Rights group accuses some Syrian rebels of abuses as regime violence continues [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Male #1
The Syrian Revolution's General Commission said 29 people were killed today in various parts of Syria, mostly in Homs and its countryside. Protests continue in a number of areas in solidarity with besieged and disaster-stricken cities demanding the downfall of the regime. Reports indicate the humanitarian situation in some areas is deteriorating.

Reporter, Male #2
The shelling of al-Khalidiya and other neighborhoods in Homs has not stopped. A number of civilians continue to be killed as mortar shells are falling on the houses and streets of many neighborhoods in the city. Activists say that Homs is still burning.

Guest, Male #3 (Abu Yassin, Activist in Homs Local Coordination Committee)
Rockets fell on houses and their residents. So far, 18 people were injured on the street, and at the same time there are still real battles taking place in the neighborhood of Bab al-Siba'a. Al-Khalidiya is enduring arbitrary shelling.

Reporter, Male #2
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a family, consisting of a husband, wife, and their child, was killed after a rocket fell on their house in the city of al-Rastan in Homs province. Activists uploaded a video online showing the disfigured family members who were burned, as a man explains what happened.

Guest, Male #4
So it turned them into lifeless burned corpses.

Reporter, Male #2
The BBC will only air the voice of the man due to the gruesome images of the video.

Guest, Male #4
And in the city of al-Rastan, the residents of Rastan are being shelled.

Reporter, Male #2
According to activists, dozens were wounded and one person was killed in the gunfire by heavy and light machine guns in the neighborhoods of al-Hamidiya, al-Sharqiya, and al-Qusur in the city of Hama. The opposition uploaded images online saying they show the Free Syrian Army destroying a tank belonging to the regime's army in Qalaat al-Madiq in Hama.

Guest, Male #5
God is great, God is great, al-Maamoun Brigade struck a Syrian army tank.

Reporter, Male #2
At least two civilians were killed by gunfire during a raid by the Syrian forces in the city of al-Quriya in Deir az-Zour province. Activists said clashes broke out at dawn in the neighborhoods of al-Qaboun and Barzeh in the capital Damascus. According to the opposition, at least three civilians were killed. A regime soldier was killed at dawn in an attack by a group of armed defectors at a checkpoint in the city of Jassim in Dara'a. Dara'a was the scene of military operations on Monday, while peaceful demonstrations erupted on Tuesday. In addition, a number of Syrian regions have been protesting amid tense conditions since March 2011. Damascus says it is fighting armed terrorist groups. Meanwhile, state media networks broadcast footage of the arrival of Russian warships at Syria's coasts carrying military crews specialized in fighting terrorism. Hayyan Aqoub, BBC.

Presenter, Male #1
Human Rights Watch said Syrian opposition gunmen are committing human rights violations. The organization's report indicated that armed opposition groups are committing violations, including kidnapping, detaining and torturing security members, government loyalists, and others. The statement requested the leadership of the opposition to condemn these acts and prevent its members from committing such violations.

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Iraq rocked by a string of bombings ahead of Arab League summit [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Male #1
Forty-three people were killed and 230 were injured in a string of bombings that targeted vital facilities in five Iraqi cities. Our Al Jazeera correspondent reported that security forces were able to dismantle six booby-trapped vehicles and arrest two drivers in Baghdad's Green Zone. Our Al Jazeera correspondent also said one of these bombings took place in front of the Foreign Ministry in Baghdad, while Karbala witnessed the most violent bombing. This comes as the Iraqi government continues to take measures for hosting the upcoming Arab League Summit scheduled for March 27th to 29th, and coinciding with the ninth anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq.

Reporter, Male #2
Dozens of deaths and injuries were caused by a series of bloody bombings that rocked Baghdad, Karbala, Anbar, al-Hilla and Kirkuk, while Baghdad is preparing for the Arab Summit scheduled for the end of this month. Baghdad endured two booby-trapped car bombings, the first in al-Alawi area of downtown Baghdad, and the second was detonated in front of the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, located on the main avenue leading to the Green Zone. Eyewitnesses said the blasts targeted the car of Kamel Zaidi, the chief of Baghdad's provincial council. However, official institutions have not yet confirmed the claim. South of Baghdad, al-Hilla and Karbala were the scenes of blasts triggered by bomb-laden vehicles. In the north, Kirkuk witnessed a bloody morning. Dozens were killed and wounded when a car bomb exploded in the parking lot of a police station, and another one in Abdul Rahman al-Ghafiqi Street near the same police station.

Guest, Male #3
Half an hour ago, a yellow taxicab kind of a car showed up, I don't know what type it was. No one knows why it was parked there; they said it was for an emergency use. Then a storeowner started screaming, "There's an emergency;" then the car exploded.

Reporter, Male #2
In addition, Anbar, west of Baghdad, witnessed a car explosion. The Iraqi government had vowed to take stringent and proactive security measures to guarantee the security of the Arab Summit. Just a few days before the Arab Summit, Baghdad is attempting to control the security situation by deploying soldiers and military vehicles on the streets. However, it seems some are able to breach security and cause tension through these explosions. Ayyoub Rida, Al Jazeera, Baghdad.

