Political Unrest | featured news

In his first comprehensive response to revolts across the Arab world, President Barack Obama is doling out punishment and praise, targeting Syrian President Bashar Assad for attacking his people but also promising fresh U.S. aid to nations that support democracy.

Syria was under growing pressure on Thursday to stop using military force against anti-government protesters after the United States slapped sanctions on President Bashar al-Assad over human rights violations.

Despite a security crackdown, demonstrators hold a 'day of defiance' against President Bashar Assad in a dozen cities after Friday prayers. Witnesses, online videos and tweets report gunfire by government forces.

Syrian army troops backed by tanks and helicopters on Saturday took a prominent mosque that had been controlled by residents in a besieged southern city, killing four people, a witness said.

A military court in Bahrain sentenced four Shiite Muslim protesters to death on Thursday for the killing of two policemen last month during demonstrations against the Sunni Muslim-ruled government ...

After French helicopters attack his bunker at the presidential residence, former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo is seized by forces for Alassane Ouattara, the official winner of last fall's election. Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo, who refused to concede defeat in elections or in battle, was seized by opposition forces Monday and taken to the hotel where his rival's government was based, according to French and U.N. officials.

A mass protest calling for sweeping changes in Syria’s authoritarian regime turned bloody Friday, with the government and protesters both claiming to have sustained heavy casualties in a restive southern city as the country’s three-week uprising entered a dangerous new phase.

Security forces and plainclothes gunmen opened fire on crowds of Yemenis marching through a southern city Monday in an intensifying crackdown against the uprising.

Syria's president appointed a new prime minister Sunday, state television reported, as angry protesters gathered for the funeral processions of four demonstrators killed on Friday.

Thought to be all but defeated, Laurent Gbagbo's forces fought back Saturday, retaking control of Ivory Coast's all-powerful state-run television network that has been the embattled president's voice in his standoff with Alassane Ouattara.