Twin bombings kill scores of Afghans on Shiite holy day [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Male #1
Sources in the Afghan Health Ministry said 60 people were killed and over 150 were wounded in a blast that targeted a Shiite shrine on the Day of Ashura.

Presenter, Female #1
Four people were killed in another explosion caused by a bomb that was detonated near a Shiite hussainiat in the city of Mazar-I-Sharif north of the Afghan capital. Taliban denied involvement in the two attacks and condemned them, describing them as anti-Islam.

Reporter, Male #2
The heightened security measures on the Day of Ashura did not prevent the largest attack in the Afghan capital. The attack did not target the foreign or Afghan troops, but a Shiite shrine during the commemoration of the Day of Ashura. Dozens were killed and wounded. Ambulances were unable to transport them to the hospitals, so citizens took on the mission.

Guest, Male #3 (Sayed Niamat Allah, Eyewitness)
An hour after the incident, ambulances arrived. The police were transporting the killed and wounded. They did not respect the deceased. What is this mockery? What kind of government is this?

Reporter, Male #2
The incident caused a case of tension and confusion among the people and the authorities, which led to clashes between security forces and angry Shiites. Meanwhile, Shiite leaders accused the security authorities of negligence for failing to protect them and accused those they referred to as "infiltrating agents" of committing a massacre against them.

Guest, Male #4 (Youb Salanghi, Kabul Police Commander)
When the Ashura mourning rituals were about to end, a group of people from Logar Province arrived. Unfortunately, there were suicide bombers among them. Citizens were killed and wounded. We have started an investigation.

Reporter, Male #2
The security mission in the capital Kabul was handed over to the Afghan security forces three years ago. This explains why the foreign forces were not involved in providing security for local gatherings or government buildings. Today, these consecutive blasts in Afghanistan evoked more doubts about the Afghan security forces' capability of maintaining security when the foreign forces leave. Sectarian strife and ethnic tension are entering the course of events in Afghanistan. Afghans are asking today: who is benefiting from aggravating these conflicts? Samir Allawi, al-Jazeera, Kabul.

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Over three million Shia pilgrims converge on Karbala [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Female #1
Millions of Muslims have celebrated Ashura, marking the martyrdom of Imam Hussien, peace upon him, in the holy city of Karbala south of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. Karbala flooded today with the masses of visitors who came from various Arab and Muslim countries to perform the rituals of the tenth day of the Islamic month of Muharram. Karbala's governor said that three million visitors have taken part in the commemorations of Ashura.

Reporter, Male #1
This is the holy city of Krabala on the tenth day of the forbidden month of Muharram, or forbidden. Millions of visitors converged on Karbala to mark the martyrdom of Imam Hussien, peace upon him, a grandson of the Prophet, may peace and prayers be upon him. Dressed in black, the city braced for the masses of visitors who came from various Arab and Muslim countries. The masses of visitors arrived at the city, some in cars and others on foot, to pay tribute and perform the rituals of the tenth day of Muharram. They reflected on Imam Hussien's legacy of and its great effect on Islamic history, as it helps preserve Islamic principles and connect believers with their faith. Each year, visitors gather to listen to events that led to the martyrdom of Imam Hussien, peace be upon him and upon the prophet's family and followers. It's an occasion when believers reflect back on the principles and sacrifices that led to the martyrdom of the prophet's grandson and those who helped uphold Islam. The yearly commemoration spreads the message and the lessons of the Battle of Taff, which claimed the life of the Imam, who preferred dying over living in humiliation. The Ahura commemorations take place every year amid heavy security measures. This year, the Iraqi government demanded all appropriate governorates and ministries help secure the travel of Pilgrims before and after the Ashura commemorations.

Presenter, Female #1
In al-Kadhimiya suburb of Baghdad, the security measures taken by security authorities foiled a number of terrorist operations against hundreds of thousands of participants in the Ashura mourning ceremonies.

