2011 saw winds of change across ME, N Africa

The Arab Spring began with the slap and an insult hurled at a young vegetable-seller in a small Tunisian town, and ended with a revolution that paved the way for free and fair elections in the small north African nation - inspiring the citizens of other countries in the region to stand up to their oppressive leaders.Residents of Sidi Bouzid say anger had been building for years before Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire, igniting weeks of demonstrations that spread across the country and unseated President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali after 23 years of repressive rule.In a bid to quell the unrest, the 74-year-old president announced in a television address that he would not seek a sixth term. Ben Ali made sweeping concessions, saying security forces would no longer use live ammunition against protesters and promising freedom of the press and an end to Internet censorship.But the protests continued and after days of clashes in which dozens were killed, Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia on January 14.Despite a series of government resignations, protests persisted, fuelled by a combination of frustration over the slow pace of change since Ben Alis departure, and by the involvement of suspected Ben Ali loyalists seeking to destabilise the transition.The return from exile of Islamist leader Rachid Ghannouchi, head of the Ennahda movement, banned under Ben Ali, marked a powerful symbol of the change that was sweeping Tunisia, and thousands of Tunisians turned out on January 30 to welcome him home.EgyptAfter the overthrow on January 14 of Tunisias president in the first of the Arab Spring uprisings, anti-government protests, publicised on social media websites, began across Egypt on January 25. Thousands of demonstrators voiced their anger, complaining of poverty and repression in a Day of Wrath.Three days later on January 28 Mubarak ordered troops and tanks into cities overnight to quell demonstrations across Egypt. Thousands cheered at the news of intervention by the army, which was widely seen as a neutral force in politics, unlike the police who were regularly deployed to stifle dissent.By February 1 more than a million people around Egypt were calling for an end to Mubaraks rule.Thousands gathered in Cairos Tahrir Square to press again for an end to Mubaraks rule in a Day of Departure.Mubarak announced on February 10 that a national dialogue was under way to transfer power to the vice-president, but he refused to leave office immediately despite the calls of the protesters.However a day later Mubarak was forced to step down and a military council was formed to run the countrys affairs. Scenes of mass jubilation could be seen across the country with hundreds of thousands packed into Tahrir Square to celebrate the dawn of a new Egypt.On August 3 Mubarak was wheeled into a courtroom cage on a bed to face trial for corruption. He denied the charges against him. His two sons, Gamal and Alaa, also deny corruption charges.BahrainAn anti-government Day of Rage in Bahrain inspired by popular upheavals in Egypt and Tunisia took place on February 14.One protester was killed. The following day another person was killed when police clashed with mourners at the protesters funeral.Protests continued at Manamas Pearl Roundabout, a focal point for protests, which the police stormed on February 17, leaving at least a further seven dead.Tensions between the ruling Sunnis and majority Shi-ites in Bahrain turned to clashes between Sunnis and Shiites in Bahrain, the first direct confrontation between the two communities since Februarys large scale protests.On March 7, Bahrains crown prince warned all sides against escalating a standoff with disgruntled Shiites seeking an elected government, and asked for patience ahead of dialogue.Protests continued and Bahrain declared martial law on March 15, a day after Saudi troops entered Bahrain. The United Arab Emirates also said it would send 500 police.The following day Bahraini forces cracked down on protesters, clearing hundreds from the camp that had become the symbol of an uprising by the islands Shiite Muslim majority.Martial law was lifted on June 1 and the anti-government groups entered dialogue with the countrys rulers.YemenProtests against the 33-year rule of Yemens President Ali Abdullah Saleh began in January 2011 when Saleh supporters attacked and dispersed Yemenis trying to march to the Egyptian embassy to express solidarity with Egyptian anti-government demonstrators. Yemeni protesters chanted the people want the regime to fall.A day of anti-government protests on February 3 brought more than 20,000 people on to the streets in Sanaa. On March 2, the opposition presented Saleh with a plan for a transition of power, offering him a graceful exit. Saleh said he would draw up a new constitution to create a parliamentary system, but the opposition rejected the proposal.Although Saleh dismissed the government, protests continued and on March 25 he declared he was ready to cede power to stop more bloodshed. Thousands rallied in Day of Departure protests.Despite promises to step down, Saleh refused to sign a deal that would transfer power, triggering street battles in Sanaa between security forces and a powerful tribal group, the Hashed tribal alliance, led by Sadeq al-Ahmar. At least 20 people were killed.A bomb attack on June 3 injured Saleh and he was forced to leave the country for treatment in Riyadh, making a televised appearance on July 7, returning to Yemen on September 23 to the sounds of gunfire and explosions.Protests in Yemen continued, despite Saleh saying on October 8 he would step down in the coming days after months of protests, but the government said his exit was not imminent.LibyaA riot in Benghazi on February 15 was triggered by the arrest of human rights activist Fethi Tarbel, who had been working to free Libyas political prisoners.Anti-government protests carried on in the eastern city, with a day of rage called on February 17, while the governement in the capital Tripoli orchestrated pro-government rallies, as the countrys leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi vowed to clamp down on the protests.A bloody civil war raged for months with the United Nations Security Council imposing a no-fly zone on the country and all necessary measures -- code for military action -- to protect civilians against Gaddafis army.Finally on August 21, as explosions and gunfire rattled Tripoli after days of battlefield defeats left Gaddafis government and troops penned ever more tightly in the besieged capital, NTC fighters entered the capital with little sign of resistance, despite a call by Gaddafi for citizens to take up arms and save his 41-year-old regime from annihilation.Gaddafi himself escaped to his hometown, Sirte, where after several weeks, as he was trying to flee to the south of the country, he was captured and then killed by NTC forces, along with his son Motassim.Gaddafis other son, Saif al-Islam, was captured alive near the border with Niger on November 19. Libyas new government has vowed to give him a fair trial after criticism over events that led to the death of Muammar Gaddafi.SyriaProtesters in Syria have called for an end to President Bashar al-Assads rule, despite a brutal crackdown by the dictator that has left thousands dead.Most news organisations are unable to independently verify the situation inside the country. Videos posted on social media websites have offered a rare window on events in Syria.Assad sent in his troops with heavy weaponary and tanks to put down the uprising, which led to mass protests in many Syrian towns and cities.On November 12, the Arab League suspended Syrias membership of the organisation.Despite a promise to hold elections in February or March 2012, Assad has vowed to continue clamping down on anti-government protests.The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, reported on Tuesday (December 13) the death toll from nine months of unrest has risen to more than 5,000.