[Transcript]  Mosaic News - 05/02/12: World News From The Middle East [VIDEO]

Presenter, Female #1
The death toll in the fierce clashes that erupted between Egyptian strikers and armed groups near the Defense Ministry in the capital Cairo has risen to 20. A group of gunmen attacked a sit-in rally that was organized against the ruling military council near the Defense Ministry's headquarters. Military sources confirmed that the army will intervene to put an end to the clashes. A demonstration was launched from al-Fatah Mosque in Ramses Square in central Cairo and headed to al-Khalif al-Ma'amun Street in solidarity with the strikers. Meanwhile, several revolutionary blocs called for organizing a million-man march on Friday. The protestors have been staging sit-in rallies since last Saturday.

Reporter, Male #1
The Egyptian street continues to mobilize until all revolutionary demands are attained. The Egyptian people are continuing to counter the military's rule and its machinery. They launched an open-ended sit-in near the Defense Ministry's headquarters in Cairo. However, on Wednesday at dawn, the sit-in rally turned bloody. Eyewitnesses said that security forces opened fire at a group of worshipers performing the Dawn Prayer in al-Abbassiyah Square. The following footage shows that a bloodbath had taken place at the square. Shots were fired directly at protestors' heads, with images of bloodstains covering the scene. Dozens of people were killed or injured by the gunfire of regime forces and gunmen disguised in civilian clothing, otherwise known as "thugs." The Egyptian people vowed to continue to stage sit-ins and protest rallies until the attainment of their demands, most notably the end of the military rule and the election of a president for the republic. The protestors slammed the military council and accused it of trying to rig the election process.

Guest, Male #2
The military council must leave. The military continues to ruin and burn the country. We want an elected president, not a president selected by the military council.

Guest, Male #3
We don't have another choice. We will not go home until the military council is toppled. This must be done today, not tomorrow, and definitely not June 30, when the council said it will relinquish power. They will not transfer power. They will dissolve any committee calling for their ouster, under the pretext that the committee has committed fraud. Again, they will not transfer power on June 30.

Reporter, Male #1
Amid the bloodshed spilled at the beginning of the revolution and today, the revolutionaries' mobilization continues in Egypt, as Egyptians continue to hope for a better future that meets their aspirations and fulfills their dreams.

Presenter, Female #1
Two Egyptian presidential candidates, Mohamed Mursi and Abdel-Moneim Aboul Fotouh, have suspended their campaign, and accused the government of failing to counter the attacks on the strikers near the Defense Ministry. According to the Muslim Brotherhood website, the group's candidate suspended his campaign for two days to mourn the victims who were killed in the clashes. The source added that the group's Equality and Freedom Party decided to boycott a meeting called for by the ruling military council. For his part, Aboul Fotouh announced that he suspended his election campaign until further notice, in protest over the way the authorities are dealing with the anti-military council sit-in rallies.

Presenter, Female #1
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the killing of 15 regime troops, including two officers, in an ambush set up in the countryside of the northern province of Aleppo. The Observatory indicated that clashes in the countryside of Damascus killed six regime soldiers. In addition, the Syrian Network for Human Rights said 14 people were killed today in Aleppo, the countryside of Damascus, Homs, Dara'a, Deir az-Zour, al-Qamishli, and Hama.

Reporter, Male #1
Over 20 regime soldiers were killed on Wednesday in the countryside of Aleppo and Damascus, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. A large number of regime soldiers and defectors were killed, including two regime colonels, after violent clashes during an ambush set up in Rael Town, in the countryside of Aleppo near the Turkish border.

Reporter, Male #1
In the countryside of Damascus, fierce clashes erupted in the city of Harasta and continued until dawn, killing a number of regime soldiers, according to the Observatory. Harasta was also stormed, and an arrest campaign was carried out there.

Reporter, Male #1
The region of Homs witnessed shelling as well, especially in Qal'at al-Hosn City. In Homs City, the al-Khalidiya neighborhood experienced shelling and gunfire from snipers, which killed civilians. The killing of civilians occurred on Wednesday in the cities of Homs, Aleppo, Damascus, Deir az-Zour, and al-Qamishli, according to the opposition. In addition, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said al-Dahla in Deir az-Zour was shelled, while the city of al-Quriya was subject to a campaign of arrests and raids. Some activists' houses were burned. Parts of Dara'a were also shelled.

Reporter, Male #1
In the countryside of Aleppo, the wide-scale military operations carried out by regime forces in the past several months were partially halted when the ceasefire took effect last month. However, the operations have resumed in the last several days. At the same time, the countryside of Damascus saw similar operations, especially in the two cities of Duma and Harasta, according to activists.

Reporter, Male #1
Despite the UN Secretary-General's declaration that violence has declined since the UN observers arrived, their presence does not seem to have prevented the daily killing of dozens. There have been only 30 observers in Syria so far. Meanwhile, the regime and the opposition have been trading allegations of violating the ceasefire.

