Syrian protestors hold 'dignity strike' to topple Assad regime [Future TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Female #1
At least 35 people were killed today by the gunfire of Assad's brigades during massive demonstrations staged across most Syrian cities on a Friday dubbed "strike for dignity." This news comes two days before the launch of a general strike and revolutionary escalation, which will be followed by civil disobedience, as called for by the opposition. While the city of Homs received the lion's share of the crackdown and number of victims, a series of demonstrations were held in Aleppo, Hama, Daraa, Duma, and other Syrian cities and towns demanding the downfall of the regime.

Reporter Male #1
Assad's forces have escalated their savage and heinous crackdowns on the protestors. In response, the Syrian street has become more determined and defiant in its demands for freedom and the downfall of the regime. Syrian towns answered the opposition's call for protests on a Friday dubbed "strike for dignity." Massive demonstrations were staged across various Syrian cities and towns, during which protestors chanted slogans demanding the downfall of the regime and the departure of Assad. The firm conviction of the residents of Daraa of achieving freedom and democracy prompted them to stage massive demonstrations demanding the downfall of the regime and the execution of Assad and his aides. In Deir ez-Zour, residents took to the streets in massive rallies on a Friday dubbed "strike for dignity." The demonstrators chanted for victory and for the downfall of Assad's regime. In Idlib, the scene was different from that of previous Fridays. Today, the residents held banners demanding international protection for civilians and chanted slogans demanding the downfall of the regime and the departure of Assad. In Hasaka, demonstrators chanted revolutionary songs demanding the downfall of the regime and Assad's departure. The Syrian Local Coordination Committees said that security forces have detained Syrian director and actor Mohammed al-Rashi. Al-Aashi was arrested in front of his wife and children at their home in Damascus' Rokin al-Din neighborhood. In response, thousands of residents took to the streets demanding his release and the downfall of the regime. In the Bab al-Sibaa district of Homs, angry demonstrators burned the Russian and Chinese flags in protest of their support for Assad's regime. Residents of Hama, young and old, men and women, took to the streets in massive demonstrations chanting for freedom and the departure of Assad's regime. In Aleppo, student demonstrations were launched from the university's dorms. Security forces attacked and assaulted the protestors. Assad's brigades were deployed at mosque entrances in an attempt to prevent worshipers from staging protests demanding the downfall of the regime and Assad's departure after the Friday prayer. The brigades detained many worshipers and terrorized passers-by. In the besieged city of Homs, Assad's brigades fired live ammunition at mourners, killing and injuring several. Activists posted images online showing the body of a ten-year-old child killed by Assad's brigades. In Aleppo, activists said that Assad's gangs, known as the shabeha, have detained young children and led them to an undesignated area.

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Millions of Yemenis rally on the Friday of 'revolutionary alignment' [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Female #1
Millions of Yemenis gathered in change squares across the country's provinces to protest under the slogan, "Friday of revolutionary alignment." In Sanaa, thousands of protestors flooded Siteen Street in the center of the Yemeni capital to voice their rejection of the newly-formed government, which is being shared equally between the Joint Meeting Parties and the ruling party. Saleh's supporters, who have been staging weekly protests at Sibeen Square since the spark of protests in Yemen, were nowhere to be found at the square.

Reporter, Male #1
Far from all political mobilizations aimed at transferring power in the country, the mass of Yemeni protestors realize they have no choice but to continue their revolutionary struggle until all their objectives are achieved. They gathered today under the slogan "Friday of revolutionary alignment."

Guest, Male #2 (Mohammad al-Sabri, Member of Media Committee at Change Square)
On this Friday dubbed "revolutionary alignment," we call on all revolutionaries across the various squares to remain steadfast until achieving the revolution's objectives.

Reporter, Male #1
The masses gathering on Siteen Street in Sanaa and across 17 provinces wanted to convey a message that they will remain united and steadfast. The protestors vowed to foil all attempts aimed at aborting their revolution, adding that the coalition government has nothing to do with them.

