Iranian students storm British embassy during protest against sanctions [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Female #1
Iranian demonstrators stormed the British embassy compound in Tehran, smashed its windows, and burned the British flag in a massive protest against the recent UK sanctions imposed on Tehran. The protest was broadcast live by Iranian television. The British Foreign Ministry expressed condemnation and rage over the incident. The ministry also demanded the Iranian government act urgently to protect diplomats, guarantee the safety of employees, and property, as well as bring the situation under control. France strongly condemned the attack, and Italy described it as "unacceptable act."

Reporter, Male #1
In the unfolding development in the strained relationship between Iran and Britain, several Iranian students stormed the British embassy headquarters in the Iranian capital Tehran, smashed its windows, and burned the British flag. Demonstrators threw petrol bombs at the embassy, as one protestor waived a picture of Queen Elizabeth he found inside the compound. In a clear indication that the rally was approved by the government, the demonstration and the storming of the embassy was broadcast live by the Iranian state-run television station. The incident comes after Britain imposed new economic sanctions on Iran over the latter's nuclear arms program last week. London prevented all British companies from engaging in trade with their Iranian counterparts, including the Iranian Central Bank, as part of a new round of Western sanctions. Last Monday, Iran's Guardian Council of the Constitution approved a draft resolution to downgrade ties with Britain. This news comes one day after the Iranian parliament approved a resolution to force the government to expel the British ambassador in response to the sanctions. Last Sunday, the parliament in Tehran warned that Iranians who are angry over the sanctions may storm the British embassy like they stormed the US embassy in 1979. Essam Abdullah, BBC.

Presenter, Female #1
To follow up with the latest development, we are joined via phone by Amir Mussawi, an advisor for the Center of Strategic Studies and Special Programs in Iran. Mr. Amir, we noticed a heavy presence of police and security forces in front of the British embassy. Is this indication that the Iranian government doesn't condone what's happening?

Guest, Male #2 (Amir Mussawi, Advisor at the Center of Strategic Studies and Special Programs in Iran)
Yes, this is true. Security forces entered the embassy compound and removed the angry students and youths. Some type of altercation or even confrontations ensued, inflicting injuries among many youths and students. This means that the government rejected this action, unlike its position during the storming of the US embassy at the spark of the Islamic revolution in 1979. There appears to be an official rejection of this action. However, this action shows that a wave of indignation is sweeping across Iranian student and youth movements over British policies, especially in the past two years. The British government is trying to use international organizations, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN Security Council, and the European Union to mount pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran over its peaceful nuclear program.

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Saudi regime deploys troops to suppress protests in Qatif [Press TV, Iran]

In Saudi Arabia, authorities have deployed more troops and military vehicles to the eastern city of Qatif to crush demonstrations there. The deployment comes among mass rallies in Qatif and other eastern cities of Awamia and Safwa. On Monday, protestors hit the streets in Qatif to vent their anger on the Saudi regime. Saudi forces have killed five protestors and injured many more over the past several days. Funerals for the victims have usually turned into anti-regime where protestors have been chanting slogans against the al-Saud regime. Angry protestors are slamming what they call "systematic discrimination" in the kingdom. They say they are being targeted for demanding more freedom and equality.

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Heavy turnout on second day of Egyptian parliamentary elections [Press TV, Iran]

A massive turnout is reported in Egypt, where a second and final day of parliamentary elections is underway. This is the first vote since former President Hosni Mubarak was ousted in the February revolution. The voting is going strong like the first day. Voters have formed long lines at polling stations in the capital and other cities. Officials have described the turnout as "unprecedented and unexpected." Around 40 million Egyptians have been asked to cast their ballots to form a new parliament. Official results are expected on Wednesday.

