Uprisings in the Middle East
US finalises arms deals with Israel, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates
By Jean Shaoul, 25 April 2013
The United States is flooding the Middle East with armaments, a further sign that the preparations for military intervention against Syria are ultimately aimed at Iran.
Leaked report reveals army torture, killings during the Egyptian Revolution
By Johannes Stern, 15 April 2013
A leaked report seen by the Guardian implicates the Egyptian military in detaining, torturing and killing scores of protesters during the first 18 days of the revolution.
Egyptian regime inflames sectarian violence
By Johannes Stern, 12 April 2013
The unpopular government of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi is seeking to channel rising popular discontent into reactionary, sectarian conflicts.
Mursi, army debate imposing martial law as strike wave shakes Egypt
By Thomas Gaist and Alex Lantier, 27 March 2013
In advance of a possible bread strike, as workers struggles spread throughout Egypt, Islamist President Mohamed Mursi is in talks with the army to impose martial law.
Deadly clashes erupt across Egypt after Port Said court verdict
By Johannes Stern, 11 March 2013
Popular anger against President Mohamed Mursi and the ruling Muslim Brotherhood is fueled by a ruling acquitting seven police officers.
Court suspends Egyptian parliamentary elections before explosive Port Said verdict
By Johannes Stern, 9 March 2013
Amid a deepening political crisis and in the run-up to the explosive Port Said verdict today, the Cairo Administrative Court has suspended Egypt’s elections.
For workers’ power in Egypt!
By Johannes Stern and Joseph Kishore, 30 January 2013
As the second anniversary of the overthrow of dictator Hosni Mubarak approaches, the Egyptian working class is again being driven into revolutionary struggle.
Mursi declares state of emergency as protests escalate in Egypt
By Alex Lantier and Johannes Stern, 28 January 2013
President Mohamed Mursi declared a 30-day state of emergency in three cities Sunday, amid mass protests following the Egyptian revolution’s second anniversary.
Two years of the Egyptian Revolution
By Johannes Stern, 25 January 2013
The working class must resolve the historic problems of political leadership and perspective which are posed by the Egyptian revolution.
The Middle East in 2013
By Chris Marsden, 12 January 2013
The despatch of six batteries of Patriot missiles to the Turkish-Syrian border is the clearest indication yet that the world is on the brink of a military intervention by the United States and its NATO allies.
Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood claims constitutional referendum victory amid mass abstention
By Johannes Stern, 24 December 2012
On Saturday, the final round of voting on Egypt’s draft constitution completed the referendum—a mockery of democratic process.
Egyptian constitutional referendum marked by low turnout, allegations of fraud
By Johannes Stern, 17 December 2012
On Saturday, the first round of voting on Egypt’s new Islamist and military-backed constitution took place in ten of the country’s 27 governorates.
Mass protests against referendum on new Egyptian constitution
By Chris Marsden, 12 December 2012
Over a hundred thousand people demonstrated in Cairo yesterday against a referendum scheduled for December 15 on an Islamist constitution that enshrines the authority of the military.
Protests spread throughout Egypt against Islamist dictatorship
By Johannes Stern, 8 December 2012
Mass protests against the US-backed Islamist government of President Mohamed Mursi spread throughout Egypt yesterday.
Egypt’s US-backed president Mursi deploys army, prepares massive repression
By Johannes Stern, 7 December 2012
Fearing mass protests, the Mursi regime deployed the army around the Presidential Palace in Cairo.
Mass anti-Mursi protests, clashes with police in Cairo
By Chris Marsden, 5 December 2012
Protests Tuesday against the dictatorial powers assumed by Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi and his efforts to ram through a new constitution culminated in a massive march on the presidential palace.
Mass protests as Egyptian government seeks to push through constitution
By Joseph Kishore, 1 December 2012
The new constitution enshrines the domination of the military over Egyptian society.
Mass protests against Egyptian President Mursi
By Johannes Stern, 28 November 2012
Hundreds of thousands protested in Cairo'’s Tahrir Square and throughout Egypt against Islamist president Mohamed Mursi and the Muslim Brotherhood (MB).
Mass protests erupt in Egypt against Mursi’s antidemocratic decrees
By Johannes Stern, 24 November 2012
Mass protests against Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi and the ruling Muslim Brotherhood erupted throughout the country on Friday.
Egyptian Islamists clash with liberals and pseudo-left groups on Tahrir Square
By Johannes Stern, 15 October 2012
Clashes erupted between followers of the ruling Islamist Muslim Brotherhood and the pseudo-left opposition on Tahrir Square in Cairo on Friday.
