2.53pm: A Yemeni draft law granting immunity to the outgoing president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, has been amended today to limit the protection his aides would enjoy, a minister told Reuters. The draft law, which has been heavily criticized by rights groups, the United Nations and Yemeni protesters, will now shield the aides only in "political cases," said legal affairs minister Mohammad Makhlafi. It had previously offered blanket immunity to associates of Saleh, who will still get full protection himself, Makhlafi said, without elaborating the type of cases on which his aides could be tried. Meanwhile, demonstrations against Saleh's regime continue, including in the restive city of Taiz. 2.29pm: The online campaign group, Avaaz, has joined the clamour calling for the Arab League to push for help from the UN in Syria. With the Arab League observers due to submit their report on the Syria mission today, Avaaz claims that their presence in the country has failed to stop the bloodshed. It says it has recorded 746 civilian killings since the mission began and attacks by security forces on over 20 demonstrations organised for monitors' visits. Avaaz executive director Ricken Patel said: Arab League observers have now observed Assad's brutality first hand. Their mission has been treated with contempt and failed on every objective. Protesters are targeted under their noses and many of the people they speak to are immediately attacked. It's time for the Arab League to push for help from the UN Security Council to stop the horror-show in Syria. On Wednesday, a coalition of 140 human rights organisations working in Arab countries urged the Arab League to withdraw its monitors from Syria and to call for the UN to take action to stop the violence. 1.52pm: Here is a lunchtime summary. Over a dozen people have been killed as clashes between the regime's security forces and opposition activists and army defectors continue (see 1.33pm). A military brigadier, named as Adel Moustapha, was killed by soldiers who refused his orders to shoot at civilians in Hama, the Local Coordination Committees, an activist group, report. The head of Arab League observers will submit the group's report on their heavily criticised mission in Syria today (see 10.10am). The mission's initial one-month mandate agreed with Damascus expires today. Activists say demonstrators have been burning tyres in a protest intended to coincide with the second Bahrain International Air Show (see 12.57pm). In the wake of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry's report, the Bahraini regime has failed to address the roots of the kingdom's political and economic inequalities, two researchers say in a lengthy analysis on Open Democracy (see 11.48am). The criminal trial of the ousted Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak for alleged collusion in the killing of more than 800 protesters is illegal as he should be tried by a military tribunal, his lawyer has told a court in Cairo (see midday). A prominent Egyptian activist was attacked by unidentified assailants on Wednesday night (see 9.49am). 1.33pm: The Local Coordination Committees report, a Syrian activist group, five people killed in Hama today and have posted a video purporting to be of "heavy gunfire by the regime's army" in the city. One of those killed was a military brigadier, named as Adel Moustapha, who was killed by soldiers who refused his orders to shoot at civilians in the Bab Qilbi area. "The brigadier had previously overseen many killing and arrest operations," the LCCs report. An earlier post said a number of people were wounded by "random gunfire" in the Jarajmeh area of the city, and another reported a "massive explosion" in Alamin Street. The LCCs also report gunfire at mourners at the Falah Mosque, and the sealing off of roads to Salmiuyeh and Homs. About two hours ago they reported "inspections ... taking place at most of the security checkpoints spread all over the city and the surrounding areas." The body of a young man was found in the Damascus suburb of Douma, according the LCCs. The body bore signs of torture. A man called Ziad Saada was also reported killed. The LCCs report renewed clashes between the Free Syrian Army and the regime army in Daeel, Daraa. The city has been sealed off, they say. Two soldiers were killed while defecting; a captain from the regime army was also killed. In Qamishly, the LCCs report that Marwan Moustapha Antar, an army private, was killed by security force gunfire. It is unclear whether he had defected. The LCCs posted a video purporting to be of shooting at Ryad Salheen mosque in Homs (see below). Ma'aroof Hussain Al-Nakadli was shot dead while driving his taxi car though Al-Jajeh checkpoint in the city, the LCCs report. In Ibleen, Idlib, 21 soldiers defected, taking all their military equipment with them, "at the town's checkpoint at dawn this morning." Mohammad Hashem Al-Abdullah was killed by security force gunfire there. In Jabal Al-Zawiyah in Idlib four men were killed by security forces as they drove a car under the Basanqol bridge. In Bayda, Banyas, the LCCs report a demonstration in front of security forces. "Participants are awaiting the arrival of the Arab League observers," they say. In Deir Ezzor, the body of Ma'an al-Humaidi Al-Hassan Al-Hafal was found with a bullet in the head; he was injured in yesterday's demonstrations and arrested. Funeral processions, protests around the country, and clashes between students and shabiha ("ghost") militia at Aleppo University were also reported by the LCCs. This map shows where many of those places are. View Middle East Live blog locations in a larger map It is hard for foreign journalists to get permission to report from Syria and the LCCs' reports cannot be properly verified. 