Sunday, February 20, 2011

At the Speed of Twitter: The Revolution Spreads to Libya, Bahrain, Yemen | TheWrap.com

By the time I picked up The New York Times Sunday edition with its lead story about protestors gaining momentum in Bahrain, the news had long been overtaken by the fast-moving wave that is washing over the Middle East. 

I could barely sit still to read the story about Bahrain’s security withdrawing from the central square – on Saturday night – in my haste to read the next page, where the revolutionary fever was throbbing through Yemen and Libya.

But then I had to switch to Twitter, where #Libya was riding a tear through the Twitterverse. Libyan security had opened fire on demonstrators; human rights groups claim at least 200 and as many as 500 have been killed.

What’s a five-lett

What’s a five-letter word for trouble? | Frank Munger’s Atomic City Underground | knoxnews.com: photo/Paul ... http://twurl.nl/i3u4jz

Gadhafi’s son warn

Gadhafi’s son warns of civil war in Libya: CAIRO (AP) — The son of longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi warned in ... http://twurl.nl/21zi76

What's a five-letter word for trouble? | Frank Munger's Atomic City Underground | knoxnews.com

libyablog
photo/Paul Efird

Apparently it's L-I-B-Y-A.

Every time I ask a question with that word in it, Oak Ridge folks act like I've asked them for the PIN to their bank cards.

Still, I persist.

Most recently, I asked for an update regarding the uranium-enrichment equipment that was transported from Libya to the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant in Oak Ridge in early 2004.

Steven Wyatt, the federal spokesman at Y-12, was extremely tight-lipped, but later came back with an e-mail response. "There has been no change in status for the equipment," he said.

Wyatt would not elaborate and never used the word "Libya" in any discussion. He did, however, indicate that "no change" meant Y-12 was sticking to its most recent response, which was in late-July 2006. At that time, Wyatt said, "The equipment is still being stored in Oak Ridge and is awaiting disposition."

The brevity of comment nowadays compares starkly to the Bush administration's trumpeting of events back in 2004, when President Bush and other top officials visited Oak Ridge to celebrate the coup in which Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi gave up work on weapons of mass destruction.

At a March event, the Libyan centifuges and other nuclear-related hardware were laid out under tents in a Y-12 parking lot for invited media members from across the country to peruse and photograph. (see photo above)

"What you have witnessed here is a big, big victory," then-Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said with no modesty at all.

Just a few months later, Bush and then-National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice visited Oak Ridge and inspected the same equipment, which had been moved temporarily to a facility at ORNL for their viewing convenience.

After that, there was little fanfare and not much information on the cache of Libyan stuff.

With one notable execption.

In 2005, Dennis Ruddy,the general manager at Y-12, addressed the Libyan issue on a couple of occasions in response to questions.

In a late September interview, Ruddy said, "There's a lot of interest in the things that we brought back from Libya because a lot of them, looking at them, measuring the tolerances, setting them up and operating them, to a certain extent tells us how close people are to be able to get a system that can work all the way to bomb-grade material."

A couple of weeks later, Ruddy was relieved of his duties at Y-12, apparently because his security clearance was pulled for breaching classification -- although that was never officially confirmed.

About the closest statement in that regard came from plant spokesman Mike Monnett, who said, "Because Dennis Ruddy can no longer meet the requirements necessary for employment at a nuclear weapons site, he has been reassigned to duties at (BWXT) headquarters."

Y-12 workers were emphatically instructed not to talk on the subject and, even now, a couple of years later, any question on the topic(s) is greeted with mostly silence and highly sanitized responses.

That's that.

Gadhafi's son warns of civil war in Libya

CAIRO (AP) — The son of longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi warned in a nationally televised address that continued anti-government protests that have wracked Libya for six days might lead to a civil war that could send the country's oil wells up in flames.

Appearing on Libyan state television after midnight Sunday, Seif al-Islam Gadhafi said the army still backed his father, who was leading the fight, although he added that some military bases, tanks and weapons had been seized.