Anti-US protests spark internal policy debate over American war drive in Syria
By Alex Lantier, 20 September 2012
In the wake of mass anti-US protests in the Muslim world, American cable and broadcast news programs have largely dropped coverage of the war in Syria.
Anti-US protests rage across the Middle East
By Bill Van Auken, 15 September 2012
Angry anti-US protests, including the storming of embassies, continued for a fourth day Friday from Indonesia to Morocco.
US backs Egyptian president as he claims dictatorial powers
By Johannes Stern, 21 August 2012
Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi’s move to take over the dictatorial powers of the Egyptian military junta was closely monitored and approved by Washington.
New Egyptian government sworn in by Islamist president Mursi
By Johannes Stern, 3 August 2012
Yesterday the Egyptian cabinet was sworn in by Mohamed Mursi, the Islamist president of Egypt.
Egyptian workers mount mass strikes against US-backed junta
By Johannes Stern, 18 July 2012
Since the beginning of the week a new wave of strikes and protests has spread over Egypt.
Clinton backs Egyptian military junta, Islamist president
By Johannes Stern, 16 July 2012
Over the weekend US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with the leader of Egypt’s Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) junta.
Bloody fighting in Syria as US pushes for intervention
By Patrick Martin, 2 July 2012
Heavy fighting and mass casualties were reported Sunday in the suburbs of Damascus, the Syrian capital, one day after a conference of major powers in Geneva discussed US demands for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad.
Egypt: Islamist president takes symbolic oath of office in Tahrir Square
By Johannes Stern, 30 June 2012
Mohamed Mursi, the first Egyptian president since the revolutionary ouster of long-time dictator Hosni Mubarak last year, took a symbolic oath of office in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday.
Egyptian junta installs Islamist Mursi as figurehead president
By Barry Grey, 25 June 2012
Egypt’s electoral commission declared Mohamed Mursi, the Muslim Brotherhood candidate, the winner of the presidential election runoff held the week before in the midst of a political coup carried out by the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.
Protests continue in Cairo amid threats of crackdown by military junta
By Barry Grey, 23 June 2012
As tens of thousands rallied Friday in Cairo’s Tahrir Square against the assumption by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) of dictatorial powers, the junta threatened to unleash repression against the protesters.
Egyptian presidential elections marked by mass abstention and fraud
By Johannes Stern, 18 June 2012
Mass abstention was the Egyptian working class's verdict on the first presidential elections in Egypt after the revolutionary ouster of US-backed dictator Hosni Mubarak in February 2011.
The Egyptian coup
By Johannes Stern, 16 June 2012
The military coup carried out by the Egyptian junta is a serious threat to the Egyptian revolution and the working class.
Egyptian Revolutionary Socialists’ reaction to army coup: Complacency and tacit support
By Alex Lantier, 16 June 2012
The coup launched Thursday by Egypt’s ruling military junta has exposed the bankruptcy of the Revolutionary Socialists (RS) and Egypt’s entire petty-bourgeois ex-left milieu.
Egyptian junta stages coup against parliament
By Johannes Stern, 15 June 2012
The US-backed Egyptian military junta dissolved the Islamist-dominated parliament yesterday in a military coup.
The Mubarak verdict
By Johannes Stern, 5 June 2012
The verdicts handed down Saturday in the trial of deposed Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and his top aides are a political travesty.
Egyptian Revolutionary Socialists endorse Islamist presidential candidate
By Johannes Stern, 1 June 2012
The petty-bourgeois Revolutionary Socialists (RS) group has endorsed the candidate of the right-wing Muslim Brotherhood (MB), Mohamed Mursi.
Protests erupt against presidential elections in Egypt
By Johannes Stern, 30 May 2012
Protests in various cities broke out in Egypt after the Supreme Presidential Electoral Commission (SPEC) announced the official results of the initial round of the presidential elections.
The Egyptian junta’s fraudulent elections and the tasks of the working class
By Johannes Stern, 26 May 2012
Egypt’s elections have exposed the sham character of the so-called “transition to democracy” organized by the Egyptian ruling class in conjunction with Washington after the overthrow of longtime US-stooge Hosni Mubarak.
Low turnout in Egyptian presidential elections
By Johannes Stern, 25 May 2012
The initial round of the first presidential elections in Egypt after the revolutionary ouster of long-time US-stooge Hosni Mubarak, on May 23-24, was marked by low turnout and numerous electoral violations.
