Turkish airstrike kills 35 Kurdish civilians near Iraqi border [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Male #1
Turkish authorities admitted to killing 35 Kurdish villagers in an airstrike launched by Turkish warplanes on a village in southeastern Turkey near the border with Iraq. The ruling party in Turkey apologized for the killing of Kurdish villagers, indicating the incident was possibly a mistake. The attack, which was described by the major political parties loyal to the Kurds as "a crime against humanity," caused clashes between hundreds of protestors and riot police in Diyarbakır Province.

Reporter, Male #2
Dozens of Kurdish villagers were killed in an airstrike carried out by Turkish warplanes on a target in southeastern Turkey near the border with Iraq. This incident evoked anger among Kurdish communities, while the authorities in Ankara considered it a mistake. A spokesman for the ruling Justice and Development Party offered his apologies for killing the Kurdish villagers, indicating that the incident was possibly a mistake and vowing that there would be no cover-up for any mistakes. The spokesman added that preliminary reports indicated that most of the victims in the air raid were tobacco smugglers from Iraq. The Turkish army announced that the air strike targeted a group of gunmen from the Kurdish Workers' Party who were trying to infiltrate the Turkish side of the border from northern Iraq. The army indicated that Turkish drones spotted the gunmen after receiving a warning that they were planning to attack security bases in southeastern areas of the country. Mayor of Uludere village in Şırnak Province Fehmi Yaman said the village received burned corpses. He accused the state of knowing they were smugglers and asserted that this behavior is unacceptable. The attack, which was described by the major political parties loyal to the Kurds as "a crime against humanity," sparked clashes between hundreds of protestors and riot police in Diyarbakır, the largest city in southeastern Turkey with a majority of Kurdish residents. The protestors threw stones at the police, who used water cannons and tear-gas to disperse the rally. The Peace and Democracy Party loyal to the Kurds said that the party leaders are on their way to the region that was attacked, and that they will organize a demonstration in Istanbul and other areas in protest of what caused the casualties.

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Syrians protest, die near Arab League observers [Future TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Male # 1
The Local Coordination Committees in Syria said 41 people were killed by the gunfire of security forces, including one person who was tortured to death in the regime's prisons. In Douma, over 20 people were injured when security forces fired at protestors at the square of the Grand Mosque of Douma as Arab League observers arrived in the city. This comes as the opposition continues to mobilize its supporters, asking them to participate in large numbers in what it called the "Friday of the crawl to the squares of freedom."

Guest, Male # 2
The tyrant's army is coming in with tanks, shelling anti-regime neighborhoods and protecting pro-regime neighborhoods; cutting off power from opposition neighborhoods and keeping electricity in the loyalists' neighborhoods. Isn't this going to create sectarian tension? So the regime has an agenda, and I will expose this agenda and I want you to see it with your own eyes and film it with your own cameras.

Reporter, Male # 3
After assessing the massive damage caused by al-Assad's brigades in the city of Homs and meeting Syrian citizens who were subjected to the regime's killing machine that targets both the young and old, the Arab League's delegation visited three Syrian cities. The observers went to Hama, located north of Homs, Idlib, near the Turkish border, and the southern city of Daraa, where protests were ignited in March. The observers were reportedly split into ten-member teams and headed to the three cities where they witnessed constant clashes between protestors demanding freedom and the regime's forces. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said security forces fired at tens of thousands of demonstrators gathering in the square of the Grand Mosque in the city of Douma as Arab observers arrived at the municipality's building. The observatory added that heavy gunfire could be heard in al-Hajariyah neighborhood. Most of the victims died in the countryside of Damascus, and some were killed in Homs, Hama, Idlib, and Daraa. Protestors in the countryside of Damascus were subjected to the army and security forces' gunfire as they waited for the arrival of the Arab League's monitors. Syrian protestors defied the military presence in front of al-Assad's brigades and demanded that the observers protect them. Meanwhile, the city of Kfar Bitna in the countryside of Damascus witnessed the entry of a number of buses with security forces deployed to crack down on protests. In Hama, a large demonstration was held with protestors chanting for the downfall of the regime and al-Assad's resignation. Videos posted online revealed that the 'dignity strike' continues for the 19th day in a number of Syrian cities and towns, including Maarat al-Nuaman and Bosra al-Sham. This comes as the Syrian opposition continues to mobilize its supporters on its social networking sites, asking them to participate in what it called the "Friday of the crawl to the squares of freedom."

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Obama administration seeks options for intervention in Syria [Press TV, Iran]

The Obama administration has instructed the National Security Council to begin seeking options for intervening in Syria. The process will involve top members of the state, defense and treasury departments and will focus on ways to aid the Syrian opposition. It will also include what Washington calls the unlikely option of setting up a no-fly zone. Establishing a no-fly zone over parts of Syria would likely involve large-scale attacks on the Syrian air defense and military command and control systems.

