[Transcript]  Mosaic News - 05/02/08: World News From The Middle East

Presenter, Man # 1
According to medical sources, the number of those killed in the explosion that took place in a mosque in the Yemeni town of Sa’da has reached 13, and the number of those who were injured exceedes 45. The governor of Sa’da, Mutahar Rashad told the Al Jazeera program that the explosion was caused by a booby trapped motorcycle parked outside one of the mosques in Sa’da. The motorcycle exploded while the worshippers were leaving the mosque.
Our reporter cited local sources saying that Yemeni military personnel usually pray at the mosque that was targeted. Also the Imam of the Mosque was one of the known military leaders who is opposed to the religious sect of Al Huti whose supporters have been fighting the government forces for the past four years. Thousands of people have been killed in the fighting.
Joining us from Sana’, al Jazeera Bureau chief Murad Hashim. Murad, what is the latest death toll and is it final?

Guest, Man # 2
According to medical sources this is the final number which could increase because some of the injured people may die. As you said 13 were killed and 45 were injured, some of whom are in critical condition. Among the 13 who were killed, at least 6 were soldiers; two of them were the companions of the military leader who used to give sermons at the Mosque before Friday prayers. According to the information we have, a motorcycle with bombs was parked outside the gate of the mosque and near the vehicle of this military leader. The explosion of the motorcycle led to the killing of this number of people, because it exploded while the worshippers were leaving the Mosque and particularly this military leader. It seems however that he went into his car while his companions were still outside. The explosion killed and injured a number of people as you have mentioned. In addition to the worshippers, some visitors who were standing outside the gate were also killed. There were minor damages to the mosque. However many cars were damaged including, three of which were completely destroyed while others were partially destroyed. Security forces today have surrounded the area and enforced strict security measures while the investigations continue. It is clear that this incident will have major consequences especially considering that the situation in Sa’da has been escalating. For the past 6 days there have been sporadic clashes and there were violations to the ceasefire agreement in several areas.
The two sides, the government and the supporters of Al Huti were responsible for these violations. Many people were killed and injured during these clashes. This explosion comes in this context of escalation. Of course the finger of accusation will be pointed at Al Huti’s supporters. As I have said previously, the targeted Mosque was previously under the control of al Huti’s supporters, but then the government appointed a new Imam and thus it became one of the Mosques attended by local officials and military leaders and soldiers. The Imam of this mosque has been strongly attacking Al Huti’s supporters and their religious sect. This means that the finger will be pointed at Al Huti’s supporters. Also I have learned from a source that is closely associated with Al Huti’s supporters that they are preparing a statement in which they will deny responsibility for what happened and condemn it. They also want to warn against being dragged into a conflict where mosques will be targeted as has been happening in several Muslim countries.

Presenter, Man # 1
Murad Hashim reported from Sana’ in Yemen, thank you.

Presenter, MALE, #1
Welcome back. In the Lebanese Capital Beirut, Arab League Secretary General, Amr Mussa, continues a series of meetings with the leaders of Lebanon’s political arena. Mussa’s last visit to Lebanon was 2 months ago, but it did not achieve any results. During the opening of the Arab Economic forum held in Beirut, Mussa warned of the prolongation of the Presidential void in Lebanon. He called for dialogue among the rivals to end the political crisis in the country. More with Ellian Shatri from Beirut.

Reporter, FEMALE, #1
The silence of Arab League secretary General, Amr Mussa, during the first stop of his Lebanese tour, was broken after his 2 hour meeting with Parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, in the afternoon.
The meeting focused on Berri’s dialogue initiative and the possibility of implementing the Arab initiative. They discussed the positive points that could be built upon, and the possibility of success at the awaited meeting between parliament Speaker Berri, and Majority leader, parliamentarian Saad Al Hariri, which could form the basis for future dialogue.

Guest, MALE, #2 (Amr Mussa)
This is a serious phase, and time is flying. I think that there is an opportunity that we can utilize towards achieving real progress.