Presenter, Male #1
In al-Hilla, three people were killed and 33 others were injured in a car bombing near a market in the city, which is located 100 kilometers south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. In addition to the human losses, the attacks targeting civilian sites have inflicted enormous financial damage for a number of shop and car owners. The explosions in Karbala killed 13 people and wounded around 50 others, coinciding with a series of other attacks in a number of other Iraqi cities.

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Bahraini king claims progress as opposition sets conditions for dialogue [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Female #1
Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa established a national fact-finding commission, a rare occurrence in the region and the world, considering that abiding by the commission's recommendations would pose a big challenge for the government. After receiving the committee's report, King Hamad issued a statement saying the government is keen on implementing the recommendations of the Bassiouni-led commission in accordance with international standards. Meanwhile, the Bahraini opposition confirms that the suppression of protestors by regime forces has escalated after the Bassiouni report was issued, with many assaults against protestors being reported in different areas of the country. Security forces have attacked protestors with poisonous tear gas and Molotov cocktails.

Presenter, Female #1
The Bahraini opposition abroad has urged the United Nations to take serious measures to remove Saudi forces from Bahrain, considering their presence an illegal interference and a blatant occupation of the country. In a sit-in in front of the United Nations building in Beirut, the opposition called for an investigation into the violations of Saudi forces, especially the demolition of mosques, houses of worship, and the infringement on freedoms. It also called for referring the Bahraini case to the United Nations due to the violations committed by the regime against its people. The opposition's demands were included in a message directed to the United Nations Secretary-General. Participants in the sit-in included human rights activists and solidarity groups from several Arab countries.

Presenter, Female #1
Bahraini opposition associations announced they welcome a serious dialogue that preserves the rights of the people, fulfills justice and equality, and gets the country out of the political crisis, on the condition that the outcome of the dialogue would be assessed through a popular referendum. In the northern governorate city of Shahrakkan, Bahraini regime security forces attacked the funeral procession of martyr Sabri Mahfouz. Eyewitnesses said that Saudi armored vehicles were deployed to the areas of Dar Kulaib, Shahrakkan, and the village of Sadad to crack down on the funeral.

Reporter, Male #1
No funeral procession can end without being subjected to an attack by Bahraini regime forces with the support of the Saudi occupation. Regime forces attacked a funeral for martyr Sabri Mahfouz, who suffocated to death after security forces fired lethal tear gas at him. Security forces attacked the funeral of Gaafar al-Mowaly, who also suffocated to death in the area of Migsha, after tear gas was fired at protestors. These are violent attacks initiated by the authorities on the villages of Sadad, al-Malikkiya, Shahrakkan, Dar Kulaib, Wadiyan, and Bilad al-Qadeem, and activists have reported armored vehicles are being used in some villages. In a provocative move, a group of mercenaries vandalized Sa'sa'a bin Sohan mosque in the country's southern region of Askar. Bahraini sources confirmed that violations of houses of worship started after the Saudi invasion of their country, with dozens of mosques and Hussaineyat demolished and burned down. Politically, opposition societies that signed the Manama document have set conditions for their participation in the dialogue with the authorities. The opposition called for holding a popular referendum on the dialogue to grant it legitimacy. It stressed the importance of reaching a consensus on the agendas of the dialogue, its mechanism, and timing. In addition, it called for the participation of all sects, including detained figureheads, saying the dialogue must be held between the opposition and a representative of the king, before holding a national conference.

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Gaza running out of domestic gas amid an ongoing electricity crisis [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Male #1
In Gaza, the cooking gas crisis has disrupted the daily life of residents amid ongoing power outages. Fuel stations in Gaza are running out of cooking gas. Israel has limited the amount of cooking gas allowed into the Strip under the pretext of conducting maintenance work on Karm Abu Salem's pipelines. Amid the cold dark nights, Gazans are struggling to find ways to secure their basic daily needs for food and heat. Our correspondent, Bassam al-Madhun, reports from Gaza.

Reporter, Male #2
A series of consecutive crises are rocking the Gaza Strip and deepening the suffering of its residents. This Hajja has been standing for hours in this long line, waiting for a few liters of fuel so she can turn her stove on.

Guest, Female #1
I want to wash my clothes. I need kerosene for the burner. I need gas in order to wash my clothes. There's no God but God. This is God's will. What can we do? This is God's will.

Reporter, Male #2
There's another face to the crisis. With several taxicabs halting their service, Gazans are finding it more difficult to get to work, as many are forced to wait long periods of time on crossroads.

Guest, Male #3
Transportation has recently become a problem. We have to get up extra early in the morning to be able to get to work on time. We also get home late from work.

Guest, Male #4
You have to give yourself at least an extra 10 or 15 minutes in order to find a taxi that can get you to your destination on time.

Reporter, Male #2
Here, a mass of people is lining up in search of what little cooking gas they can find. Israel stopped pumping gas into Gaza fuel stations nearly two weeks ago.