12.57pm: Bahraini activists say demonstrators have been burning tyres in a protest intended to coincide with the second Bahrain International Air Show. They say they were forbidden to protest in front of the event so have made their point as best they can. Pictures posted online show black smoke in the sky. Picture by @bahrain2all Michael Stephens, researcher at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, told Airwise the air show was unlikely to provide the hope-for boost to Bahrain: The ongoing political problems in Bahrain mean that the show is unlikely to be as successful as the Bahrainis would like it to be. Bahrain relies on its reputation as a good place to do business to survive - they do not have much oil or material resources. The air show needs to be a success for them to revive their international reputation. 12.00pm: The criminal trial of the ousted Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak for alleged collusion in the killing of more than 800 protesters is illegal as he should be tried by a military tribunal, his lawyer has told a court in Cairo, Deutsche Presse-Agentur reports. Farid al-Deeb claimed that Mubarak is still an honorary chief of the air force, which he commanded for six years in the 1970s. Mubarak would presumably hope for an easier time in a military tribunal. His former interior minster, Habib el-Adly, also on trial, has certainly enjoyed warm relations with the soldiers at the courthouse. 11.48am: In the wake of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry's (BICI) report (pdf), the Bahraini regime has failed to address the roots of the kingdom's political and economic inequalities, two researchers say in a lengthy analysis on Open Democracy. Kristian Coates Ulrichsen and Elham Fakhro write that the result has been "the empowerment of radical voices across the political spectrum and the marginalisation of Bahrain's political middle ground." Elements of the opposition are growing more violent, while extremist groups calling on the regime to crush the opposition once and for all have intensified in recent weeks. Competing narratives have diverged sharply since BICI, illustrating the chasm that has opened up where the moderate middle used to be ... In the emotive run-up to the anniversary of February 14, the danger for both the regime and the 'established opposition' is that the rug is pulled out from under them by more radical groups on all sides of the political spectrum ... For its part, the government has hardly helped itself by its pursuit of largely-symbolic gestures even as the security crackdown shows no sign of ending. Continuous announcements of impending reforms have yet to translate into significant action to redress the abuses of power and responsibility identified by BICI ... The longer the old elite remains untouched by high-level calls to account for the abuses of power over the past year, the harder it will be to convince sceptics of the government's good faith. Calls to violence by opposition and regime hardliners alike make any solution more difficult, without a decisive power-shift towards moderate elements. For these reasons, the anniversary of Bahrain's February 14 uprising is fraught with dangers as it could as easily signal the next phase of the confrontation as it could the resolution of the present one. 10.58am: The Syrian Revolution General Commission has named eight people it says have been killed by security forces today. It says one of them was M'an Hmaid Al-Hasan, who it claims was arrested on Wednesday in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor before his dead body was returned today. The SRGC's report cannot be independently verified. Many of the deaths reported recently have been in Homs. This video shows a civilian being removed from the rubble of a house that was purportedly bombed in BabHoud, in Homs. Initial attempts to revive him appear unsuccessful. 10.40am: Staying on the subject of foreign intervention in Syria, the Arabist's Issandr el Amrani says he is opposed to it but that it is inevitable - the question is who will do it. The conflict is likely to perdure and will probably draw in its neighbours - Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Israel. In other words, it is likely to internationalise. These countries (and in the case of Lebanon and Iraq, others working through them) may want to back a particular faction, or quarantine the conflict (which will have an impact on the belligerents, of course). What's more, fighters from those countries may very well want to join one side or the other (there have already been rumors of Iranians joining in on the regime side). In other words, foreign intervention will be a reality sooner or later. I'd rather it'd be done by Syria's neighbors then the west, even if that means it will be bloodier or even if it leads to Assad staying in power. Quite simply, it's none of our business. 10.30am: There has been plenty of discussion recently about the rights and wrongs of foreign intervention in Syria but Syrian blogger Maysaloon argues it is a "moot point." The so-called Free Syrian army has been mounting bolder attacks, and has been maintaining a stout defence in Homs, the heartland of the Syrian revolution, as well as in the Zabadani and Madaya suburbs of Damascus more recently. It's not clear how much longer they can maintain this, but I think the steady trickle of defections that are happening could start turning into an avalanche if this situation continues. On another front, the Syrian currency has recently sunk to a jaw-dropping low of 70.5 Syrian pounds to the dollar. Any more than that and the Syrian economy will start to go into free-fall. I think all this discussion and condemnation of international intevention is a moot point. If this situation continues the way it is any longer, without one side trying to end the stalemate in its favour, then this regime could implode. Hezbullah daren't get itself embroiled into a Syrian civil war and stretch itself with Israel lurking just south of the border, and Iran, with all its enthusiasm, is too far from Syria to do anything more than token support and advice. We're not going to see divisions of the Quds brigade airlifted to Damascus just to prop up Assad, though we could start seeing a bigger spurt of suicide bombings, explosions and assassinations. Still, the country is crumbling under the political crisis, and whilst Assad is preparing to dig himself deeply for a long fight, he might find himself a prisoner in his own palace, as he faces not just defected Syrian soldiers, but the economic influence of the wealthy, bourgeois, Syrian diaspora who are enthusiastically supporting the Syrian revolution. 