Guest, Male #3 (Mohammed al-Asal, Leader with the Youth Revolution)
As revolutionaries, the formation of the government doesn't pertain to us. What's important for us is to remain steadfast in the squares. This is our message to anyone seeking to grant immunity and guarantees to Ali Saleh in light of the government's formation. We will remain in the squares.

Reporter, Male #1
What's new this Friday is that Sibeen Square, where Saleh's supporters have been demonstrating for nearly ten months, was empty of protestors under the pretext that they wanted to give the coalition government a chance. However, the revolutionary youths explained it differently.

Guest, Male #4 (Walid al-Amari, Leader with the Youth Revolution)
Ending the protests at Sibeen Square shows the failure of the loyalists after losing the ministry of finance and the funds they used to receive from the former government and the ministry of finance. In addition to losing funding, they began to notice that the revolution is winning and that victory has become imminent. This is why no one wants to take a risk and come to Sibeen Square.

Reporter, Male #1
Between the two different positions, the UN envoy to Sanaa, Jamal bin Omar, continued his consultation efforts aimed at ironing out obstacles facing the restructuring of the army and other issues, including the continued presence of President Saleh on the political scene. This is the situation at the revolutionary squares, before and after the formation of the coalition government, where a mass of protestors are vowing to remain on the revolutionary path and in the squares until all of their objectives are met. Ali al-Dhab, Alalam, from Siteen Street, Sanaa.

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Saudis stage 'Loyalty to Martys' protests in Awamiyah [Press TV, Iran]

In Saudi Arabia, thousands of anti-regime protestors have taken to the streets in the city of Awamiyah in the country's Eastern Province. They have named the march "Loyalty to to Martyrs." They are angry at the government troops' killing of anti-regime demonstrators in the province. Regime protestors killed several protestors during demonstrations against the ruling monarchy over the past weeks. Demonstrators in Awamiyah and other cities in the Eastern Province, including Qatif, have staged several rallies denouncing the murders. They have also called for more freedom and the release of all political prisoners.

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Protests demanding downfall of Bahrain regime intensify despite crackdown [Press TV, Iran]

Saudi-backed regime of Bahrain continues its crackdown on pro-democracy protests. Regime forces have attacked the demonstrators in the capital Manama. Troops fired tear gas to disperse protestors who wanted to go to manama's Martyrs' Square, formerly known as Pearl Square. Elsewhere in the city, government troops also fired tear gas at the anti-regime protests to break up their rally. The demonstrators are calling for freedom and the downfall of the ruling al-Khalifa regime. They started taking to the streets back in February. Rallies have intensified over the past weeks despite the ongoing crackdown. Dozens of protestors have been killed and hundreds injured since the uprising began.

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Israeli air raid kills one Palestinian, injures 13 [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Female # 1
One Palestinian was martyred and 13 members of the same family were injured in the Gaza Strip in a series of pre-dawn Israeli air raids. This escalation comes one day after two members of the Palestinian resistance were martyred in an Israeli raid in the center of Gaza city. Palestinian factions responded by launching locally-produced rockets on Israeli areas bordering the Strip.

Guest, Male # 1
From here, we retrieved the body of martyr Bahjat. Everything you see here and those stones were on top of him. We removed the stones to get him.

Reporter, Male # 2
Here, in the area of Abraj al-Mankousi northwest of the city of Gaza, is where one person was martyred and 13 members of the same family were injured, including women and children. The tragedy occurred when the house collapsed after Israeli occupation forces shelled a nearby site belonging to the Palestinian resistance.

Guest, Female #2
May God bring joy, comfort, and have mercy on the soul of the martyr. He came to check up on us when the second strike hit. God is sufficient for me and he is the best disposer of our affairs.

Reporter, Male # 2
The resistance held the occupation responsible for the escalation and its consequences.

Guest, Male # 3
The resistance is obligated to unite its fronts to confront the enemy and respond to his crimes. The Palestinian people have the right to respond. This is a dangerous violation of the ceasefire and we have the right to defend ourselves and our people.

Guest, Male # 4
The occupation seeks to impose a new equation; the equation of killings during a ceasefire, which is rejected by the Palestinian resistance. We confirm that we are in constant communication.

