Antigovernment protesters ahead of the elections. I am natosha butler in paris where a shocking video is fueling a debate about Police Violence. A scientist at the center of Irans Nuclear program has been assassinated near the capital. Mohsen fakhrizadeh later died in hospital. Iranian officials suspect israel was behind the attack but havent provided evidence. A military commander promised to strike as thunder against those responsible. At first, the car carrying him was shot at. 15 seconds later, a nissan pickup truck loaded with explosives inflicted wounds on him that led to his death. Our correspondent is in the capital tehran. He says people believe fakhriz adeh was assassinated to wreck any chance of the u. S. And iran continuing with the iran nuclear deal. The Intelligence Ministry says they are launching an investigation. This is a highprofile kidding killing. His movements were highly protected. It was kept a secret, and there will be questions internally about how this has happened. There has been an official response. Foreign minister divides a reef has pointed his figure zarif has pointed his finger at israel. Mohsen fakhrizadeh was also known as the father of Irans Nuclear program. He was given that name by some individuals outside of the country. That program, around 2003, some activities went on until 2009, but there were no longer Nuclear Weapons programs happening in iran. Why would anyone want to assassinate him now . The thinking in iran is its an attempt to prevent any talks between iran and joe biden. That nuclear deal that President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of and imposed sanctions on iran, president elect joe biden said he would like to return to that deal, and iran has indicated they would be willing to return to their commitments if the United States was to rejoin. This assassination would make future talks, negotiations very complicated and increase tensions in this region. To tell you more, he was a University Professor of physics, a Senior Scientist at the Iranian Ministry of defense. Western and Israeli Intelligence claim he was in charge of irans attempt to build a nuclear bomb, but tehran denies ever trying to build a nuclear weapon. Every landmark report by the iaea said he played a key role in developing nuclear technology. He is believed to have links to irans revolutionary guards. Mohsen fakhrizadeh was subject to an asset freeze because iran refused to make him available for an interview with the iaea. Lets speak with Mark Fitzpatrick, previously a u. S. Deputy assistant secretary of state. He joins us from washington. I know no one has determined if a state actor was involved, but to assassinate someone with this standing, can you walk us through the strategic calculus . Mark two different levels, the supposed level was that fakhrizadeh was critical to the past development of Irans Nuclear weapons program, a program that has largely been on hold for the last 15 years. He has been maintaining the personnel and organizational apparatus to get it going again shouldnt order, and the purpose of the assassination, a stencil believe is ostensibly is to impede iran from building Nuclear Weapons in the future. The more logical reason for doing this now, because iran was not on the verge of building Nuclear Weapons, the reason to do it now is to impede the Biden Administrations return to the jcpoa. As your correspondent mentioned, you can explain why on the american side and iranian side it will make it more difficult. You mentioned the timing. It was just over two weeks that President Trump asked for options to potentially strike against iran. Tehran is no doubt putting that into its calculations as it thinks about what happened. Mark sure. I think tehran will believe the United States was complicit in this, and the data points you mentioned, the fact that trump wanted to strike iran, and he asked for options to go after Irans Nuclear program, then the meetings in israel with pompeo all point to the United States having given a green light to the assassination. I recall the last assassination of a Nuclear Scientist in iran was in 2012 when president obama was in the white house, and the u. S. Government reacted very negatively that time to israels presumed assassination and condemned it. I dont think we are going to see trump condemning it. I wonder if the Biden Administration will Say Something in order to preserve the prospects for returning to the nuclear deal. Host coming back to the first Strategic Point you brought up, you have written on nonproliferation issues. How much does fakhrizadehs death affect the Nuclear Program . Mark he was a very important figure. He was the robert up and hire of Irans Nuclear weapons program. Robert oppenheimer of Irans Nuclear weapons program. If iran were to actually decide to produce Nuclear Weapons, you would want somebody like fakhrizadeh at the helm. The question is, is he replaceable . Many people think maybe not, but we dont really know. What we do know is fakhrizadeh has been on the scene for over 20 years. He presumably will have a man toward have mentored many associates, and presumably some can take over for him. In 2011, the head, the founder of irans Ballistic Missile program was killed in what was attributed to mossad. Did that stop irans Missile Program . Not at all. They went on to