Yemeni vice president forms military council as violence continues [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Female #1
Today, Yemeni military forces began withdrawing from the city of Taiz, which has witnessed a bloody escalation over the past few days that has cost the lives of 20 people. This security development comes hours after the Yemeni vice president announced the formation of a military council. The council aims to restructure security and military institutions and remove arms from the streets, as mandated by the Gulf initiative, which leaves the door wide-open for the formation of a coalition government. Abed Rahman al-Shimiri reports from Sanaa.

Reporter, Male #1
After extensive efforts that nearly killed the power-transfer deal in Yemen, the Yemeni vice president has announced the formation of a military council to restore security in the country. The 14-member council is being shared equally by the authority and the opposition. The presidential decree was expected to be announced on the fifth day following the signing of the Gulf initiative. The delay is being attributed to disagreements over leadership candidates.

Guest, Male #2 (Naef al-Qanas, Leader at the Joint Meeting Opposition Parties)
The formation of the committee is a positive step. However, it doesn't meet the aspiration of the revolutionaries, who came out to uproot the entire regime.

Reporter, Male #1
Restoring security has become an urgent demand for most Yemenis, especially for Taiz residents who have endured hardship over the past few days. However, the city seems to be witnessing a relative calm following the withdrawal of rival forces, which is part of the military council's plan aimed at ending the armed conflict and division as well as restructuring the country's military and security institutions.

Guest, Male #3 (Ahmed al-Zarqa, Writer and Journalist)
The formation of the committee is a real test. It shows the parties' commitment and willingness to end their political and military disputes. It's also an opportunity to reinforce the vice president's authority while loosening President's Saleh's grip on the country's military and security institution.

Reporter, Male #1
Moving to a new stage of stability in Yemen is a dilemma that requires serious and persuasive political efforts, especially with regard to improving the security situation. A step was taken toward implementing the Gulf initiative, which may help diffuse the tense situation but won't necessarily end the security deterioration witnessed across various Yemeni regions. Abed Rahman al-Shimiri, Dubai TV, Sanaa.

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In show of force, Assad regime holds war games [Future TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Male # 1
In Syria, 17 civilians were killed by al-Assad's brigades in Homs province amid reports of a security campaign in the provinces of Damascus' countryside and Idlib, near the border with Turkey. The authorities are looking for security members who previously announced their defection from the regime.

Reporter, Male # 2
The violence and killing machine used by al-Assad regime did not deter activists demanding democracy from participating in loyalty protests to Hindi Mahmoud al-Zoukani. The Syrian opposition held demonstrations in a number of areas, notably Homs, Deir az-Zour, and Idlib in loyalty to the detained independent reporter, who devoted his life, money and time to the revolution. He managed to transmit a true image of the events in Syria by posting videos online. Al-Assad's shabiha responded by arresting him in May. Students also participated in the demonstrations, applying their lessons in democracy on the street. Civilian protestors managed to raise the flag of change despite the regime's brutality. Activists also posted videos online showing a protest organized by children in the Barada neighborhood of Damascus' countryside. They demanded the downfall of the regime and the execution of President Bashar al-Assad. The scene was different in Idlib, where residents organized a massive demonstration condemning the Arab League's extensions to the regime of the killer Bashar al-Assad, as they referred to it. These protests come after Sunday's death toll rose to over 40 people, including defected soldiers. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that 26 civilians and defected soldiers were killed across different neighborhoods in the city of Homs. Three residents were also killed in the village of Ezz el-Din, near the city of Rastan. Homs, which has been besieged for two months, was subjected to one of the most violent attacks waged by al-Assad brigades and army, accompanied by hundreds of shabeha. The Syrian Revolution's General Commission confirmed that Ahmad al-Rifa'i Mosque in the city's neighborhood of Nazihin was shelled, leading to the deaths of civilians and defected soldiers. Mourners were not spared from the shabeha's assault and were also fired at. A Syrian activist informed the German news agency that Syrian forces are carrying out a precise search campaign in the countryside of Damascus and near the Turkish border in search of defectors from the Syrian intelligence agency. Amid these circumstances, the Syrian army staged military exercises involving missiles, as part of the country's 2011 combat training. It seems the aim is to test the missiles' capabilities and readiness for use on civilians. Armored units conducted the war games with live ammunition involving various weapons, helicopters, and artillery rockets.

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Netanyahu calls early Likud Party primary [IBA, Israel]

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was called for a snap Likud Party vote, a contest he is expected to win and which could pave the way for an early national election in Israel. Yes, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed today that he would be advancing in the Likud race for party leader. Speaking out at the Likud meeting, Netanyahu said, "I want to officially declare that on January 31, "we will hold the election for chairman of Likud," adding that the move would save millions for the party.

