What I can see through the prism of my Globe:
"Jordanian king dismisses Cabinet; protests possible in Syria" by Ranya Kadri and Ethan Bronner, New York Times / February 2, 2011
AMMAN, Jordan — In Syria, calls for a “day of rage’’ this weekend against the government of President Bashar Assad were spreading on Facebook, which is banned in the country, and on Twitter.
The main Syrian protest page on Facebook urged people to protest in Damascus this Friday and Saturday in “a day of rage,’’ whose goal was to “end the state of emergency in Syria and end corruption.’’
Various political factions issued statements calling for change. “Oh, Syrian people, isn’t it time for you to shout a big no?’’ the Muslim Brotherhood said. “No to oppression, corruption, theft, and humiliation. No to poverty, hunger, and unemployment.’’
The democratic Islamist movement, in calling for participation in Saturday’s protest, said, “We don’t want a chaotic revolution; we want a peaceful uprising in which you raise your voice peacefully and in a civilized way.’’
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"Small turnouts reported in marches against Jordan government; Egyptian revolt echoed by protests in other nations" by Dale Gavlak, Associated Press / February 5, 2011
AMMAN, Jordan — In Syria, where authoritarian President Bashar Assad has resisted calls for political freedoms, an online campaign calling for protests in the capital, Damascus, fizzled. Plainclothes police deployed in key areas of Damascus yesterday and no protesters showed up.
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