Gadhafi's son says father in Libya | Top AP Stories | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

CAIRO — The son of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi says his father is in the country and backed by the army.

Appearing on Libyan state television early Monday morning, Seif al-Islam Gadhafi said: "We will fight to the last minute, until the last bullet."

Earlier he said protesters have seized control of some military bases, weapons and tanks and he warned of civil war in the country that would burn its oil wealth.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

CAIRO (AP) — The son of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi says protesters have seized control of some military bases and tanks.

Appearing on Libyan state television Sunday night, Seif al-Islam Gadhafi warned of civil war in the country that would burn its oil wealth.

He also acknowledged that the army made mistakes during protests because troops were not prepared to battle demonstrators.

He offered to put forward reforms within days that he described as a "historic national initiative." He said the regime was willing to remove some restrictions and to begin a discussion of the constitution. He offered to change a number of laws, including those covering the media.

Gadhafi’s son warn

Gadhafi’s son warns of a civil war that will burn Libya’s oil wealth: Gadhafi’s son warns of a civil war that... http://twurl.nl/h3f2e5

Gaddafi warns hundre

Gaddafi warns hundreds of thousands could die in post-Gaddafi violence.: Gaddafi warns hundreds of thousands ... http://twurl.nl/blx246

Saif El Islam Gaddaf

Saif El Islam Gaddafi says the US and UK will come and occupy Libya and block Islam.: Saif El Islam Gaddafi s... http://twurl.nl/jqldps

Middle East crisis may leave world over an oil barrel | Business | The Guardian

Saif El Islam Gaddafi says the US and UK will come and occupy Libya and block Islam.

Saif El Islam Gaddafi says the US and UK will come and occupy Libya and block Islam.

Gaddafi warns hundreds of thousands could die in post-Gaddafi violence.

warns hundreds of thousands could die in post-Gaddafi violence

Gadhafi's son warns of a civil war that will burn Libya's oil wealth

Gadhafi's son warns of a civil war that will burn Libya's oil wealth

Is the Libyan military about to dump Gaddafi? | The Spectator

There’s an intriguing Sky News report this evening which suggests that the Libyan Army might be about to turn away from Gaddafi. The channel is reporting that soldiers in the second city of Benghazi have turned from the regime and have told locals that they have ‘liberated’ the city. If the bulk of the military abandon him, then Gaddafi is done for.

BBC News - Middle East protests: Country by country

China snuffs out dem

China snuffs out democracy protests – Telegraph: via telegraph.co.uk http://twurl.nl/53w3qc

Al-Jazeera: Libya tr

Al-Jazeera: Libya tribal chief threatens to block oil exports – Israel News, Ynetnews: The head of the Al-Zuw... http://twurl.nl/tallfm

Rumors That Gaddafi

Rumors That Gaddafi Has Fled Libya: Libya’s ambassador to China, Hussein Sadiq al Musrati, has just resigned... http://twurl.nl/gj7wmg

Rumors That Gaddafi Has Fled Libya

Libya's ambassador to China, Hussein Sadiq al Musrati, has just resigned on air with Al Jazeera Arabic. He called on the army to intervene, and has called all diplomatic staff to resign.

He made claims about a gunfight between Gaddafi's sons and also claimed that Gaddafi may have left Libya. Al Jazeera has no confirmation of these claims.

