‘Arab Spring’ states seek to contain anti-Islam film violence

Last week, Arab governments and the United States sought to contain and overcome the violence and protests over an anti-Islam film produced in the United States. The film was close to bringing U.S-Islamic relations to staleness and strengthening extremist groups who have lost popularity during the Arab Spring.

Meanwhile in Syria, last week was one of the bloodiest in more than six months, with more than 800 recorded deaths. The commandment of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) moved from Turkey to Syria and Aleppo saw some brief clam as warring parties took a break. But in Damascus and idlib, President Bashar al-Assad’s “killing machine” intensified

A recent study by “Al Arabiya Institute for Studies and Training” examined Washington’s reassessment of the Muslim Brotherhood and its new allies in the Arab Spring countries. The “new allies” of Washington failed to protect it against the violence sparked by the anti-Islam film.

Later last week, new rulers in some Arab Sprig countries sent messages to Washington affirming that “they can control their people.”

In Benghazi for example, thousands of Libyans led counterattacks against “Ansar al-Sharia” militias that are involved in the assassination of the U.S ambassador. When the Libyan authorities disbanded all militias and armed groups, Hilary Clinton appeared to draw a line from al-Qaeda’s involvement in the attacks on the U.S. consulate in Libya as a tribute to the Libyan government’s efforts.

Alternatively in Yemen, Sanaa welcomed the cooperation with Washington regarding the attacks against the U.S embassy. Sanaa accepted the intervention of the U.S. Marines to protect the American interests. And what highlighted this cooperation was the meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and Abd al-Rab Mansur al-Hadi in the White House, where the former stressed on the American support for Yemen in the transitional phase.

In Tunisia, Rached Ghannouchi, the leader of the Islamist “al-Nahda” (Revival) party, stated that the extremist Salafist militants pose a threat to stability in Tunisia. He also expressed his will to deal with these radicals after the attacks on the U.S embassy.

The relations between the “Brotherhood” and the “Salafists” in Egypt were in extreme confusion. The Muslim Brothers were seeking distance themselves from the Salafists in order to show that they are against the fundamentalist movement. Mursi understood very well what Obama had said at the U.N. General Assembly meeting on Sept. 25, when he declared that the U.S is against those who are persecuting the Copts in reference to the radicals Salafist currents.

Before heading to New York, Mursi sent a clear message expressing his government’s resentment against the violent attacks on U.S. facilities. In an interview with the New York Times, he emphasized that Egypt and the United States are “two real friends.”

All the parties involved in the Syrian war have tried to draw a new strategy to manage the crisis. In light of the ongoing wars and battles, no achievement can be expected: Assad’s regime is still carrying on its operations to terrify the Syrians, although it has failed to end the battle in Aleppo. The armed opposition needed a strong step forward so they moved their command centers from Turkey to Syria.

Last week’s most important political event was the “National Conference to

Save Syria,” especially that Russia and China attended it. There have been talks that Moscow and Beijing are trying to find a substitute for al-Assad regime.

At the diplomatic level the talks about a military intervention, were still ongoing between regional and international “pro-Syrian revolution” parties. In this context, Lakhdar Brahimi excluded any settlement for the moment stating that the situation in Syria is worse than he imagined.

In Sudan, many talks and discussions were held last week to search for a peace agreement that would end the dispute between both north and south Sudan. Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir and his South Sudan counterpart Salva Kiir met many times last week to discuss the ravaging economic situation in both countries after oil exports from the south through the north were cut earlier this year. Some sources have also reported that Sudan and South Sudan have agreed to set up a buffer zone along their border and resume oil exports while leaving the issue of the disputed region of Abyei for future talks. This scenario depends on the amount of regional and international pressures imposed on both parties. These pressures may lead to enact a quick and immediate solution to the unsettled issues before both presidents al-Bashir and Kiir leave Addis Ababa.