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Arab League gives Syria deadline before sanctions imposed [IBA, Israel]

Staying in the region, Damascus claimed today that it had responded positively to an Arab League demand to send observers to Syria in an effort to end its brutal suppression of anti-government demonstrations. They Syrian Foreign Ministry said it sent a letter to the secretary-general of the Arab League last night and that the way has now been cleared for the signing of the protocol put forward by the 22-nation organization.

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Egypt holds run-off elections as ElBaradei expresses concerns over the rise of religious extremists [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Female #1
In Egypt, polling centers opened for the first round of run-offs in the parliamentary elections, which will last for two days. One hundred and four candidates are competing in this round. While the Islamist movements are trying to consolidate their seats in the run-off elections, liberals are vying to stay in the political arena.

Reporter, Male #1
The turnout of Egyptian voters in the first phase of the runoff vote in parliamentary elections is generally low compared to that of last week. The Administrative Court annulled the first round of results in a number of constituencies. However, voting is still underway in these constituencies as the High Election Commission did not ratify the judicial rulings.

Guest, Male #2 (Advisor Abdel Moez Ibrahim, Head of Election Commission)
The commission referred these complaints to the appropriate authorities so the administrative bodies can eliminate violations by the judicial institutions and conduct necessary investigations. Because naturally, the commission's job is to administer the elections. I'm not going to send people to investigate. The one to conduct investigations should be an investigation body.

Reporter, Male #1
This round will decide who will fill 52 individual seats. There are 104 candidates in 27 constituencies competing for the seats. Only four candidates won in the first round: two from the Freedom and Justice Party and two independents. In the first round of runoffs in the parliamentary elections, political parties and movements are trying to consolidate their seats. The Freedom and Justice Party, the political branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, wants to strengthen its advantage over Salafists. Meanwhile, liberal parties are struggling to stand their ground in the political arena, which was restructured after the downfall of former President Hosni Mubarak's regime. It is widely expected that the Freedom and Justice Party will gain the largest number of seats in the first parliament elected democratically in Egypt in six decades. This will strengthen its grip in the power struggle in the most populated Arab country. Yasser al-Bardisi, BBC.

Presenter, Female #1
Potential Egyptian presidential candidate, Mohamed ElBaradei, expressed concern over the rise of hard-line religious ideologies that he described as extremist, such as banning women from driving. In a televised statement, ElBaradei did not exclude the possibility that the youth of revolution will return with greater force if they feel their aspirations were tossed in the wind.

Guest, Male #3 (Mohamed Elbaradei, Potential Presidential Candidate)
If all these millions of youth who descended to the streets hoping for freedom and dignity, if all they see now is political games and they don't see the freedom that they aspired for, if instead they see killing, gunfire and pressure, or they believe that they are losing their jobs, then they will not remain patient for long. I see anger burning in their eyes. I saw hope, self-confidence, and self-respect in January and February. But what I see now is anger and oppression. I hope that the so-called political elites and parties will receive the message and understand it with good awareness, that if these young people do not see the situation changing, and if it seems to them that the revolution has been aborted, then they will become extremely angry. If there is a new wave of rebellion, I believe it will be very brutal.

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Bahrain escalates crackdown on Ashura mourning processions and hussainiat [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Male #1
Supporters of the February 14 Revolution issued a statement condemning the Bahraini authorities' aggression on the hussainiat, or shrines, especially what recently happened on Muharraq Island. The statement asserted that the authority, by attacking the hussainiat, is attempting to drag neighboring Bahrain into a sectarian war. It affirmed that the battle is not sectarian but is between the Bahraini people and al-Khalifa authority and its allies. The statement indicated that the attack hinders the path of those calling for dialogue and political reconciliation with the authority. It also asserted that the crown prince and the interior minister's meeting with Colonel Adel Fleifl and organizers of the mourning rituals was a gimmick aimed at preserving the crown prince's image and containing the Muharraq incidents. The Bahraini authorities continued their aggression and tightened their siege on the mourning processions at the hussainiat. This evoked anger in the street, as the public criticized these practices. In another context, the Bahraini masses cast doubt on the official report on the blast that took place near the British embassy in Manama. The authorities attributed the blast to Iran's inciting rhetoric and training in Syria.

Reporter, Male #2
The Bahraini authorities ignored the warnings not to harass Ashura mourners and continued systematically attacking and besieging them by closing off alleys and access to the hussainiat. Meanwhile, the Bahraini street continued denouncing the authority's provocation and sectarian policies. Not far away, the military court sentenced world champion bodybuilder Tareq al-Farsani to one year in prison and expelled him from the military service for his participation in an athletes' protest in March. The Bahraini authorities announced that a bus was bombed near the British embassy in Manama and immediately blamed Syria and Iran, claiming the incident was incited by Iranian rhetoric and the bomber was trained in Syria. However, the Bahraini masses doubted the authorities' claim.

