[Transcript]  Mosaic News - 9/17/09: World News From The Middle East

Presenter, Male #1
An Italian defense source reports that six Italian soldiers were killed, and three were seriously wounded in a suicide bombing targeting an Italian convoy in Afghanistan.

Presenter, Female #1
According to Afghan sources, ten Afghan civilians were killed and 50 were injured in the attack.

Presenter, Male #1
Meanwhile, Afghan president, Hamed Karzai, called for opening an honest and neutral investigation of allegations that he forged votes in the presidential elections. Karzai also stressed he believes in the integrity of the elections.

Reporter, Male #1
Another bombing occurred in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, in its diplomatic district located in the center of the city, or more precisely, on the road between the US embassy and the main airport. It’s also worth noting that the attacker penetrated Afghanistan’s most fortified areas with his booby-trapped vehicle, and collided with a NATO military patrol. The attack led to death and injury of members of the foreign forces in Afghanistan. Rome announced that several Italian soldiers were killed in the attack. The Taliban quickly claimed responsibility for the attack. What distinguishes this attack is that it coincided with president Hamed Karzai’s press conference. The president finally reluctantly admitted to the possibility of forged votes in the latest presidential elections. But Karzai downplayed the issue, claiming the number of alleged cases was far less than that which the media reported. Karzai concluded that the elections were honest, though his main opponent, Abdullah Abdullah, expresses doubt. Karzai refers to the initial results of the elections, which indicate he won more than 54% of the votes, while his opponent Abdullah Abdullah won only 27%. Despite all this, the European Union insisted that approximately one third of Karzai’s votes were forged. This complicates the US president’s mission in Afghanistan. If Obama defends Karzai, accused by his opponents of corruption and forging votes, Obama may undermine his strategy to eliminate the Taliban. Obama’s plan to send additional forces to this remote country faces opposition from Congress and members of the ruling Democratic Party. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Afghanistan, Mike Mullen, hesitated when he talked about the matter during the latest military briefing. According to Mullen, Afghanistan will likely need more troops for the war, but it also needs more time to develop an honest government.

Presenter, Male #1
Joining us from Kabul is our correspondent Mariam Ubaish. Mariam, what are the latest developments in the bombing that took place in Kabul?

Guest, Female #1
There are no new updates on the number of deaths and injuries, but eye witnesses from the bombed area of the Kabul airport highway said the death toll of Afghan civilians was higher than that announced by the Afghan Defense Ministry. There is no doubt that today’s attack carried a very dangerous message from the Taliban, which orchestrated a similar attack just ten days ago in the same area. Today’s attack also coincided with the political crisis stemming from the Afghan presidential elections. The timing of the attack was specifically planned too. It occurred between two conferences: right after President Hamed Karzai’s press conference ended, and just before presidential candidate, Abdullah Abdullah’s press conference started. It’s worth mentioning that President Hamed Karzai has acknowledged for the first time that the August 20th elections may have been rigged, though he said no forging occurred that could have significantly affected the election results. Karzai urges the Afghan people to accept his vicory, which the Independent Election Commission announced yesterday. He harshly criticized the foreign media that accused him of being involved in election fraud, and said he firmly believed in his triumph. He also mentioned he would form a government composed of important political figures, but did not mention who these figures would be. After Karzai’s conference, Abdullah Abdullah held a press conference in which he criticized President Hamed Karzai. According to unofficial results released by the Independent Election Commission, Abdullah Abdullah came in second place in the presidential elections. The tone of his criticism was sharper than it was several days ago. Abdullah asked, “Who is this person who criticizes foreign intervention of internal affairs (meaning foreign criticism of the election fraud), and yet who cannot stay in the presidential palace for eight minutes without the presence of foreigners?” I also asked him about the sources that discussed a possible eruption of violence in the north, and he said he would use peaceful and lawful means to reach a solution for the election crisis in Afghanistan. But he went on to say that whoever is responsible for these violent acts are the ones who forged the votes.

Presenter, Male #1
Thank you, Mariam Ubaish, from Kabul.

Presenter, Male #1
The Lebanese President designated Saad Hariri as Lebanon’s Prime Minister for the second time. Hariri received all the votes of his majority party, and two votes from the opposition. After his designation, Member of Parliament Saad Hariri said he will form the new government in approximately 80 days. Hariri said that he will launch wide-scale consultation sessions in the days following the Eid El-Fitr holiday. Iliam Shatri reports from Beirut.

Reporter, Female #1
After marathon discussions held at the presidential palace, Saad Hariri reconsidered his resignation, and accepted the Lebanese president’s call to form the new government for the second time. In a statement issued to the media, Hariri said: “Some may ask why I resigned in the first place if I am willing to accept a second bid to form the government.”

Guest, Male #2 (Hariri)
The political facts on ground indicate that my resignation came at the right time and place. My decision to resign helped take the country out of endless debates. This allowed us to engage in another round of political negotiations.

