Egypt Upheaval Today; Jordan, Syria and Saudi Arabia Unrest Tomorrow?

Just how contagious is unrest?

With more than a million Egyptians filling the streets and calling for the immediate resignation of President Hosni Mubarak, and with President Barack Obama calling for a swift transition to a new government "now," leaders from other Arab nations are showing signs of growing stress.

Surge Desk runs down the latest moves and reactions from governments trying to avoid becoming the next domino in a populist uprising that started in Tunisia.

1. Jordan
Jordan's King Abdullah II sacked the entire government in one fail swoop today. But whether this pre-emptive act is seen as a mere reshuffling of the deck or an actual nod toward reforms is still unclear. As The New York Times pointed out today, Abdullah has made a similar staff change 12 times over the past eight years.

2. Syria
The potential spark for an anti-government movement will come on Saturday, when demonstrations dubbed a "Day of Rage" are planned in Damascus. Whether Facebook and Twitter will prove as effective a tool in organizing a significant outpouring of support is far from a certainty, but as Surge Desk reported Monday, President Bashar Assad, possibly out of fear for what Saturday might start, has also signaled that reforms are in the works.

3. Saudi Arabia
Calling the protesters in Cairo and Alexandria "infiltrators," Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah made clear that his allegiance in this crisis is to Mubarak and law and order.

"Egypt is a country of Arabism and Islam," Abdullah said, according to the Saudi Press Agency. "No Arab and Muslim human being can bear that some infiltrators, in the name of freedom of expression, have infiltrated into the brotherly people of Egypt, to destabilize its security and stability and they have been exploited to spew out their hatred in destruction, intimidation, burning, looting and inciting a malicious sedition."

As for online "sedition," the kingdom has shown it has no qualms with pulling the plug on Facebook should it ever feel the need.

4. Yemen
Inspired by the throngs in Egypt and Tunisia, demonstrations in Yemen have so far drawn tens of thousands of citizens. The protesters are demanding that President Ali Abdullah Saleh step down.

5. Algeria
Protesting against a government-imposed 19-year state of emergency, approximately 10,000 demonstrators took to the streets in Bejaia, Algeria, last week. In response, the government swiftly lowered oil and sugar prices for the nation's consumers, Agence France-Presse reported. Given the fact that voicing discontent has actually brought some measure of results, one wonders how long it will be before Algerians organize their next rally.

More coverage from Surge Desk:
Tahrir Square [LIVE STREAM]
Egypt Internet Ban: 5 Ways Protesters Beat the Blackout

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