Yemen's cabinet approves immunity law for Saleh [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Male #1
Amid heightened security measures, former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, his two sons Alaa and Gamal, former interior minister Habib al-Adly, and six top aides arrived at the criminal court of the Cairo Police Academy. Presided by Judge Ahmad Rifaat, the Cairo criminal court held a session to hear the testimonies of civil rights claimants in the cases of ordering the killing demonstrators and of financial corruption. The court has set Monday and Tuesday aside to hear from the state prosecutor's witnesses. In the previous court session, the general prosecutor's office demanded the death penalty for Mubarak and al-Adly, as well as for the former Cairo security chief, the commander of central security forces, the head of the dismantled state intelligence agency, and the head of the public interest agency. In Yemen, the council of ministers approved a draft resolution granting outgoing President Ali Abdullah Saleh and his aides immunity from prosecution. The immunity, which doesn't extend beyond Yemeni borders, was approved by parliament. The youths of change have strongly rejected the measure. Abed Rahman al-Shimiri reports from Sanaa.

Reporter, Male #2
Tensions are rising between President Ali Abdullah Saleh and his deputy on one side and leaders of the ruling party and the opposition on the other. The national consensus government has submitted a draft law granting President Saleh and his aides immunity from prosecution to parliament for approval. The law was endorsed by the minister of the opposition, who described it as "an urgent measure" to improve the situation in the country.

Guest, Male #3 (Nabil al-Sharjibi, Professor of Political Crisis Administration at Hadida University)
The council of ministers' decision may serve as a mechanism to help manage the crisis during the remaining period of Ali Abdullah Saleh's regime. However, the measure will not serve as a final solution or settlement. Drafting a law like this is a clear indication that crimes and abuses were committed in the past period.

Reporter, Male #2
However, the youths in the squares believe that their revolution will not be complete until President Saleh and his elements are put on trial for ordering the killing of peaceful demonstrators, vowing to achieve their demand by escalating their protests across the country's freedom and change squares.

Guest, Male #4 (Mohammed al-Asal, Member of Sanaa's Coalition of Youth for Change)
We will not leave the square until all of the revolution's demands are achieved, most notably the trial of the murderers, criminals, and anyone with martyrs' blood on their hands. We will continue our revolutionary escalation at the squares.

Reporter, Male #2
It's a step that may stir more controversy on the Yemeni street concerning the issue of immunity. The law was secretly discussed by members of the council of ministers. I Observers believe that the immunity law will not extend beyond Yemeni borders, even if it were to enjoy Arab and international support. Endorsement of the draft law is not likely to end the rift between the outgoing president, whose reign expires next month, and his successor, amid doubts over Saleh's seriousness in relinquishing power, which will soon no longer constitute his constitutional privileges. Abed Rahman al-Shimiri, Dubai TV, Sanaa.

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Ayatollah vows Iran will resist Western sanctions [Press TV, Iran]

The leader of Iran's Islamic Revolution said Western sanctions are aimed at worrying Iranian people and shaking their will power. Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei stressed that the West's efforts to disappoint the Iranians will be futile as the nation expects to pull off even more successes in the future. Referring to the coming parliamentary elections, Ayatollah Khamenei said the vote is an exemplar of the people's presence in political decision-making. He said the election results symbolize the realization of people's choices and preferences and are respected by all.

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Iranian forces practice downing 'hypothetical enemy' drones [Press TV, Iran]

The commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps stressed Iran's readiness to stand against any threats or aggression. General Mohammad Ali Jafari made the remarks as the IRGC started the main phase of its military drills. The exercise has been underway near Khvat, 60 kilometers from Iran's eastern border with Afghanistan. The IRGC commander said the maneuvers are aimed at employing the latest water tactics against the hypothetical enemy. He added that the drills also showcase the IRGC's latest technological achievements. Shoulder-fired air defense missiles and armored units have targeted hypothetical army drones during the drills.