Al-Jazeera: Libya tribal chief threatens to block oil exports - Israel News, Ynetnews

The head of the Al-Zuwayya tribe in eastern Libya has threatened to cut off oil exports unless authorities stop what he called the "oppression of protesters", Al-Jazeera quoted him as saying on Sunday. (Reuters)

China snuffs out democracy protests - Telegraph

Libya protests analysis: 'For Muammar Gaddafi it's kill or be killed' | World news | The Guardian

Rookie Trevor Bayne Wins Daytona 500 - Sports News Story - WDSU New Orleans

Anti-Government Prot

Anti-Government Protests Spread in Arab Countries | Middle East | English: via voanews.com http://twurl.nl/7c4p72

China cracks down on

China cracks down on protest threats, rounds up dissidents | McClatchy: BEIJING _ Chinese officials on Sunday... http://twurl.nl/h0k8ny

girl save her boyfri

girl save her boyfriend from anti protest guards(shiraz iran 20 feb 2011: via youtube.com http://twurl.nl/504rng

girl save her boyfriend from anti protest guards(shiraz iran 20 feb 2011

China cracks down on protest threats, rounds up dissidents | McClatchy

BEIJING _ Chinese officials on Sunday cracked down against protests, or rumors of them, sending police to detain dissidents and breakup public gatherings in the capital and Shanghai.

After Internet messages calling for demonstrations in 13 cities surfaced on Saturday, apparently from Chinese language sites based overseas, there were reports of activists being preemptively hauled away.

Anti-Government Protests Spread in Arab Countries | Middle East | English

Situation in Libya:

Situation in Libya: The United States is gravely concerned with disturbing reports and images coming out of L... http://twurl.nl/xcwsnf

Situation in Libya

The United States is gravely concerned with disturbing reports and images coming out of Libya. We are working to ascertain the facts, but we have received multiple credible reports that hundreds of people have been killed and injured in several days of unrest – and the full extent of the death toll is unknown due to the lack of access of international media and human rights organizations.

Uprising flares in L

Uprising flares in Libyan city – Africa – Al Jazeera English: via english.aljazeera.net http://twurl.nl/zkmjbz

Live streaming video

Live streaming video from Libya – powered by Livestream: via livestream.com http://twurl.nl/nu8d6l

Gunmen torch Iraqi T

Gunmen torch Iraqi TV station that showed protest: Sulaimaniyah, Iraq: Gunmen burst into a Kurdish television... http://twurl.nl/x5coy0

Gunmen torch Iraqi TV station that showed protest

Sulaimaniyah, Iraq: Gunmen burst into a Kurdish television station in northern Iraq on Sunday, shooting up the equipment and setting fire to the building, apparently in retaliation for footage they aired earlier in the week of a deadly protest, station officials said.

Live streaming video from Libya - powered by Livestream

Uprising flares in Libyan city - Africa - Al Jazeera English

Tunisia: Thousands protest against interim govt - World News - IBNLive

Reports That Some Libyan Army Units Are Joining Protesters

Libyan doctor in Benghazi confirming on AlJazeera that at least some army units have joined protesters there

Ex-President’s Dau

Ex-President’s Daughter Arrested at Iran Protest | News | English: via voanews.com http://twurl.nl/tbr15m

Photos From Libya �

Photos From Libya – a7fadhomar’s Photostream: via flickr.com http://twurl.nl/adw3dp

Photos From Libya - a7fadhomar's Photostream

Ex-President's Daughter Arrested at Iran Protest | News | English

Iran Tehran 20 Feb 2

Iran Tehran 20 Feb 2011 Car honking protest: via youtube.com http://twurl.nl/5wc6g6

Tehran Updates: 1 Es

Tehran Updates: 1 Esfand / February 20 – Tehran Bureau | FRONTLINE | PBS: via pbs.org http://twurl.nl/dp1qwv

Protests To Expand N

Protests To Expand Nationwide In The United States: Sign-up to attend a solidarity action this week Here’s ... http://twurl.nl/r8ebel

Protests To Expand Nationwide In The United States

Sign-up to attend a solidarity action this week


Here's a list of events coming up in your state this week. The list will continue to grow, probably by the hour, so keep checking back in. Use the sign-up form to the right and one of our organizers will be in touch with more information about the event.

