阿勒颇是叙利亚最大城市，也是主要的商业中心。从去年开始就有抗议活动，但规模都不像叙利亚其他地方那么大，因此总统阿萨德政府看似很稳固。但本周的游行规模要大得多，活动人士称这是他们在阿勒颇见过的最大规模的游行，参加者的背景各种各样。总统阿萨德开始面对附近居民渐涨的抗议，阿勒颇的游行可能就是开端。这对阿萨德的威望以及权力都可能是次打击。

Thousands of Bahrainis have held a rally outside the capital Manama against a plan for union between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. They held banners saying "Bahrain is not for sale". They are angry at what they see as an attempt by Saudi Arabia to exert more control on Bahrain.

数千名巴林人在首都麦纳麦外举行集会，抗议巴林和沙特的联盟计划。他们手持的小旗写道“不要出卖巴林”，对沙特企图加紧控制巴林感到愤怒。

The UN nuclear agency has announced that its Director General Yukiya Amano will travel to Tehran on Sunday following signs of progress in talks over Iran's nuclear programme. The IAEA, which has been unable to carry out full inspections in Iran, wants to investigate possible military aspects of its nuclear activities. Iran says its programme is for peaceful purposes.

有迹象表明伊朗的核项目取得进展，因此联合国核机构宣布负责人天野之弥周日将访问德黑兰。虽然国际原子能机构一直无法对伊朗进行全面检查，但仍希望调查到其核活动的军事用途。伊朗称其核项目是为和平目的。