Egyptian presidential candidates outline counterrevolutionary programs in TV debate
By Johannes Stern, 17 May 2012
Amr Moussa and Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh outlined right-wing programs in last Thursday’s TV debate, held in advance of the first round of presidential elections on May 23-24.
As protests mount against election-rigging
Egyptian military junta steps up threats of violence
By Patrick Martin, 4 May 2012
The threats follow Wednesday’s massacre in which more than a dozen protesters were killed and hundreds wounded.
US steps up drone war in Yemen
By Patrick Martin, 27 April 2012
Dozens have been killed by US drone-fired missiles in Yemen, in addition to the hundreds slaughtered in Pakistan.
Yemeni president announces cosmetic changes to military
By Will Morrow, 25 April 2012
The reshuffle leaves the military hierarchy intact and relatives of former President Saleh in charge of key sections of the security apparatus.
Demonstrator shot dead ahead of Bahrain Grand Prix
By Jean Shaoul, 23 April 2012
Bahrain security forces shot dead an anti-government demonstrator, Salah Abbas Habib Musa, after angry clashes with the police on Friday night.
Mass protests in Bahrain in advance of Grand Prix auto race
By David Walsh, 21 April 2012
In advance of Sunday’s Grand Prix, tens of thousands of protesters took to a major highway in Bahrain Friday to demand democratic rights and called for the downfall of the country’s autocratic regime.
CIA seeks to widen assassination campaign in Yemen
By Patrick Martin, 20 April 2012
The Washington Post reported Thursday that the proposal for expanded killing authority was being discussed in the Obama White House.
Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood nominates presidential candidate
By Johannes Stern, 6 April 2012
On Saturday, the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) announced it would run its deputy supreme guide, billionaire tycoon Khairat al-Shater, in the coming Egyptian presidential elections.
Egyptian Revolutionary Socialists campaign for war against Syria
By Johannes Stern, 26 March 2012
In recent weeks, Egypt’s misnamed Revolutionary Socialists (RS) have stepped up their campaign in support of imperialist war plans against Syria.
New bid for UN resolution aimed at Syrian regime-change fails
By Chris Marsden, 14 March 2012
On Monday, Russia again refused to sign a draft resolution put before the United Nations Security Council condemning the regime of Bashir al-Assad, on the grounds that it could be used to justify military intervention in support of the Syrian opposition.
Massive anti-government protest in Bahrain
By Tom Eley, 10 March 2012
On Friday, tens of thousands demonstrated against the monarchist regime in Bahrain, a key US ally in the Middle East.
Egyptian junta lifts travel ban on NGO operatives
By Johannes Stern, 3 March 2012
On Thursday, a US military plane flew several American NGO operatives out of Egypt following the lifting of a travel ban by the ruling military junta.
Financial markets demand sharper crackdown against Egyptian workers
By Johannes Stern, 3 March 2012
The Middle East Ratings and Investor Service (MERIS) has threatened that renewed political upheaval in Egypt will result in further credit downgrades.
US reaffirms support for Egyptian junta amid conflict over NGOs
By Johannes Stern, 21 February 2012
High-ranking US officials made clear that, despite the Egyptian military junta’s criticism of US-funded Non-Governmental Organizations, ties between Washington and Cairo remain close.
US-backed Bahraini regime continues repression
By Niall Green, 18 February 2012
The crackdown on protests in Bahrain continued this week, with repeated police attacks on working class neighborhoods and protests.
The Egyptian revolution and the struggle for workers’ power
By Johannes Stern, 16 February 2012
The failure of strike calls by petty-bourgeois “left” parties in Egypt highlights the need for an independent political struggle by the working class with the aim of taking power and establishing socialism.
Britain’s Socialist Workers Party covers for imperialist regime change in Syria
By Chris Marsden, 15 February 2012
Britain’s Socialist Workers Party is working to conceal imperialist preparations for regime change in Syria.
Arab League calls for UN intervention in Syria
By Niall Green, 13 February 2012
The Arab League met in Cairo and called for UN intervention in escalating fighting between the Syrian regime and US-backed opposition forces.
Egyptians protest in lead-up to anniversary of Mubarak’s ouster
By Alex Lantier, 11 February 2012
Thousands marched in Cairo, Alexandria, and other cities against the US-backed Egyptian military junta yesterday.
Report of Arab League mission to Syria contradicts Western propaganda
By Chris Marsden, 9 February 2012
The report by the Arab League’s observer mission to Syria was suppressed because it contradicts Western efforts to justify regime change.
