria may be next or even Eygpt. With so much lack of freedom coupled with corruption and mismanagement of the economy, these regimes are on the brink of total collapse.

Which Arab dictator is next?

PM replaces Tunisia president President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali leaves country following violent clashes in the capital, Tunis. Last Modified: 14 Jan 2011 19:17 GMT Email ArticlePrint ArticleShare ArticleSend Feedback Earlier on Friday, protesters gathered outside the interior ministry demanding that the president resign [AFP] Tunisia's long-standing president has left the country amid violent protests and the prime minister has taken over control of the government. "Since the president [Zine El Abidine Ben Ali] is temporarily unable to exercise his duties, it has been decided that the prime minister will exercise temporarily the [presidential] duties," Mohammed Ghannouchi, the Tunisian prime minister, said on state television. Ghannouchi is now the interim president. He cited chapter 56 of the Tunisian constitution as the article by which he was assuming power. Maltese air traffic controllers have told Al Jazeera that Ben Ali is bound for Paris, though the Maltese government has denied any knowledge of Ben Ali's plane having stopped in Malta after having left Tunis. In his televised address, Ghannouchi vowed to respect the constitution and restore stability, and called on citizens to "maintain patriotic spirit ... in order to brave through these difficult moments". He also vowed to carry out inflation and unemployment redressal policies "exactly" as they had recently been announced by Ben Ali. Ayesha Sabavala, a Tunisia analyst with the Economist Intelligence Unit in London, told Al Jazeera that with President Ben Ali out of the country, there are "only ... a few people ... capable of [running the country] within the RCD [the ruling Rassemblement Constitutionel Démocratique party], and Ghannouchi is an ideal candidate". Follow Al Jazeera's complete coverage Abdel Karim Kebiri, a former senior adviser to the International Labour Organisation, told Al Jazeera that "the people will be happy" with Ben Ali's departure. Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra said the days events were a "political earthquake" and "something unheard of". He said that it was also as yet unclear what role the army was playing in matters, as it was reportedly moving towards the capital to "take charge of the situation from the security forces, which are seen by Tunisians as a main problem for its long record of human rights abuses". Violent unrest Friday's developments come following weeks of violent clashes across the country over unemployment and rising food prices. Matters came to a head in the capital, Tunis, on Friday, as police tear-gassed protesters gathered outside the interior ministry building. Witnesses said police used batons to disperse the crowd, but the protesters insisted they would not leave until Ben Ali steps down. Sabavala opined that Ben Ali's exit will "certainly lessen these protests, but whether they completely stop - the only way that is going to happen is if the interim government immediately starts implementing plans to address the issues that have been at the core of these protests". "Simply bringing in an interim president, and especially one who has been close to Ben Ali ... is not going to be enough," she said. "Logically, there is bound to be a lot of distrust, because Ghannouchi is part of the very close inner circle ... of Ben Ali. Past promises that have been made [by that government] have not been kept." State media earlier reported that Ben Ali had imposed a state of emergency in the country and promised fresh legislative elections within six months in an attempt to quell the wave of dissent sweeping across the country. There were also reports that the airport in Tunis had been surrounded by troops and the country's airspace has been closed. Air France, the main international airline into and out of Tunisia announced that it had ceased flights to Tunisia following that announcement. State TV also reported that gatherings of more than three people had been banned. Ben Ali had been in power for the last 23 years. On Thursday, he vowed not to seek re-election and reduce food prices in a bid to placate protesters. But the pledges seemed to have little effect as fresh street protests erupted on Friday. The unrest in the country began on December 17, after a 26-year-old unemployed graduate set himself on fire in an attempt to commit suicide. Mohammed Bousazizi's act of desperation set off the public's growing frustration with rising inflation and unemployment, and prompted a wave of protests across the country. Call for restraint UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has urged restraint. "The political situation is developing fast and every effort must be made by all concerned parties to establish dialogue and resolve problems peacefully to prevent further loss, violence and escalations," he said. The US government has said that the Tunisian people have a right to choose their leaders and they will monitor developments in the country closely, a White House statement said on Friday. Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, termed the situation in Tunisia "very serious", and said that Germany will "closely monitor the situation and take care of those Germans who are still in Tunisia". Western countries urged their people to avoid travel to the popular tourist destination due to the instability.

This is a warning for those who have been defrauding welfare system designed to help the poor. I don't understand how some people have no islamic conscience when it comes to stealing from governments. We need to advice everyone we know to stay away from welfare because it will destroy your ambition.