Reporter, FEMALE, #1
After meeting Prime Minister Fouad Siniora in al Sarray, Mussa stressed the importance of internal dialogue, or any form of discussion, on the Arab initiative. Mussa concluded his meetings in Qrayten with a dinner in his honor, hosted by the leader of the Future Movement, Parliamentarian Saad al Hariri. Mussa’s first day of diplomatic attempts pointed to discourse and the possibility of a breakthrough, simultaneously.

Guest, MALE, #3
Secretary General Amr Mussa might be able to unite Parliament speaker Berri with the leader of the Future Movement, Saad Al Hariri, But this alone is insufficient. ALL the leaders should gather around the table of National Dialogue, based on the initiative of the Parliament Speaker. After that we can hope for a positive breakthrough on the 13th of this month.

Reporter, FEMALE, #1
During his speech at the opening of the Arab Economic Forum, Amr Mussa emphasized that Berri’s call for dialogue cannot be rejected. Mussa will continue his visits with Lebanese officials in an attempt to crystallize his efforts to form a base for progress. Amr Mussa’s visit and meetings might be classified as exploration and discovery, in an attempt to smooth out the edges, if possible. Meanwhile, the Lebanese wonder if Amr Mussa is capable of achieving progress towards his goal of a bi-lateral meeting between Speaker Nebih Birri, and Parliamentarian Saad al Hariri. Ellian Shatri, Dubai TV, Beirut.

Presenter, FEMALE, #1
On May 1st, the communists raised their fists in the face of those who have robbed the laborers and oppressed farmers of their sustenance. They called for a wide-scale civil movement to make root changes.

Reporter, MALE, #1
The Lebanese communist party and the Leftist Dialogue Forum organized a civil demonstration commemorating International Worker’s Day on May 1st. They broke the silence about the despicable socio-economic conditions suffered by Lebanese people. Laborers, farmers, and workers, have been taken advantage of by systematic impoverishment and a starvation policy enforced by the ruling party, which instigates sectarian and religious tension to serve its interests and the interests of foreign powers. The celebratory rally took off from Habeeb Abu Shahla square, passing through Imar Ellias Street, and ending at the intersection of al Murr Bridge. Unlike previous rallies, this one included folkloric installations and paintings expressing the struggle of workers and representing their work tools. There was a symbolic tomb on which was written the workers demands that have been crushed by the ruling party. A donkey walked in the rally alongside a wooden donkey, to symbolize the rise in gas prices and the possibility of returning to primitive ways of transportation. The rally’s end was devoted to speeches that emphasized the importance of unison between the groups that have been harmed by the current socio-economic situation. The speeches called on the people to raise their voices and unite to achieve their goal of “free and honorable living.”

Guest, MALE, #2
We can deter the danger of a civil war by starting to confront this regime and its leadership. The predicament does not end here, the economic policies imposed by the authorities and the rise of prices threatens people’s livelihood; they threaten many of us with hunger. And with all of this, the government refuses to raise the minimum wage.

Guest, MALE, #3
We need to agree on the agenda of our demands, based on the rejection of privatization and employment contracting, and the support of the agricultural and industrial sectors.

Reporter, MALE, #1
The Party’s Secretary General, Khaled Hudeidi, attacked the ruling party for undermining people’s intelligence and blaming the acute rise in prices on the world economic crisis. He said that the head of this oppression, the thief of people’s resources, and the cause of their impoverishment is the ruling party’s ally in the USA-George Bush.

Guest, MALE,#4
We are in need of a national initiative that emerges from you! Be Nationalistic, not sectarians.
If only once in your life-Don’t sell Lebanon to outsiders. Declare your intention to become involved with our homeland, and there are two doors to enter our homeland: The door of socio-economic reform and the door of evaluating the fundamentals of production in Lebanon.
The one who wants to show his power and truly represent the people should go into an electoral system and be chosen based on percentages. The politicians and religious leaders have to desist from expanding the crisis and the division in our Lebanese society.

Reporter, MALE, #1
Hudeidi emphasized the importance of active participation in all union activities concerning workers’ demands, to force the thieves of sustenance to achieve the slogan of today’s rally:
“A free Nation and a happy Society.”

[Summary]

Police investigators questioned Israeli PM, Ehud Olmert, under caution fir an hour and a half at his Jerusalem residence. Police were granted special permission to question Olmert with only 48 hours notice.