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Tensions rise in the Persian Gulf as Iran sentences American man to death for spying [Press TV, Iran]

Iran has sentenced to death a detained US-born Iranian man charged with spying for the US intelligence agency, the CIA. An Iranian court issued the verdict against Amir Mirzaei Hekmati. He was tried in Tehran late last month. Hekmati admitted to having been trained by the United States to infiltrate Iran's intelligence ministry. He said he was sent to the US-run Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan and given access to classified US intelligence before flying to Tehran to try to entice the Iranians with the intelligence he possessed. Iran's intelligence ministry says the country's network's monitoring activities at the Begram base discovered his presence and blew his cover.

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Tribal clashes in South Sudan leave two dozen dead [Press TV, Iran]

At least two dozen people including women and children were killed in fresh clashes in South Sudan. Twenty more were wounded in clashes in Jonglei state. Locals say attackers have razed crops, burned houses, stealing herds of cattle. They also say 11 children are missing. The young country of South Sudan declared Jonglei a disaster area after tribal clashes earlier his month. The UN humanitarian coordinator for South Sudan says tens perhaps hundreds could have died in the unrest. The United Nations says it will launch a massive emergency operation to help people in Jonglei state. Some 60,000 people are affected by the violence.

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Syrian defense minister visits Russian aircraft carrier [Press TV, Iran]

Syrian defense general Dawood Rejiha has visited the Russian aircraft carrier Kuznetsov. Rejiha has praised what he calls Russia's honorable stances in support of the Syrian people. He also said ties between Damascus and Moscow help enhance security in the Middle East. The Russian ambassador to Syria stressed the importance of implementing reforms by Damascus. Moscow has sent a flotilla, led by the Kuznetsov aircraft carrier to its space in Syria. Its commanders say their visit is aimed at bringing the countries together and strengthening mutual ties. Russia has supported Syria in the months of unrest that have gripped the country.

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Nigerian fuel protests turn deadly [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Female #1
Protestors have set fire to the streets of major Nigerian cities, including the country's commercial capital of Lagos. This news comes as Nigeria begins a nationwide strike over the elimination of a government fuel subsidy. The Nigerian workers' union vowed to keep the strike open as well as organize massive demonstrations until the government revokes its decision.

Reporter, Male #1
Tensions are once again running high on the streets of Nigeria, amid the general strike called for by the worker's union in protest of the first-time elimination of a government fuel subsidy in Africa's largest oil producer. Many Nigerians believe that the measure will end fuel subsides, which are the only government benefits available to them. The measure stirred wide controversy among the general public and the ruling regime. While parliament demanded the government revoke the measure, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan spoke of sacrifices that every citizen must make.

Guest, Male #2 (Goodluck Jonathan, Nigerian President)
We must all be prepared to make sacrifices. For the government's part, we are taking several measures aimed at cutting the size and cost of government spending.

Reporter, Male #1
In addition to economic deterioration, this African giant is once again slipping into religious strife, especially amid the escalating sectarian attacks on mosques and churches in the past few weeks. These new developments have brought back to memory the sensitive issue of coexistence among members of the Muslim and Christian communities.

Guest, Male #3
We have decided to defend ourselves against unjustified acts of killing.

Reporter, Male #1
It's a new test that brings to memory the civil war in Nigeria in the 1960s, which nearly rocked the country's stability and unity.

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At least 19 killed as crisis in Syria continues [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Male #1
The Syrian Revolution General Commission said 19 people were killed today by the security forces' gunfire during protests in a number of cities demanding the downfall of the regime. The opposition indicated that in one city, Syrian authorities sent the corpses of seven people who were tortured to death to their families. Meanwhile, the Syrian Revolution General Commission said the town of Madaya in Rif Dimashq was subjected to artillery shelling by the army's armored trucks.

