Turning Point in the Middle East

The Ugandan Parliament closed out their current session today without debating or adopting pernicious anti-homosexual legislation that has threatened to become part of the legislative agenda for months. Parliament initially pushed back the debate and adoption of the bill after outcry from rights groups, the internet and U.S. leaders. Human rights organizations Avaaz and Allout gathered more than 1.4 million signatures via online petitions and had the internet buzzing with discussion of the bill. The bill could still be considered at the next session when the Ugandan Parliament reconvenes on May 18.

At least 20 people have been killed and seven wounded in Yemen while protesting against President Ali Abdullah Saleh. On Thursday, gunmen fired from the roof of the ruling party’s headquarters in Bayda, killing three demonstrators. On Wednesday, security forces and gunmen fired at demonstrators marching from University Square to government headquarters in Sanaa, killing 12 and wounding 340. In light of the recent violence, the U.S. State Department is calling on Saleh to immediately step down and transfer power with the intervention of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

According to media reports, Kuwait will step forward as a candidate for the Asia group in the upcoming elections to the UN Human Rights Council, a move which will likely to result in Syria’s withdrawal of its candidacy. Kuwait’s decision allows for a competitive slate within the Asia group which had been running a “clean slate” until now increasing Syria’s chances of a humiliating defeat. Human rights organizations as well as many Western missions have been lobbying for Syria to withdraw its bid since the government’s violent crackdown on anti-government protesters began in March.

Bahraini authorities announced that they have expelled Reuters journalist Frederik Richter, who was based in the capital city of Manama since 2008. Richter was told he had to leave within one week—after government officials complained his reporting on protest crackdowns was unbalanced. Reuters is not closing its Bahrain office and stands by Richter’s actions.