Reporter, Male #1
In a related development, Human Rights Watch accused the Syrian authorities of committing war crimes in Idlib Province shortly before the ceasefire took effect, killing 95 people in military operations in addition to burning and destroying houses. The report said opposition fighters left certain areas without resistance in order to avoid endangering civilians. As for the freedom that the streets demand, it has become a slogan that these children chant, mimicking the chants of adults during their peaceful protests. Hayyan Aqoub, BBC.

Presenter, Male #1
He came during the night and left before the break of dawn in a surprise visit, amid heavy security measures described as "unprecedented." US President Barack Obama visited Afghanistan for six hours and met with his Afghan counterpart, Hamid Karzai. The two leaders signed a strategic partnership pact for cooperation between Washington and Kabul. Following Obama's visit, Kabul was rocked by a series of explosions that claimed the lives of six people. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attacks, and warned they will launch an offensive against NATO on Thursday. Hanna al-Haidri reports.

Reporter, Female #1
In a surprise visit under the shadow of night, his plane landed in Afghanistan. US President Barack Obama visited Afghanistan for six hours and held talks with his Afghan counterpart, Hamid Karzai. The two leaders signed a long-term strategic partnership agreement that follows months of negotiations. Under the terms of the agreement, the US will provide military and financial support for Afghanistan. The pact also outlines the relationship between Washington and Kabul after 2014. Obama addressed the Afghan and American people from Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan, amid heavy security.

Guest, Male #2 (Barack Obama, US President)
In the pre-dawn darkness of Afghanistan, we can see the light of a new day on the horizon, as we mark the first anniversary of bin Laden's death.

Reporter, Female #1
From Afghanistan, Obama promised the Americans a new day on the horizon. However, the dawn of Kabul was not very bright, as smoke rising from explosion sites covered its skies not hours after the US presidential plane took off. Dozens of people were killed and injured in the bombings that targeted a housing compound for westerners in central Kabul. Additionally, clashes erupted between Afghan police and gunmen inside an EU and UN housing compound in the capital. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attacks, which it said were directed against Obama's visit and the signing of the strategic agreement. With this development, Afghans continue to pay what Obama referred to as "the high cost of 11 years of war."

The halls of the Knesset were abuzz today with news of former Kadima chairwoman Tzipi Livni's resignation, who also stood by her decision not to join the ruling coalition, a move several of her former Kadima colleagues have rejected.

The other hot topic in this first day of the summer session is the call for early elections, which drew a mixed response from Knesset members. Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz told the Knesset finance committee that early elections won't bring more stability, and that the entire electoral system should be revised. Others MKs expressed concern over the timing of the elections, saying that the Muslim holidays should be taken into account, since the planned polling will take place sometime in the fall, close to the end of Ramadan.

Palestinians fired a Qassam rocket from the Gaza Strip into Israel overnight. The missile exploded in an open field in the Shaar Hanegev region. No injuries were reported. The 'Color Red' rocket warning system was activated in surrounding towns.

Defense Minster Ehud Barak restated the case for a military strike on Iran's nuclear program before it reaches the immunity zone, and he dismissed growing criticism that political leaders were misleading the public over the consequences of such an action. But the criticism continues, this time from former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Presenter, Male #1
Iraqi Parliament Speaker Usama al-Nujayfi said the cause for the ongoing political crisis in Iraq is what he referred to as "derailment from the democratic trajectory" in Iraq's administration.

Presenter, Female #1
Al-Nujayfi added that the solution lies in adherence to the constitution, judicial independence, and the separation of powers.

Guest, Male #2 (Usama al-Nujayfi, Iraqi Parliament Speaker)
The political crisis is still ongoing, and there is derailment from the democratic trajectory in the country's administration. We need to review its work and maintain adherence to the constitution, judicial independence, and the separation of powers through independent bodies. These basic principles should be implemented in reality. There should be discussions in the parliament, the council of ministers, and among the political parties to adjust the country's path.

Presenter, Female #1
The Ministry of Peshmerga in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region's government refused to hand over heavy weaponry seized during the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. The ministry called on the Iraqi government to implement the provisions of the joint memorandum of understanding signed in 2005 as a solution to the issue.

Presenter, Male #1
Officials close to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki called on Peshmerga to hand over the heavy weaponry that it looted.

Reporter, Male #3
As soon as Iraq's complicated internal political dilemma witnesses some changes, it returns to square one with the eruption of a new political crisis. The Kurdistan region became the center of conflict this time, with a new title: "The Peshmerga Weapons." Those in the inner circle of the Iraqi prime minister began to push the issue forward, and demanded that the regional government hand over the heavy weaponry that it seized during the US invasion, such as tanks and armored trucks. They consider these weapons to be a threat to the country's security.

Guest, Male #4 (Sami al-Askari, State of Law Coalition Member)
The amount of weapons they seized equals that of at least two divisions in the Iraqi army. Now it's time for the regional government to hand over these weapons. We believe that the parliament, especially the defense and security departments, will give the order to run an inventory of these weapons first.