US shuts Syrian embassy, threatens war
By Alex Lantier, 7 February 2012
The US shut its Syrian embassy and Britain recalled its ambassador to Syria yesterday, amid rising US and European war threats against Syria and tensions with Russia and China.
After Russia’s UN veto, US talks of “coalition of the willing” against Syria
By Jean Shaoul and Chris Marsden, 6 February 2012
The veto by Russia and China of a UN Security Council resolution will not halt ongoing preparations for Western-backed intervention against Syria.
Protests against Egyptian junta spread after football massacre
By Johannes Stern, 4 February 2012
On Friday, protests triggered by Wednesday’s pro-regime footballriot spread throughout the country.
Renewed mass protests mark anniversary of Egyptian Revolution
By Johannes Stern, 26 January 2012
One year after the beginning of the Egyptian Revolution on January 25, millions of workers and youth took to the streets and squares all over Egypt to protest the-US backed military junta in Egypt.
One year of the Egyptian Revolution
By Alex Lantier, 25 January 2012
One year ago today, millions of workers in cities throughout Egypt took to the streets on the first day of revolutionary protests against President Hosni Mubarak.
Obama backs regime change in Syria amid calls for intervention
By Bill Van Auken, 19 January 2012
President Obama reiterated his support for regime change in Syria as calls for intervention in the country continued to mount.
ElBaradei abandons Egyptian presidential candidacy
By Johannes Stern and Alex Lantier, 17 January 2012
On January 14 Mohamed ElBaradei, the most well-known representative of the liberal opposition in Egypt, announced he was abandoning his presidential candidacy.
The US and its Middle East proxies
By Chris Marsden, 14 January 2012
The United States, Turkey and the Gulf States are actively preparing a military intervention in Syria.
Russia warns US, allies planning for war in Syria
By Niall Green, 13 January 2012
The Russian government has accused Washington and its allies in Europe and the Middle East of preparing for a military intervention into the civil conflict in Syria.
The Egyptian Revolution, the Muslim Brotherhood and the apologetics of the Revolutionary Socialists
Part 3
By Jean Shaoul, 7 January 2012
This is the conclusion of a three part article on the political apologetics extended by the Revolutionary Socialists for the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.
The Egyptian Revolution, the Muslim Brotherhood and the apologetics of the Revolutionary Socialists
By Jean Shaoul, 7 January 2012
Nine months after the fall of Hosni Mubarak, Islamist parties secured a majority in the first two rounds of Egypt’s parliamentary elections.
The Egyptian Revolution, the Muslim Brotherhood and the apologetics of the Revolutionary Socialists
Part 2
By Jean Shaoul, 6 January 2012
This is the second in a three part article on the political apologetics extended by the Revolutionary Socialists for the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.
The Egyptian Revolution, the Muslim Brotherhood and the apologetics of the Revolutionary Socialists
Part 1
By Jean Shaoul, 5 January 2012
This is the first of a three part article on the political apologetics extended by the Revolutionary Socialists for the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.
Egyptian military junta raids, shuts down political organizations
By Johannes Stern, 4 January 2012
Last Thursday Egypt’s public prosecutor, supported by armed military and police forces, closed 17 offices of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Cairo.
Arab League mission to Syria becomes focus of demands for military intervention
By Chris Marsden, 31 December 2011
The visit by Arab League observers to Homs, Hama, Idlib, the Damascus suburb of Deraa and other conflict zones has become the focus of demands for the Western powers to intervene militarily into the civil war in Syria.
Rising demands for military intervention in Syria
By Jean Shaoul, 23 December 2011
The Arab League’s announcement of economic sanctions against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime has set in motion a rapidly escalating crisis that is drawing in both regional and major powers.
Thousands of women march in Cairo against military junta
By Barry Grey, 21 December 2011
Thousands of women marched in downtown Cairo Tuesday to protest against the deadly crackdown on demonstrators being carried out by the army and demand the resignation of the military junta.
Egyptian military cracks down on peaceful protesters
By Johannes Stern, 19 December 2011
Over the weekend, the US-backed military junta in Egypt launched another deadly crackdown on peaceful protesters, killing at least nine and wounding hundreds.
Washington continues campaign for Syrian regime-change
By Niall Green, 12 December 2011
Washington and the European powers have stepped up their campaign to oust the Bashar government through efforts in the UN and talks with Syrian oppositionists.
US condemned for arming Egyptian regime
By Bill Van Auken, 9 December 2011
Documents obtained by Amnesty International show that Washington repeatedly shipped arms to the regime in Egypt even as it hypocritically deplored “excessive force” by police and troops.
