Your Morning “Middle East” Primer

Oman: Not only is there a protest movement growing, it’s actually being covered by the country’s media — which exists in an uneasy state between self-censored and intimidated.

Libya: There is essentially an under-weaponed ground war under way in Libya. Between 1000 and 2000 people have died; in the last 12 hours, Gaddafi loyalists have seized and then lost Al Brega, an oil town in the east. Many see a chance to leave: “The Tunisian government says at least 80,000 people have crossed into the country from Libya in the past week, with many more expected.” Gaddafi is trying to recall his U.N. ambassadors, who have renounced him. Gaddafi meanwhile denies, according to the BBC, that there is a real movement to unseat him: “There are no peaceful demonstrations at all. It is a conspiracy. It is a conspiracy to gain control of Libyan oil.”

Saudi Arabia: Ailing King Abdullah returned to the country after a three-month medical leave, and upon his return, announced $36 billion in payments to the country’s subjects. And yet? “Not even Saudi Arabia can escape the currents of unrest sweeping through the Arab world. And the royal family, through its mismanagement of the kingdom’s public infrastructure, might have brought some of it on itself.”

Yemen: Ah, finally: The State Department comes out in favor of the current government, because they think the alternatives provide a nice spot for al-Qaeda. You’ll be hearing a lot of this to come; it’s only surprising how quiet the diplomats and intelligence people have been about regimes and terrorism.

Equatorial Guinea: Meet dictator’s son Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue! Oh you want to read this.