Yemeni defense minister survives devastating car bombing [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Male #1
Extreme tension dominates the Yemeni capital Sanaa hours after the explosion that targeted the Defense Minister's convoy, and after large demonstrations took place that answered the call put forth by the organizing committee of the revolution.

Presenter, Male #1
A statement by the General People's Congress and its allies had warned what it called "advocates of chaos and vandalism," referring to the revolutionary youths, to think a thousand times before taking escalatory measures, and not to conduct any protests that pass by former president Ali Abdullah Saleh's house. They also threatened to confront them.

Reporter, Female #1
A large explosion shook the center of Sanaa. A booby-trapped car targeted the convoy of Yemeni Defense Minister Mohammed Nasser Ahmed, near the headquarters of the Council of Ministers in the Yemeni capital. The defense minister survived the explosion, which government sources said was an attempt to assassinate him. He only suffered minor injuries, but at least ten people were killed, among them six of the minister's bodyguards, who were in army attire. The incident also resulted in many cars being set on fire.

Reporter, Female #1
The explosion occurred at the entrance of the headquarters of the Council of Ministers, near the Sanaa radio station, and came seconds after the ministers came out of the building after holding their weekly meeting. And according to a military source, the accident destroyed one of the security cars that the minister was not in.

Reporter, Female #1
This attack was not the first. The Yemeni defense minister had previously survived a suicide bombing last May that targeted a military parade rehearsal he was attending. It resulted in the deaths of nearly 100 soldiers.

Reporter, Female #1
The attack comes one day after the announcement of the death of al-Qaeda's number two man in Yemen, the Saudi Saeed al-Shehri, in an exceptional operation by the Yemeni army. This raised suspicions that al-Qaeda was responsible for the attack. Maha Sokar, BBC.

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Kuwaitis rally against government and electoral law [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Male #1
Representatives at the Kuwaiti National Assembly strongly criticized the government, protesting its referral of the election law to the judiciary.

Presenter, Female #1
Thousands of opposition supporters gathered in al-Erada Square, facing Parliament, to express their rejection of the government's procedures.

Reporter, Male #2
"We won't let it get lost" was the slogan chosen by the opposition for its gathering in the square facing Parliament, al-Erada Square. The square has hosted the opposition's activities, and witnessed the toppling of the government and parliament in December of last year. The protestors' voices resounded, ringing louder; and with these voices, they raised the ceiling of their demands.

Guest, Male #3 (Waleed al-Tabtabai, Kuwaiti National Assembly Member)
We the people decided that Jaber al-Mubarak al-Hamad al-Sabah is the last prime minister from the descendants of Mubarak al-Sabah. The Al-Sabah family can be the emirs, but the ministers will be from among us.

Reporter, Male #2
The demonstrators, who were estimated at around 5000, announced their intent to remain in the square to protest what they claim is reluctance by the Kuwaiti government to ask the Kuwaiti emir to dissolve Parliament, which was restored by a judicial verdict. The protestors also expressed their dissatisfaction at the government's failure to call for new parliamentary elections on the basis of the current electoral system, under which the country is divided into five voting districts.

Reporter, Male #2
The opposition says that through this gathering, it wanted to deliver the message to the authorities that the constitution is a red line, and no one will be permitted to violate its articles. For this reason, protestors raised the banner, "We won't let it get lost."

Reporter, Male #2
The government considers that the referral of the election law to the Constitutional Court was intended to make parliament immune to future appeals, and to fulfill the promise of justice to the voters. This is rejected by the opposition, which says that it fears that the authority will meddle with the future parliament's formation. However, some observers see that the opposition's escalation conflicts with the constitutional principles.

Guest, Male #4 (Abdel al-Wahed Khalfan, Political Analyst)
The escalation that we are witnessing by the opposition is based on predictions that the court's ruling will not be in favor of the five districts. Therefore, the opposition is preempting its escalation, which some Kuwaitis view as the right approach, while others see that they are escalating a matter that goes against constitutional principles.

Reporter, Male #2
The political scene here is surrounded with ambiguity, making it difficult for observers and spectators to define the features of the upcoming phase, amid a political stalemate never before seen in the country. Saad al-Saeedi, Al Jazeera, Kuwait.