Somalina, powerful argument. After 20 years, it is too late to go back and change the name. May be the intellectual framers all along wanted to remain part of Somalia but engineered the failure of secession by selecting a Somaliland name

Khafiifay

Ethiopia in the long term will support Somaliland independence for now they don't want to see a strong Somaliland next door the ,, status quo is fine for now but a Mogadisho and hargeysa united is something they are against. so there are some differences and some similarities. . What a shame when you prefer alliance with Ethiopia than your very Somali people. Good points Moonlight, I will add: South Sudan is getting its independance after coming to terms with Sudan. The road for independance for Somliland must go thru Mogadishu.

Saudi Arabia is a corrupt one family controlled country and are way behind the world in the protection of human rights of people who are feeling war. Even the name of the country used to be Arabia and is now called Saudi Arabia, the family of al Saud country. Having said that, we should not blame arab people in general because they are under dictatorship and have no rights and freedom to change the status quo.

Furihii albaabka koonfurian baa haysata.

Posted by Nuune Marka odeygaan reer miyiga ah ee la wareestey wax khalad ah ma uusan sheegin ee salaadii maghrib uu tukadey meeshuu ka soo gaarey ayuu xisaabiyey how many rakco ay aheyd taas oo total isku noqtey afar rakcadood, sidii buuna u warramey ninkan. Waa gartay. Afar atixyaad waa arkay inay macquul tahay, laakiin afar rakco sax ma'aha, waayo rakcadda labaab uu lakulmay uma tirsana, marka salaatul maqrib waa saddex rakco, agreed.

Fidmad wadayaal bay Somaliland noqotay, war hoy ka jooga.

The poor man is extremely fearful, you can see how his mouth becomes dry very quickly and this is not how to make da'wa. This brute force does not work and whoever made this video shows their lack of adab in teaching Islam. Noonu sadex attixiyaat gartay, (ragcaddii ugu damaysay baad la kulantay attixiyaat , markaas labo rakco 2nd attixiyad then last rakco and 3rd atixiyat) laakiin affar macquul ma'aha.

A legend indeed, Abdi Bile has even a car named after him by the Somali public on their own. Thanks for the visit, it means a lot to future sportsman and women of Somalia.

So 2011 will give us much the same as 2010 gave us, but with our glasses full of the compliments of the season, we must raise a toast to endless hope, and pray that all these elections will not be resolved by two presidents, two centers of power and a very Ivorian situation In Ivory Coast will the losing President step down or will he start civil war and become a war criminal? This is like Aideed vs Ali Mahdi in1991-1992., Someone should show them the Somali film.

The General is just making a warning about term extension which cost A/Y dearly. I don't think Faroole needs any extension like Riyaale because he has a good chance of winning a second term. PL already had two presidents who held elections on time and lost and accepted the results.

NG you you are trying too had to spin this fiasco but if it was in UK it may have worked but here in this tough neighborhood it doesn't stand a chance. If SL wanted to get the story alive, they could have done it without looking foolish (rekindling the tragic bombing of Hargaysa etc.) and indecisive. May be you can explain to me why the training of PL Marines to fight piracy is a problem for you and for SL govt (form your uncle's point of view)?

Good move. The whole fiasco was unecessary and now all the secessionst in SOL including their guru NG in residence (until Oodwayene comes back) must tell us how to spin this.

Xaaji prefers Al-shabaab to TFG because his cousin is the Amiir. But if Shabaab defeats TFG then Shabaab will turn to Garowe and Hargaysa, so it is better for him to support TFG at least they want to solve Somali problems peacefully.

Now, tell me what PL is saying. Come on, don't run saaxib . Nothing, you have to admit that Farool won this round . and I noticed you are avioding to comment on Farool's success in Growe, namley the successsful conclusion of the Somali Footbal tournmnet. The loss of uniforms is a loss for the training company, Puntland lost nothing. What Somaliland lost is its reputation and showed its weakness. They should have listened to those ministers who advised not to make this issue a big deal.

Well done Banadir and runner up Bari. What a tournment. Job well done to President Faroole and the entire Somali Football Association.

It doesn't matter kii raayo, waa la isla qosli doonaa at the end. Shababis and qowdhans ma fahmi karaan arrintaas. :)

Mr. Bugland where did you see other nicknames besides Peace Action. I only use Peace Action and the 2 posts above are signed under Peace Action and they are intended to be posted separately. You post meaningless posts which mean nothing as shown above. Waa mirqaan santahay as usual.

Ayoub you are really obssessed with piracy? What does fiber optic has to do with piracy? I know a company in Puntland that is working on this very project and would like to keep it secret until it is fully operational.

Stop crying. Instead, watch the Somali regional Football tournment Finals Bari vs Banadir in Garowe, the capital of Puntland and the home of NG's "Imam Faroole".