Reporter, Female #1
The reappointment of Hariri helped end parliamentary consultations. 73 out of 128 Members of Parliament have nominated Hariri to the post. This includes votes of the majority, in addition to two Armenian votes. However, the opposition blocs, including the Development and Liberation Bloc led by parliament speaker Nabih Berri, have declined to vote. This comes despite the fact that the Development and Liberation Bloc have voted in favor of Hariri in previous consultations. Now that Hariri has won the bid a second time, he must focus his efforts on forming a new government. This will not be an easy task, especially considering that every political party is trying to cling to its own position.

Guest, Male #3
We will end this crisis if everyone cooperates, and stops mandating his own conditions. The President of the Republic of Lebanon urged all political parties to offer concessions. This requires us to show leniency in our political position, especially between the Prime Minister-designate and the opposition. This also requires us to seek consultation with other countries that have influence over Lebanese affairs.

Reporter, Female #1
Now that he has accepted to form the new government, Saad Hariri announced that the few days following the Eid El-Fitr holiday will witness wide-scale consultations among all political parties. The reappointment of Hariri as Prime Minister- designate for the second time has helped open the political road ahead. Iliam Shatri, Dubai TV, Beirut.

Presenter, Male #1
Syrian Foreign Minister, Walid al-Mouallem, confirmed that his country will attend a meeting with Iraq and Turkey regarding security affairs. Meanwhile, the Iraqi government’s spokesman, Ali al-Dabagh, said that the security meetings, held in Turkey between Iraqi and Syrian officials, have failed. In another development, Ankara and Damascus agreed to improve bilateral relations and boast strategic cooperation. This news comes during a visit by the Syrian President to Turkey.

Reporter, Male #2
The Syrian President Bashar Assad’s visit to Turkey has produced practical results in bilateral relations.

Guest, Male #3
The two leaders have agreed to mutually lift visa procedures between Turkey and Syria. They also agreed to form a strategic cooperation council to strengthen their relations at various levels, including the international level.

Reporter, Male #2
Amidst optimism, Syrian President, Bashar Assad, reiterated his commitment to continue the negotiation process through Turkish mediators, whom Assad described as “honest.” In a goodwill gesture, Assad expressed his support for the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan’s initiative, which aims to settle both Kurdish and Armenian issues.

Guest, Male #4
The Syrian president vowed to take back the Syrian members of the PKK, if they disarm. There are more than 1,500 Syrian fighters who joined the PKK. This Syrian porovides means strong support of Erdogan. In return, the Syrian President signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Turkey. It’s the first such agreement between Syria and a member of NATO.

Reporter, Male #2
The Syrian-Turkish talks also focused on the Turkish-sponsored mediation efforts aimed at containing the crisis between Baghdad and Damascus. Ankara and Damascus dismissed reports regarding the cancellation of a ministerial meeting scheduled for Thursday. The Secretary General of the Arab League, Amr Musa, is expected to attend the meeting.

Guest, Male #5 (Syrian official)
We will attend Thursday’s meeting, which is being sponsored by Turkey. The Secretary General of the Arab League will also attend. The meeting will go as scheduled unless the Iraqi delegation decides not to attend. In any case, we will enjoy the beauty of Istanbul.

Reporter, Male #2
Turkey said it wants to ease tension between Iraq and Syria, and added that the Istanbul meeting comes after a series of preparatory sessions were held Tuesday in Ankara, between Iraqi and Syrian officials. The delegations discussed intelligence and technical issues between the two countries. Damer Abdul Fattah, Alarabiya, Ankara.

Presenter, Male #1
U.S. and Iraqi forces have arrested three people under suspicion of firing mortar shells at Baghdad’s Green Zone.

Presenter, Female #1
The mortar shells fell on the Green Zone during the time of Iftar, martyring a woman and injuring two members of her family.

Reporter, Male #2
After the evening’s call to prayer and during Iftar, a terrorist attack was launched in this residential neighborhood. Three mortar shells have fallen at the Green Zone, on the same day U.S. Vice President Joe Biden arrived in the Iraqi capital. This is Biden’s second visit in just a few months. Three mortar shells fell on a residential complex in Baghdad’s Green Zone, martyring a female teacher, injuring two members of her family, and causing property damage. Meanwhile, U.S. and Iraqi forces arrested three people under suspicion of firing the rockets. The security forces also seized launchers and small firearms during a raid on the suspects’ hideout.

Guest, Male #3
Two mortar shells fell near a security post. No casualty or property damage has been reported. The third shell fell in this area, martyring a woman and injuring two members of her family. The injured were transported to the Yarmuk Hospital. However, the woman died on the way to the hospital.

Reporter, Male #2
In another development, Member of Baghdad’s Provincial Council, Mohammad al-Rubaie, escaped an attempt on his life when a sticky bomb targeted his car in downtown Baghdad. The explosion caused property damage. Al-Rubaie called on the security agencies to investigate the incident, find the perpetrators, and hold them accountable.

