[Transcript]  Mosaic News - 10/6/09: World News From The Middle East

Presenter, Man #1
The Arab League Secretary, General Amr Musa, held talks in Sana’a with Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh. After the meeting, Musa said that the two leaders discussed the importance of maintaining Yemen’s unity, security and stability. He added that any future peace initiative must be based on this principle. The two leaders also discussed the option of dialogue. According to Musa, the Yemeni president is open to talking with all political forces inside and outside Yemen.

Reporter, Man #2
Fierce clashes occurred in the old city of Sa’da between the army and Houthi rebels during which a number of rebels were killed and injured. Armed clashes and street warfare took place in the area between Bab Najran and Bab Al Yamen. The army carried out a military operation and destroyed two caches below the Arej Mountain that were used by terrorists to prepare explosives and landmines. The armed forces found weapons, ammunition and explosive devices, as well as documents in areas that were combed by Yemeni special forces in Mehwar Sofian. During these military operations, Yemeni soldiers were killed and injured. The armed forces and security forces said they have destroyed several locations as well as rebels’ weapons and ammunition in the areas of Al Anad, Damaj Al Amar, and Al Malaheed. The army used mortar shells to clear the areas of Waset and Hera. Yemeni authorities confirmed that they now control Zukabel and Zutale’ and that they are now searching these areas. Meanwhile, rebels said they brought down a second war plane near Sa’da while it was trying to strike at their locations. The army, however, said that a Russian plane fell in Al A’and in Sa’da because of technical difficulties. This comes as the Arab League Secretary General Amr Musa arrived in Sana’ with the aim of maintaining Yemen’s unity. Demonstrators in the south demanded that the government talk with southerners, implement international resolutions, stop persecuting citizens, and release political prisoners from the opposition, the Southern Movement. This is Kahled al-Kashef, Al Arabiya.

Presenter, Female #1
US Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, said the Taliban has gotten stronger because the US and its allies are unable to send additional troops to Afghanistan.

Presenter, Male #1
Gates added that violence has increased by 60% in comparison to last year. He said that President Barack Obama is determined to make a decision for the next phase in Afghanistan, which may be his most important decision during his presidency.

Reporter, Male #1
American soldiers are fighting their enemy, the Taliban, in eastern Afghanistan. Recently, the Taliban has shown itself to capable of launching damaging attacks on its enemies. There are currently about American 68,000 soldiers in Afghanistan. The newest 21,000 additional troops were sent by US president Barack Obama soon after he took office. But this did not stop the Taliban’s activities. General Stanley McChrystal, the chief commander of the international forces in Afghanistan, is now demanding an additional 40,000 soldiers. This controversial request became a hot topic for the United States after the casualty rate of American soldiers increased. Currently there are disputes revolving around the war in Afghanistan between the military and the White House, and between the Republican and Democratic parties in the congress. It appears that President Obama is trying to forming a new strategy to deal with the war in Afghanistan with help from his advisors.

Guest, Male #1 (Robert Gates)
“Afghanistan has been following a “worrisome trajectory.” Violence has increased by 60% in comparison to last year. “I believe the decisions that the president will make for the next stage of the campaign in Afghanistan will be among the most important of his presidency, so it is important that we take the time to do all we can to get this right.”

Reporter, Male #1
It is not clear how much time Obama will need to respond to General McChrystal’s request. But one thing is certain: the Taliban will take advantage of any mistake the American military makes. Let’s not forget that the rest of the NATO countries which have their troops deployed in Afghanistan are procrastinating on following the American plans. There is wide-spread opposition from the people in these countries to having their troops in Afghanistan. The Afghan military has not been an effective force in this war.

Presenter, Female #1
Israel deployed thousands of policemen in Jerusalem two days after clashes broke out between Israeli police and Palestinians in Noble Sanctuary Square. The police upheld restrictions on entry to al-Aqsa Mosque for Palestinians. Meanwhile, the Israeli vice Prime Minister, Silvan Shalom, said that Israel has started a battle to enforce its sovereignty in Jerusalem, and especially over al-Aqsa Mosque.

Reporter, Male #1
For the past three days, Palestinian protesters have filled al-Aqsa Mosque in order to prevent Jewish settlers from entering the mosque and its premises on Jewish holidays. One of the Jewish groups threatened to replace al-Aqsa Mosque with a new Suleiman temple.