Reporter, Male # 2
A large number of people participated in the funeral procession of martyr Bahjat al-Zalan; many demanded retaliation. His martyrdom came one day after an Israeli air strike targeted a car in the center of Gaza city, leading to the martyrdom of two activists from al-Qassam Brigades and al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. Observers believe Israel's on-the-ground measures are linked, one way or another, to the region's developments.

Guest, Male # 5 (Mukhaimer Abu Saada, political analyst)
The Israeli opposition forces are pressuring the Israeli government to carry out a military campaign against the Gaza Strip, especially in light of the victory of Islamists parties, notably the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.

Reporter, Male # 2
The Palestinian resistance responded to the Israeli escalation by launching rockets on Israeli targets near the border with Gaza. Many believe the wave of Israeli attacks on Gaza could open the door to an on-the-ground escalation, which threatens the indirect ceasefire between all parties. Samir Abou Shamali, al-Jazeera, Gaza, Palestine.

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Palestinian protestor severely injured by IDF tear gas canister [IBA, Israel]

In other news, a Palestinian man was seriously injured today after he was reportedly hit by a tear gas canister fired by an Israeli border guard during a weekly Palestinian demonstration in the Nabi Saleh village near Ramallah. The man was evacuated by Israeli troops to the Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva for treatment. The IDF launched an investigation into the incident which it characterized as a violent and illegal demonstration that included the hurling of rocks by protestors at IDF forces.

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Middle East expert: Hezbollah in 'major trouble' if Assad falls [IBA, Israel]

Well as much as the international community is working to increase pressure on Syria, even the Hamas terror group is seeking to relocate from its Damascus headquarters, Hezbollah remains supportive of the Assad regime. Dr. Jonathan Spyre of the IDC Herzliya Gloria Research Center spoke to IBA's Eli Wohlgelernter about Syria's shifting and steadfast alliances. Spyre: I think what this shows is the very real difference between these two movements, Hezbollah and Hamas; and very much it shows the sectarian element, which is present in events in the region today. Hezbollah of course is Shia, Islamist, creation of the Islamic Republic of Iran and was established by Iran in 1982. Hamas is Sunni, Palestinian Islamist organization, not a creation of Iran; has become a lot closer to Iran in the last decade and a half but a very different kind of organization.

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Ban Ki-moon calls on Shabab to end violence in historic visit to Somalia [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Female #1
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the Shabab rebels in Somalia to end the violence and take part in the country's peace process. During his historic visit to the Somali capital Mogadishu, Ban Ki-Moon said the UN will open its political office in the Somali capital in January. The UN office is currently in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

Reporter, Male #1
An unusual plane landed in an unusual country. Onboard the plane was Ban Ki-Moon, the UN secretary-general, for his first visit of this kind to Somalia in nearly 20 years. The official welcome ceremony for the unannounced visit was peaceful amid broad security measures. Ban Ki-moon met with government officials, including Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali.

Guest, Male #2 (Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General)
For us to send a clear message to the people of Somalia: you are not alone. The United Nations and the broader international community stand with you and will stay with you as you shape and build your own future.

Reporter, Male #1
In addition, the UN official announced the reopening of the UN political office in Mogadishu instead of Kenya, where the office was moved due to security concerns. Locally, the visit was widely welcomed: the highest level diplomat in the world decided to visit a country that hosts only seven diplomatic delegations. However, when the press conference was adjourned, the reality of the situation remained. Clashes and explosions are incessant in a country that has been tormented by a civil war that began in the early 1990s. Coinciding with the visit are ongoing clashes between government forces allied with the African Union troops and the Shabab movement's forces north of the capital.

Guest, Male #3 (Ali Halani, BBC Correspondent in Somalia)
Ever since the Shabab movement withdrew from the capital Mogadishu in the middle of August, it has been saying that it will return to Mogadishu. It did not go far from Mogadishu and is still imposing a semi-siege on the city which has been ongoing for three years. Therefore, its withdrawal was only for technical reasons, it was not a defeat or a military withdrawal.

Reporter, Male #1
It appears that this reality, which is dominated by weapons and involves very little diplomacy, will continue after Ban Ki-moon leaves. Intervention in Somali affairs has been an unpredictable venture since the US paratroops left the country in 1994. Mustafa Ibn Shawi, BBC.

