Jordanian youth and tribes demand tangible reforms [New TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Male #1
Despite the resignation of the government and the designation of a new prime minister, the Jordanian street witnessed demonstrations under the slogan "Friday of the tribes" to demand tangible reforms. Our correspondent in Amman, Maen Abu Dalu, reports.

Reporter, Male #2
The voices calling for reforms in Jordan have not leveled off. On the first Friday after Dr. Awn Khasawneh was designated to form a new government, which some described as the "last opportunity government," Jordanians held a demonstration in the capital. Led by the Committee of Dhiban and the Youth and Popular Mobilization, the "Friday of the tribes" rally made its way to Salam, or Peace Square in central Amman. Despite the heavy presence of security and Darak or Cavalry forces, there were no reports of confrontations or harassment. The demonstrators demanded reforms and expressed solidarity with the youth of Tafila, who are facing legal charges. Among the chants were "Jordan is the land of the free, and security measures are not an option."

Guest, Male #3 (Tarek Abu al-Ragheb, Popular Coalition for Reforms)
Our message to the Jordanian public is clear, that the people in the street will not get bored or tired. We demand tangible reforms that we can feel and not just see on paper. We respect this new government, which is among the well-deserved governments. But it must adopt a new political approach as opposed to merely focusing on formalities.

Guest, Male #4
There appear to be reactionary forces trying to target the country.

Reporter, Male #2
In the center of the city, Islamic slogans seemed to dominate. Under the slogan "you will not terrorize us," the Islamic Movement raised their flag. The slogans carried the names of the movement's branches across the provinces.

Guest, Male #5 (Ali Abu al-Sukar, Muslim Brotherhood Leader)
Reforms have become popular demands, including the demand for constitutional amendments.

Guest, Male #6 (Abed Karim al-Ghewairi, Participant)
We are not against any individual but we are against polices that harm the country and policies that counter the reform movement.

Reporter, Male #2
Observers estimated the number of participants at 3,500, who chanted "God is great, God is great," in reference to the departure of Maaruf Bakhit's government, and demanded an elected government. The demonstration also included a number of opposition parties representing leading tribes, most notably Beni Hassan, whose areas witnessed attacks on the National Reform Front's festival. Other participating tribes were Beni Hamida and Beni Sakhr, which condemned the systematic attacks on the reform movement in Jordan. Last night, Jordanian Prime Minister-designate Awn Khasawneh held a meeting at his home with leaders of the Islamic Action Front, the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood. The hours-long meeting did not lead to any tangible results regarding the participation of the Brotherhood in the new government. The "last opportunity government," inspiring chants, and major demands, are awaiting the Prime Minister-designate, Dr. Awn Khasawneh, over the next few days. It remains to be seen whether the new government makeup will include the Islamists and the opposition, who continue to lead a youth and political mobilization in the country. Maen Abu Dalu, New TV, Amman.

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Mercenaries to fill the void left by withdrawal of US troops from Iraq [Press TV, Iran]

US President Barack Obama has announced that all American troops will leave Iraq by the end of 2011. Obama made that announcement after holding a video conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Some 39,000 troops remain in Iraq and many of them will be attached to the American embassy in Baghdad. Also, tens of thousands of mercenaries who are set to be employed by the CIA and private firms are to stay on. All US forces were scheduled to pull out of Iraq by the end of 2011 under an agreement that was signed between Baghdad and Washington back in 2008.

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US blast kills ten Afghan civilians [Press TV, Iran]

Reports say at least ten civilians have been killed in a US rocket attack in northeast Afghanistan. Our correspondent in Kabul said the attack took place in a village in the province of Kunar. The news of the attack comes shortly after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wrapped up a surprise visit to Kabul. Violence and US-led raids continue to claim civilian lives in Afghanistan more than ten years after the country was invaded by foreign forces.

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Saudi troops torture Bahraini protestors [Press TV, Iran]

In Bahrain, the anti-regime movements say they have reports of Saudi and Bahraini forces torturing opposition leaders in jail. The Bahraini Freedom Movement says in the past two weeks, prison officials have been ordering the torture of detainees. The movement released a statement saying it fears for the lives of opposition leaders and imprisoned anti-regime protestors, specifically of the Haq Movement leader, Hasan Mushaima. There are reports that Musahima is in critical condition in prison.

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Yemenis mark "Friday of Victory for the People" [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Male #1
Hundreds of thousands of Yemenis demonstrated in al-Siteen Square in the capital Sanaa and 17 other provinces on the "Friday of Victory for the People." Massive protests erupted in the capital Sanaa after Dhuhr prayer, demanding President Saleh step down and welcoming the killing of Gaddafi. Similar marches took place in the Change Squares of a number of cities, in which hundreds of thousands participated and chanted for the downfall of the regime, affirming the importance of achieving the revolution's goals. Yesterday, the Hasaba area in the Yemeni capital Sanaa witnessed clashes between forces loyal to the regime and supporters of Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar. The regime used heavy weaponry that led to violent explosions.

