Tunisia's Kasserine marks first anniversary of the revolution [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Female # 1
Popular neighborhoods in Tunisia played a crucial role in fueling the Tunisian revolution. These neighborhoods were part of the protest movement from its initiation, facing security forces loyal to the regime of deposed President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. One of these rebelling neighborhoods in the Tunisian city of Kasserine is enduring deteriorating conditions, the result of the marginalization and exclusion policy adopted by the former Tunisian regime. As part of al-Jazeera's special coverage of the first anniversary of the revolution's victory, we review some of its most prominent moments.

Reporter, Female # 2
They are proud of their accomplishment despite the heavy price they paid. We are in the neighborhood of al-Zouhour in the city of Kasserine, northwest Tunis. According to revelations by the fact-finding committee, the deposed president ordered the shelling of this neighborhood to suppress the revolution. Ben Ali's orders were not carried out. With its residents' blood, al-Zouhour fueled the revolution. This took place in January, 2011. Web pages were flooded with images of these daily confrontations between the youths of the neighborhood, armed with stones, and the heavily armed forces of the deposed president.

Guest, Female # 1
They would take the young men over there in this alley, that alley over there. You see it? They would keep firing; all the youths would run over there; they would hide here. Snipers would be hiding up there, on top of that pharmacy.

Guest, Male #1
We came out with our chests bare saying no to fear no to anything/.

Guest, Male # 2
I took to the street against poverty, against misery, against injustice, against this world. Especially since we, the people of Kasserine, we, the people Kasserine?let's not even talk about it.

Reporter, Female # 2
Nearly 30,000 inhabitants live in this neighborhood and the nearby Nour. Most are unemployed. The authorities of the Ben Ali regime tried to get rid of them. When it failed, it attempted to smear them and depict them as criminals. Those who visit al-Zouhour in al-Kasserine and talk to the youths understand why the deposed president ordered the shelling of this neighborhood. The youths here refuse to be subjugated. On the contrary, they are the ones who subjugated the former regime's repressive machine last year. This is the family home of the neighborhood's first victim. Tears here have yet not dried, especially since the mother lost another son months later. This family is not merely demanding retribution. It is asking that the revolution attain the demands for which the neighborhood's finest youths died. Amal Wanas, al-Zouhour, Kasserine, Tunisia.

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Pakistan PM fires defense secretary amid escalating crisis [Press TV, Iran]

Tensions over a secret memo continue to dominate Pakistan's political scene. In the latest development, Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousef Raza Gillani sacked the country's defense secretary, Naeem Khalid Lodhi. The defense secretary is accused of siding with army chief and head of ISI on the memo scandal, blaming the US help to rein in the nation's powerful military. In the meantime the army has warned of grievous consequences for the country over the prime minister's criticism that has ramped up tensions between the military and civilian leadership. Pakistan's military has staged a series of coups and has ruled the country for most of its 64-year history.

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Saudi police fire live rounds to disperse marchers in Qatif [Press TV, Iran]

In other news, anti-government protestors in Saudi Arabia have held yet another rally in the restive Eastern Province. Reports say police have fired live rounds to disperse the crowd in the city of Qatif. Saudi Arabia has been witnessing demonstrations almost on a daily basis over the past months. The protestors are demanding the release of political prisoners. Activists say there are over 30,000 political prisoners in the Arab kingdom. They are also angry over at economic and religious discrimination as well as the government's brutal crackdown on rallies in neighboring Bahrain.

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HRW slams Yemen's immunity law as 'a license to kill' [Press TV, Iran]

Human Rights Watch has slammed the Yemeni government for granting Ali Abdullah Saleh immunity from prosecution for his crimes against the Yemeni people. The rights group has described the immunity as a "license to kill." They said the immunity would not prevent courts in other countries from prosecuting Saleh. The rights watchdog also said a genuine break from the past and post-Saleh Yemen would only materialize when former officials are held accountable. The government proposed the immunity law for Saleh on Sunday to be approved by Parliament. It is part of a power-transfer deal brokered by the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council.

