Protesters gathered together across much of the Arab world on Friday, as regional unrest spread beyond Tunisia and Egypt. Demonstrations have been held in Amman, Beirut and other Islamic regions in support of the Egypt protests.

More than 3,500 opposition activists from the main Islamist opposition group, trade unions and leftist organizations gathered in Jordan's capital Amman calling for the government's resignation.

The rallies marked the third consecutive Friday of protests, after Muslim prayers, inspired by unrest in Tunisia and Egypt.

Jordan's King Abdullah II has promised reforms in meetings with members of parliament, former prime ministers, civil society institutions and even Jordan's largest opposition group, the fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood Movement.

Elsewhere, dozens of Lebanese and Egyptians protested outside the Egyptian embassy in Beirut in support of the tens of thousands out on the streets of Cairo.

One protester said "The situation in Egypt should not go on forever, 80 million Egyptians should not be ruled by a small group of people who are benefiting from its resources."

And close to 200 members of various Islamic organizations demonstrated against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak after Friday prayers in Istanbul on Friday.

Recep Goker, one protester said "We want to show our support for the revolt in Egypt. We send our regards, hopefully the oppression of the past 30 years will end today."

Meanwhile, a top Iranian cleric has hailed the recent protests by people in the Arab World and called them an Islamic uprising taking over the region. He says a greater Islamic Middle East is being formed.

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