Guest, Male #4
The security agencies must conduct a thorough investigation of the crime scene. We need to know the bomb’s type, its source, and the way it was assembled. Sticky bombs are remotely detonated, so we need to know the range of detonation. We need to find the facts. At this point, we don’t know who the real enemies are.

Reporter, Male #2
The objective of these terrorist attacks is to disrupt security and stability in the country. Meanwhile, the security agencies have taken the necessary measures to help secure a safe climate for the Iraqi citizens, especially as the parliamentary election approaches. From Baghdad, Mithaq Hikmat, Iraqiya.

Presenter, Female #1
Iraqi Member of Parliament and representative of the Sadrist Faction, Fawzi Akram Tarzi, called on the U.N. and the Independence Election committee to form a special follow-up committee in order to review the 2005 registry of voters in the province of Kirkuk. During a press conference, Tarzi said his call for a review is based on a number of violations cited in the 2005 voter’s registry.

Presenter, Male #1
The deputy speaker of the Iraqi parliament, Aref Taifur, warned that the decision not to hold elections in some areas of Mosul will force the Kurds to divide the province of Ninawa into two parts, one for the Arabs and the other for the Kurds. Taifur described the remarks issued by Member of Parliament, Osama al-Nujafi, as “false and unconstitutional.” Al-Nujafi said in a previous statement that the deployment of joint forces in the areas of Sinjar, Ba’shika, and Nahr al-Khzer in the province of Ninawa is an attempt to rig the elections in favor of the Kurdish parties.

[Summary]

Israel launched a major diplomatic campaign to contain damage caused by Goldstone’s UN commission report. Israel continues to talk with U.S. on the settlement freeze issue.

Goldstone says he is not surprised by Israel’s reaction to the report, but disappointed.

[Summary]

Iran supports World Quds Day in solidarity with Palestine. Quds day was created by the late Imam Khomeini.

In New York, as demonstrators prepare to mark International World Quds Day, Jewish leaders staged demonstrations in from of UN headquarters, condemning Zionists in Israel, saying they violate the teachings of the Prophet Moses and Judaism.

Syrian president, Bashar Assad, voices doubt of Israeli peace efforts, as witnessed by Israel’s lack of commitment to halting settlement construction.

Iran will not have direct talks with the Washington in the upcoming negotiation between Iran, Russia, China, Britain, France and the U.S., as well as Germany.

U.S. lawmakers call for immediate sanctions against Iran’s energy sector.

Presenter, Woman # 1
Inmates in Romi prison went on a hunger strike that continues today. Prisoners there are protesting security measures relating to the food that is being sent to them by their families, and are demanding speedier trials.

Reporter, Woman # 2
150 prisoners in Romi jail have gone on a hunger strike, protesting the way they are being treated. They caused disturbances and made noise inside the prison by hitting the windows and bars of their prison cells. They yelled, demanding speedier trials, and called for stopping the security measures over the food that is being sent to them from outside the prison. They also demanded to talk with the Minister of the Interior, Ziad Barud, and the general director of internal security forces, Major General Ashraf Refe. Some families, who came to visit their sons on Wednesday, the designated visiting day, were forced to take back the food they had brought to the prisoners because of the hunger strike.


Guest, Woman # 3
They refuse to meet with us. They did not come down to see us, so we were forced to take back all the food we brought.

Reporter, Woman # 2
Security officials said they gained control of the situation after security measures in the prison were tightened. In addition, a medical team was sent to the prison in case an emergency situation should occur because of the hunger strike.

Presenter, Woman # 1
A storm swept through the city of Al Rashidiya, causing the Bedouins living there to suffer severe property damage. The storm also blocked traffic on the road between Al Rashidiya and Gulmima. We leave you with Omar Ashkuri and Hassan Skuri.

Reporter, Man # 1
Bedouin families are still suffering the consequences of the hail storm that swept through the mountains of Afarduh yesterday, 10 kilometers from the city of Al Rashidiya. The families suffered major losses; because of the large size of the hail and its speed, the families’ tents collapsed and their livestock were killed while grazing in the fields.

Guest, Man # 2
We lost a large number of sheep and goats. Our tents were ruined; we can do nothing now but wait for help from the government. We hope they can compensate us for the losses we endured.

Guest, Woman # 2
We have never seen such a hail storm before. It destroyed everything in its path. We almost could have lost our lives if it wasn’t for God’s help.

Reporter, Man # 1
Due to the intensity of the hail, the storm also blocked traffic on the road between Al Rashidiya and Gulmima, temporarily forcing traffic to stop.

Guest, Man # 4
The road was obstructed. There were big stones on the road and we could not remove them. This is the first time we have seen a hail storm in this area. Luckily no one was injured.

Reporter, Man # 2
There was heavy rain in many areas in Al Rashidiya yesterday, causing two homes in Al Hseyah and in Al Neif to collapse, killing some livestock.