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Iran accuses Israel of assassinating nuclear scientist in Tehran [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Male #1
Tehran received a new booby-trapped message today. This morning, a nuclear scientist was assassinated and two of his companions were injured by a magnetic bomb placed under the victim's car near Allameh Tabatabai University. Tehran held Israel responsible for the attack, which is reminiscent of pervious attacks on Iranian nuclear scientists. In addition, Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi accused Israel, saying that the assassination of scientists would not stop his country's nuclear development. Our correspondent Reda al-Basha reports from Tehran.

Reporter, Male #2
A new explosion rocked Tehran. The victim was nuclear scientist Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan, one of the directors of the Natanz uranium enrichment facility. Two of Roshan's aides were injured in the attack, which was carried out by a magnetic bomb placed on the victim's car.

Guest, Male #3 (Hussein Ebrahimi, Deputy Head of Iran National Security Committee)
Two people on a motorcycle placed a magnetic bomb on a car and detonated it remotely. This is similar to the method adopted in previous assassination attacks on our scientists, which implicates Washington and Tel Aviv.

Reporter, Male #2
Iranian security agencies said they have foiled many assassination attempts, and in most cases have pointed the finger at Washington. However, the deputy chief of the Iranian national security committee blamed Israel for today's attack.

Guest, Male #3 (Hussein Ebrahimi, Deputy Head of Iran National Security Committee)
Our security agencies have made many achievements in the countering of bomb attacks. They have dismantled many cells. If it weren't for our security operations, the number of assassinations would be much larger than this. By the same token, our enemies are continuing to mobilize and plot.

Reporter, Male #2
These remarks, if proven true, put the lives of lives of Iranian scientists in danger. Today's assassination, which coincides with the anniversary of the assassination of scientist Masoud Mohammadi, is being described here as "an episode of a series of assassinations targeting nuclear scientists." Reda al-Basha, Dubai TV, Tehran.

Presenter, Male #1
Meanwhile, a delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the IAEA, is expected to visit Iran soon. An IAEA official said that a group of senior inspectors will travel to Tehran to discuss the growing concerns over the possible military aspects of the Iranian nuclear program. The official added that the agency and Iran are working on the timing of the visit, which comes amid rising tensions over the Iranian nuclear program. Meanwhile, Tehran is facing more criticism over its nuclear program. In Washington, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that Iran's decision to enrich uranium at the Fordow nuclear site is "especially troubling," and demonstrates the Iranian regime's "blatant disregard for its responsibilities." The Russian foreign ministry said Moscow regrets Tehran's decision to begin uranium enrichment activities. In Paris, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said several oil-producing countries are ready to increase their exports if the EU decides to impose an oil embargo on Iran in its upcoming meeting on January 23.

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Indian FM defends Tehran's right to peaceful nuclear development [IBA, Israel]

Here at home and speaking at a joint press conference with his counterpart in India SM Krishna, Foreign Minster Avigdor Lieberman called on the European Union to implement tougher sanctions against Iran. India still defends Iran's right to nuclear development, although only for peaceful purposes. The EU has agreed in principle to an embargo on imports on Iranian oil as part of international efforts to increase pressure on Tehran over its nuclear weapons program.

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Ethiopian-Israelis rally against racism [IBA, Israel]

Just hours after thousands of Ethiopian immigrants rallied against racism, community members say they were deeply offended by the minister of immigrant absorption, Sophia Landver today, responding to a comment by an activist that Israel is becoming a new type of apartheid nation. Landver told the Knesset Absorption Committee that instead of complaining, the Ethiopians should be thanking the state for all they have been given. Meanwhile, Ethiopian community leaders today warned that younger members may resort to violence in protest against discrimination they say they encounter on a daily basis.