Guest, Male #1
“They do the blessing every day.” The holidays are considered a special occasion when tens of thousands come to the Western Wall to receive blessings from Jewish Rabbis and religious leaders, “so everybody comes down for this special occasion.”

Reporter, Male #1
In order to avoid new confrontations with the Palestinians, Israel deployed thousands of security forces in East and West Jerusalem and around al-Aqsa Mosque. Israel continues to ban those under 50 years of age from entering the Noble Sanctuary, and stipulated that only East Jerusalem residents or Arab-Israelis are allowed to enter the premises. Israeli vice Prime Minister Silvan Shalom gave an explanation for the Israeli forces’ actions: to establish complete control over Jerusalem, in particular al-Aqsa Mosque. This statement coincided with Israel’s current actions on the ground, and the Palestinian Authority believes it reflects Israel’s desire to impose the status quo on Palestinians and their future Palestinian state.

Guest, Male #2, grey suit
Israel not only violates Palestinians’ religious and political rights but also tries to determine the final status of Jerusalem before any future negotiations.

Reporter, Male #1
The Israeli military’s siege on al-Aqsa Mosque, which began in the evening this past Saturday, enraged all the Palestinian factions. Hamas and other Palestinian factions called for a new intifada to defend al-Aqsa and said that violating the mosque is a red line that Israel should not have crossed.

Guest, Male #3
We have given warnings about the attacks on al-Aqsa Mosque and about the possible consequences. We are calling on all the Arab and Islamic nations to rise up and protect these holy sites. We are also calling on Palestinian youth, either in the city of Jerusalem or in other Arab cities inside Israel to protect al-Aqsa Mosque while continuing to stay steadfast inside it.

Reporter, Male #1
What’s happening today brings back the memory of when former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon entered al-Aqsa mosque accompanied by a number of Jewish settlers, to light the spark of the second intifada which was called “Intifada al-Aqsa.” Haidar al-Khair, BBC.

[Summary]

As thousands took part in the old Jerusalem march this week, security was high. Some Palestinians tried to prevent Jews from entering the grounds of Al-Aqsa Mosque. Does this signal the beginning of a third intifada?

Presenter, Female #1
An Iraqi civilian was martyred and 4 others, including 2 soldiers, were wounded in a bomb attack on an army patrol vehicle in central Fallujah. A second bomb targeting a police car exploded in western Fallujah, injuring an Iraqi civilian.

Presenter, Male #1
The control of border crossings, the easing of travel restrictions, and an increase in trade: These are some of the effects of the improvement in the Iraqi province of Anbar. The local officials in Anbar province praised security forces and border patrol agencies for securing the borders and easing restrictions facing travelers and cargo entering Iraq.

Reporter, Male #2
The security measures that are being taken in the various cities of Anbar province have been extended to international highways connecting Iraq with its neighbors. This has helped increase the number of travelers using these highways to enter Iraq, as well as boost trade in the region.

Guest, Male #3
The security situation is excellent. The various security agencies, including the border patrol and the Anbar police department, are doing a good job. The border administration, including the security and intelligence divisions, has taken important steps to secure Iraq borders. Practically speaking, national policies, which apply to all Iraqi regions, are an important tool for securing Iraq’s borders.

Guest, Male #4
The minister was informed of the current level of trade between Iraq and Jordan. He praised Jordanian efforts to ease travel restrictions.

Reporter, Male #2
According to the officials at the Traibel Border Crossing, the border is generating more than 25 billion Iraqi dinars in revenue each month. This indicates that most Iraqi border areas have been fully secured, with some border crossings operating around the clock in order to help travelers and provide them with the service they deserve.

Guest, Male #3
This border crossing generates annual revenue, estimated at 250 million dollars. An average of 500 to 750 cargo vehicles, loaded with all types of goods, enter Iraq on a daily basis. The level of trade between Iraq and Jordan is wide open.

Guest, Male #5
This border crossing is fully operating. All border crossings will be equipped with modern security systems to inspect baggage and goods arriving in Iraq. We will use sonar equipment. We, as the Ministry of the Interior, want to reassure the citizens that we will protect them against evil-doers.

Reporter, Male #2
Despite the shortage of inspection and sonar equipment, Iraqi customs agents are proving day by day they are up to the challenge. All cars and truck entering Iraq are inspected by customs agents to make sure none are carrying explosive or combustible materials. The control of Iraq’s borders with its neighbors and the deployment of military forces are part of a plan drafted by the Ministry of the Interior. The plan aims to prevent the infiltration of terrorists into Iraq, where they might commit criminal acts in an attempt to disrupt the security that is being witnessed across the country. From the Traibel border crossing between Jordan and Iraq, this is Ahmad Delaimi, al-Iraqiya.