10.10am: The head of Arab League observers will submit the group's report on their heavily criticised mission in Syria today, the Daily Star of Lebanon reports. The Arab bloc's deputy leader, Ahmed Ben Helli, is quoted as saying: We are at a turning point as the Arab observer mission's report will be presented on Thursday, marking a month since the protocol was signed ...The report will be decisive. It has been blighted by criticism and the resignation of one member, Anwar Malek, who described it as a farce, powerless to prevent "multiple crimes against humanity." 9.49am: A prominent Egyptian activist was attacked by unidentified assailants on Wednesday night, AP reports. A small crowd set upon Nawarah Negm as she left work in Cairo's Nileside headquarters of state television and radio. Video shows her being struck by assailants who also hurl abuse at her: Negm is the daughter of Ahmed Fuad Negm, Egypt's best known satirical poet and a longtime critic of ousted leader Hosni Mubarak. She was a key figure in the uprising that forced Mubarak to step down last February. In an interview with al-Jazeera the day after the first demonstrations, she warned that thousands would return to the streets until Mubarak got the message. Negm was questioned by prosecutors this week over her alleged role in deadly clashes last month between troops and protesters in Cairo. 9.18am: With the ceasefire in Zabadani, after days of shelling locals have returned to the streets. This video shows a demonstration that reportedly took place last night. US-based Syrian activist Ammar Abdulhamid says the truce is a significant development that shows "all that Syrian rebels need at this stage is some support, and they can take care of the business of bringing down the Assad regime on their own." Locals say the terms were negotiated by officers taking their orders from Assef Chawkat, Assad's brother-in-law and the man believed to be responsible for orchestrating all current sweep operations in the country. The negotiations happened through the auspices of local dignitaries, that is, there were no direct meetings between defectors and loyalists. The occasional pounding that took place earlier on Wednesday came to a quick halt and the pullout to points further outside the town seems to have proceeded as agreed. Still, there are legitimate concerns that the ceasefire in Zabadani was made because the regime intends on carrying out major sweep operations in the restive region of Eastern Ghoutah to the East of Damascus. But even if this were the case, the fact that the regime needed to negotiate a ceasefire in order to ready itself for the alleged operations, is a major indication of how embattled its troops are at this stage. 8.55am: Welcome to Middle East Live. The first Arab leader to call for Bashar al-Assad to step down has said that change in Syria will not happen soon. Jordan's King Abdullah told CNN: I don't see Syria going through many changes. I think what you're seeing in Syria today, you will continue to see for a while longer. It's a very complicated puzzle and there is no simple solution. If you can imagine Iraq being a simple solution to move Iraq into the light a couple of years ago and it's different in Libya, so it has everybody stumped and I don't think anybody has a clear answer on what to do about Syria. Syrian forces have pulled back from the rebel-held town of Zabadani near Lebanon after an agreement with insurgents to end fighting, a senior opposition leader in contact with residents has told Reuters. Dozens of tanks and armoured vehicles that had been surrounding the town, 30 km (19 miles) northwest of Damascus, pulled back on Wednesday night to military garrisons 8 km (5 miles) away, and food and basic supplies have started reaching the town, Kamal al-Labwani told Reuters. There were reports on Wednesday that the truce had broken down. A Syrian newspaper has accused Qatar of funding terrorists in the country. The newspaper claimed that Qatar, which has suggested sending pan-Arab forces to the embattled country, is continuing the "negative role it has filled from the start of the current crisis in Syria," the Israeli website Arutz Sheva reported. Qatar sent troops into Libya to help topple Gaddafi and is also viewed as one of the most hawkish Arab countries with respect to Syria. US officials claim to have uncovered an effort by Iran to help Syria mask its oil exports and evade a US and European embargo, the Wall Street Journal reports. It said: American officials investigating the Iranian operation said it is designed to quietly ship Syrian crude oil to Iran, where it can be sold on the international market, with revenue going back to Damascus. Transit records document one such shipment, involving more than 91,000 metric tons of crude, which took place last month. The Muslim Brotherhood's chairman, Mohamed Badie, met the US ambassador to Egypt, Anne Patterson, on Wednesday. He said the popularity of the United States was diminishing because of US support for dictators. Patterson admitted that the US had made "some mistakes" and expressed its intent to learn from them, al-Masry al-Youm reported. Egypt's tourism minister says revenues from the vital tourism sector fell by nearly 30% in 2011 compared to the previous year, amid the unrest stemming from the mass uprising that ousted former president Hosni Mubarak. The state-run Al-Ahram on Thursday quoted tourism minister Mounir Abdel-Nour as saying that the number of tourists coming to Egypt last year dropped by over 33%, to 9.8 million, compared to 14.7 million in 2010. Tourism revenues for 2011 came in at $8.8bn versus $12.5bn in 2010. Egypt has asked the International Monetary Fund for a $3.2bn loan to help bridge a burgeoning deficit. At least three prominent journalists have been arrested in Iran in a fresh crackdown on press freedom ahead of the country's parliamentary elections in March. Two journalists, Marzieh Rasouli and Parastoo Dokouhaki, and photojournalist Sahamoddin Bourghani were arrested separately by officials believed to be from the Iranian security services.