Teachers' protest closes Gaza's UN schools [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Male # 1
In the Gaza Strip, nearly 200 schools run by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees were shut down in protest of the agency's suspension of Suhail al-Hindi, the head of the Arab staff union, for three months.

Presenter, Female # 1
The agency justified its decision by pointing to al-Hindi's community work that was attended by the leaderships of Palestinian political factions. Meanwhile, some considered the decision to be the result of al-Hindi's activities with the Hamas movement.

Presenter, Male # 1
Our correspondent Wael el-Dahdouh attended the sit-in in Gaza.

Reporter, Male # 2
There was no teaching on International Teachers' Day in the schools of the Relief and Works Agency for Refugees in Gaza. Schools were closed in response to the call of the agency's Arab staff union. The reason is the agency's suspension of the head of the union for three months under the pretext that he is carrying out activities that conflict with the agency's regulations. This means political work and meeting with politicians. So, thousands of teachers celebrated teachers' day in their own way. They held a strike and chanted against the decision they say is only one facet of the restriction of freedoms, the ideological oppression, labor injustice, and administrative corruption carried out by the agency against the employees.

Guest, Male # 3 (Suhail al-Hindi, Suspended Union Head)
After this day, we ask our colleagues not to sign, not to sign, not to sign, any contract that compromises our homeland.

Reporter, Male # 2
The sit-in is considered the first in the agency's history by its employees in Gaza. It is the culmination of a series of protest actions taken in the past two weeks.

Guest, Male # 4 (Mahmoud Hamdan, UNRWA teachers' union)
It is the beginning of a very strong message to the agency's administration to reverse its unjust decision. For this reason, we have the right to escalate the actions of the entire union so we can restore this right to its owner until the agency reverses its unjust action.

Reporter, Male # 2
The UN agency denied all these claims and considered a drastic solution with the employees' union a requirement seeing that an escalation will serve to destroy the lives of the refugees, who will be the only ones to lose from this action.

Guest, Male # 5
The next step is to reach an agreement and a drastic solution with the employees' union and to reestablish the trust in order to serve the people of the Gaza Strip. There is no substitute and a pessimistic outlook will imply the complete destruction of the lives of 1.2 million Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip.

Reporter, Male # 2
Schools were shut down but the case remains open. And seeing that it is a sensitive case and is linked to the fate of hundreds of thousands of refugees, it needs to be solved and needs to remain an important and sensitive issue. Wael el-Dahdouh, al-Jazeera, Gaza, Palestine.

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Nine killed in Syria as China and Russia veto UN sanctions [Future TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Male #1
Protests demanding the downfall of President Bashar al-Assad continued in a number of areas in Syria, leading to more victims. Activists said nine people were killed today by the gunfire of security institutions and the regime's shabeha in various Syrian regions.

Reporter, Female #1
This scene does not differ from others repeatedly occurring in Syria. The deteriorating security situation, the massacre of citizens, as well as the arrests and harassment are all evidence of the actions of Assad's brigades against protestors demanding freedom. In turn, protests are still sweeping across many Syrian regions to reject what the people are forced to endure and to challenge the fear spread by the regime's shabeha. The Syrian cities of Aleppo, Hama, Deir az-Zour, Idlib, the suburbs of Damascus, Duma, Darayya, Jabal al-Zawiya and other regions witnessed protests condemning Bashar al-Assad's regime and rejecting the bloodshed of the Syrian people. Several Syrian cities also held funerals for victims who fell yesterday in various regions. Gunfire was heard in al-Sawma'a Square in Jisr al-Shughour during the funeral of one victim who died two days earlier. And as the youth tried to launch a march, Assad's brigades opened fire, dispersed the masses, and captured several residents of Jisr al-Shughour. The brigades also reinforced their presence in the area, sealed off city's entrances, and barred citizens from exiting. Student protests were launched from al-Sahm el-Golan middle and primary schools, in addition to schools in Hama, Aleppo, Damascus, and Idlib demanding international protection and the execution of President Bashar al-Assad. In Jableh, the city's youth began their protest from Martyrs' School. In Hama, university students challenged the shabeha of Bashar al-Assad's regime and organized a demonstration on campus. Meanwhile, heavy gunfire was heard in al-Sahwa as two explosions shook parts of the town. In Latakia, dissidents posted a banner on the wall of the tax office in the Saliba district, congratulating Syrians for the National Council. For its part, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the deaths of three soldiers and one civilian in clashes that erupted between gunmen in Idlib. Activists said three people died from random gunfire in the town of Talbisa in Homs Province. At least ten people were killed in confrontations in the final hours of the protests demanding the departure of President Bashar al-Assad.