Reporter, Male #2
Millions of pilgrims from various Iraqi cities, neighboring countries and other parts of the world gathered in front of the shrine of Imam Hussien, peace upon him, in Karbala to commemorate his martyrdom. They chanted "Labbaik ya Hussein," or "We're at your service oh Hussien." The painful memory of the battle of Taff is living within the mourners in a scene that the eyes can only see in front of this holy shrine. In Baghdad, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims headed to the holy city of al-Kadhimiya to commemorate the martyrdom in line with the organized ceremonies entailing reenactments of the Battle of Taff, mourning ceremony and visits to the shrine of Imam al-Kadhim, may peace be upon him. The challenge tour and bare-foot walking were not free of obstacles, since the visitors were targeted by terrorist operations in various cities. However, security measures taken by the Iraqi security forces managed to foil a number of terrorist operations. The forces were deployed on all streets and roads inside and near the capital. According to supervisors of the shrine pilgrimage, an estimate of over three million pilgrims from Iraq headed to Karbala, while two million and forty thousand pilgrims from Islamic and Arab countries took part in the ceremonies commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, peace upon him. The path is never too long to the shrine of Imam Hussien and the shrines of noble Imams, and the cold weather and challenges did not hinder the mourning processions or the determination of the pilgrims, who renewed their allegiance and vowed to follow in the footstep of Imam Hussien and his plight. Haidar al-Qasim, Alalam, Baghdad.

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Death toll mounts in Syria as troops continue to defect [Future TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Female #1
The Assad brigades continued their military and security operations in several Syrian cities. Thirty-three civilians were killed today by the gunfire of Assad's brigades, mostly in the city of Homs. In addition, the brigades arrested dozens of students taking part in demonstrations organized by the opposition under the slogan "the revolution is calling you."

Reporter, Male #1
Day after day the Syrian regime is confirming that its killing machine will not show mercy to the protestors who are demanding freedom. The Assad brigades continued to carry out wide-scale raids across various neighborhoods. Dozens of civilians were arrested today for taking part demonstrations against Assad's regime. The Syrian Revolution's General Commission said that more than 30 civilians were killed by the gunfire of the Assad brigades across various regions. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that Monday's death toll caused by the gunfire of the Assad brigades and shabeha has risen to 50, including 34 who were kidnapped and murdered by the shabeha and whose bodies were later discovered in Homs' Zahra neighborhood. The Observatory added that 33 were killed by the gunfire of security forces in Homs, two in Hula, and one in Talbisa. Furthermore, the Observatory said that three security officers were killed in Daraa. This news comes as protests, raids, and arrests targeting the civilians, including children, continue in various regions. The Observatory said that the Assad brigades detained dozens of students who took part in anti-regime demonstrations in Harasta, Latakia, and Jabla. Meanwhile, defections from the Syrian army to the Free Syrian Army continued. Today, several officers, including a major, defected from the army.

Guest, Male #2 (Major Ahmad Bahbouh)
I'm Major Ahmad Bahbouh, with the 14th army division, from the city of Rastan. And this is my identification card. I herby announce my defection, along with a group of honorable officers, from Assad's brutal army.

Reporter, Male #1
The opposition said on social media websites that starting Sunday morning the world will witness a new development in the Syrian revolution, as it will begin a general strike followed by civil disobedience. For its part, the Syrian news agency SANA said that the Syrian border security forces in the province of Idlib foiled an infiltration attempt by a terrorist group into Syrian territory via the Ein al-Baida border town. The agency quoted what it referred to as "knowledgeable sources" in Idlib saying that Syrian border security forces clashed with a terrorist group consisting of 35 gunmen, and prevented them from entering Syrian territories.

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Clinton to meet with Syrian opposition in Geneva [Oman TV, Oman]

US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton will meet members of the Syrian opposition in Geneva today in a gesture of support for them. US officials said Clinton would meet seven opposition members in Geneva, where she is to give a speech on human rights. It will be here second such meeting in six months, following a gathering in Washington in July. US officials offered no further details on Clinton's planned meeting.

