Rallies for Mideast reform meet with resistance

>>> a new wave of protests swept other nations in the middle east today and in this era, as we say, of big, fast changes and foreign policy that can change on the spot, by the day, the u.s. is watching all of it very closely. so is nbc's ron allen , who is watching it from amman, jordan , tonight. ron, good evening.

>> reporter: good evening, brian. pro-democracy activists in this part of the world wanted to make friday a big day . they were hoping to generate some momentum. but they met fierce resistance everywhere. entrenched leaders fighting back and showing little interest in compromise or concessions. in syria these internet images carry the crackle of gunfire and scenes of protesters overcome with tear gas . reports say as many as seven more people died just days after president bashar al assad dismissed immediate reforms as a sign of weakness. there was good news for two americans being held by syria. tik root and mohammed radwan both were set free. they had been jailed for alleged involvement in the uprising. in yemen, the largest crowds yet, hundreds of thousands. president ali abdullah saleh still refusing to step down. that as opponents backed by military and tribal leaders demand his immediate resignation. dwie dividing a volatile country where al qaeda looks to gain from the chaos. and egypt, where victory seemed won. thousands returned to liberation square , worried leaders from the old mubarak regime are hijacking the revolution. the crowds demanding investigations, accountability, true reforms and freedoms now. and there were demonstrations for and against the government here in jordan today, but no confrontations. police were out in big numbers keeping things under control. another example of how leaders in this part of the world are making compromise -- are making revolution and reform a very tough thing to accomplish. brian.

>> all right, nbc's ron allen in amman, jordan , tonight. ron,