Latin America

As the tide of battle appeared to shift for the first time Thursday in favor of forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi, the United States and its European allies moved closer toward intervening – if not yet militarily – on the side of the insurgency.

Earlier, in his second televised speech in as many days, Gaddafi once again alleged involvement of foreigners in the rebellion against his more than 41-year-old rule.

Marwa Sharaf el-Din, an Egyptian law PhD candidate at Oxford University, spent part of International Women’s Day in Tahrir Square this afternoon to perform Zajal, a popular traditional form of Arabic poetry.

Women from grassroots organizations all across the globe arrived in New York this week for a five-day summit dedicated to bolstering female and community- based representation at the all levels of political decision making.

Violence against women is not a subject that one would normally associate with comic strip books, but a French publisher thought this would be a “perfect” medium for raising awareness among both young and old.

Under growing political pressure at home, President Barack Obama inched closer here Monday towards committing U.S. military power to at least protecting areas under rebel control, if not ending the 42-year reign of Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi.

Hugo Chavez’s offer to mediate in the Libyan crisis marks the Venezuelan president’s latest attention-grabbing foray onto the world stage, yet analysts warn that he risks “ending up on the wrong side of history” if he stands by Muammar Gaddafi’s internationally discredited regime.

The most popular tactic is to run and shoot, retreat a bit if taking fire, and regroup and try again. It’s more street fighting than military tactics.

“Every woman is a woman of frustration. Me, I’m just struggle.” Hanin Zoabi, 41, is a Palestinian Israeli woman, a fighting woman. An elected member of the Israeli Knesset parliament, she is the first woman on an Arab party’s list, Balad.

“Gaddafi’s leadership style has always been repressive, impulsive and unpredictable,” says Stephen Zunes, professor of politics and international studies at the University of San Francisco, where he chairs the program in Middle Eastern Studies.