Note: these are not all SEIU events - most are sponsored by other unions, but everyone is welcome to attend

Events on Monday February 21, 2011 (All times local)

Indiana
Rally
Time: 9 A.M.
Location: Indiana State Capitol
Address: 302 W Washington St - Indianapolis, IN

Montana
Rally
Time: 2 P.M.
Location: Montana State Capitol
Address: 1301 East 6th Avenue - Helena, Montana

Nevada
Rally
Time: 12 P.M.
Location: Nevada State Capitol
Address: 101 North Carson Street - Carson City, NV 89701

North Carolina
Rally
Time: 12 P.M. Location:
Address: 1 East Edenton Street - Raleigh, NC 27601

Oregon
Rally
Time: 12 P.M.
Location: State Capitol
Address: 900 Court St. NE - Salem, OR 97301

Texas
Candlelight March and Vigil
Time: 6:45 P.M.
Location: Meet at TX AFL-CIO
Address: 1106 Lavaca St. - Austin, TX. 78701

Wisconsin
Rally
Time: All Day
Location: State Capitol
Address: 2 East Main Street - Madison, WI. 53702

Events on Tuesday February 22, 2011 (All times local)

California
Vigil
Time: 5:30 P.M.
Location: State Capitol West Steps
Address: 1315 10th Street - Sacramento, CA 95814

Colorado
Rally
Time: 12:00 P.M.
Location: Colorado State Capitol
Address: 200 East Colfax Avenue (West Steps) - Denver, CO. 80203

Iowa
Rally
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: Iowa State Capitol
Address: 1007 East Grand Avenue - Des Moines, IA

Maryland
Rally
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: Lawyers' Mall, Maryland State House
Address: 100 State Circle - Annapolis, MD. 21401

Massachusetts
Rally
Time: 4:00 PM
Location: State House
Address: 1 Ashburton Pl - Boston, MA 02108

Massachusetts
Rally
Time: 4:00 PM
Location: City Hall Steps
Address: 36 Court Street - Springfield, MA 01103

Minnesota
Rally
Time: 4:00 PM
Location: Minnesota State Capitol
Address: 75 Constitution Ave - St. Paul, MN 55101

Ohio
Rally
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: Capitol Building
Address: 1395 Dublin Rd - Columbus, OH 43215

New Mexico
Rally
Time: 12:15 PM
Location: East Side of the State House
Address: 490 Old Santa Fe Trl # 219 - Santa Fe, NM 87501

Rhode Island
Rally
Time: 4:30 PM
Location: Rhode Island State House
Address: 90 Smith St - Providence, RI 02903

Vermont
Rally
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: Vermont State Capitol Building
Address: 115 State Street - Montpelier, VT. 05602

Wisconsin
Rally
Time: All Day
Location: State Capitol
Address: 2 East Main Street - Madison, WI. 53702

Events on Wednesday February 23, 2011 (All times local)

Connecticut
Rally
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: State Capitol Building, West Steps
Address: 210 Capitol Avenue - Hartford, CT. 06106

Georgia
Rally
Time: 4:00 PM
Location: State Capitol Building
Address: 206 Washington St - Atlanta, GA, 30334

Pennsylvania
Rally
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: Lackawana Court House
Address: 200 Adams Avenue - Scranton, PA 18503

Events on Thursday February 24, 2011 (All times local)

Ohio
Protest against Governor Kasich
Time: 4:00 PM
Location: Canton Civic Center
Address: 1101 Market Ave N. - Canton, Oh 44702

Tehran Updates: 1 Esfand / February 20 - Tehran Bureau | FRONTLINE | PBS

Iran Tehran 20 Feb 2011 Car honking protest

Middle East domino effect reaches China - Telegraph

Gunmen attack Iraqi TV station that showed protest - World news - Mideast/N. Africa

SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq — Gunmen burst into a Kurdish television station in northern Iraq on Sunday, shooting up the equipment and setting fire to the building, apparently in retaliation for the station's airing footage of a deadly protest earlier in the week, station officials said.

