Bahrain protesters take control of main square

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Thousands of protesters poured into a main square in Bahrain's capital Tuesday in an Egypt-style rebellion that sharply escalated pressure on authorities as the Arab push for change gripped the Gulf for the first time.

Security forces have battled demonstrators over two days, leading to the deaths of two protesters. In a clear sign of concern over the widening crisis, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa made a rare national TV address, offering condolences for the deaths, pledging an investigation into the killings, and promising to push ahead with reforms, which include loosening state controls on the media and Internet.

As the crowds surged into Pearl Square in the capital of Manama, security forces appeared to hold back. The dramatic move Tuesday comes just hours after a second protester died in clashes with police in the strategic island kingdom, which is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.

Oppositions groups are calling for greater political freedom and an end to the ruling Sunni monarchy's grip on key decisions and government posts. The nation's majority Shiites have long complained of discrimination.

AT&T CEO: Apps should run on many devices

AT&T Inc.'s CEO Randall Stephenson, on Tuesday expressed frustration with the way applications are sold to smart phone users, saying customers should be able to buy an application once and have it work across many different devices.

AT&T Inc. was until last week the sole U.S. carrier for the iPhone, which sells apps that run only on Apple devices. Yet in a keynote speech at the world's largest mobile-phone trade show in Barcelona, Stephenson said the industry needs to support technologies that allow applications to run on devices from different manufacturers.

"You purchase an app for one operating system, and if you want it on another device or platform, you have to buy it again," Stephenson said. "That's not how our customers expect to experience this environment."

Stephenson highlighted a new standard for Web software, HTML 5, which will allow applications to run on different devices. He also highlighted the Wholesale Applications Community, which is an "app store" set up by carriers as a counterweight to app stores run by Silicon Valley heavyweights Apple Inc. and Google Inc.

Egypt's Interior Ministry tries to create 'good relations' with public

As Egypt marks a public holiday Tuesday to commemorate Prophet Mohammed's birthday, the country's Interior Ministry is trying to connect with the public through Facebook -- a social networking site some credit with helping topple a regime of almost 30 years.

The ministry created a Facebook page in attempt to bring back "good relations with the public and improve the image of Egyptian police," according to a statement carried by state media.

The police force's role in supporting the regime of President Hosni Mubarak has left the police widely unpopular.

On Monday, thousands of state workers from various ministries demonstrated for better pay and better working conditions around the country, witnesses told CNN. The demonstrations followed weeks of protests that led to Friday's resignation of Mubarak, who had ruled the country with an iron fist since 1981.

The country is now run by the military. Mubarak's abdication leaves a council of generals, led by Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi, in charge of the Arab world's most populous nation. Since Friday, the military has dissolved parliament, suspended the constitution and vowed to remain in charge until elections can be held in six months or so.

In a statement Monday from the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, efforts are on track to "realize the legitimate demands of the people for a true democratic environment."

Filipino peace talks open in Norway

Peace talks between the Philippine government and Marxist rebels resumed Tuesday after a six-year break, with the rebels calling for the "expeditious" release of a communist leader and four other prisoners.

Allan Jazmines, a senior member of the Communist Party's leadership, was arrested Monday shortly before a cease-fire went into effect for the weeklong talks, which are aimed at ending a four-decade-long conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people.

In his opening statement, rebel negotiator Luis Jalandoni urged the government to release Jazmines and four other imprisoned rebel leaders.

"Such a release will be of positive value towards the continuation of the peace negotiations," he said.

He also called for the release of 350 "political prisoners," whom he said had been "victims of false charges" under the former political regime.

Iranian lawmakers: Put opposition leaders on trial

 Hard-line Iranian lawmakers called on Tuesday for the country's opposition leaders to face trial and be put to death, a day after clashes between opposition protesters and security forces left one person dead and dozens injured.

Tens of thousands of people turned out for the opposition rally Monday in solidarity with Egypt's popular revolt that toppled President Hosni Mubarak after nearly 30 years in power. The demonstration was the first major show of strength from Iran's beleaguered opposition in more than a year.

At an open session of parliament Tuesday, pro-government legislators chanted "death to Mousavi, Karroubi and Kahatami," referring to opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mahdi Karroubi and former reformist President Mohammad Khatami.

More than 220 lawmakers said in a statement that the trio should be held responsible for the unrest. "We believe the people have lost their patience and demand capital punishment" for the opposition leaders, the statement said.

Hardliners have long sought to put high-ranking opposition figures on trial, but the calls for the death penalty signaled an escalation in their demands.

Authorities appeared to be moving quickly in a bid to stifle the opposition before its gains momentum, issuing promises of swift action against leaders and activists, the official IRNA news agency reported.

"The judiciary will quickly and resolutely deal with major elements and those who violated public order and peace," the spokesman for Iran's judiciary and state prosecutor, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi, told IRNA.