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Bahraini human rights group calls on Manama to investigate prison brutality [Press TV, Iran]

A Bahraini rights group has called on the Interior Ministry to investigate what it calls human rights violations in prisons. Dozens of prisoners have been abused in jail for taking part in anti-regime demonstrations. Inmates have filed a lawsuit against the government saying they were tortured and put in solitary confinement by the regime. The crackdown on dissent continues across Bahrain more than ten months into a popular uprising against the ruling al-Khalifa dynasty. Dozens of demonstrators have been killed by the regime forces since the revolution began back in February.

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Qatar faces criticism for pushing Islamist agenda in the region [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Female # 1
The state of Qatar rose to prominence during the events of the Arab Spring. Qatar heavily supported Libyan revolutionaries and backed the military campaign against Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi's regime. It is also one of the leading critics of President Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria. But Qatar is now also subject to criticism for supporting the Islamist agenda in the region. Michael Buchannan reports.

Reporter, Male # 1
Triumphant celebrations of Qatar's national day in Doha. For this thumbprint-sized nation, 2011 has been a coming of age, as it sided with protestors in Libya and Syria.

Guest, Male # 2
With everyone knowing what Qatar is, it gets known worldwide. And to be honest, this will only bring more business to the country.

Guest, Male # 3
We have to show our point of view and we have to contribute with whatever we have, be it politics, money, or backing military actions, whatever it takes to support other nations.

Reporter, Male # 1
Qatar joined NATO's military operations in Libya and provided weapons and training for the transitional council's forces, as well as humanitarian aid. It also established the "Free Libya" TV station and continues to fund it. Qatar is estimated to have spent hundreds of millions of dollars so far in Libya. Why?

Guest, Female # 2 (Huda Srari, General Manager, Libya TV)
They're looking for money? They're very rich and rich enough. Maybe they are looking for good relations. Maybe they're not looking for anything, only to help their sisters and brothers in Libya, that's it.

Reporter, Male # 1
Qatar was a primitive state only a few decades ago, but is now becoming a global hub, drawing talent from abroad. But its Arab heritage still matters greatly and the Arab Spring's revolutions, engulfing regional leaders such as Egypt's, allowed it to come to prominence.

Guest, Male # 4 (Khalifa Haroon, Founder iloveQatar.net)
A lot of people in the past were asking why Arabs aren't working together to solve their problems. Maybe it was about time that we tried to solve our own problems, you know?

Reporter, Male # 1
These Libyans celebrating the recent Arab games in Doha are grateful for Qatar's help but there is growing concern in Libya, Tunisia, and Egypt that Qatar is supporting and funding Islamist parties.

Guest, Male # 5 (Salman Shaikh, Brookings Institute)
They're not ideologically focused. They're not on some crusade to impose Islamist thinking and Islamist parties. They're acting through established relationships and in an effort to try and realize their own interests.

Reporter, Male # 1
Rich, willing and able: Qatar has proven itself. Its support for protestors during this tumultuous year will ensure it will continue to play a leading role in the region.

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Egypt court acquits officers accused of killing revolution protestors [Nile TV, Egypt]

Presenter, Male #1
The Cairo Criminal Court acquitted all suspects accused of killing demonstrators in front of the Sayeda Zeinab police station during the events of the January revolution. Headed by Judge Assem Abdul Hamid, the court found four officers and a police commissioner not guilty for the murder of five demonstrators and the attempted murder of six others during the January 28 and 29 protests.

Reporter, Male #2
It's the sentencing phase in the murder case of demonstrators killed in front of the Sayeda Zeinab police headquarters on January 28 and 29. This news comes after the court held four deliberation sessions in which both parties' attorneys presented evidence to the court headed by Judge Assem Abdul Hamid and members of his judicial panel, Abed al-Minaem, Abed Satar, and Sami Zain al-Din. At the end of the session, the court rendered a decision.

Guest, Male #3 (Judge Assem Abdul Hamid)
After a review of articles 304, 251, 267, and 309 of the criminal penal codes, the court finds Shadi Mohammed Abed Hamid Salim, Ihab Abed Azziz al-Saidi, Amero Hamdi Hamid Mohammad al-Kharat, Hisham Lutfi Mohammad Gamil, Mohammad Shabaa Matwli Mohammad not guilty of all charges. The court transfers the case to the special civil court. This court is adjourned.

Reporter, Male #2
Four officers and a police commissioner were found not guilty for the murder of five demonstrators and the attempted murder of six others in the Sayeda Zeinab district. Despite its similarities to other incidents that erupted in front of police stations during the January revolution, this case has stirred a wide debate among the feuding parties.

Guest, Male #4 (Wael Suleiman, Lawyer for one of victims)
The verdict was unfair to the victims and to the martyrs' families. The general prosecutor should appeal the ruling and provide more evidence. The evidence from the tapes and reports shows that the officers used deadly force against the demonstrators, as martyrs fell one after another.