A group of 40 to 50 gunmen wearing military style clothes attacked the headquarters of NRT television in Sulaimaniyah

, 160 miles (260 kilometers) northeast of Baghdad, said Farhang Hars, a station spokesman. The station had been on the air for only a few days but had broadcast footage of a deadly protest this week in Sulaimaniyah.

  1. Top stories: Turmoil in the Middle East
    1. Bahrain protesters reclaim central square
    2. Death toll mounts in Libya protests
    3. Yemen security forces kill protester
    4. Hundreds of protesters defy police in Algeria
    5. Millions celebrate at Egypt's 'victory march'
    6. Egypt, Bahrain protests differ in key ways
    7. What you need to know about the unrest in the Mideast

"The channel showed some footage from the last demonstration in Sulaimaniyah, and it seems our work annoyed some sides," said Shaswar Abdul-Wahid, the Kurdish businessman who owns the station. He did not elaborate on who he thought was responsible.

During Thursday's protest, security guards opened fire on a crowd of demonstrators that had surrounded the Sulaimaniyah headquarters of Kurdish President Massoud Barzani's

political party and pelted it with stones.

Two people were killed and dozens were injured. Barzani's political party, the Kurdistan Democratic Party, said the guards were forced to defend themselves. Opposition groups described it as an attack against unarmed civilians.

The three provinces that make up the autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq generally enjoy greater economic success than the rest of the country, but many Kurds are angry with the stranglehold with which the two ruling parties control the region's politics and economy

.

Story: Kurdish guards fire on protest in Iraq, killing 2

Iraqis across the country have been following the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia intently and venting their anger against their democratically elected leaders over a lack of jobs, corruption and shoddy services.

The prime minister of the Kurdish region, Barham Saleh, condemned the attack in a press release and said it would be investigated.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

15 Things Kurt Vonne

15 Things Kurt Vonnegut Said Better Than Anyone Else Ever Has Or Will | Music | Inventory | The A.V. Club: vi... http://twurl.nl/n8grd5

15 Things Kurt Vonnegut Said Better Than Anyone Else Ever Has Or Will | Music | Inventory | The A.V. Club

Libyans vow to prote

Libyans vow to protest despite violence from government – CNN.com: (CNN) — Thousands of mourners, some carryi... http://twurl.nl/kp6fq6

Why Apple doesn’t

Why Apple doesn’t need an iPad 2 | Crave – CNET: via news.cnet.com http://twurl.nl/oz0q3z

Palestinians plan �

Palestinians plan ‘day of rage’ after US vetoes resolution on Israeli settlements | World news | The Guardian... http://twurl.nl/gxgk4e

Palestinians plan 'day of rage' after US vetoes resolution on Israeli settlements | World news | The Guardian

Why Apple doesn't need an iPad 2 | Crave - CNET

Libyans vow to protest despite violence from government - CNN.com

(CNN) -- Thousands of mourners, some carrying coffins above their heads, crowded into the streets of Benghazi, Libya, on Sunday as the protests against longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi showed no sign of letting up.

The crowds walked as part of a funeral for several people killed in clashes that began Saturday afternoon between civilians and security forces loyal to Gadhafi, eye witnesses told CNN.

The protesters said the violent crackdown by security forces since demonstrations started last week has left them energized.

The reported death toll grew quickly over the weekend, passing 180.

Iran Forces Dig In Along Protest Routes

By FARNAZ FASSIHI

TEHRAN, Iran -- Thousands of demonstrators chanting against the government poured into the streets in nationwide protests on Sunday, clashing with security forces trying to disperse them, according to witness accounts.

In Tehran, protestors targeted government landmarks such as the national broadcast company Seda va Sima--seen as a mouthpiece for the regime--chanting "God is great," and "Death to the dictator," witnesses reported on opposition websites.

Since early Sunday morning thousands of anti-riot police and Basij militia on motorbikes stood guard along the protest route all along Vali Assr Avenue, the capital's longest road that connects the affluent northern part of town to the poor southern neighborhoods.