Presenter, Woman #1
The French President Nicolas Sarkozy talked about foreign policy in his speech. He said that he was shocked by what happened in Tibet. He also said that he is opposed to the admission of Turkey to the European Union. He also talked about the Middle East and Hamas’ movement; let us listen to what he said.

Guest, Man # 1 Sarkozy
As a president of a country; I think that I should not talk with Hamas and I will explain my position to the French people. I can’t talk with an organization that said that it wants to erase Israel from the map. We have minimum requirements for holding diplomatic relations. I will not talk with the Iranian president either who also said that he will erase Israel from the map. There are principles that we must be committed to.

Presenter, Woman # 1
It seems that he is confusing Hamas with Iran?

Guest, Man # 2
Yes, as one might say he placed Hamas and Iran in one basket. He said that he will not talk with Hamas because it wants to erase Israel from the map. Of course, Hamas has never said that. Hamas said that it does not want to recognize Israel and it did not recognize it. Iran however did say that it wants to erase Israel from the map. President Sarkozy mixed up the two. He also talked about Turkey; he reiterated his opposition to the admission of Turkey into the European Union. He said that he will hold a public referendum if this issue was raised. He also talked about Afghanistan; he justified French policies in Afghanistan saying that they reflect the situation in the country. He explained that if the west leaves Afghanistan in this condition, then it will fall like a house of cards. Sarkozy also pointed out that Afghanistan is near Pakistan which has nuclear weapons. He expressed concern over the Taliban and reiterated that he is opposed to any kind of dialogue with this movement. Thus he differs with the British who began negotiations with part of the Taliban movement.

Presenter, Woman # 1
The Turkish president Abdullah Ghul discussed with the Iraqi deputy Prime Minister, Tariq Al Hashemi ways to enhance diplomatic relations between the two countries. Al Hashemi held a meeting with the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and discussed the PKK in addition to other matters of concern to the two countries, especially security along the borders, the oil law as well as the special referendum pertaining to the fate of Kirkuk.

Reporter, Man # 1
Iraqi and Turkish officials carried out intensive diplomatic activities in Ankara and Baghdad.
The advisor of Turkish president Ahmad Dahud Ughlo and the special Turkish envoy to Iraq, Ogho chili Kol met with the Iraqi Prime Minister Nur Almaliki, and the Prime minister of the Kurdish region in Iraq, Nechirvan Barzani. Meanwhile the deputy Prime Minister Tariq Al Hashimi met with the Turkish president Abdullah Ghul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Guest, Man # 2
These intensive negotiations between Turkey and officials in northern Iraq are in tune with what was agreed upon with the American administration including the importance of looking for a political solution to the Kurdish problem. We also have to remember that Turkey has tried to resolve the matter through military interventions, but it seems that the desired objectives were not achieved.

Reporter, Man # 1
Tariq Al Hashemi who arrived to Ankara expressed his happiness that Turkey has changed its view towards Iraq, saying that Turkey should not exclude its interests in Iraq to Kirkuk and the Turkmen. He also said that all the officials in Baghdad and in the Kurdish region, are completely ready to visit Ankra for negotiations. He said that he does not know about news reports claiming that the Kurdish Bishmarga in Iraq has been supporting the PKK.

Guest, Man # 3 Tareq Al Hashimi
The leaders in the Kurdish region have changed. They now have a reasonable view; they want to get rid of the PKK problem quickly. This encouraged the Turkish government to increase the sphere of their interests in Iraq. Today Turkey is considering opening an embassy in Basra which is good because it shows that Tukey is interested in Iraq.

Reporter, Man # 1
The Turkish Foreign minister Ali Babajan said that Ankara is willing to receive Kurdish officials from Northern Iraq to conduct negotiations and find a solution to threats posed by the PKK. There are news reports that the Prime Minister of the Kurdish region in northern Iraq Nechirvan Barzani will visit Ankara as part of the intensive contact between the two countries. If this visit does go through, then it will be a milestone for the relations between Turkey and the Kurdish region in Iraq. These diplomatic activities between Baghdad and Ankara might be a good start in resolving the disputes between the Kurdish region in Iraq and the Turkish government. Perhaps this will pull the rug from underneath the PKK and prevent it from using its bases in northern Iraq. For Al Madar program, Abel Naser Sange, Abu Dhabi, Istanbul.