[Summary]

Ayatollah Khomeini said a powerful Iran is not a threat to other countries.

Presenter, Male #1
The history of the Egyptian Siwa Oasis is a reflection of the various civilizations that have existed in Egypt throughout time. However this oasis, located in Egypt’s western region bordering Libya, has begun to suffer from the side effects of environmental deterioration. Siwa Oasis, where the Bedouins have been living for thousands of years, is now connected to the capital of Cairo by a highway. This led to the appearance of modern tools and equipment in the oasis, damaging the environment in this area, which used to be secluded from the outside world.

Reporter, Male #1
It took Alexander the Great 9 days of searching to arrive at Siwa Oasis in western Egypt. His men ran out of water after an exhausting trip in the desert, and it seems probable that the oasis that appeared to him in the first place was nothing but a mirage. That appears to be the situation today as well. The oasis is 18 meters below sea level, surrounded by desolate deserts. This spring is the first source of freshwater that spouts naturally and endlessly from the ground. This natural phenomenon, considered one of the most fragile in the world, is now in danger of disappearing.

Guest, Male #1
Unfortunately, industrial projects like drilling water-wells in this oasis are extremely active here today, to satisfy our greed to the fullest.

Reporter, Male #1
Five water bottling companies are working in Siwa. But that is only part of the problem. The farmers who used to water their fields with natural spring water now have to dig wells to search for water. Parts of the brackish lake in the middle of the oasis used to dry up in the summer, but now the lake is flooded by drainage water flowing from the irrigation canals that the farmers have dug. The agricultural drainage water becomes useless when it is poured into the lake. The farmers say that the quality of their water has been deteriorating because the large, mechanical, water-pumping projects lead to the depletion of water faster than nature can replenish it. But in the field of this farmer, we discovered a mechanical water pump. It is one of hundreds of pieces of equipment that the government blames for the exacerbating water problems in Siwa.

Guest, Female #1
The best way to solve the problem is to recycle the drainage water and reduce the amount of water pouring into the lake to a minimum.

Reporter, Male #1
Siwa may appear to be a heaven on earth now. But some believe that without efforts from all relevant sectors, this green patch of land in the middle of desert may disappear suddenly and for eternity.

Presenter, Man #1
Pakistani war planes have attacked locations in southern Waziristan in Pakistan, where it is suspected that Taliban fighters are hiding. The shelling killed six people and injured 3 others.

Presenter, Woman #1
Meanwhile, the new leader of the Taliban in Pakistan, Hakemuallah Mehsud, threatened to avenge the death of the former leader, Baitullah Mehsud. Hakemuallah spoke with television reporters along with a number of his aides, which American and Pakistani reports said were killed.

Presenter, Man #1
Our Al Jazeera correspondent in Islamabad has the following report.

Reporter, Man #2
This is how the wanted Taliban leaders appeared in south of Waziristan in Pakistan: American and Pakistani sources said that there were clashes between the Taliban leader, Hakemuallah Mehsud, and his commander, Waleyo Alrahman. The two leaders were allegedly fighting with each other a few days ago, but now they are standing in front of TV cameras. The surprising appearance was embarrassing for the Pakistanis and Americans, especially after the Taliban claimed responsibility for the explosion of the World Food Program headquarters. The new leader, who seems to be fond of new technology, threatened to avenge the killing of his former leader Baitullah Mehsud. He said that Bin Laden and Mulla Omar are not currently in the tribal areas.

Guest, Man #3
We love and cherish Osama Bin Laden and Mulla Omar. History will prove our love for them. They are not in the tribal area. God has made this earth huge and they might be anywhere.

Reporter, Man #2
Five camera men were selected by the Taliban to meet with the new leader. Al Jazeera was the only foreign channel.

Guest, Man #4
After 10 hours of driving we arrived in Sarioga to cover the press conference of Hakemuallah Mahsud and his aides. While we were coming here surveillance planes hovered over us. We thought that missiles were going to hit us at any moment.

Reporter, Man #2
Children here die like adults. They are counting their days away from school and are missing their childhood. The market became a ghost town because of continuous battles. Ahmad Zidan, Al Jazeera, Islamabad.