Russian police detained dozens of democracy advocates in Moscow and St Petersburg on Monday as they held rallies to demand freedom of assembly.

The demonstrations were the latest in a series organized by the Strategy 31 rights group which has organized rallies on the last day of each [READ MORE]

Don’t rule out the Muslim Brotherhood’s domination of post-Mubarak Egypt, writes Daniel Brumberg. But the Islamists can be contained and moderated if the democratic opposition develops the inclusive politics and strong leadership required to engage the dynamic social forces arising from the current unrest.

At this stage in the revolution unfolding in Cairo’s Tahrir Square and beyond, it is hard to [READ MORE]

Think of the historical epicenters of modern revolutions: Paris, St. Petersburg, Tehran …. Sidi Bouzid.

Tunisia can be added to the relatively short list of major revolts that started not in a country’s capital or most important city, but in the provinces. OK, Poland’s anti-communist upsurge started in the shipyards of Gdansk and the catalyst for the GDR’s downfall [READ MORE]

While Egypt currently lacks the institutional or civic prerequisites for democracy, a transition is nevertheless feasible, writes Larry Diamond, (right), Director of Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law. But it will require skilful leadership, patience and practical support for the [READ MORE]

The demotion of democratization as a foreign policy priority left the Obama administration “intellectually unprepared” for the “strategically complicated” predicament it faces in the Middle East, writes Leon Wieseltier in The New Republic.

“Realism does not equip one for an adequate appreciation of the historical force of the democratic longing,” he writes.

Conflating democratization with military invasion and implying [READ MORE]

As the Obama administration keeps up the pressure on Hosni Mubarak to make good on his promises of reform, there is no shortage of advice on how the US should respond to the turmoil in Egypt, Tunisia and the wider Arab world.

Nobody seems impressed by Mubarak’s appointment [READ MORE]

Find out from this must-read post at the National Democratic Institute’s blog.

Egypt’s embattled regime “dropped a digital iron curtain” over the Internet today severing traffic to the outside world in an unprecedented move that was designed to hinder communications between opposition protesters.

But it seems that Egyptians did what people did before the Internet was [READ MORE]

Egypt’s government has been dismissed by President Hosni Mubarak who promised to deliver fresh reforms in a late night televised address to the nation.

His speech was quickly dismissed as window-dressing and sparked fresh protests, with demonstrators chanting “Illegitimate! Illegitimate!” and calling for an end to the regime.

The embattled autocrat claimed to be following the protests [READ MORE]

The Obama administration is to hold a rare Saturday principals meeting to determine its response to Egypt’s anti-government uprising.

The administration has already decided to review its aid policy toward Egypt in response to the current turmoil.

“We will be reviewing our assistance posture based on events now and in the coming days.” said [READ MORE]

The death of a leading gay rights activist in Uganda may signal a disturbing intensification of homophobia in the east African state, writes Nancy Welch, Assistant Program Officer for Africa at the National Endowment for Democracy.

David Kato (above), an advocacy officer at Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), dedicated his life to [READ MORE]

Cairo is in flames and thousands of protesters remain on the streets of the capital, Alexandria and several other towns in defiance of a curfew declared a few hours ago. At least five people have been killed and several hundred injured.

The regime has called in the army, but protesters have celebrated its [READ MORE]

Confirming that the police have lost control, President Hosni Mubarak has ordered the army on to the streets to enforce a curfew that is being widely ignored (footage of tanks on the streets here).

Mubarak is due to address the nation on television within [READ MORE]

Extraordinary scenes in Egypt where demonstrators overwhelmed security forces in Suez and violent clashes continue in Cairo, with police firing tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons.

Confirming that the police have lost control, President Hosni Mubarak has ordered the army on to the streets to enforce a [READ MORE]

There are promising signs that the formation of Tunisia’s second government of national unity will end the current political volatility and shift attention to the challenge of empowering the country’s democratic actors and institutions prior to forthcoming elections.

The turbulence has given rise to growing demands for Western assistance to support Tunisia’s transition. Local activists and foreign analysts alike [READ MORE]

The announcement of a new interim government in Tunisia may reassure observers that the country can finally establish the calm and stability needed to effect a democratic transition.

Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi retains his post, but he is the only member of the former ruling party to do so.

“The aim of the government is to bring the country to [READ MORE]