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Kuwait's emir dissolves parliament amid corruption allegations [Oman TV, Oman]

State media said that His Highness Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah dissolved parliament today after the government was forced to resign last month in one of the deepest political crises in the oil exporting state. A decree read out on state television cited difficulties in achieving progress and defining the national interest of the country, which required going back to the nation to choose its representative in order to overcome present difficulties. The decree said there would be elections but gave no date.

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Monitor calls for tighter oversight of Egypt elections [Oman TV, Oman]

Independent monitors called for a tighter oversight of Egypt's parliamentary elections today as Egyptians voted in staggered runoffs hotly contested by rival Islamist groups seeking to extend their early gains. The three-phase vote ending in January could give Islamists a popular mandate to challenge the ruling army council, which has already been pushed by protestors to hand power to civilians in mid-2012 sooner than it had envisaged. The election committee has noted violations and vowed to act but said irregularities did not undermine the election's legitimacy.

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Israeli foreign Minister says Syrian rocket tests sign of regime's distress, imminent fall [IBA, Israel]

Following rocket fire from Lebanon and rocket tests in Syria, Defense Minister Ehud Barak today toured the nothern border. This as Hezbollah leader Hasan Nazrallah made a rare public appearance, while Syrian President Bashar al-Assad continues his killing spree. It's not coincidental that Defense Minister Ehud Barak visited the Golan Heights today and attended a Golani Brigade exercise. The tour came two days after the Syrian army test fired several rockets, including a scud ballistic missile and less than a week after the Katyusha rocket attack from Lebanon. Barak was clearly interested in conveying to the policymakers across the border, that Israel is confident and prepared for any development.

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Obama won't fire Belgian envoy over anti-Semitism remarks [IBA, Israel]

Turning to Washington where the Obama administration has rejected Republican calls to sack US ambassador to Belgium Howard Gutman over remarks he made last week about anti-Semitism in Europe. During an address to a Brussels conference on European anti-Semitism, the ambassador, who is Jewish and the son of a Holocaust survivor, said failure to resolve the Middle East conflict is breeding a new type of bigotry, and that Jews are now being targeted over resentment stemming from the Arab-Israeli conflict. Leading republican presidential candidates have accused Gutman of rationalizing and even downplaying anti-Semitism.

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New violence erupts in Yemen's Taiz, one civilian dead [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Male #1
In Yemen, one man was killed when a shell hit a passenger bus in al-Hasab neighborhood in the northern city of Taiz, south of Sanaa. Meanwhile, the northern areas of the Yemeni capital witnessed limited night clashes. Two women were killed on Tuesday in the violence, which raises this past week's death toll in Taiz to 34. Unconfirmed reports indicated that 110 officers and soldiers from the First Armored Division led by defected army Major-General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar were arrested in Taiz for their involvement in inciting chaos and vandalism in the city. This comes one day after a military committee was formed to reconstruct the army and unify the military forces in accordance with the terms of the Gulf initiative.

Reporter, Male #2
These people were protesting in the Yemeni capital Sanaa. They chanted greetings to Taiz, the second largest city in the country. The protestors condemned the killing of civilians, the shelling and acts of violence, which they said have been carried out by President Ali Abdullah Saleh's loyalist forces that are targeting the civilian and peaceful revolution in Taiz. Protestors in Dhamar and other cities demonstrated in solidarity with Taiz, threatening not to recognize the legitimacy of acting President Abdul Rab Mansour al-Hadi if the attack on protestors continues in Taiz and other regions. In Taiz itself, tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in protest to the events in their city.

Guest, Male #3
Taiz is facing an unprecedented war launched by one party: Saleh's regime and its remnants. Most of the neighborhoods in the province were continually shelled for the past 72 hours.