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Israel to seize hundreds of dunums in Jabal al-Mukaber to expand settlement [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Female #1
Israeli settlers stoned the car of the of the security commander of Tulkarem district, as he traveled on the road leading to Nablus from Ramallah in the northern West Bank. Security sources said that Major General Ibrahim Heneihin was not harmed but his aide sustained moderate injuries and was transported to the hospital. In addition, the settlers set three cars ablaze in the village of Deir Istiya and fled toward the Emmanuel settlement. They also wrote anti-Arab slogans on mosque walls in a village in the northern West Bank. Israeli occupation authorities have seized hundreds of dunums from Palestinian land in the area of Jabal al-Mukaber overlooking the Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem. The land will be used to build new settlements. Palestinian organizations called on their officials to overcome their differences and unite with Muslims and Arabs in order to counter the Israeli Judaization policy.

Reporter, Male #1
This is Jabal al-Mukaber, where the first call to prayer was issued after Jerusalem was captured at the hands of victorious Saladin al-Ayoubi and which overlooks the holy al-Aqsa Mosque. Today, Jabal al-Mukabar is being targeted by the occupation authorities, which continues to seize its land and sacred sites. Large plots of land will be confiscated in order to build new settlements.

Guest, Male #2 (Mazen Abu Qalbain, Member of the Jabal al-Mukaber's Land Defense Committee)
The objective is to force out or expel the citizens from their land because. They want the land not its people. This is an act of oppression. They don't allow us to build yet they continue to build and bring Jews to settle on our land which they seize. They are seizing the land, not buying it, because we don't sell our land.

Reporter, Male #1
The Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlement called on the Palestinian leadership and all factions to overcome their differences and focus their attention on Jerusalem, which is facing a major settlement campaign.

Guest, Male #3 (Jamal Juma'a, Head of the Popular Campaign Against the Wall and Settlement)
This requires the Palestinian Authority, the Palestinian leadership, the national blocs, as well as the Arab and Muslim world to take a serious position. If this is a holy city as they say, then they must immediately and seriously mobilize to protect it. One way to protect the city is by imposing an Arab embargo and sanctions on Israel, and by expelling ambassadors of counties that maintain official ties with Israel.

Reporter, Male #1
It is worth mentioning that Jabal al-Mukaber faced a similar settlement campaign a few years ago. The campaign led to the construction of more than one settlement that housed hundreds of settlers, who are continuing to harass the peaceful residents of Jabal al-Mukabar. These plots of land and others will be confiscated in favor of the settlement campaign and the Israeli occupation's greed. With this, Jerusalem will be the Palestinian city most consumed by the settlement campaign. Khader Shahin, Alalam, occupied Jerusalem.

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Thousands gather for pro-Assad rally as anti-regime protests continue [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Male # 1
A French TV journalist working for France-2 Television was killed and another working for the Belgian network was severely injured when two mortar shells hit a pro-Syrian President Bashar al-Assad march in the city of Homs. Eight civilians were also killed in the same attack in the center of Homs' al-Zahra', a neighborhood whose residents are mostly Alawites. The Syrian Revolution General Commission said ten people were killed in Syria today, including five in Kafr Nabuda in Hama Province. This comes as Syrian regions witnessed demonstrations in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad one day after his speech. Security forces stormed Kafr Nabuda after a number of defected soldiers sought refuge in the town, killing one officer and four civilians. Anti-regime demonstrations asking al-Assad to resign continued during the night and day in most restive regions.

Reporter, Male # 2
On Wednesday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad began his day with a meeting in person with his fans to give another speech. Perhaps, it was to confirm Tuesday's address among tens of thousands of attendees at Umayyad Square in Damascus.

Guest, Male # 3 (Bashar Assad, Syrian President)
Damascus, the capital of Bilad al-Sham. Bilad al-Sham that they wanted to change from the land of harmony, amity, and peace to a land on which they plant destruction, killing, and wreckage. But they will never accomplish their goal.