Reporter, Male #2
The residents, known for their sense of humor, say that the people of Homs are continuing their battle against artilleries with their words. They write songs and make jokes in an attempt to remove the atmosphere of death from the neighborhoods of Bab al-Amr, Bab as-Sibaa, al-Khaldiya, Deir al-Balba, al-Inshaat, and all of Syria. Three hundred days have passed since the youths lit the spark of revolution in Daraa. However, all this time has not been enough for other Arab nations to take actions to end their Syrian brothers' sufferings in the streets and alleys of the Syrian capital Damascus, its countryside, and other parts of the country. The Arab Ministerial Committee on Syria convened a meeting on the eve of the 300th day of the revolution. Most of its members were absent from the meeting. After a debate about the absence of the majority of members, the committee issued a conclusive statement granting the Syrian regime additional time. The revolutionaries and dissidents believe that the statement unjustly equates the executioners with the victims, as it addressed the armed gangs' violence alongside the violence by the authorities against its citizens. Therefore, the angry masses rose up and responded to the official Arab position with chants affirming their goal for freedom. Soon, the Syrian Revolution General Commission further explained the masses' position by sending a letter to the secretary-general of the Arab League, requesting that he announce the failure of its initiative and rejecting any solution to the crisis that does not entail the regime's downfall. The Commission also requested that the secretary-general refer the issue to the UN Security Council so that international law could protect the civilians, considering that Syria is a member of the United Nations. The call for international intervention is seen as a fundamental source of contention between the regime's pillars and the opposition groups. However, this call has gained broad support from the revolutionaries and protestors, who have long raised slogans demanding the internationalization of the issue and called on the international community to set up a buffer zone and a no-fly zone protect them from the repression by the regime's military forces. Of course, those who hold this position also have doubts about why the international community has procrastinated in ending the bloodshed in Syrian after it quickly took action in Libya. Some took the liberty to imply, both subtly and frankly, that Israel is the reason, while others believe it's only a matter of time before the real reason will be revealed.

Presenter, Male #1
Meanwhile, activists uploaded images online showing lines of tanks backed by armored trucks storming the town of Madaya in Rif Dimashq this morning. Military forces shelled a number of houses in two towns, Madaya and Zabadani, with heavy weaponry and mortar shells at night, killing four people and wounding several others, some of whom are in critical conditions. This took place after soldiers in the region defected from the army. In addition, the surroundings areas of al-Buraq Mosque were also shelled.

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Amnesty warns of continued Mideast protests and repression in 2012 [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Male #1
In a new report on the tragic events witnessed in 2011, Amnesty International warned of the possibility that governments in the Middle East and North Africa will continue exercising violence and repression. The report gave details of how the governments in Arab countries use excessive violence to quell the unprecedented calls for radical reforms. Meanwhile, the protest movements have not shown any indication that they will accept partial reforms or give up on their aspirations.

Reporter, Male #2
According to the statements of prominent senior directors at Amnesty International, certain Arab countries are working to conduct "cosmetic changes" to suppress the protest movements spreading in their territories. The organization says this proves that a number of governments in the region are determined to stay in power. Interim Director of Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa program, Philip Luther, says a number of Arab regimes have resorted to brutalizing their people in order to deal with them. Luther said the people have proven astonishingly resilient in the face of sometimes staggering repression. 2011 witnessed popular uprisings that respectively toppled the regimes in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya. Meanwhile, the eruption of protests may lead to the imminent resignation of the Yemeni president. However, the human rights situation in some of these countries has not improved much. Instead, it has deteriorated according to the latest report by Amnesty International. In its 80-page report, Amnesty International condemned what it considered to be human rights violations by Egypt's Military Council, which took over the reins of power after the downfall of Mubarak's regime. The report indicated that some of these violations are in some ways even worse than those that occurred during the former president's reign. For instance, the report indicates that between October and December 2011, 84 people were killed in what it calls a violent crackdown by the army and security forces against protestors. Furthermore, Amnesty International's report indicates that torture is continually practiced on detainees. It also points out that the number of Egyptian civilians who were referred to the military court within one year exceeded that of the entire Mubarak era. Criticism was also directed at the ruling transitional authorities in Libya. The London-based organization said in its report that Libya's transitional government has not been able to establish control over the gunmen who participated in toppling Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi's regime. The report also points to the detainment of nearly 7,000 people without trial. Naturally, Amnesty International did not overlook the exploding situation in Syria and said that the government in Damascus is grimly determined to cling to power at any human cost. In addition, the organization accused the Syrian army and intelligence service of committing what it referred to as crimes of torture, which may constitute crimes against humanity, in a desperate attempt to terrorize, silence, and oppress dissidents. Zuheir Baraki, BBC.

