The proposals even had to be put on hold in the spring amid mounting criticisms from the medical profession, academics and MPs.

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But there are also countervailing pressures as well, not least from Saudi Arabia which seems intent on mounting a counter-attack against any shoots of the Arab spring erupting in its neighbourhood.

BBC: Syria crisis could change face of the Middle East

To make the spring-auction deadline, Prokopi stayed up for ninety hours straight to finish the prep work and the mounting.

NEWYORKER: Bones of Contention