Reporter, Male # 2
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's loyalists view his speech as advocating for reforms, democracy and justice. They also confirm their president's theory on conspiracies and terrorist groups targeting Syria. According to activists, nearly 80,000 citizens gathered on Wednesday in Deir az-Zour, where 15 people were killed on Tuesday following al-Assad's speech, in addition to one person's death on Wednesday from injuries sustained the day before. Syrian authorities held the opposition responsible for the killing of protestors. According to official sources, the opposition rejected the president's offer and asked him to resign.

Guest, Male # 4 (Ahmad Suwan, Writer and News Analyst)
It is very clear that there is serious escalation by armed terrorist groups in Syria. And this is why they don't want the dialogue to proceed, and don't even want the monitors' delegation to discover the truth and the reality on the ground. For this reason, they use statements made by the National Council, like the one made yesterday through its president, Burhan Ghalioun, to say they only want to topple the regime.

Reporter, Male # 2
As for the town of Kafr Nabuda in the countryside of Hama, where defected soldiers sought refuge, it had the highest death toll on Wednesday. Five were killed, including a defected first lieutenant from the town, and a number of others were injured when houses were shelled. Many were injured in al-Khalidiya neighborhood of Homs, while tanks stormed the neighborhood of al-Koussour and opened heavy fire.

Guest, Male # 5 (Ghassan Ibrahim, Global Arab Network CEO)
Nearly forty people were martyred yesterday. Nearly ten people have been killed today so far, but as you know, sometimes many die within an hour, so as soon as the day ends we are surprised that the death toll has reached 40 or 50 martyrs. The killing continues on the ground, exactly the way Bashar al-Assad planned for in his speech.

Reporter, Male # 2
The street's demonstrations continued to be peaceful on Wednesday to demand the resignation of the Syrian president. Protests were held in Latakia, Idlib, Damascus, Daraa, Deir az-Zour, Homs, Hama and others. The Syrian president stressed in his fourth speech that the Syrian authorities' top priority is to restore security, which will only be accomplished by targeting killer terrorists, as he stated. The opposition considered the speech to be an incitement to violence and civil war. Hayan Yaaqoub, BBC.

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Self-immolation sparks protests in Jordan [New TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Female #1
Ahmed al-Matarna is Jordan's Bouazizi. He set himself on fire after writing a letter to the king. Ma'an Abu Dalu reports from Amman.

Reporter, Male #1
Jordan's Bouazizi set himself ablaze in front of the Royal Court to protest corruption and poverty. Ahmed al-Matarna died yesterday morning after failing to feed his nine daughters and four sons, who declined to be filmed.

Guest, Female #2(Ahmed Matarna's wife)
I am proud of my husband. He died to feed his children. May God be my witness; he would stay out on the streets. I would tell him, "Why don't you go home? Why do you stay on the streets?" He would answer, "How can I go home with only one loaf of bread? I prefer to wait for them to fall asleep." He wouldn't let us; he didn't talk to us but no one helps.

Reporter, Male #1
Matarna, who was in his fifties, was unable to provide an education for his children after retiring with a pension of 110 dinars. He wrote a will that exposes a large number of corruption cases and requested that it be delivered to the Jordanian king.

Guest, Male #2 (Abdullah Muhadin, Jordanian Youth Movement)
Ahmed al-Matarna died after setting himself on fire yesterday. No one commits suicide for fame; an infiltrator does not commit suicide. He simply could not feed his children, so he made this decision. And of course, his blood will not be shed in vain. We will continue to go after the corrupt.

Guest, Male #3 (Khaled al-Natour, Jordanian Youth Movement)
We fear that slowing the reform process will further aggravate the situation and cause people to raise the ceiling of their demands.

Reporter, Male #1
The official report by public security asserted that al-Matarna had attempted suicide before and died after his entire body was burned. Protests and angry outbursts are escalating among the Jordanian people, who are torn between feelings of shock and fears of derailing the course of reform. Ma'an Abu Dalu, New TV, Amman.