pantslessprogressive:

Demonstrators spend the night at Puerta del Sol Square during a protest in Madrid, early Sunday, May 22, 2011. Thousands of Spaniards defied a ban on a pre-election demonstration and have mounted a protest camp in the heart of the Spanish capital to express anger at political parties and the country’s handling of the economic crisis. The crowd have packed the square since last Sunday and pledged to stay there until municipal and regional elections this weekend. [Photo: Emilio Morenatti / AP]

Weekend News Roundup: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Georgia, Morocco, Spain, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen

Algeria:

Algeria to hold reform talks, boycotted by opposition | AFP

Bahrain:

Bahrain upholds death sentences for Shiite protesters | AFP

Bahrain’s top human rights activist targeted two days after Obama speech | McClatchy

Al-Wifaq has reportedly decided to return to its boycotting roots and will not contest in the make-up elections scheduled for September 2011 | Bahraini Politics

After destruction of the actual protesting site at “the Pearl”, the government shifts to eliminate virtual protests | Bahrain Center for Human Rights

Half a Doctrine Will Have to Do | NY Times

How Bahrain is oppressing its Shia majority | Joshua Colangelo-Bryan

Letters: Torture fears over Bahrain crackdown | Guardian

Obama and the Street Vendor of Manama | Iraq and Gulf Analysis

Egypt:

Death sentence for Egyptian policeman convicted of shooting dead 20 protesters | AJE

Egyptian Groups Call for Second Round of ‘Rage’ Protests on Lack of Change | Bloomberg

Egypt Is ‘Disintegrating’ as Tourism Drop Cripples Economy, ElBaradei Says | Bloomberg

Georgia:

Anti-president protests continue in Georgia; opposition calls for massive turnout Monday | AP

Georgia opposition calls for Day of Rage protest | Reuters

Morocco:

Many wounded as Moroccan police beat protestors | Reuters

Police chase Moroccans defying protests ban | Reuters

Spain:

Spanish PM Is Punished In Polls Over Economy | Sky News

Spain’s Governing Party Suffers Heavy Losses in Election | NY Times

Spain is voting in regional elections as thousands of young protesters remain camped out in squares across the country | BBC

Spanish vote overshadowed by protests | FT

Socialists ready to be slammed in Spanish vote | AP

Opinion: ’Yes we camp’ activists hit Spanish streets | AJE

Photo gallery: Madrid protests | El Paíz

Syria:

Shootings in Syria push death toll above 900 | AP

Activists raise death toll to 76 in three days of violence | LA Times

Syrians Are Fatally Shot at Funeral for Protesters | NY Times

The Syrian Revolution Lives | Syria Comment

Syria’s defiant women risk all to protest against President Bashar al-Assad | Guardian

The Syria Illusion: Bashar Assad is not going to become a democratic reformer | WSJ

Tunisia:

UN official says 300 killed during Tunisian uprising, torture still continues | Al Arabiya

High death toll challenges claims of smooth transition | LA Times

Tunisia considers postponing elections | Telegraph

Yemen:

Yemen’s Saleh refuses to sign exit deal | AJE

GCC to drop deal, withdraw from mediating Yemen’s power transfer if Saleh doesn’t sign | AP

Photos: 100 days of protests in Yemen | Iona Craig/GlobalPost

Envoys airlifted from Sanaa embassy | BBC

Diplomats trapped by Yemen loyalists, blocking deal | Reuters

Analysis: Yemen’s Saleh plays cat and mouse with Saudis and US | Al Arabiya

(Source: pantslessprogressive)