Guest, Male #3 (Yousif Rabi'e, Bahraini Forum for Human Rights)
The Bahraini authorities are resorting to orchestrating a number of incidents to cover up their violations. This was exposed and debunked in front of international organizations. Today, the British embassy issued a statement stating that the British embassy was not the target of the blast that took place outside the embassy.

Guest, Male #4 (Yousif al-Muhafada, Official, Bahrain Human Rights Society)
We were surprised to see a large number of security agents near the British embassy. They prevented anyone from passing through the area. It's strange that the bombing was carried out after midnight, around 1 or 2 am, because there was a heavy security presence from 10 pm until the time of the bombing. This arouses doubt and suspicion on the truth behind the bombing.

Reporter, Male #2
The Bahraini opposition believes that by making accusations for the bombing, the authority is attempting to cover up the failure of its internal policies and its failure to win over international public opinion, which has stepped up criticism of Bahrain's suppression of the popular movement demanding democracy.

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Palestinian Christians pray for land not to be confiscated [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Male #1
Dozens of Palestinian Christians in the town of Beit Jala near Bethlehem city held a Friday mass on their land that Israel is threatening to confiscate in order to build the separation wall, which will annex thousands of dunoms of Palestinian land. This wall will completely separate Beit Jala from the city of Jerusalem and separate the Christian monasteries in the town from each other.

Reporter, Female #1
For over a month, these Christians have been gathering here every Friday to hold their mass on the land of the Cremisan Monastery in Beit Jala. The masses were not held in the church like usual, but on this patch of land that Israeli occupation forces are threatening to confiscate in order to annex it into the municipality of Jerusalem.

Guest, Male #2 (Ibrahim al-Shoumali, Parish Priest in Beit Jala)
We say to our lord, "God, no one can hear us. No one is hearing the cry of injustice from this land. You're probably the only one who can hear us, and if you can't hear us then who will?" So we are crying out our prayers.

Reporter, Female #1
The construction of the separation wall continues in the town of Beit Jala. The wall is forcing the Palestinians to leave their homes as their land is confiscated. The wall besieges the citizens and isolates them from two nearby settlements: the Gilo settlement and its offset, the Har Gillo settlement, where settlement units are quickly being constructed. Israel moves ahead with its project despite the damages it inflicts on citizens and Christian monasteries, which are now isolated and separated from one another.

Guest, Male #3
The monks of the Cremisan Monastery, the monastery over there, will be part of Gilo, and the nuns' monastery will be part of Palestinian land, the land of Bethlehem and Beit Jala. So it will be separated from the monks' monastery.

Reporter, Female #1
The size of the land that will be annexed by the wall is approximately 7,000 dunoms. The land is described as the finest agricultural land in Palestine. And with the confiscation, the same story repeats itself; the story of the wall has become well-known and dozens of families will lose the source of their livelihood.

Guest, Male #4 (Richardo Hani, Owner of land threatened to be confiscated)
The 20 donums that I own, that I inherited from my father, and that my father inherited from his father, are gone. I don't have any more land. I am not allowed to enter it and not allowed to get close to it. I came a year ago to build on it, I brought a tractor and the Israeli authorities and army came to tell me I'm not allowed to do anything on it.

Reporter, Female #1
Israel may publicize its security pretexts, but this land behind me stands in the way of connecting two parallel settlements. But whether or not Israel confiscates this land, the two existing settlements were already built on Palestinian land. Shirin Abu Aqla, al-Jazeera, from the town of Beit Jala.

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Fresh anti-regime protests erupt in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province [Press TV, Iran]

In Saudi Arabia's oil rich province, demonstrators have taken to the streets, condemin the killing of five demonstrators two weeks ago. Im the city of Qatif, demonstrators held placards bearing the pictures of those killed by Saudi forces. They also took to the streets in nearby towns and villages including Awamiyah. The rally shouted slogans against the ruling Al Saud family. Activists say military vehicles have surrounded some villages and parts of Qatif. Late last month, Saudi regime forces opened fire on thousands of anti-regime protestors, killing several of them.

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Shia Muslims mark Ashura as deadly bombing targets pilgrims in Iraq [Press TV, Iran]

Nearly 30 pilgrims have been killed in three bomb attacks in Iraq. Seven were killed and another 13 wounded by a roadside bomb in the capital Baghdad. Over 20 people were killed and scores were injured in two other bombings in the city of Hillah. Millions of pilgrims from around the world are gathering to celebrate Ashura. People marking the occasion have been targeted by terrorist attacks almost every year since the downfall of Iraq's former dictator Saddam Hussein.

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Government forces attack aid convoys in Somalia [Press TV, Iran]

At least seven civilians have been killed and 13 wounded in several attacks on humanitarian aid convoys in Somalia. Armed men wearing Somali government uniforms and using heaving guns looted humanitarian aid food convoys for needy families in the capital Mogadishu. A government officers who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the attacks were carried out by government soldiers.