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Libya's Amazigh angry over cabinet exclusion [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Male # 1
UN special envoy to Libya, Ian Martin, warned against the deterioration of the security situation in Libya as various types of weapons remain in the hands of groups that participated in the toppling of the Gaddafi regime. Martin said that the situation could erupt in Libya at any moment, clarifying the consensus is that the security situation represents the first and most pressing challenge for the National Transitional Council and the new government. The UN envoy indicated that Libya faces another security challenge represented by the proliferation of conventional and non-conventional weapons and related materials, leading to concerns by the Security Council and Libya's neighboring countries. He said that the country has accumulated a large number of man-portable air-defense systems and ammunition, causing an internal problem for Libya in terms of disarmament and that the spread of weapons causes a regional problem. We stay in Libya, where some areas are witnessing political mobilization by the Amagizh, who organized rallies to protest that not a single Amagizh minister was chosen in the cabinet of Prime Minister Abdel Rahim al-Kib. In addition, Libya's Amazigh are demanding that their Tamazight language be officially recognized alongside Arabic. It is worth mentioning the downfall of al-Gaddafi's regime allowed Amazigh activists and organizations to return from exile to their country, Libya.

Reporter, Male # 2
The same scene has been repeated several times in the past few days in the Libyan capital Tripoli. Organizations are defending the identity, culture, and language of the Amazigh as the people are mobilizing to protest the exclusion of an Amazigh minister that would represent them. It is estimated that the Amazigh people represent between ten to twenty percent of the population. But their protest seems deeper than a demand for holding executive positions. Not only are they calling for freezing cooperation with the National Transitional Council, but they are also criticizing the entire structure of the new political system.

Guest, Male # 3
What provoked us, and what angered these crowds behind me and others still gathering from Amazigh cities and heading toward Tripoli, is that they saw themselves missing from the Libyan political scene.

Guest, Male # 4
This is a warning sign; this is just the first sign that something is wrong. There is a lack of legitimacy. If it was built on an invalid foundation, it will always remain invalid.

Reporter, Male # 2
We headed to the city of Zuwarah, a Libyan city with a majority of Amazigh residents, and the situation here is the same as that in Yefren, Nalut, Jadu, al-Rehaybat, Qaba, and others. Al-Zuwarah is the first city in Libya where its revolutionaries elected the head of their local council in a direct vote after the revolution. Here, slogans calling for recognizing the Tamazight language as an official language alongside Arabic reflect the rejection of any temporary or permanent constitution that does not grant the Amazigh identity and culture the place they're aspiring for. It is worth mentioning the residents of al- Zuwarah believe and are assured that their rights will not be lost, saying their proposal is not based on ethnicity but culture.

Guest, Male # 5
We don't speak out of anger, or political division between us and our brothers in Libya. We are all part of the Libyan society but if there are distributions to certain groups, then we are one of those groups. We have a natural right, just like everyone else in Libya, to our language and to participate in this government. That's all we're demanding.

Reporter, Male # 2
Here, they are called the Amazigh of the coast, and in the cities of the Nafusa Mountains they are the Amazigh of the mountains. If we were to head south-west towards Ghat, Ghadames, and Awbari, they are the Amazigh of the desert. They form an essential component of the population and will remain present on the Libyan political scene.

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Syrian opposition rallies for 'protection and loyalty of medics' [Future TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Female # 1
Al-Assad's brigades heavily shelled the cities of Rankous, Deir Baalaba, and the countryside of Damascus, leading to the deaths of 11 civilians. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 16 civilians were killed yesterday in Syria, raising the death toll of the nine-month protests to 4,750. Supporters of the Syrian opposition responded to the protest call on the Tuesday of "protection and loyalty to nurses and doctors."