One witness said they fired tear gas at the crowd outside of the national broadcast company. Violent clashes were reported on Enghelab Avenue with dozens of injuries and at least 15 people arrested, according to opposition websites live blogging events from several Iranian cities.

Tehran's municipality has reportedly removed trash bins from most neighborhoods because they are often set on fire by crowds, according to witnesses.

Tension and violence is expected to increase as the crowds get larger and darkness descends. Mobile services have been cut off in most Tehran neighborhoods and Internet has slowed down, apparently due to government controls.

For the past few days, opposition supporters and activists posted online pledges on a Facebook page for Sunday's event, named after the date of the Iranian calendar 1 Esfand.

"Join us dear ones for the day Iran will be free," said one post.

The government had warned that it would crack down on any illegal gatherings. As a stern warning to protestors, Fars News Agency, affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, warned the public that Sunday's protests would be bloody because "opposition plans to shoot people." That, opposition groups worry, could be an attempt to build a justification for a violent crackdown.

Iran's opposition has raised the stakes by openly labeling the struggle as a fight against "a religious dictatorship," according to a statement.

The statement, endorsed by opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi, appears for the first time to give the opposition's goal some clarity after tens of thousands of supporters took to the streets of Iran calling for regime change last Monday.

Sunday is the seventh day of mourning for two slain students Sanah Jaleh, 26, and Mohamad Mokhtari, 22, who were shot dead on Monday when security forces attacked the crowd.

The public uproar and the government's reaction to the killing--it claimed the students were pro-government agents despite family denials--is giving the opposition some momentum, in addition to a wave of antigovernment uprisings across the Middle East.

"The system governing Iran now is neither Islamic nor a Republic. The Islamic Republic has already collapsed at the hands of this regime," said Mr. Karoubi on Friday, in one of his harshest criticisms of the government, according to his website citing a message he sent to supporters through an advisor.

Iran's government is also striking back at the opposition with a coordinated campaign that includes isolating its leaders under house arrest, slandering them in state media as agents of U.S. and Israel and rallying people to chant against them in the streets.

For the past week, Messrs. Karoubi and Mousavi have been placed under strict house arrest with very little communication to the outside world. Their team of bodyguards, from the Revolutionary Guards elite Ansar Mehdi branch, was dismissed and intelligence agents took over their protection, according to their websites.

A number of Iranian student activist groups issued statements on Friday warning Iran's government against harming the leaders and said there would be a price to pay, including "violent revolutionary actions," by students according to the statement by Tehran University medical students posted on websites.

Thousands protest in Morocco - Africa - Al Jazeera English

Libyan forces fire on mourners again - World - CBC News

via cbc.ca

China tries to stamp out 'Jasmine Revolution' - Yahoo! News

BEIJING – Jittery Chinese authorities wary of any domestic dissent staged a concerted show of force Sunday to squelch a mysterious online call for a "Jasmine Revolution" apparently modeled after pro-democracy demonstrations sweeping the Middle East.

Authorities detained activists, increased the number of police on the streets, disconnected some mobile phone text messaging services and censored Internet postings about the call to stage protests at 2 p.m. in Beijing, Shanghai and 11 other major cities.

The campaign did not gain much traction among ordinary citizens and the chances of overthrowing the Communist government are slim, considering Beijing's tight controls over the media and Internet. A student-led, pro-democracy movement in 1989 was crushed by the military and hundreds, perhaps thousands, were killed.

On Sunday, police took at least three people away in Beijing, one of whom tried to lay down white jasmine flowers while hundreds of people milled about the protest gathering spot, outside a McDonald's on the capital's busiest shopping street. In Shanghai, police led away three people near the planned protest spot after they scuffled in an apparent bid to grab the attention of passers-by.

Many activists said they didn't know who was behind the campaign and weren't sure what to make of the call to protest, which first circulated Saturday on the U.S.-based, Chinese-language news website Boxun.com.