Reporter, Male #3
The Ministry of Peshmerga is calling for implementing the provisions of the memorandum it signed with the Iraqi Defense Ministry in July 2007. The memorandum's eight provisions acknowledged the Pershmerga forces as the guards of the region, specified its budget, and stipulated that it be armed with weapons from Iraqi infantry regiments. However, al-Maliki's government has not implemented the memorandum so far.

Guest, Male #4 (Jabba Yawar, Peshmerga Forces Spokesman)
We agree that these weapons are what they call "heavy," but they blew this issue out of proportion. At the same time, we would like to reach an agreement on how to hand over these weapons. They speak of using MIG aircraft, so where are these MIG aircraft?

Reporter, Male #3
In light of this controversy, Kurdish citizens believe it is the region's right to possess weaponry to defend itself. Many issues remain at the focus of conflict between Baghdad and Erbil, most notably oil, the disputed areas, and Peshmerga's weaponry and budget. It appears that none of these issues are heading towards any solution. Many obstacles are troubling the Iraqis these days, after political setbacks and conflicts have created a major security vacuum. It is feared that the war of words between Baghdad and Erbil will turn into a real battle on the ground. Ayoub Rida, Al Jazeera, Erbil.

The UN Security Council has approved the draft resolution threatening non-military sanctions, such as asset freezes, against Sudan and South Sudan if they fail to halt violence on their border. The resolution orders the neighbors to stop all hostilities within 48 hours and resume negotiations within two weeks under an African Union roadmap. The UNSC condemned the continued conflict, in particular South Sudan's capture of the Heglig oil fields and Sudan's aerial bombings. It also warned Khartoum and Juba against any measures to overthrow the government of either side.

Israeli forces have once again clashes with Palestinians in West Bank after people took to the streets to show solidarity with Palestinians on a hunger strike in Israeli jails. Clashed erupted near an Israeli military camp where several Palestinians were being held. Forces fired tear gas canisters to disperse the protestors. Meanwhile, two Palestinians, Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahla, have marked their 64th day of hunger strike. Diab has been taken to a hospital.

Presenter, Male #1
Joining us from Bethlehem to discuss the prisoners' issue is the Minister of Prisoners' Affairs, Mr. Issa Qaraqe. Issa, welcome. Please brief us with the latest information on the situation of prisoner Bilal, who, as we learned earlier, has slipped into a coma.

Guest, Male #2 (Issa Qaraqe, Palestinian Minister of Prisoners' Affairs)
Yes; through Palestine TV, I am sending a continual and urgent call to all human rights organizations, people of conscience, and human rights advocates in the world to intervene urgently, rapidly, and immediately, in order to save the life of prisoner Bilal Diab. Last night, he was transferred to the Israeli Assaf Harofeh Hospital in the city of Tzrifin in an extremely critical condition.

Guest, Male #2
His colleague, prisoner Thaer Halahla, is also in critical condition in the hospital of Israel's Ramla Prison. I am saying that if anything happens to the prisoners who have been on hunger strike for over 60 days-- the prisoners of change, who are Bilal, Thaer, Hassan Safadi, Omar Abu Shallal, al-Jaafar Azzedine, Mohamed al-Taj, and the other prisoners in solitary confinement-- if anything happens to them, God forbid, or to any Palestinian prisoner, it is a crime openly committed by the occupation government, disrespecting all universal principles and values of humanity and civilization.

Guest, Male #2
The ramifications will not remain inside the prisons, but will be reflected largely outside the prisons. Therefore, we must move fast. And the prisoners don't have more time, as they are in extremely grave condition, and the prison administration is still ignoring their legitimate demands. They are basically prisoners of administrative detention, detainees without any charge or trial. Their detainment is illegal and unlawful.

Guest, Male #2
This situation is deeply worrying. It has been troubling us, and troubling our people. I am sending out this call in the name of the mothers of the prisoners; in the name of every free and dignified Palestinian who is now deeply troubled by this inhumane and disastrous massacre that the Israeli government is committing. So far, I say that Israel has been unresponsive to the movement, to the pressure, and to all the calls until now.

Presenter, Male #1
Issa, what is the function of human rights and freedom-advocating organizations here? What are the answers you received from them in response to your call for intervention and exerting pressure on the occupation in order to ease the suffering of the prisoners, who are confronting challenges by writing a legend with their battle of empty stomachs?

Guest, Male #2
Well, we've received responses. There are phone calls, condemnations of what is happening, and demands that call on the Israeli government to respect the principles and rulings of international law in dealing with the Palestinian detainees. There are specific calls for saving the life of two prisoners, Bilal and Thaer, whose health is drastically deteriorating. However, it seems that the Israeli government, despite all that's happening, is continuing its repressive and arbitrary measures, even in light of the continuing hunger strikes of nearly 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Guest, Male #2
The remaining detainees, who are the majority of the prisoners, are still waiting to hear a response to their humane and just demands in the next few days, as promised by the prison administration. If the prison administration does not respond to these demands, I believe that the scope of the hunger strike will expand, and will enter a new phase which will require tremendous support locally, regionally, and internationally to bring justice to the Palestinian prisoners' cause.

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