develop bigger, more accurate missiles. Taking out one individual does not stop a program. It may make it harder, but if that was the reason for doing and, it wasnt worth it. Host where from here . Nearly eight weeks before Biden Takes Office in january. Iran does plan to respond to this. None of this bodes well for the jcpoa. Mark not at all. There are two factors. The impact on a Biden Administration decision. If iran responds kinetically, if they kill israelis, may be israeli citizens, if any americans are killed, it makes it politically much more difficult for biden to resume the role in the jcpoa without conditions. Even within bidens own party, some people say he should have conditions towards resuming. If iran is seen as a bad actor, if they are belligerent, that makes it harder. In iran, this is even more important. Iranian hardliners are themselves going to want to put conditions on the United States for iran to return to the deal. They are going to be empowered. The hardliners in iran are empowered by this. Host Mark Fitzpatrick from the International Institute of strategic studies, thanks so much. Mark happy to speak with al jazeera, think you. Host ethiopia has denied reports that the Prime Minister is rejecting talks with tigre and leaders. He met with African Union envoys and said he would only speak to representatives operating legally in the region. His forces have been fighting troops for over three weeks. He insisted his government must enforce the rule of law in tigre. On thursday, he ordered the army to carry out the final phase of its offensive and move in on tigre regional capital. Sthe ethiopian Prime Ministers spokeswoman described the governments position dress. Position for us. I think it is a misunderstood concept. The president has not rejected to talking to anybody in the tigre region. It is a composition of various tigre Political Parties. One of the key aspects of why the rule of law measure is being undertaken, according to the criminal code of ethiopia, hijacking your forces is a criminal act and is considered a treasonous one. Host tens of thousands of people have rallied in iraqs capital to show support for mohamed al sadr ahead of next years election. They gathered in tahrir square. Our correspondent reports from baghdad. Host on friday, followers of the powerful shia scholar gathered into rear square. October protests had positive and negative sides. As for the negative sides, the hands of the american occupiers spread the obscenity in tyree or square. The prayers aimed to shore up political support. Yes, yes to our leader. They report their support for sadr after he announced his aim to form a majority, which would allow him to nominated the Prime Minister. Muqtada alsadr is a patriotic leader. He is considered a shepherd for all iraqis. He will not run for himself, but for these people, his constituents. But many disagree. The prayer took place in the same square where weeks ago Security Forces cleared remnants of iraqs beleaguered protest movement, which aimed to topple the ruling class, including the sadrs. The protests gradually lost steam due to violence, and because Political Parties hijacked their cause. They infiltrate the demonstrators. The demonstration squares in baghdad and wherever they can, and they try to manipulate the process. Sadr has long tried to brand himself a reformist and initially supported the protests, but in the end, he is seen as having chosen to support the system. They have lost a lot of grounds, political grounds, social grounds. People who have doubted them as being real reformists, but found out they are not. They are just part of the political regime that has run the country since 2003. They are now trying to gain back some of the ground. Indeed, thousands turned out to show their loyalty for sadr. Fridays prayer was a display of power on behalf of the sadrist movement, but antigovernment protesters struggled to put up a serious challenge to an incumbent party like the sadrists. Al jazeera, baghdad. Host elsewhere in southern iraq, three people were killed in violence between sadrists and antigovernment protesters. At least one person died from gunshot wounds. Around 50 were injured. Still ahead on al jazeera, growing anger in india. Tens of thousands of farmers descend on the capital to protest against a law they say will slash their incomes. Venezuelas citco six, verdicts are in for the Oil Executives accused of corruption. Santa ana winds in Southern California are weakening. They might strengthen by tuesday, but the main story is probably going to be the amount of rain falling in southern texas, louisiana, across to the florida panhandle. There has been flooding in new orleans recently, but there could be rather more. The next couple of days sees the rain strengthening. It runs out through the deep south. The winter to the north is more or less confined to the great lakes. Theres another storm system coming into british columbia, but otherwise, the u. S. States with exception to those we mentioned are not particularly cold. In the caribbean, things are showery. The rain isnt quite as concentrated. The next day or so is going to be rather wet or in costa rica and panama than it is going to be in honduras. Not that its bone dry. Big showers in south america. It has been particularly sundry. Down pairs downpours have