Guest, Male #5 (Sami Kamal, Lawyer for one of the defendants)
It was a just and fair verdict. Any criminal decision is usually based on written evidence, and the court found that the evidence was not strong enough to convict the defendants. Consequently, the court decided to acquit the five defendants. Again, criminal decisions are usually based on conclusive evidence that is beyond reasonable doubt. The tapes and the autopsy reports don't provide conclusive evidence to convict the defendants.

Guest, Male #6 (Ra'fat Kamal, Defense Lawyer)
The General Prosecutor reserves the right to appeal the ruling if the reasons for acquittal were not solid or inaccurate, if a legal error was committed, or if a false testimony was given.

Reporter, Male #2
The judiciary has the final word, which helped close the case for now. Without conclusive evidence, the court finds the accused not guilty. Hamada al-Arabi, Nile TV.

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US aircraft carrier 'spotted' in Iran war-game zone [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Female #1
Iran's navy commander Habibollah Sayari said the Iranian forces managed to capture images of a US aircraft carrier. He said this operation showed that the Iranian naval forces are capable of fully supervising the area and accurately monitoring the movements of foreign forces. This comes as Iran and the West are both sharpening their tones as the international community considers imposing new sanctions on Iran's oil industry.

Reporter, Male #1
Near the US forces in international waters, Iran continued its naval maneuvers. These are the preliminary images aired by Iranian state TV of an aircraft carrier that it said belongs to the US and was spotted by the Iranian naval forces. With these images, Iran is directly sending political and military messages.

Guest, Male #2 (Habibollah Sayari, Iranian Navy Commander)
We managed to spot an aircraft carrier belonging to the foreign forces when it was exiting the Strait of Hormuz and heading to the Sea of Oman. We also managed to take videos and photos of it. This proves our capability of monitoring foreign movements in the area.

Reporter, Male #1
The Iranian naval forces said they are capable of easily closing down the Strait of Hormuz if the situation calls for it. Some websites linked to the Revolutionary Guard revealed a potential scenario of the closed-down strait. This website indicates that Iran's anti-ship cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, submarines, and warships can close down the strait and disrupt the naval traffic there. According to analysts, this is the last option that Iran will potentially consider.

Guest, Male #3 (Fouad Izdi, Political Analyst)
To close down the Strait of Hormuz is the last option that Iran will choose because our strategy for the past 30 years has been clear and is based on mutual benefits from the strait. If we are not able to benefit from the strait, then others should not benefit from it either.

Reporter, Male #1
Oil revenue counts for nearly 80 percent of Iran's budget. Therefore, it is significant for the Iranians.

Guest, Male #4
For every action there is a reaction. Closing down the strait is an act of self-defense because imposing sanctions on our oil industry is a declaration of war.

Reporter, Male #1
The regime here is aware that the sanctions on the oil industry may paralyze all aspects of Iran's economy and perhaps even its political life. Some believe that Iran's threat to close down the Strait of Hormuz is only a precautionary move to prevent sanctions on its oil exports. However, its implementation needs to be seriously considered from a financial standpoint, because experts believe that the move will mean transitioning from escalation to confrontation.

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Israeli right-wing activists arrested for storming army base [IBA, Israel]

Six right-wing activists were arrested overnight on suspicion of involvement in the disturbances that took place at the Efraim army base two weeks ago. Seven other suspects are allegedly being held in connection with that incident. Fifty protestors broke onto the IDF base where they threw rocks and paint at vehicles, set tires on fire, and scattered nails on roads before being dispersed by troops some twenty minutes later. The vehicle of the Efraim Brigade commander was pelted with stones and the officer was injured during the melee. The activists reportedly stormed the base after hearing rumors of the imminent demolition of several illegal outposts in the West Bank.

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Crisis narrowly averted as Iron Dome missiles fall off truck [IBA, Israel]

Amid renewed rocket fire in the south, a serious disaster was averted this week at the Iron Dome missile defense system deployed in the area. Some 20 of the system's interceptor missiles fell from a vehicle at an IAF storage unit as they were being loaded onto a truck for maintenance. Apparently the ammunition was improperly secured in and dropped several meters to the ground, causing damage to the missiles but no injuries. While the rockets did not explode, the damage is estimated at hundreds of thousands of dollars and some of the munitions were declared unusable.

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Female MK rides in front row of segregated bus [IBA, Israel]

Here at home, Likud Knesset member Tzipi Hotovely sat in the front row of a segregated bus line to drive home the point that women may not be sent to the back of the bus. The chairperson on the status of women was not attacked or insulted although some ultra-orthodox men aboard the so-called 'mehadrin' bus sat in the back while others refused to take the bus at all. Hotovely described her action as part of the larger struggle for the basic democratic principles of the state. She dismissed criticism that her action was a provocation, saying it is an inseparable part of her responsibility as an elected official to be acquainted with reality in order to change it.