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Somalia elects a new president as Islamists slam vote as 'enemy project' [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Male #1
The spokesman for the Islamist al-Shabaab rebel movement announced that, according to it, the presidential election in Somalia is an operation executed by enemies of Somalia. The departing Somali president, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, acknowledged his defeat, and expressed his willingness to work with the new president who was elected by parliament, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Reporter, Male #2
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the eighth president of Somalia since its independence, is the first president to be elected within the country for more than two decades. His name was not well-known in the Somali political equation until recently, but he gained the broad support of representatives when he announced that he was running for president last June.

Reporter, Male #2
In the first round of elections, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud came in second to former Somali president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. But in the third round, he surprised everyone when he received 190 votes, versus the 79 votes for former president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed; a difference of 111 votes. The former Somali president announced that he accepts this result, which he described as democratic, and that he is ready to hand over power in a smooth and peaceful manner.

Guest, Male #3 (Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Departing Somali President)
I congratulate the new president, my brother, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, for winning the competition for the presidency. I announce that I am convinced by this result, because it occurred in a transparent and fair atmosphere. I will leave this post, and I do not hold any ill will against anyone.

Reporter, Male #2
In his first speech, the Somali president-elect announced that he intends to complete what his predecessor had begun, and to follow policies that reflect the change Somalia needs.

Guest, Male #4 (Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Somali President-Elect)
I salute the representatives who voted for me, and also those who did not vote for me. I hope that we can turn the pages of the previous chapter that we have passed through for good, and turn to a new page that we will all fill with works that honor us, and honor the future generations in our country.

Reporter, Male #2
The new Somali president was born in Hiran Province in central Somalia. He is 56 years old. He studied engineering at Somali National University, and holds a master's degree in business administration. He is a recognized figure in academic and research circles in Somalia and abroad. He also worked at a number of UN organizations, and headed the SIMAD Institute in Mogadishu for 10 years.

Reporter, Male #2
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud recently entered the political field, when he established the Peace and Development party with a number of activists in 2010, and he currently holds the position of chairman within the party. The new Somali president is described as a conservative figure, but he does not belong to any Islamist group in Somalia, although he has extensive relationships with moderate Islamists.

Reporter, Male #2
The new Somali president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, will be held to very high expectations. Massive security, political, and economic challenges await him. But his most important challenge is pulling Somalia out of the quagmire it has been plunged into for so long. Ali Halani, BBC, Mogadishu.

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Lebanese military frees four hostages held by al-Meqdad clan; fifth injured in raid [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Male #1
A spokesperson for the kidnappers of a Turkish citizen in Lebanon announced that he was injured in an operation by the Lebanese army in the southern district of Beirut that attempted to free him and other Syrian hostages. In a statement, the Lebanese military confirmed it was able to free four Syrian hostages. They were kidnapped by the al-Meqdad clan in mid-August in retaliation for the kidnapping of Hassan al-Meqdad by the so-called Free Syrian Army. The al-Meqdad secretary, Maher al-Meqdad, confirmed the injury of the Turkish hostage by gunfire during a raid by the Lebanese army on the southern district, clarifying that he did not know the source of the gunshot that struck the Turkish hostage.

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Saudis stage rare protests over detentions, as Prince Talal calls for reform in Arab countries [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Male #1
A sit-in took place in front of the Ministry of Interior in the Saudi capital al-Riyadh to protest the arrest of people without trial. The protestors denounced the practice of arbitrary detention carried out by the regime, and demanded the immediate release of all detainees, while insisting their initiative will continue until their demands have been met. One person was killed and four others were injured by the fire of regime forces in the city of al-Awamiyah in the eastern part of the kingdom.

Reporter, Male #1
Under these slogans, relatives of detained Saudis protested two months ago in the capital al-Riyadh, demanding the release of their relatives. Today, the protestors are persisting with their initiative, with a sit-in in front of the Ministry of Interior in al-Riyadh to denounce the policy of arbitrary detention carried out by the regime against the rights of its own people. They confirmed that the detained do not face any trial, despite being in jail for 10 years or more, and some of their fates remain unknown.

Reporter, Male #1
Shifting from al-Riyadh to al-Awamiyah, which witnessed a bloody day that resulted in the death of one person and the wounding of four others by gunshots fired by regime forces, who stormed the city of al-Awamiyah with the use of armored vehicles in the Eastern region.