Reporter, Male #2
For months, the sound of gunfire and rockets has overwhelmed any other sounds in the Hasaba neighborhood north of the Yemeni capital Sanaa, the area that has seen the most heated clashes during recent protests demanding the end of Saleh's regime. Sources say there have been dozens of casualties from the confrontations and clashes between supporters of Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar, who endorse the popular revolution, and security forces and tribal members loyal to the regime.

Guest, Male #3 (Ali al-Hibabi, Lawyer and Rights Activist)
The outcome of the clashes in the Hasaba neighborhood is the number of wounded and martyred. So far, there have been 160 martyrs from the first to the last battle; the number of wounded as of now is 858. As for the number of martyrs and wounded on the government's side, we sent an official memorandum to the Interior Ministry to obtain the figures. Unfortunately, we did not receive any response; the ministry ignored us and refused to provide us any information.

Reporter, Male #2
So, 160 were killed and hundreds more were wounded in the Hasaba area alone, not to mention what is happening in other neighborhoods of the capital, as well as in the regions of Arhab, Taiz, and Abyan. Yemenis have been living in this heated bloody scene for months in a state of horror and suffering. The figures confirm those sufferings; reality proves them, and those who have survived must live with them.

Guest, Male #3 (Ali al-Hibabi, Lawyer and Rights Activist)
We hold the remainder of the regime, in particular Ahmed Ali, Yehia Mohamed Saleh, and Ali Abdullah Saleh responsible for this. They are causing the displacement of Hasaba's residents. Right now, there are Hasaba residents living in caves.

Reporter, Male #2
The security situation concerns many. The youth of the revolution in various squares see the situation as an attempt to drag their revolution into violence and to strip it of its peacefulness. They are hoping that those making such an attempt will fail to achieve their goals.

Guest, Male #4 (Zaidan Abu Ali, Youth of the Revolution)
The clashes in Yemen will not affect the peaceful path of the youth's revolution. We take to the street with our heads high, and we are spreading flowers and smiles.

Reporter, Male #2
In light of the ongoing and complicated security situation, there are talks of a temporary truce. There is a cautious calm in the Hasaba neighborhood and other areas, but fear still dominates the situation, especially because "fingers are still on the trigger," or so they say. Despite this cautious calm, many neighborhoods still witness acts of violence, sounds of gunfire and rockets, and the smell of gunpowder. The Yemeni street is increasingly concerned, and fears the eruption of new conflicts, like what happened after previous truces and treaties were made. Ali Dhahab, Alalam, Sana'a.

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Twenty-nine killed in fresh Syria protests [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Female # 1
The Syrian Revolution General Commission said at least 29 people were killed today in demonstrations held in many Syrian cities and villages to demand the downfall of the regime on what was called the "Friday of the martyrs of the Arab deadline." Sources reported heavy gunfire between defected members of the Syrian security and Bashar al-Assad's loyalists. Today, activists posted videos online showing live bullets being fired at protestors and the direct targeting and injury of many in the Bab al-Sebaa neighborhood of Homs.

Guest, Male #1
God is great! God is great! God is great! God is great! There is no god but God! God is great! Martyrs for freedom! Say God, God, don't be scared! God is with us. He is reciting the Shahada, he is reciting the testimony. Hold him, hold him. Recite the shahada. Say God, there is no god but God!

Reporter, Male # 2
The killing of Gaddafi reverberated in Syria. In Maarrat an-Numan in Idlib, dozens took to the street to congratulate their peers in Libya. They sent a clear and frank message to Bashar al-Assad's regime. Protestors wonder if he will learn the lesson. They confirm the regimes are the same and so is the crime. On what was called the "Friday of the martyrs of the Arab deadline," they confirmed their rejection to any form of compromise and insisted they will not waiver on this one demand. They have tenaciously held on to this demand for over seven months despite the bloodshed and the large arrest campaigns of what the regime describes as "armed terrorists." And even when the hand of the Arab League is extended to the people to lessen the catastrophe of the situation, the street rejects it. From the al-Esali neighborhood in Damascus, the popular response is jarring. That same response is repeated in another Damascene neighborhood, Hajar al-Aswad, reaching Abu Kamal in the province of Deir az-Zour. And between one Friday and the next, the question presses: Does the Assad regime still have a room to maneuver?