Reporter, Male # 2
In response to the Syrian opposition's call asking its supporters to participate in the Tuesday of "protection and loyalty to nurses and doctors," most cities and towns witnessed mass protests to demand the removal of President Bashar al-Assad and his regime. Mass protests were held in the neighborhoods of Gheiran, Homs, Rankous, Deir az-Zour, and others. They were confronted by al-Assad's brigades, leading to the deaths of at least ten people, according to reports by Local Coordination Committees. In addition, al-Assad's brigades continued their military operations in a number of areas, notably in Homs. According to the opposition's websites, in Homs'p neighborhood of Bab al-Dreb, an explosion was heard as heavy gunfire erupted from security checkpoints around the neighborhood. In addition, tanks heavily shelled al-RanKous and targeted homes and civilians. Explosions and heavy gunfire by al-Assad's brigades were heard in Bab Amro, leading to the injury of many, including one person who is in critical condition. This comes after the Syrian opposition called for Tuesday's protest to be held under the slogan of "a united Syria is our homeland." On social networking websites, the Syrian opposition also said that heavy gunfire was heard in Deir Baalba in Homs, alongside sounds of explosions from al-Ishara and al-Jamea checkpoints. There were also reports of the storming of Jassem's public school, the arrest of 28 students, and of security forces imposing a curfew in the city. The Syrian Revolution's General Commission said 4,140 people have been killed since protests began in Syria, including civilians, and defected military personnel who were killed by security forces. On the other hand, Abdul Halim Khaddam, the former Syrian president's prime minister, called on President Bashar al-Assad to leave his post. He warned him of meeting the same fate as Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi. According to Khaddam, al-Assad has the same features as al-Gaddafi in terms of his behavior and conditions surrounding him. In an interview with CNN, Khaddam confirmed that the current revolution in Syria is not sectarian; rather, it is a revolution against the regime. Khaddam also confirmed that Bashar al-Assad is the one giving the orders to kill. A number of his relatives and security agencies are overseeing the events, but the ultimate decision-maker is Bashar al-Assad.

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Yemeni protestors slam Riyadh agreement for being brokered under 'US-Saudi auspices' [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Female #1
Demonstrations were staged in the Yemeni capital Sanaa and other cities to reject the Riyadh Agreement. Political activists believe that the transfer of presidential power to the vice president was brokered under US-Saudi auspices.

Reporter, Male #1
In his second resolution, Abed-Rabbu Mansour Hadi has designated Mohamed Salim Basindwa to form a national coalition government. The council of ministers, which will be split equally between the authority and the opposition, was a last resort solution that many believe contradicts what the revolution stands for. Observes believe that the joint council will lead to a monopolization of the country's decision-making process.

Guest, Male #2 (Nazih al-Aqad, Yemeni Political Activist)
The socialist party has nothing to do with the agreement, which was signed between the Reform Party, the president, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Socialist Party, along with the Naserist and Baathists, are not connected in any way with this deal. It's true that the head of the Joint Meeting Parties is the secretary-general of the Socialist Party; however, the Socialist Party was a victim in this deal that was reached between the president, the Reform Party, and Saudi Arabia.

Reporter, Male #1
Meanwhile, the revolution's squares are raging, as protestors slam the Riyadh Agreement as an "attempt to corner their demands." Many Yemenis expressed suspicion over the transition deal, in which the vice president was granted presidential power, especially considering that President Saleh is still delivering speeches and issuing pardons. However, Saleh's supporters believe that his action doesn't contradict the Riyadh Agreement or undermine the vice president's privileges.

Guest, Male #3 (Saleh al-Siyadi, Pro-regime Spokesman)
We hope the other side will have good intentions and refrain from playing dual roles by putting one foot in the council and the other one in the square.

Reporter, Male #1
The demands of the revolutionaries in the squares have not changed, as they continue to reject all agreements aimed at cornering the revolution and aborting its objectives. They also continue to reject the roles of the US and Saudi Arabia, which are strongly seeking to keep Saleh's regime intact despite the continuous protests demanding its downfall. Abed Rahman al-Abed, Alalam, Sanaa.

Presenter, Female #1
In the southern Yemeni city of Taiz, thousands of residents staged demonstrations rejecting the Riyadh Agreement and demanding the trial of President Ali Abdullah Saleh and elements of his regime as well as freezing their assets. The demonstrators also condemned the international community's silence on Saleh's crimes and the crimes of his family. They also chanted slogans vowing to remain loyal to the martyrs and to continue on the path of the revolution until its objectives are achieved. Furthermore, the protestors demanded the prosecution of the killers and all those who committed murder and violent acts against the peaceful protestors. They also urged the UN Security Council to implement the recommendations of Human Right Watch, which called for freezing the assets of Saleh and his regime's elements and for imposing a travel ban on them.