Reporter, Male #1
Credible sources confirmed that regime forces opened fire in an intense and indiscriminate manner on residential areas while chasing someone in the al-Dira neighborhood, which resulted in the immediate death of one worker, the torching of a citizen's car, and damage to some homes. The sources pointed to the heavy presence of regime forces backed by armored vehicles.

Reporter, Male #1
Other sources attributed the heavy presence of regime forces in the area to two reasons. The first is the arrest of the guardian of a mosque in preparation for its demolition. The second is the threat directed at residents of the Eastern region by the Minister of Interior two days ago, that all forms of protest will be crushed.

Reporter, Male #1
In a statement, the Freedom and Justice Coalition in Saudi Arabia accused the Saudi regime of committing heinous massacres after the conspiracy project targeting the core issue of the peoples' movement failed. These developments accompanied the call by Prince Talal Bin Abdulaziz for Arab leaderships to fulfill the requests of their people through political, economical, and social reforms.

Reporter, Male #1
This came during his remarks on the words of the Secretary-General of the Arab League during the opening of the Arab Administrative Development Organization's annual seminar, in which he deemed that the wave of change in the Arab region aims to build the nation's institutions. Prince al-Talal requested the leaders of the League follow through with this proposal, suggesting practical ways to create national institutions built upon lawful and righteous rule.

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UN envoy Brahimi to visit Damascus as clashes continue across Syrian cities [New TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Male #1
Clashes and shelling are continuing to erupt across various Syrian territories. Meanwhile, defected Brigadier General Manaf Tlass has urged the international community to intervene. UN special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi is scheduled to visit Syria in the coming days.

Reporter, Female #1
Clashes erupted between Syrian regime forces and armed opposition fighters in the Barza neighborhood in the capital, and the town of Artous in the countryside of Damascus. Meanwhile, regime forces continued to shell the town of Yalda near Damascus for the seventh consecutive day, using mortar shells, tanks, and anti-aircraft missiles.

Reporter, Female #1
Syrian state TV aired footage showing the incursion of the Syrian army into several areas across Damascus, including the al-Tadamon neighborhood. The source added that regime forces raided armed terrorist groups' hideouts and seized a large cache of weapons, including some Israeli-made munitions.

Reporter, Female #1
In the city of Aleppo to the north, several neighborhoods came under heavy fire by regime forces, as confirmed by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Syrian authorities announced that regime forces have regained control of the Hanano army base in Aleppo, following days of battles with the Free Syrian Army. Syrian state TV aired footage of the army advancing in the area.

Reporter, Female #1
Meanwhile, opposition websites and international news agencies uploaded pictures showing the bodies of several members of the Syrian regime forces. The Free Syrian Army confirmed that the soldiers were executed by members of the Ahrar Bab al-Sharq unit, which is affiliated with the Salman al-Farsi Brigade.

Reporter, Female #1
On the political front, defected Syrian Brigadier General Manaf Tlass said in a televised interview in the French capital that the international community must focus its efforts on drafting an actual roadmap to help Syria out of its crisis.

Guest, Male #2 (Manaf Tlass, Defected Syrian Brigadier General)
French agencies helped secure an exit for me out of Syria. I defected from the regime on the third month of the revolution. I met demonstrators and rebels and listened to their demands, and felt that the regime was not willing to change. I felt that the regime was lying to the rebels, and was searching for shortcuts.

Guest, Male #2
I withdrew to my office and did not listen to anyone, and decided to defect and help the rebels. From the beginning of the crisis, I told the rebels that I would sever my ties with the regime if it refused to implement reforms. I joined the rebels, who have tangible demands. Of course, I'm against any form of foreign intervention in Syria. Yes, I know about Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, but the Syrian people have to achieve their own victory.

Reporter, Female #1
Russia condemned last Sunday's terrorist attacks in Aleppo, and offered condolences to families of the victims, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

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Egyptians storm US embassy in Cairo over film criticizing Islam [Press TV, Iran]

Anti-American sentiment is boiling over in the Muslim world. Egyptians held a mass protest against a recent movie that was made in the US and insults Islam. Thousands of Egyptians gathered outside the US embassy in Cairo that criticizes Islam's prophet Muhammad. Protestors climbed the embassy walls and took down the US flag, called for the expulsion of the American ambassador to Cairo, and demanded that the US government immediately apologize to the Muslim world.