Presenter, Female # 1
Khaled Abu Saleh said demonstrations continued today in Homs. Activists posted videos online of a protest held in Deir Ba'alba in Homs to demand the downfall of the Syrian regime. Activists also posted videos online showing a demonstration held on Friday in the city of Bosra al-Sham in the province of Daraa. Activists called the mobilization the "Friday of the martyrs of the Arab deadline." Videos also posted on websites showed smoke rising from the Baba Amr neighborhood in the city of Homs after live shells were fired by Syrian security, as reported by activists. This comes as the city has been witnessing a strict security campaign for many days.

Guest, Male #3
This is Baba Amr. Baba Amr is being shelled! Brothers, Baba Amr is being shelled. Where are the Arabs? Baba Amr is being shelled! God is great! Look with your own eyes. Houses are shelled, brothers! Where are you brothers? Where are you oh Arabs? God is greater! God is greater! God is greater!

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UN rights office orders probe into Gaddafi's death [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Male #1
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights called for opening an investigation into the death of Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi after he was captured alive by armed Libyans in the city of Sirte. Pro-Gaddafi television Ar-Rai said the late Colonel's wife requested the United Nations probe into the killing of Gaddafi and his son Muatasam. Meanwhile, Amnesty International said Gaddafi's death ends an era in Libya's history but it does not end the issue of human rights violations. The organization called for holding everyone involved in human rights violations accountable and for guaranteeing the preservation of human rights in Libya's new institutions. In its statement, the organization also called for trials for former Libyan officials, especially the ones involved in the Abu Salim prison massacre of 1996. Meanwhile, Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi's fate is still unknown after conflicting reports about him emerged. Reuters news agency says Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi escaped Sirte and is heading to Niger, while the spokesman for the National Transitional Council forces, Ahmar Omar Bani, said there are reports that Saif al-Islam was severely injured in yesterday's battles in Sirte. In this context, French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced that NATO's operation in Libya is nearing its end. Sarkozy's statement comes while NATO officials are convening in Brussels today discussing ending the shelling operations that NATO has been carrying out for seven months in Libya. NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that after 42 years, Gaddafi's rule has ended and NATO's role in Libya is nearing its end as well. Meanwhile, Libyans are hoping to turn the page of disarray in their history and open a new chapter that integrates Libya into the international community. But the matter will not be as easy as many imagine.

Reporter, Male #2
When Hillary Clinton visited Tripoli a few days ago, she received affirmation from Libya's new rulers of a quick transition to democracy. This transition begins now. However, there are challenges and obstacles in the path to democracy. The first obstacle is the Islamic fundamentalists, who may not welcome a Western-style political party system. In addition, they have gained more power due to the prolonged fighting. The second challenge comes from the armed militias which now control major Libyan cities. However, providing jobs and securing the restoration of normal life will not be very difficult for a country with enormous oil revenues. The armed fighters greatly suffered in the bitter war and many of them had to bury their relatives and friends in the battlefields. As a result, they may not be able to easily adapt to restored stability. This may be most difficult for the Amazigh Armed Division, which shouldered the heaviest burden in the battle for Tripoli. Another challenge is reflected in the weak support for the political leadership outside Benghazi. The tribal division intensified during the battle for Sirte. The war was not clean either; evidence of killing prisoners on both sides may not be easily forgotten. Despite all this, Libya can happily breathe freedom and security as it returns to the world after a long period of isolation.

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Can the NTC establish democracy in Libya? [IBA, Israel]

The news of Gaddafi's death has raised questions about how Libya will handle the transition from dictatorship to democracy. Joining me now in the studio is Dr. Uriya Shavit, expert on democratization in the Arab world and author of the book, The Wars of Democracy. There has been much elation in the wake of Gaddafi's death but we do know that in Libya there are a hundred or more tribes that are warring factions. How can we be sure that those tribal elements inside Libya won't seize this power vacuum, and that this NTC, this National Transitional Council can actually establish democracy before that happens.

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Tunisia vows no poll rigging, calls on people to vote [Oman TV, Oman]

In Tunisia, the prime minister said that Tunisians should vote without fear of violence in the first free election after an uprising earlier this year. The constituent assembly that will write a new constitution before new parliamentary elections is also expected to form a new interim government in the country. It follows an uprising that ousted the ruler of 23 years, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, earlier this year.

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Hilary Clinton visits Pakistan to urge action against Taliban militants [Oman TV, Oman]

US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton warned today that stern action would have to be taken against Afghan and Pakistan militants if they did not cooperate in the effort to stabilize Afghanistan. Clinton said that after ten years of war, it was time to get the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan as well as in al-Qaeda-linked Haqqani network involved in those efforts. Clinton, speaking alongside Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, urged Pakistan to cooperate more on the Haqqani network Washington believes is in North Waziristan, near the Afghan border.