Low turnout for run-offs in first wave of Egyptian elections
By Alex Lantier, 7 December 2011
Voter turnout was minimal for run-off parliamentary elections in Egypt, amid expectations of an Islamist victory.
Report exposes brutality of Saudi Arabian regime
By Niall Green, 5 December 2011
A report by human rights organization Amnesty International records the wave of repression unleashed by Saudi authorities in response to the “Arab Spring” uprisings.
First round of Egyptian parliamentary elections begins
By Alex Lantier, 30 November 2011
Voting in parliamentary elections began Monday and continued yesterday in nine of Egypt’s 27 governorates.
The Egyptian revolution turns against the military
By Johannes Stern, 28 November 2011
The renewed revolutionary upsurge in Egypt is the working class’s verdict on the Egyptian military’s claims to be leading a “democratic transition” away from the dictatorship of President Hosni Mubarak.
Millions demand downfall of US-backed Egyptian junta
By Johannes Stern, 26 November 2011
On Friday millions of workers and youth protested against military rule in Egypt and demanded the downfall of the US-backed Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) junta.
The civil war in Syria and the fate of the Middle Eastern revolution
By Chris Marsden, 26 November 2011
The passing of the Arab League deadline for the regime of Bashir al-Assad to meet its terms brings military intervention in Syria’s escalating civil war by the region’s powers one step closer.
Mass protests intensify against Egyptian junta
By Alex Lantier, 24 November 2011
Clashes continued yesterday in cities across Egypt, on the fifth day of mass protests demanding the overthrow of the US-backed Egyptian military junta.
Millions protest to demand overthrow of US-backed Egyptian junta
By Johannes Stern, 23 November 2011
On Tuesday millions of workers and youth staged protests and strikes all over Egypt, demanding the downfall of Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi and the US-backed Egyptian junta.
Renewed uprising signals turning point in Egyptian revolution
By Bill Van Auken, 22 November 2011
The revolutionary upheavals that began in Egypt last January 25 have reached a crucial turning point in which the decisive question is the independent political mobilization of the working class in the struggle for power.
The counterrevolutionary role of the Egyptian pseudo-left
By Alex Lantier and Johannes Stern, 21 November 2011
This article analyzes the role of the pseudo-left organizations in opposing a struggle by the working class to bring down the military junta in Egypt.
Syria targeted for imperialist intrigue after Arab League suspension
By Chris Marsden, 18 November 2011
The Arab League’s three-day deadline for Syria to meet its terms or face suspension cannot possibly be met.
Tunisia delays forming government amid a new wave of strikes
By Kumaran Ira, 15 November 2011
Rising strikes in Tunisia underscore continuing popular opposition to the political establishment, which has still not succeeded in assembling a government after the latest elections.
Protests mount against power grab by Egyptian military
By Patrick Martin, 8 November 2011
A growing popular movement has erupted against the attempt by the military council to entrench its rule.
Tunisians distrust upcoming Constituent Assembly election
By Kumaran Ira, 17 October 2011
The Constituent Assembly election in Tunisia, slated to draft a new constitution, is scheduled for October 23.
Egyptian junta defends massacre, launches fresh attacks on strikers
By Johannes Stern, 14 October 2011
Dozens of eyewitness reports and video footage on YouTube prove that the junta deliberately unleashed a brutal massacre, using live ammunition and armoured vehicles to kill and crush peaceful protesters.
US-backed Egyptian junta massacres peaceful protesters
By Johannes Stern, 11 October 2011
The Egyptian military is attacking protests as mass opposition to the regime grows.
Another NATO-backed interim government in Libya
By Will Morrow, 5 October 2011
The new government is composed almost entirely of ministers of the previous government, after the NTC admitted it could not come to a unified decision over who would take control of the key ministries.
The slaughter in Sirte
By Patrick O’Connor, 3 October 2011
In their frenzied drive to crush all resistance in the north African state, NATO and its proxy militia forces are unleashing indiscriminate military force, killing civilians and destroying buildings and infrastructure.
US sells arms to Bahraini dictatorship as repression continues
By Niall Green, 3 October 2011
The Pentagon will provide the dictatorship in Bahrain with an additional $53 million worth of weapons.
Egypt’s “independent” unions seek to end strikes, prop up junta
By Johannes Stern, 1 October 2011
The renewed upsurge of the Egyptian working class sparked by the disastrous social conditions and a deepening economic crisis is sending shock waves through the Egyptian ruling elite.
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