Libya: Muammar Gaddafi met with South African President Jacob Zuma on Monday in Tripoli. After the meeting, Gaddafi called for ending NATO air strikes and agreed to to a ceasefire in addition to opening a dialogue with the Libyan opposition and to enact a ceasefire.  He refused to leave the country, however, and continued to call for NATO to end air strikes. The opposition rejected the African Union’s peace initiative because it does not include Gaddafi stepping down, and was bolstered by Italy's announcement that it will provide €100 million in aid to the Libyan opposition.

Yemen: After a brief ceasefire, new clashes erupted today between pro-government forces and gunmen loyal to the Hashid tribe leader Sadek al-Ahmar and pro-government forces. The death toll from the attack on protestors in Taiz rose to over 50.  Massive Yemeni civilians, fearful of civil war, took to the streets in Sana’a demonstrations took place in Sana’a to condemn the killing of protestors in Taiz and to demand the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. 

Syria: Syrian state TV reported that President Bashar Bashar al-Assad willwould issue a decree granting general amnesty to members of all political movements for crimes committed before May 31. According to human rights activists, the Syrian army continues to besiege and shell a number of regions near Homs and Daraa to prevent residents from taking part in protests. Fourteen people have been killed in Homs in the past two days.  

Iraq: Protests erupted in the city of Nasiriya in Dhi Qar province against Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s government and the Dawa Party. Protestors have accused Maliki of been being unable to deliver on promises made to Iraqi citizens during either of his terms in office. Maliki gave his administration a 100-day deadline to achieve reform in Iraq. As that day deadline approaches and as Iraqis grow increasingly frustrated, many believe the date will mark the beginning of an Iraqi revolution.