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Hundreds of Jordanians mark first anniversary of reform movement [New TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Female #1
The Islamist movement held a sit-in to mark the first anniversary of the reform movement in Jordan. They sent a message to the regime about the need to hold the corrupt accountable. My colleague, Ma'an Abu Dalu reports from Jordan.

Reporter, Male #1
The center of the country's capital Amman witnessed an unprecedented security presence as hundreds gathered in al-Nakhili Square in the Ras al-Ein neighborhood to take part in an event called for by the Islamist movement and several reformists to mark the first anniversary of the reform movement in Jordan.

Guest, Male #2 (Dr. Ali Abu al-Karr, Islamic Action Front)
This mobilization continues peacefully with the same demands for reforms. As I said, these reforms would be reflected in constitutional amendments that restored authority to the Jordanian people, so they can be the source of authority and exercise their political will by electing a government through the parliamentary majority.

Guest, Male #3 (Dr. Akram Karsishan, Reform Movement)
We're sending a message to the regime about the necessity of holding all the corrupt accountable who robbed the nation of its wealth and riches. They must be tried and sentenced to prison, and the wealth they stole must be returned.

Reporter, Male #1
On the other side of the brotherhood's rally, hundreds of Jordanians from the youth reform movement took to the streets to reject the armament and militarization of the youth. They demanded that the peaceful nature of the reform movement be maintained.

Guest, Male #4 (Dr. Nidal Mudi, Jordanian Communist Party)
Reforming the economic infrastructure; reducing the suffering of the masses, especially the downtrodden working class; reforming the political system, especially the electoral law and political parties law; all this must be conducted.

Guest, Male #5 (Dr. Essam Khawajah, Popular Unity Party)
The most essential of these demands, which have not been met so far, is constitutional reform, which will lead the people to become the source of authority and to elect governments that genuinely represent them.

Reporter, Male #1
The display of arms and the militarization that led Jordanians to hold the "enough is enough" march was met with an unprecedented security presence. This is an indication of the power the state holds when the lives of Jordanians are under threat; they recalled the events of Black September and warned against repeating the military scenes carried out by militias. Ma'an Abu Dalu, New TV, Amman.

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Palestinian source says stalemate with Israel likely to continue [IBA, Israel]

In a further attempt to renew peace negotiations, Israeli and Palestinian envoys are meeting again today for a second round of talks in Jordan. But Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman had some grim predictions for today's meeting. Although they were scheduled to meet for the second time in less than a week, officials on both sides were pessimistic that there would be any progress at all. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's envoy, Yitzhalk Molcho, was scheduled to meet Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat in Amman, Jordan, in the presence of Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh. Erokat was expected to present Molcho with the Palestinian response to the document he received from Israel last week, spelling out Israel's limits on borders and security.

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Israeli MK throws water at colleague during heated debate in parliament [IBA, Israel]

Now to a story that has made a splash in the local media today. It took a glass of water to extinguish a discussion in the Knesset's education committee. MK Anastassia Michaeli of Yisrael Beiteinu tossed a cup of water on Labor MK Raleb Majadele after he told her to shut up and not interrupt him while he was speaking. Michaeli accused Majadele of insulting her and disrespecting the parliament. She then stormed out of the room saying that here colleague needs to learn better manners. For his part, the drenched and defiant MK said he would refer the incident to the committee's ethics committee.

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Shots fired at car belonging to Holyland affairs witness [IBA, Israel]

Several gunshots were fired today at the car of Avi Drexler, a key witness for the prosecution in the holy land real estate scandal. Drexler, who was in his home at the time of the shooting, said he heard the gunshots and immediately notified the police. No one was hurt in that incident. Drexler previously served as head of the Israel Lands Authority and currently works as a private attorney.

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Israeli bill to prohibit use of Nazi imagery [IBA, Israel]

It may soon be illegal here in Israel to adorn any Nazi symbols or engage in Nazi name calling. Last week, members of the ultra-orthodox community sparked outrage when they donned yellow stars of David and concentration camp uniforms during a protest in Jerusalem's Meah Shearim. The cabinet today back a bill proposed by a National Union MK Uri that would see those engaged in such behavior subject to a 100,000 shekel fine. Those in violation of the law could also face up to six months in jail.