Reporter, Male #2
Meanwhile, international pressure incremented in the past several hours on all parties in the Yemeni political arena, asking them to accelerate the process of enforcing the Gulf initiative's provisions and its implementation mechanism, in hopes of halting the violence has overtaken the country, especially in Taiz. Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Commission Ravina Shamdasani expressed the international organization's condemnation of what she referred to as the continued targeting of civilians in Yemen, specifically in the city of Taiz. So the question here is: why Taiz?

Guest, Female #1
Taiz is the birthplace of the revolution; Taiz is the heart of the revolution. If the light of revolution is turned off in Taiz, the whole revolution will be aborted.

Reporter, Male #2
Authorities loyal to President Ali Abdullah Saleh said they arrested in Taiz around 110 officers and soldiers from the First Armored Division who had defected from the army. They said they are charged with involvement in inciting chaos and vandalism in the city. However, sources in the defecting forces strongly denied the accusation. Anwar al-Ansi, BBC.

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Protestors in Saudi Arabia's Qatif condemn killing of protestors [Press TV, Iran]

In Saudi Arabia Muharram opening ceremonies have turned into anti-government protests by tens of thousands of people. The rally was staged in Qatif in the Eastern Province. This is one of the largest anti-government rallies in Saudi Arabia, where any such gatherings are strictly banned. The Saudi government has harshly cracked down on protests against the al-Saud rule in recent months. A number of protestors have been killed and many more have been jailed. Riyadh has been frequently condemned by rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch for what they call gross violations of human rights.

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Ten killed in Libya arms depot blast [Press TV, Iran]

Military sources said an explosion in central Libya has killed at least ten people. The blast took place in an ammunition storage in Waddan neighborhood late on Monday. Seven Africans were among those killed. Officials say the explosion occurred when someone lit a cigarette at the facility. The United Nations had repeatedly warned the interim Libya rulers that some weapons depots have not been secured properly and arms were being smuggled out of the country. The government has promised to disarm Tripoli by the end of December.

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Nasrallah: CIA has become Israeli tool [Press TV, Iran]

The secretary general of Lebanon's Hezbollah movement says the US Central Intelligence Agency has become a tool in the hands of Israel. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said President Barack Obama's administration bears enmity against Middle Eastern nations. He said the US and Israel have been inciting sectarian violence in the region to achieve their goals. Earlier in the day Nasrallah made his first public appearance since 2008.

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Poverty stricken Palestinians live in Gaza graveyard [Palestine TV, Palestine]

Presenter, Male #1
Some families in the Gaza Strip are enduring a life harder than death. They live alongside the dead in graveyards that have turned into shelters.

Reporter, Male #2
In Gaza, the living and the dead are neighbors. The Kahil family is one of 45 families crowding the dead in their tombs. Or is that tombs are crowding them in their homes? This family has spent 50 years with their ancestors here. They have no land, no decent house, or any money. To make a living, family members either collect gravel or work as blacksmiths to gain barely enough daily food.

Guest, Female #1 (Umm Sabir Kahil, Grave Resident)
Sometimes they sleep hungry. Some days, they find something to eat, maybe an onion or butter. Whatever they find edible they eat. They have never tasted meat.

Reporter, Male #2
Extreme poverty and large graveyards called homes that lack sanitation are the conditions the children of these families grow up in. They play in between the tombstones with the animals they share food with. They are not scared of stray dogs, scorpions, snakes or insects.

Guest, Male #3 (Sabir Kahil, Grave Resident)
When my children see dogs in front of them, or they see snakes and similar things? I tell you, I can't take it. I don't want my children to see what I've seen in this graveyard.

Reporter, Male #2
The history of residence of most families here can be traced back to decades ago, or more specifically to 1948, when their parents fled to Gaza. As for the other families, they came here more recently, such as those who lost their homes in the Israeli war. In both of these cases, no solution has been provided so far for these people who are calling on everyone to help them restore a normal life. These families residing in these graveyards are living another kind of death, with meager dreams and insurmountable worries. No one hears them but these tombstones. Omar Bashir, Palestine TV, the Gaza Strip.