The unsigned notice called for a "Jasmine revolution" — the name given to the Tunisian protest movement — and urged people "to take responsibility for the future." Participants were urged to shout, "We want food, we want work, we want housing, we want fairness" — a slogan that highlights common complaints among Chinese.

The call is likely to fuel anxiety among China's authoritarian government, which is ever alert for domestic discontent and has appeared unnerved by recent protests in Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain, Yemen, Algeria and Libya. It has limited media reports about them, stressing the instability caused by the protests, and restricted Internet searches to keep Chinese uninformed about Middle Easterners' grievances against their autocratic rulers.

On Saturday in a speech to national and provincial officials, President Hu Jintao ordered them to "solve prominent problems which might harm the harmony and stability of the society."

China's extensive filtering and monitoring of the Internet meant that most Chinese were unlikely to know about Saturday's call to protest. Boxun.com, for example, is blocked as are Twitter and Facebook, which were instrumental in Egypt's protest movement. Still, young tech-smart Chinese are savvy about getting around controls.

One person sitting in the McDonald's after the brief protest in Beijing said he saw Sunday's gathering as a dry run.

"Lots of people in here are Twitter users and came to watch like me," said 42-year-old Hu Di. "Actually this didn't have much organization, but it's a chance to meet each other. It's like preparing for the future."

With foot traffic always heavy at the Wangfujing pedestrian mall, it was difficult to discern who showed up to protest, who came to watch and who was out shopping. Rubberneckers outnumbered any potential protesters. Many wondered if there was a celebrity in the area because of the heavy police presence and dozens of foreign reporters and news cameras.

As the crowd swelled back and forth and police urged people to move on, 25-year-old Liu Xiaobai placed a white jasmine flower on a planter in front of the McDonald's and took some photos with his cell phone.

"I'm quite scared because they took away my phone. I just put down some white flowers, what's wrong with that?" Liu said afterward. "I'm just a normal citizen and I just want peace."

Security agents tried to take away Liu, but he was swarmed by journalists and eventually was seen walking away with a friend.

Two other people were taken away by police, including a shabbily dressed old man who was cursing and shouting, though it wasn't clear if he was there because of the online call to protest.

In Shanghai, three young men were taken away from outside a Starbucks coffee shop in People's Square by police, who refused to answer reporters' questions about why they were detained. They trio had been shouting complaints about the government and that food prices are too high.

A couple dozen older people were drawn to the commotion and started voicing their own complaints and saying they wanted democracy and the right to vote. One woman jumped up on a roadside cement block to shout, "The government are all hooligans," then ran off, only to return a bit later and shout again at the police and others crowded in the area before once again scampering away.

Security officials were relaxed toward the retirees and the crowd eventually drifted away.

There were no reports of protests in other cities where people were urged to gather, such as Guangzhou, Tianjin, Wuhan and Chengdu.

Ahead of the planned protests, human rights groups estimated that anywhere from several dozen to more than 100 activists in cities across China were detained by police, confined to their homes or were missing. Families and friends reported the detention or harassment of several dissidents, and some activists said they were warned not to participate.

On Sunday, searches for "jasmine" were blocked on China's largest Twitter-like microblog, and status updates with the word on popular Chinese social networking site Renren.com were met with an error message and a warning to refrain from postings with "political, sensitive ... or other inappropriate content."

A mass text messaging service from China Mobile was unavailable in Beijing on Sunday due to an upgrade, according to a customer service operator for the leading service provider, who did not know how long the suspension would last. In the past, Chinese authorities have suspended text messaging in politically tense areas to prevent organizing.

Boxun.com said its website was attacked by hackers Saturday after it posted the call to protest. A temporary site, on which users were reporting heavy police presence in several cities, was up and running Sunday. The site said in a statement it had no way of verifying the origins of the campaign.

___

Associated Press writers Cara Anna and Charles Hutzler in Beijing and Elaine Kurtenbach in Shanghai contributed to this report.