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Sudan's first cabinet after south's secession brings little change [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Female #1
In Sudan, the formation of the first cabinet since the South's secession was announced. Fourteen parties were given posts in the new cabinet's 31 ministries. The most significant ministries such as the ministries of interior, foreign affairs, defense, oil, finance, and justice were dominated by the ruling party. The ruling party allowed its new partner, the Democratic Unionist Party, to head three ministries: the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Our correspondent Sami al-Shinawi reports from Khartoum.

Reporter, Male #1
The ruling National Congress Party set the new features of the first cabinet since the secession under the slogan "involvement from everyone and maintaining key ministries." The new Sudanese government includes 14 parties. Perhaps, the most prominent is the Democratic Unionist Party. Meanwhile, a number of major parties are absent due to their anti-regime positions. Regardless, the ruling party expects this cabinet to be the most representative government in Sudan's history.

Guest, Male #2 (Ibrahim Ghandour, NCP Secretary for Political Mobilization)
In the pre-secession phase, the participation of the southern parties was symbolic and the government was predominantly bilateral. Now there is wide and broad participation and the majority of the Sudanese people are now represented in this government, God willing.

Reporter, Male #1
After the formation of this government, cooperation with al-Bashir to gain a national consensus seemed improbable, especially from the opposition Popular Congress Party, which believes that the National Congress Party's policy and cabinet formation is paving the way to a fractured Sudan. The opposition party renewed its call for toppling the regime.

Guest, Male #3 (Kamal Omer, National Congress Party Political Secretary)
I am certain that this government has an agenda. And we affirm that we will move forward with our strategy aiming to topple the regime, in reality. Because there is no room to achieve any real change from the inside.

Reporter, Male #1
Observers here expected new faces since the ruling party was subjected to pressure to overcome the exacerbated economic crisis after the south's secession. But the new formation seems as though it is a government of tribal appeasement.

Guest, Male #4 (Rashid Abdul Rahim, Editor-in-Chief of al-Ra'id Newspaper)
This government managed to meet the demands to include the participation of all of Sudan's sectors and regions, and includes a diverse body.

Reporter, Male #1
The ruling party, which kept essential ministries under its control, is betting on the new cabinet to ease the concerns of the Sudanese street that is enduring this country's accumulating crises. Sami al-Shinawi, Dubai TV, al-Khartoum.

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Algeria adopts measures to combat violence against women [Algérie TV, Algeria]

Presenter, Female #1
The People's National Assembly convened a parliamentary session on violence against women and ways to eradicate this phenomenon. During the meeting, the participants discussed ways to fight violence against women and eliminate its negative effects, in addition to using Algeria's past experience to confront the issue. Sakina Mahmoud Aliyan reports.

Reporter, Female #2
Raising awareness about the significance of eradicating violence against women by protecting them from any forms of discrimination and violence was the most important point in the speech given on behalf of the chairman of the Algerian National People's Assembly, Abdelaziz Ziari.

Guest, Male #1 (Messaoud Chihoub, Vice Chairman of the Algerian National People's Assembly)
This parliamentary session affirms its commitment to the international law pertaining to the protection of women, especially the agreements that Algeria has signed.

Reporter, Female #2
Grappling with the issue requires efforts from all parties and institutions.

Guest, Female #3 (Nouara Djaafar, Minister-Delegate of Family & Women)
In addition, we will work with civil society by taking their suggestions into consideration. They are in the process of being implemented evaluated by the appropriate committee.

Guest, Female #4 (Mumniya Muslim, Lawyer)
The Algerian legislation should be dealing with this issue by drafting specific laws for it.

Reporter, Female #2
Algeria's national security institutions recorded over 7,000 cases of violence in the past nine months, as opposed to 5,000 cases recorded by the Gendarmerie Nationale.

Guest, Female #5 (Sha'ia Ja'afari, Chair of National Women's Committee)
Women are facing violence on a daily basis in complete silence.

Reporter, Female #2
In between the legislative institution and civil society, there remains a need to double the efforts to combat violence against women.