Presenter, Female #1
For nearly seven months, the ongoing massacres against those demanding freedom in Syria have not concerned Russia or China. They used the veto at the Security Council and foiled the European draft resolution condemning the Syrian regime for its repression of protestors. Those who supported the plan condemned Russia and China's move, and confirmed they will continue to support the protest movement demanding freedom. Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle revealed that the European Union is preparing the eighth package of sanctions against Syria in order to increase pressure on Assad's regime.

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Government shelling kills seven Yemen's Taiz [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Female #1
Seven Yemenis were killed and more than 22 others were wounded in a heavy, late-night shelling of various neighborhoods in the southwestern city of Taiz. This news came last night when Republican Guards and special police units heavily shelled several neighborhoods in the country's southwestern city of Taiz. The residents issued an appeal for help to evacuate the victims stranded in the neighborhoods shelled by Yemeni Republican Guards and special police units. Meanwhile, national dialogue in Yemen has reached a stalemate, amid the back and forth announcements from the authority and opposition over the possibility of reaching a deal in the coming days. Abed Rahman al-Shamiri reports from Sanaa.

Reporter, Male#1
The failure of what has been referred to as "last minute efforts" under UN auspices has brought the political situation in Yemen back to square one. The vice-president's confirmation that dialogue with the opposition is in progress and that a final agreement may be reached in the coming days was dismissed by the opposition. The opposition slammed the announcement as "an attempt to mislead the international community" to prevent the UN from referring the Yemeni crisis to the Security Council so that a political solution can be reached.

Guest, Male #2 (Mukhtar al-Sharafi, Journalist and Writer)
The conflicting announcements over the progress of talks, which the vice-president has confirmed and the opposition blocs have dismissed, are causing concern among the Yemeni public, especially amid the growing military entrenchment and security deterioration in the capital.

Reporter, Male #1
Amid the cloudy political situation in Yemen, fears are mounting over the volatile security situation on the ground. Security forces are reinforcing their troops and deploying additional military vehicles across the front lines separating them from the First Armored Brigade, responsible for protecting the Yemeni youth holding sit-ins in Sanaa. Meanwhile, random raids are continuing in the capital amid raging confrontations reported on various fronts. Dozens of people are reportedly killed or injured on a daily basis.

Guest, Male #3 (Ahmed al-Zarqa, Journalist and Writer)
The situation in Yemen is unclear, amid pessimism and fear. The militarization of civil life seems to be taking shape in Yemen. Political and economic life has come to a complete halt, in addition to security, social, and political deterioration. Yemen is therefore bracing for a major crisis.

Reporter, Male #1
Amid the security and military breakdown, many are calling for adopting a serious international and regional position to prevent Yemen from slipping into an armed conflict that may have regrettable repercussions. Fearful, silent, and somber scenes dominate the Yemeni capital Sanaa and other cities following the collapse of power-transfer talks between the political groups, especially amid growing efforts to place the Yemeni crisis under international protection, which may put the country on the verge of a new dangerous phase. Abed Rahman al-Shamiri, Dubai TV, Sanaa.

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Bahraini demonstrators demand the release of political prisoners [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Female #1
A number of Bahraini villages and towns witnessed large night protests in the framework of the "Week of Freedom for the Free Bahrainis" in solidarity with the detainees in regime prisons. Regime forces raided al-Dair region and quelled a peaceful demonstration with sound bombs and tear-gas. Disclosing the brutal methods of torture, head of the Bahrain Nursing Society Dr. Roula al-Saffar confirmed that she was beaten with electric sticks and forbidden to sleep during her detention.

Reporter, Female #2
These protestors have not lowered their voices despite the repressive measures taken by the Bahraini authorities against them since February. Masses of protestors participated in the popular demonstrations as part of the "Week of Freedom for Free Bahrainis" in solidarity with the detainees. Night marches inundated the roads and streets on a number of Bahraini regions and villages to express rage at the regime's arbitrary measures and to demand its downfall. From the villages of al-Musalla, Iskan, and Jadd Hafs, to al-Dair, protestors loudly shouted their condemnation of the ongoing judicial rulings, demanded the release of political prisoners, and affirmed that undermining their dignity is a line that should not be crossed. The response to these voices demanding their rights was a roar of gunfire. The regime's forces have only dealt with the protestors with gunfire and by force. However, these acts of violence did not reduce the protestors' determination, nor did it prevent them from continuing their peaceful demonstrations and affirming their insistence on the ouster of the regime and the departure of Saudi occupation forces from their country. In the village of Karbabad, residents marched under the slogan "Free despite the Chains" in solidarity with the detainees in al-Qatif in eastern Saudi Arabia. In the context of the occasionally revealed methods of torture used on detainees in Bahraini prisons, head of the Bahrain Nursing Society Dr. Roula al-Saffar confirmed that she was tortured with electric shocks and deprived of sleep when she was detained in the regime's prison. On the eve of the military court's sentencing of al-Saffar to 15 years in prison, she said in a newspaper interview that among the female detainees were two girls no more than 16 years old who were threatened with assault. She asserted that several female detainees were assaulted and were afraid of being exposed. Al-Saffar denied all allegations against the medics, indicating that the confessions were given under torture and threats.