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Rocket fire hits Bagram Air Base, killing three Afghan soldiers [Press TV, Iran]

Another deadly day in Afghanistan. The US-led NATO forces' largest military air base in Bagram was hit by multiple Taliban rockets, badly damaging a helicopter and badly wounding two American soldiers. Three Afghan soldiers were killed and four injured. Press TV notes that the Taliban wanted to send a clear message on their strength, 11 years after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Meanwhile, four Afghan civilians were killed when a bomber detonated explosives in a tribal meeting in the western Herat Province, and five Afghan police officers were also killed in a Taliban attack in western Afghanistan.

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Palestinian PM cuts taxes, halts official expenses to calm protests [Press TV, Iran]

The Palestinian Authority lowered soaring prices after days of protests in the West Bank. Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said that the PA will stop commitment to "any new expenses that have to do with travel, rent, or management" until they overcome the economic crisis. Among the steps taken is reducing the VAT back to 15 percent beginning next month.

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Israeli journalist blames occupation for deteriorating Palestinian economy [Palestine TV, Ramallah]

Presenter, Male #1
Amira Hass, an Israeli writer and journalist for the Tel Aviv-based paper Haaretz, has placed full responsibility for the deteriorating economic situation in Palestine on the occupation forces.

Reporter, Male #2
With the title, "Someone Tell the Palestinians: It's the Occupation, Stupid!" Amira Hass, correspondent for the Israeli paper Haaretz, wrote an opinion piece on the popular demonstrations being witnessed in the streets over rising prices and the cost of living.

Reporter, Male #2
The Israeli correspondent was eager to describe the politicians of her country as "brilliant" when they designed the Oslo Accord, which tied the Palestinian economy to a customs agreement by rejecting Israel's policies.

Reporter, Male #2
It was believed that the Oslo Accord was temporary, pending a final solution to the situation and the establishment of a Palestinian state by the year 1999. Hass goes on to say that the deal was easy for Israel, who handed the Palestinian Authority the problems, as well as the responsibility to solve them, without giving them any authority or resources. The Haaretz correspondent is surprised at the Israelis' belief that there is no correlation between the occupation and this crisis hitting the Palestinians.

Reporter, Male #2
And she reminds us of some realities with which the Israeli occupation shackles the Palestinian economy. Israel prohibits Gaza from exporting agricultural and industrial products. It takes full advantage of natural resources in the West Bank, such as water, mines, and minerals from the Dead Sea, as well as controlling agricultural, industrial, and tourist areas.

Reporter, Male #2
And everything that benefits Israelis in the West Bank brings harm to Palestinians. This includes full control of the radio spectrum, which limits efficiency and profits for Palestinian phone companies. And prohibiting fishermen in Gaza from sailing past three nautical miles, which denies them available resources.

Reporter, Male #2
Israel competes with Palestinian products in an unfair manner. Settlers steal Palestinian water, and in return they ration smaller quantities of drinking water back to the Palestinians.

Reporter, Male #2
The occupation controls 61 percent of the West Bank's territories in Area "G", which forces Palestinians to navigate through twisted paths from one governorate to another, or from a city to the towns and villages in the area. All of this caused losses for the Palestinian economy of around USD 7 billion in 2010.

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Netanyahu: Iran is heading for nuclear weapons [IBA, Israel]

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu raised the tone of the Israeli campaign to stop the Iranian nuclear threat. Speaking to reporters at a press conference held with visiting Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, Netanyahu expressed his dissatisfaction with Washington's refusal to spell out what would provoke a US-led military strike against Iranian nuclear facilities, saying that Iran is heading for nuclear weapons without red lines. US State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said that it is not useful to set deadlines, rejecting Israel's calls to set red lines for Iran's nuclear program.

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Iranian Foreign Ministry denounces Canada for closing embassy in Tehran [IBA, Israel]

Iran denounced the Canadian government for deciding to close its embassy in Tehran. The Iranian Foreign Ministry called the Canadian move hasty, rushed, irrational, and unprofessional, and also announced that it would closely monitor US-led naval exercises planned for next week in the Persian Gulf. He accused Washington of raising tensions over Iran's nuclear program.

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Americans mark eleventh anniversary of 9/11 amid heightened security [IBA, Israel]

Across the United States, Americans are marking the eleventh anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks. Thousands are expected to gather at the World Trade Center site in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where nearly 3,000 victims lost their lives in the worst terror attack in US history. Security is on high alert in New York City; while there are no specific threats, federal authorities say they are concerned about potential extremist activity.