Guest, Male #5
I brought an empty cylinder from my home in the hopes of refilling it. We don't have any gas left. The distributor has my empty cylinder. He hasn't filled it yet.

Guest, Male #6
I have ten people who are dependent on me. I can't find work to secure food for my children. I can't find gas. We sleep in the dark. Animals are living a better life than we are.

Reporter, Male #2
Despite talks about the possibility of resolving the electricity crisis raging for weeks in the Strip by connecting Gaza to the Egyptian power plant as part of a proposed regional project, a solution seems to be out of reach for the moment.

Guest, Male #6 (Abu Al-Amrain, Energy Authority Information Director)
We are surprised by the delay in implementing the deal and by the slow supply of fuel to Gaza. We demand the appropriate Egyptian authorities speed up the process of supplying Gaza with fuel.

Reporter, Male #2
Tightening the noose on the Gaza Strip by halting gas supplies from Israel and limiting fuel shipments from Egypt will undoubtedly exacerbate the already tragic situation in the Strip. This means the siege is no longer a siege, but rather a prison mismanaged by its warden. Bassam al-Madhun, Dubai TV, the Gaza Strip.

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Jewish school shooting victims' bodies flown to Israel for burial [IBA, Israel]

In France, the Jewish community is making final preparations to fly the bodies of the four victims killed in yesterday's Jewish school terror attack in Toulouse to Israel for burial. Meanwhile, schools across France held a moment of silence for the victims, and a massive manhunt by French forces to locate the killer continued. French authorities have increased security at Jewish schools throughout the country.

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Khamenei says Iran will defend itself if attacked [Press TV, Iran]

In Iran, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has said that the nation will respond in kind to any possible attack on its soil by the US or Israel. He said that Washington will not be able to force Iran to retreat through intimidation, adding that Iran does not have nuclear arms, nor will it go after them, and that oil is the real reason the West is going after Iran.

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Iranians celebrate Persian New Year [Press TV, Iran]

The Persian New Year, 1391, has begun. Iranians are celebrating their biggest cultural and national event, Nowruz, which literally means "new day." The celebrations always begin on the first day of spring, and are prepared for by cleaning, buying new clothes, and setting the traditional Haft Sin table setting.

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Yemen's Youth Revolution rallies for real change in Sanaa [Press TV, Iran]

The main organizer of anti-regime protests in Yemen, the Youth Revolution, has staged yet another rally in the capital Sanaa. The demonstrators called for the execution of snipers responsible for the killing of protestors. They've also demanded deposed ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh to stand trial for the killing of nearly 2,000 protestors since the beginning of the revolution over a year ago, and the sacking of all officials from the former regime.

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Algeria marks 50th anniversary of victory over French colonization [Algerie TV, Algeria]

Presenter, Male #1
Algeria commemorated the 50th anniversary of the glorious day of victory that ended the 132 years of French colonization of Algeria through the provisions of the Evian Accords. On this occasion, the president of the republic sent a message commending the enormous sacrifices and the heroism of the revolution, indicating that the day of victory was the fruit of a long armed struggle and intensive diplomatic efforts. He added the occasion is a significant historical chapter, and an opportunity to assess the nation's achievements, and revive the heroism of the ancestors. The president called for completing the phases of nation-building and displaying loyalty to the righteous martyrs, stressing the importance of both voters and candidates to fulfill their duties in the upcoming legislative elections.

Reporter, Female #1
Algeria just celebrated the anniversary of the historically significant victory day, and before it Women's Day, and the anniversary of the nationalization of Algerian oil. On this occasion, a call is renewed for mass public participation in the upcoming elections, aimed at upholding national sovereignty and the right to freedom of expression. These elections are considered a crucial step in completing the rebuilding of the Algerian state 50 years after its sovereignty was recovered, and meant to establish a country ruled by the best governance, with a promising citizenship that guarantees social justice. The call is renewed to the Algerian people, the young Algerian men and women, on an important occasion that reminds us of the pivotal Evian Accords referendum in 1962. On that day, Algerians answered the country's call and defeated all forms of aggression on our culture, values, and components of our identity.

Reporter, Female #1
On the 50th anniversary of the victory, the republic's president addressed the nation, assuring and reiterating that the nation-building and reform process will be completed with the independence generation. The president stressed the importance of having the Algerian people show their loyalty to the martyrs and victims of the past by fulfilling their civic duties and selecting programs. The president asked men and women to contribute in building the new Algeria, which is manifested in the transition into comprehensive reforms worthy of our country's status and our people's sacrifices. Reforming the justice system is the top priority, since it is the first step for comprehensive reforms. After the legal principles for judicial reforms are established, reform procedures will begin successively with the legislative elections.

Reporter, Female #1
With these elections, judicial authority will become a neutral guard of the law for the first time. In addition, candidates are asked to take on these noble duties with honesty and efficiency to guarantee fair results on the ground. Because Algerian women have proven over and over again their competence and positions in the days of the victory and during the struggle, they are also responsible in these elections to strongly prove their presence in the constitutional organizations, and locally elected institutions, as it is their right as much as their duty.