Citizens speak out. Across the globe, the call for increased human rights, democratic ideals and improved living conditions continues as people in many countries seek their governments’ support for these basic freedoms. Among those countries with citizens engaging in pro-democracy protests are Afghanistan, Argentina, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Mauritania, Panama, Venezuela, Indonesia, Greece, Croatia, Armenia, Burkina Faso, Libya, Morocco, Egypt, Palestine, Oman, Algeria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, Djibouti, Honduras, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkish Cyprus, United Kingdom, United States, Yemen and Bahrain.

In Mauritania, where the main concern of protesters has been increasing food and fuel prices, Magharebia news agency reports that the government has announced a six-month program to open 600 stores selling staple foods at discounted prices. Following recent protests in Panama, President Ricardo Martinelli announced plans for constitutional reform, pledging social dialogue to avoid the failure of past reform efforts, which he said had suffered from insufficient public participation.

In Bahrain, where peaceful protesters have been enduring a violent and deadly repression, Ahlul Bayt News Agency reports that 50 senior officials have resigned in protest of the violence. UN human rights chief Navi Pillay on Thursday expressed “deep alarm” at the government’s excessive use of force, pointing out that the military takeover of hospitals represented a shocking but clear violation of international law. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom sent planes to help evacuate citizens, and the Netherlands advised their nationals to leave the country.

In addition, PressTV reported that thousands on Friday defied a government- imposed curfew to join in protest for political reform. To support the Bahraini protesters as well as call for Saudi troop withdrawal, demonstrations were also held in Iraq, India and the Saudi Arabian cities of Qatif, Safwa, Awamiya and al-Rabeeya.

Twelve more people lost their lives in Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) as disputes continue between supporters of President-elect Alassane Ouattara, who received a majority popular vote, and incumbent Laurent Gbagbo who has refused to step down from office.

At least 50 Yemeni citizens died with hundreds more injured as government forces shot pro-democracy protesters in the capital Sana’a. As President Ali Abdullah Saleh declared a state of emergency throughout the country, international leaders such as European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, US President Barack Obama and the French government urged the government to stop the violence.

In Pakistan on Friday, politicians and tribal elders joined citizens in several cities to protest a US drone strike, or unmanned air attack that mistakenly killed more than 40 tribal elders and others gathered for a peace jirga.

In Libya, after the UN Security Council on Thursday approved a landmark no-fly zone to protect Libyan citizens from being attacked by the government, Libyan officials declared a cease-fire, reportedly for humanitarian reasons, with a halt to all air travel. However, Al Arabiya satellite television reported that government forces on Friday used tanks and weaponry to renew attacks on citizens in the city of Misurata, with an unspecified number of people dead and injured.

Even before the no-fly zone was imposed, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned against further such attacks, saying that killing citizens is a crime against humanity.

In sorrow for those who have perished, we pray for an end to all conflict and that Heaven may bless citizens throughout the world to live in dignity, shared respect, freedom and peace.

http://www.presstv.com/detail/170492.html
http://www.presstv.com/detail/170311.html
http://www.presstv.com/detail/170242.html
http://www.speroforum.com/a/50420/Indonesia---Christians-protest-against-the-new-closure-of-the-Yasmin-Church-in-Bogor
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/market_news/article.jsp?content=D9M0V5I81
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/9/7952/World/International/Arab-uprisings-inspire-Croatian-antigovernment-pro.aspx
http://www.france24.com/en/20110317-thousands-overwhelm-riot-police-armenia
http://en.rian.ru/world/20110317/163060224.html
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110317/ap_on_re_eu/eu_armenia_protest
http://www.rnw.nl/africa/article/burkina-faso-students-protest-against-police-brutality-0
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110317/wl_africa_afp/togoprotestpoliceopposition
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2011/03/17/feature-01
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/03/17/egypt.activists/index.html?hpt=T2  http://www.france24.com/en/20110317-gaza-protesters-hole-un-compound
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2011/March/middleeast_March286.xml&section=middleeast&col=
http://abna.ir/data.asp?lang=3&id=231927
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/bahrain/8387931/Bahrain-takeover-of-hospitals-violation-of-international-law.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/bahrain/8387292/Britain-to-send-rescue-planes-after-day-of-annihilation-in-Bahrain.html
http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2011/03/leave_bahrain_dutch_nationals.php http://www.plenglish.com//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=272674&Itemid=1 http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20110318-326129/Tripoli-ready-for-ceasefire-but-wants-to-discuss-how
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4044088,00.html