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Iran officials backtrack on reports of blast at nuclear facility [IBA, Israel]

Iranian officials have backtracked on earlier reports of a mysterious explosion in the central city of Isfahan, the site of one of the Islamic Republic's key uranium enrichment facilities. But foreign media outlets continue to speculate that the blast was connected to the Iranian nuclear program. Iran's ISNA foreign news agency today retracted earlier reports of an explosion in Isfahan. The central city is home to a plant that processes uranium for Iran's Netanz enrichment facility, which is at the epicenter of international condemnation of Iranian nuclear development.

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Rockets from Lebanon hit Israel for first time since 2009 [IBA, Israel]

For the first time since 2009, several rockets fired from Lebanon hit northern Israel this morning. No injuries were reported. An al-Qaeda linked group claimed responsibility for the attack. Israel returned fire but at this hour, quiet is holding. Four 122 millimeter rockets fired from within Lebanon just north of the border landed in the western Galilee shortly after midnight. No injuries were reported in the attacks. The rockets landed close to the Lebanese border, causing some damage to a chicken coup and a propane gas tank.

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Israeli occupation turns Jordan Valley region into military training camp [New TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Female #1
The Israeli occupation forces shut down areas in the occupied Jordan Valley and turned them into military zones for training. Our correspondent Salam Mashriqi reports.

Reporter, Female #2
In a new move to tighten the noose on Palestinians in the valley, the Hebrew state heightened its security measures in this occupied Palestinian region and turned most of the land into closed military zones under the pretext of security precautions. It barred residents from entering the vast areas of their lands, which it turned into military camps for army training.

Guest, Male #1
The Israeli army and Israelis consider the valley a strategic mountainous region, just like they did in southern Lebanon. They seized nearly 70 percent of these lands. They posted signs that read "fire zone," in addition to building trenches and shelters for the Israeli army in the region. They train from Sunday to Thursday every week, and they close down all areas. Of course, this has many negative impacts on the region; the trainings have closed many of the pastures to citizens. A number of people were martyred due to unexploded munitions remnants of the Israeli army.

Reporter, Female #2
Residents of the region sent a letter to European consulates demanding to meet with them to put an end to the occupation's practices.

Guest, Male #2
We, as popular committees, called on them to expose the occupation's practices on the ground, which in reality aim to displace the residents of the region in order to occupy it.

Reporter, Female #2
Settlements have been built on 70 percent of the land in the Jordan Valley. Within a year, the number of settlers there has doubled and reached nearly 10,000. The reinforcement of settlements here is a method to not only to Judaize the Palestinian territory but also to displace its original residents. In order to achieve this goal, the Palestinians were deprived of the most basic needs including water, housing, and even electricity.

Guest, Male #3
The amount of water we used to get was very high. However, the settlers seized most of it. They planted olives, grapes, dates, vegetables, and other crops. All this was done at our expense, by taking away our water resources.

Guest, Male #4
They took away our right to access water. This is my land. Why are their water networks passing through my land? Since they stripped us of our rights, why don't they offer us an alternative, just like other people around the world? Also, they are maintaining control of all power plants in the area. It's like no one lives here but them.

Reporter, Female #2
This policy has inflicted severe damages on the farming fields and led to a drought. Palestinians are no longer able to use more than ten percent of their land. As for the policy of land confiscation and housing demolitions, there is no end to it. There is no law to prohibit the Hebrew state or international institutions from hearing the cries of residents. Israel insists that the Jordan Valley region is one of the most strategically significant regions for maintaining its security. Under this pretext, it reinforces settlements in the region, robs more land, and builds military bases as an indicator that it will not abandon the land in peace negotiations.