been notable in uruguay. It extends from bolivia into peru. After world war ii, frances great empire began to unravel. Vietnam everybody was throwing themselves io the streets, bursting with joy. And algeria if the indocnese manage to beat the french army, why not us . The decne continues in episode two of blood and tears french decolonization on al jazeera. Host hello again. Lets remind you of our top stories. A scientist at the center of Irans Nuclear program has been assassinated near the capital tehran. The vehicle carrying Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was ambushed by gunmen. Iran suspects israel of involvement. Ethiopias government is denying that the Prime Minister has rejected talks with tigrayan leaders. Ahmed said he would only speak to opposition leaders operating legally. A mass rally has been held in baghdad in a show of support showing alsadrs bid to run and parliamentary elections. Thousands gathered entire rear square, which was once the focus of antigovernment protests. Four French Police officers have been detained after a video emerged of them beating a black music producer. President Emmanuel Macron has called the incident unacceptable and shameful. The assault sparked outrage towards a police force already under scrutiny for heavyhanded tactics. Natosha a shocking video. Police officers beating a man in a music studio in paris, images captured on cctv. This record producer say Police Forced their way into his studio, physically and racially abused him, and then arrested him. There was a police man pointing a gun at me. Why did they think i was armed . Were they going to shoot if they could find the angle . Of course i was afraid. The people who were supposed to protect me were pointing their guns at me. Natosha a french News Organization published the images alongside images of michels injuries. Prosecutors throughout the case against the producer and opened an investigation into the for Police Officers. Under pressure to react, frances interior minister condemned the violence. The pictures are unspeakable. They are extremely shocking, and as soon as i found out about what happened, i asked for the Police Officers to be suspended. Natosha all four officers have since been since been arrested. This is the front page of one of the countrys main newspapers. It comes just a few days after some people say the Police Used Excessive force while clearing a migrant camp from this square. A Police Inquiry was ordered after officers were filmed beating officers and journalists. This is one of frances bestknown campaigners against police brutality. She accuses police of causing her brothers death in 2016 while he was in custody. We see these images now, but can you imagine all the people who have suffered Police Violence and have died because of police brutality. Its why families like us continue to shout. Natosha the focus on Police Violence in france comes as pressure mounts on the government to scrap part of a controversial law that would crack down on peoples freedom to film images of police on duty. The government says it is necessary to protect officers, but opponents say its an erosion of rights, and without images like these, Police Officers wont be able to be held accountable for their actions. Natosha butler, al jazeera. Host thousands of farmers in india have marched on the capital despite Police Barricades to keep them out of new delhi. They want the government to scrap laws which could en put tm out of business. Elizabeth using their tractors to remove Police Barricades, farmers rode on their way to the Capital Region of delhi. For three days, tens of thousands of farmers from punjab pushed shipping containers and even trucks out of the way. Tear gas, water cannon, and being hit by Police Batons didnt stop the farmers from continuing on their march called lets go to delhi. Farmers across the country want these black laws to be repealed. This is our demand. Elizabeth farmers are against three new laws which allow private companies to buy directly from them. They say the changes will see the end of the governments guaranteed minimum prize for their produce and leave them at the mercy of large corporations. Around half of indias 1. 3 billion people work in the agriculture sector. Many agree it needs reforms, but they say these laws will not benefit farmers. After trying to stop the march for days, delhi police made a concession. Police have allowed them to hold peaceful protests. Elizabeth most farmers didnt take up the offer. We will block the highway until the government comes to talk to us. We will block the highway here. They will make us sit somewhere, and no one will come to talk to us. Elizabeth hours after police assigned an area for protests, few farmers showed up, even as their supporters set up a food store to feed them. There is a Large Police Presence waiting for the farmers and just as large a presence beyond this area to stop farmers from reaching Central Delhi in what have been the biggest protests since the onset of the pandemic. Host antigovernment protesters in thailand are not backing down on their call for the Prime Minister to resign. Thousands gathered in the capital bangkok. They are demanding constitutional reform and limiting the kings powers. The World Health Organization is warning countries to remain vigilant, even if the