A look at anti-government protests, political unrest and key developments in five other Arab countries Saturday.
Egypt
An Egyptian panel tasked with amending the constitution recommended easing restrictions on who can run for president and imposing presidential term limits.
These were two key demands of the popular uprising that pushed President Hosni Mubarak from power earlier this month.
The panel also said emergency laws need to be approved in a referendum if they remain in place longer than six months. Mubarak ruled for 30 years with such laws, which grant the police sweeping powers and severely restrict personal freedoms.
Yemen
Yemens embattled president suffered back-to-back blows: Several hundreds of thousands called for his ouster in the largest anti-government rallies yet, and two powerful chiefs from his own tribe abandoned him.
The huge turnout in towns and cities across Yemen and the defection of the tribal chiefs were the latest sign that President Ali Abdullah Saleh may be losing his grip on power.
Bahrain
A prominent Bahraini opposition leader returned from exile and demanded that the kingdoms rulers back up reform promises with action.
The return of Hassan Mushaima, a senior Shiite figure, could mark a new phase for the anti-government movement. He is considered more hardline than the main Shiite bloc that has helped drive two weeks of protests.
Thousands of demonstrators marched on government buildings in the capital.
Algeria
Hundreds rallied in the capital of Algiers, demanding the ouster of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, with police out in far larger numbers. The protest on central Martyrs Square came two days after the government ended a 19-year state of emergency. The restrictive measure was put in place in 1992 as Algeria embarked on an era of violence that ballooned into a deadly Islamist insurgency.
Tunisia
Tunisian authorities temporarily banned vehicle and pedestrian traffic on the capitals central boulevard after a new outbreak of clashes between police and stone-throwing protesters.
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