EGYPT

The Federal Reserve's $600 billion bond purchase program will be completed as planned, top Fed officials signaled on Monday, though they saw heightened economic uncertainty from unrest in the Middle East.

Anti-government protests are escalating in Bahrain, as demonstrators have already marched on the U.S. embassy are now assembling before the main financial hub of downtown Manama.

Saudi Arabia will witness greater popular pressures and potential unrest in the long run, unless the Kingdom deals with socio-economic and political challenges, a Middle East analyst has said.

Pent-up demand has resulted in a surge in Iraqi stocks due to political gains and lifting of UN sanctions, says investment management company Global Capital Investments.

The Federal Reserve cannot rule out expanding its $600 billion stimulus as political upheaval in the Middle East and North Africa heighten U.S. economic uncertainty, a top Fed official said on Monday.

Fears of a civil war and a looming humanitarian crisis grew in Libya as forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi escalated attacks on rebel-held cities in a bid to recapture control, causing dozens of deaths and mass exodus of people.

Here's a slideshow on places depicting the diverse culture and rich history of the Arab countries, which are going through a phase of political turmoil and civil unrest.

Men in plain clothes armed with swords and petrol bombs attacked protesters in Cairo on Sunday night during a demonstration demanding reform of security services with a reputation for brutality, witnesses said.

Bahrain's crown prince warned all sides against escalating a standoff with disgruntled majority Shi'ites seeking an elected government in the Gulf Arab kingdom, asking for patience ahead of a national dialogue.

The Kenyan shilling was steady against the dollar on Monday, and traders said it was likely to weaken due to demand for dollars from oil importers.

Men in plain clothes armed with swords and petrol bombs attacked protesters in Cairo on Sunday night during a demonstration demanding reform of security services with a reputation for brutality, witnesses said.

Troops loyal to Muammar Gaddafi have launched counter-offensives against rebel-held towns, increasing fears that Libya is heading for a civil war rather than the swift revolutions seen in Tunisia and Egypt.

North Korea is facing many of the same issues that led to revolutions from Tunisia and Egypt to Libya, but what are the chances of a similar uprising in the authoritarian Asian state?

Egypt’s fearsome ex-interior minister Habib el-Adly has been put on trial in Cairo, facing charges of corruption and instructing his officers to use deadly violence against protesters last month who demonstrated against the regime of Hosni Mubarak.

Saudi Arabia banned all public demonstrations in the country and vowed to use all forces to stop the Shiite-led protesters from breaking public order, reports have said.

Protests at the state security building in Alexandria, Egypt led to violent clashes between demonstrators and security officers who fired on them

U.S. crude prices jumped to their highest since September 2008 on Friday and Brent rose above $116 a barrel as Libyan security forces cracked down on protesters in Tripoli and clashed with rebels near the major oil terminal of Ras Lanuf.

The new prime minister of Egypt, Essam Sharaf, has vowed to enact democratic reforms, speaking before a cheering crowd of at least 10,000 people in Tahrir Square in Cairo.

The Libyan telecommunications operator has cut off Internet traffic from inside the country.

Many Bangladeshis remain stuck in Tripoli and other cities, but cannot leave due to the extremely volatile situation between pro- and anti-Gaddafi forces; while others have struggled to cross into neighboring Tunisia.

Rich nations could tap strategic oil reserves if needed to ward off the risk that Middle East political unrest triggers an inflationary price spiral, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Thursday.