Mauritanian police clashed with pro-democracy demonstrators March 8 in Bloc Square, central plaza of the capital, Nouakchott. Police used tear gas and clubs to disperse the protest, organized by the February 25 Youth Co-ordination group, leaving at least 18 hospitalized. The government had allowed young protesters to rally freely in the square since Feb. 25, but on March 4 announced that all public demonstrations must be authorized. Thousands continued to gather in the square daily, without an official permit, chanting "People want reforms, change or you will be changed!" (Magharebia, March 10; Middle East Online, March 9)

Police opened fire March 10 to disperse protesters at Qatif in Saudi Arabia's mainly Shi'ite east, leaving at least one man injured. Security forces are on alert in the east for a "day of rage" that has been called for the next day, Friday, in defiance of a ban on all demonstrations. Several hundred protesters, some wearing face masks to avoid being identified, marched after dark in Qatif, demanding "Freedom for prisoners." (AP, NYT, March 10) Fighting broke out at a school in the mixed Sunni-Shi'ite town of Sar, Bahrain, after Shi'ite students held an anti-government protest. (The National, UAE; Reuters, March 10)

France became the first country to recognize Libya's opposition as its rightful government on March 10, and announced it will send an ambassador to rebel-held territory in the east. The move comes ahead of a European Union summit on the Libyan crisis called for the following day. The French decision was immediately praised by the rebels who urged the rest of the world to follow suit. "France has recognised the national transition council as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people," one of the opposition body's envoys, Ali al-Issawi, told reporters after meeting with Sarkozy. (Middle East Online, March 10) Qaddafi's forces meanwhile succeeded in taking the oil hub of Ras Lanuf, forcing its rebel defenders to retreat east under a hail of rocket fire. (Middle East Online, March 10)

The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that killed at least 34 people in the country's northwest March 9. The bomber detonated his explosives at a funeral procession for the wife of an anti-Taliban militiamen near Peshawar. Militia leaders charged the government with betrayal."We are ending all co-operation with the government. We will not forgive the Taliban for the death of our people, but we will avenge these deaths in our own way now," Dilawar Khan, leader of the Qaumi Amn Lashkar militia told the BBC. "We've fought against the Taliban. We've done what the government had to do but in exchange the government we didn't even receive security for a funeral." (AKI, RFE/RL, March 9) On March 8, militants targeted a gas station in Faisalabad, Punjab province, with a car bomb that killed some 25 people. The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility. (RFE/RL, March 9)

In an obvious move to head off the emergence of a powerful protest movement, Morocco's King Mohammed VI on March 9 announced a constitutional reform that gives more power to parliament and regional governments, strengthens human rights guarantees, and officially recognizes the importance of Amazigh (Berber) culture for the national identity. Tens of thousands of Moroccans demonstrated around the country for greater democracy on Feb. 20, and smaller rallies have been staged frequently since then. (DPA, Maghreb Blog, March 9)

Six Coptic Christians were shot dead and at least 45 injured in religious clashes with Muslims in the Egyptian capital March 9. Another Copt was killed in clashes with Muslims in Cairo the previous day, as some 1,000 Christians gathered to protest the burning of a church last week. The fighting broke out as dozens of Muslims showed up in the working-class district of Moqattam, inhabited by Copts who work as garbage collectors and who had blocked a main artery in the capital. People threw rocks from both sides and witnesses said soldiers at the scene fired shots into the air.

Thousands of Bahrainis took to the streets on March 7 to protest against the kingdom's naturalization policy, which they say is aimed at changing the demographic balance in the Sunni-ruled but Shi'ite-majority country. Protesters marched on government immigration offices while chanting "Bahrain, free, free! Naturalized people get out!" as well as "The people want to topple the regime!" The Bahrain Youth Movement said in a statement that the demonstration was called to oppose "naturalization... to change the demographics of the country." (Middle East Online, March 9)

A Yemeni protester died of gunshot wounds March 9 after being hit when police opened fire overnight on anti-regime demonstrators outside Sanaa University. Three other demonstrators were also wounded by gunfire, while some 60 others were lightly hurt due to being beaten by police batons or inhaling tear gas, officials said, who also charged that 12 policemen were injured by rocks hurled by demonstrators. Police had intervened to prevent protesters from erecting tents in a street close to the University Square, where demonstrators have been camping since Feb. 21 in a protest demanding the departure of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has ruled in power. (Middle East Online, March 9)