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Fresh Saudi protests erupt in eastern regions [Press TV, Iran]

Fresh demonstrations have been held in Saudi Arabia against military intervention in neighboring Bahrain. Protestors in Qatif and al-Awamiyah also called for an end to the crackdown on Saudi dissidents and the release of political prisoners. New footage on the internet shows the deployment of Saudi troops to the oil rich al-Awamiyah to crush anti-regime protestors. Similar protests turned violent in the past few days following attacks by Saudi security forces. Clashes erupted after security forces opened fire to disperse hundreds of protestors chanting against Riyadh's policies.

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Humanitarian crisis worsening in besieged Sirte as NATO bombing continues [Press TV, Iran]

The International Red Cross team present in the Libyan city of Sirte has sounded the alarm bells about the humanitarian crisis that has been brought along by the long siege and the intense NATO bombing. This is while the fighting between Gaddafi loyalists and the revolutionaries over the control of the city continues. We took a ride with one of the main militias which are playing a key role in the siege of Sirte.

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Netanyahu urges medical residents to postpone walkout [IBA, Israel]

A partial walkout by the nation's medical residents will almost certainly take place tomorrow morning as several groups have rejected a compromise appeal from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The long-delayed intervention of Netanyahu in the medical residents' impending strike failed to yield successful results. Following two hours of discussions at his Jerusalem office yesterday with young physicians, Israel medical authority officials, Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz, and the treasury's Wage Director Ilan Levin, the prime minister asked the residents to delay their walkout until after the upcoming holiday to provide him with sufficient time to examine their demands.

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Thousands of Kurds displaced by Iranian and Turkish shelling [Al-Iraqiya TV, Iraq]

Presenter, Female #1
Iran and Turkey's continued shelling of the border areas of Iraq's Kurdistan region has led to the displacement of thousands of resident.

Presenter, Male #1
The situation prompted the International Committee of the Red Cross to take actions to help the refugees and to demand reaching a settlement agreement that will end the shelling and air strikes.

Reporter, Male #2
The figures documenting the outcome of the continuous four-month-long shelling are almost final. Twenty civilians were martyred and six were wounded; 1,000 families were displaced from their residences. In addition, severe losses were inflicted on the citizens' properties and a number of villages were emptied of their residents who fled to safer areas.

Guest, Male #2 (Abdul Wahid Kuwani, Official in Chuman)
Twenty were martyred; six were wounded. Over 1,000 families were displaced and escaped their homes. In addition, there have been financial and psychological losses.

Reporter, Male #2
As of now, there has been no compensation for the victims and refugees who were forced to flee their residences. Their houses were destroyed and their properties ruined. Hundreds of displaced families stayed by the roadside, in valleys, and other places that are safe from the shelling. They settle for living in tents as the cruel and freezing winter approaches.

Guest, Male #4
We abandoned all our cattle, property, and crops in fear of the shelling and the Turkish warplanes hovering over our villages.

Reporter, Male #2
The Iranian and Turkish governments shelled these regions under the pretext of the existence of the Kurdistan Workers' Party and the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan's forces. However, local officials assert that no forces affiliated with these two parties exist in the region.

Guest, Male #3
The fighters from the Kurdistan Workers' Party and the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan are spread throughout border regions between Iraq, Iran, and Turkey. These regions are considered geographically significant and very difficult to cross.

Reporter, Male #2
The heavy artillery shelling by Iran has become less intense; but the Turkish air strikes are still ongoing, albeit sporadically, in the region of Chuman and its surrounding villages. Cameran Mohamed, al-Iraqiya, Chuman.

Presenter, Male #1
The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) said it reached an agreement with the Iranian government to stop the fighting between the two sides in exchange for halting the bombing of border regions in Iraq's Kurdistan. PKK foreign relations spokesman Ahmed Deniz asserted that the battles between the joint forces of PJAK and PKK and the Iranian forces will be halted according to the agreement. Deniz added that the agreement was reached at the end of September and that it includes the withdrawal of PJAK fighters from border regions. He ruled out the possibility of new battles erupting between PKK and Iranian forces, saying that such a situation would harm both sides. At the same time, he commended the government of the Iraqi Kurdistan region for the positive position it took on recent incidents.