[Summary]

A presidential guard is being interrogated after the attempted assassination of Hamid Karzai.

Presenter, FEMALE, #1
Welcome back. Fallujah’s name has been associated with images of death and destruction, but life is now returning to the city. It is slowly regaining the small details that the residents were accustomed to before the war.

Reporter, MALE, #2
For dozens of years, the men in Fallujah have drunk coffee from the hands of Abu Nasser during their city strolls. Abu Nasser passes through the old alleyways of Fallujah, with one aim in mind:
To offer coffee to the people, according to their taste.

Guest, MALE, #2
Abu Nasser is part of Fallujah’s Heritage. Seeing him is seeing Fallujah.

Reporter, MALE, #2
His unique coffee pot differs from traditional pots in its design; it was custom-made based on Abu Nasser’s idea. It has two chambers, one for the sweet coffee, and the other for the bitter coffee, enabling him to carry both in one pot.

Guest, MALE, #3
When I started, I carried two coffee pots, one filled with bitter coffee, and the other filled with sweet coffee. I would refill each with two others pots by the fire. But in this one, the sweet coffee is in the bottom chamber, and the bitter coffee is in the top chamber.

Reporter, MALE, #2
Abu Nasser’s visits are not limited to the challenge of passing through scattered alleyways, but of continuing to pour coffee during all the seasons of the year. He is not deterred by the freezing cold or the burning heat. Abu Nasser has long been one of Falllujah’s landmarks; his tribal ethic stops him from asking for the payment for a coffee from those who do not offer to pay, because they cannot afford to do so. He also pours his coffee for women, who seldom ask for his coffee.
From Fallujah, Ahmad al Hamdani, Al Arabiya.

Imprisoned for six years without being charged or given a trial, Al Jazeera cameraman Sami Al Hajj was finally released from the US Navy prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The man, who was “emaciated,” as his attorney said, because of his hunger strike which began in January 2007, was taken to a hospital in Khartoum and later arrived home in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum.
"I've been dreaming of this moment for the past seven years," the cameraman said in an interview with Al Jazeera. Saying that "rats are treated with more humanity", al-Hajj also said that the inmates' "human dignity was violated".
Al Hajj was accused of being an “enemy combatant” after he was captured in Afghanistan in December 2001 by Pakistani authorities, who handed him to the US military. He was later taken to Guantanamo Bay, the place where more than 275 men suspected of links with Al Qaeda are imprisoned, most of them without charges.
In addition to torture and harsh conditions, the US officials also tried to tempt Sami Al Hajj to work for them as a spy in Al Jazeera in exchange for his freedom; he was later offered release again on the condition he not go back to Al Jazeera: Sami rejected both offers. So why did the US government finally decide to release him?
The answer is simple: Guantanamo or Gitmo as known by US military circles has become a major liability to the United States and the Bush Administartion. Many experts believe that there are striking similarities between the actions at Guantanamo and what occurred at Abu Ghraib in Iraq. For example, according to a newly released military investigation, stubborn prisoners at Guantanamo were forced to wear women's underwear on their heads while confronted with snarling military guard dogs. These tactics were employed at Guantanamo months before military police used them on detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and months before their photos caused alarm around the world.
In June 2006, three detainees at Guantanamo committed suicide by hanging themselves with nooses made from bed sheets. Human rights groups say dozens more have attempted to kill themselves.
According to Al Hajj’s attorney, David Remes, Al Hajj had been released because the Bush administration "wants to flush as many men out of Guantanamo as quickly as possible … as Guantanamo has become such an international badge of shame".
The facility has been condemned by the United Nations, the European Union, and numerous human rights groups, and many in the US argue that the camp has become a liability. Even George Bush acknowledged in 2006 he would "like to close" it.
I’m Jamal Dajani for the Mosaic Intelligence Report. To Learn More about this program or to share your thoughts, visit us at Linktv.org/mosaic