Violence continues in Syria despite ceasefire deadline as regime troops begin to pull out [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Female #1
The UN deadline for a ceasefire in Syria expired at midnight Syrian time. However, April 10 dawned on Syrians without bringing the anticipated calm. The Syrian army's military vehicles are still deployed in the heart of many cities, violating the most important provisions of the UN Special Envoy Kofi Annan's plan. The Annan plan requires halting all forms of violence starting today so that confrontations can end within the next 48 hours. Until another sign of change appears on the ground, images of shelling and confrontations continue to dominate the general scene in Syria. Yuay Ghabra has the details.

Reporter, Male #1
The Annan initiative does not include a military directive. Responding to gunfire will be with a rocket that could fall on a house and its occupants. These words can easily be transformed into actions. The proof can be seen in the pictures of dozens of victims who were killed recently. Syria's commitment to the UN envoy's plan remains theoretical. And even though the deadline expired, the violence has not stopped, and its consequences are real. In the northern town of Maree and village of Hawr al-Nahr in the countryside of Aleppo, columns of smoke reveal the effects of the shelling by the army and the air force as they pursue defectors. In the east, between the village of Mas'ada and the town of Marqada in Hasaka province, six members of the regime's forces were killed in an attack launched by armed men, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. From their sites near Homs, Syrian forces renewed their shelling of the city's neighborhoods, especially al-Khalidiya, Bab Dreib, Safsafa and Deir Ba'alba, causing an undetermined number of injured people to appeal for help.

Reporter, Male #1
In Hama, the scene was similar. Security forces stormed the town of Kfar Zeta and carried out a campaign of arbitrary arrests. As for Idlib, its situation was different. There, activists spoke of warplanes hovering over the city, accompanied by gunfire with heavy weaponry and a campaign of raids and arrests. In the south, violent clashes broke out between Syrian regime forces and defectors in al-Mizerib and Tafas areas of Dara'a province. As for Duma in the countryside of Damascus, activists uploaded images online showing the deployment of army tanks. In the heart of the capital Damascus and in front of the parliament building, a young woman held a banner reading, "End the killing" as passersby applauded. All of them were arrested.

Presenter, Female #1
In parallel to military actions is Syria's diplomatic move titled "Moscow". There, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem met and conferred with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. After the meeting, Muallem said the tanks have started to withdraw from the cities. Lavrov called on Muallem to accelerate the implementation of the Annan plan, with the latter saying a sustainable ceasefire should coincide with the arrival of the international observers' delegation. Al-Muallem accused Turkey of harboring armed groups and allowing them to breach the border.

Guest, Male #2 (Walid al-Muallem, Syrian Foreign Minister)
I have explained to Minister Lavrov the measures the Syrian government has taken to show its goodwill toward the six-point Annan plan. We have already withdrawn some military units from some provinces, in accordance with Provision C of the Annan plan.

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Bahraini forces attack supporters of dying hunger striker [Press TV, Iran]

Bahraini regime forces have attacked protestors demanding the release of prominent human rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja. Security forces backed by troops from Saudi Arabia fired tear gas and sound grenades at crowds gathering in several towns and villages around the capital Manama. Al-Khawaja has been on hunger strike in prison for over two months.

Bahraini authorities say they have arrested four people in connection with an explosion in the village of Eker, south of the capital Manama. The main opposition bloc Al-Wefaq says regime forces arrested the wanted parties and brutally beat their relatives. The explosion occurred near a police checkpoint and wounded seven officers, three of them critically.

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Jailed Saudi activist Mohammad al-Bajadi continues hunger strike [Press TV, Iran]

In Saudi Arabia, the health of a detained activist has deteriorated. Mohammad al-Bajadi has been on hunger strike in jail for almost a month. The Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association says since Saturday, al-Bajadi stopped drinking water. Activists are calling for his immediate release. He has been charged for inciting people to protest and damaging the reputation of the state.

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Iran busts Israeli terrorist group [Press TV, Iran]

Iran has arrested members of an Israeli terrorist network who were planning to launch attacks against the country. They were arrested after months of intelligence operations in central and border provinces. Large amounts of explosives, weapons, and military equipment have also been seized.

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Iran halts Greece oil exports before last-ditch talks [IBA, Israel]

Saying that his country doesn't need to export crude oil to survive, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced a halt in sales to Greece, which is now the third country after France and the UK to be cut off in retaliation against the upcoming European Union embargo set to go into effect in July. This comes days before what many are calling "last-ditch talks" over Iran's disputed nuclear program.

Arms control expert Professor Emily Landau of the Institute for National Security Studies discusses the significance of enriching 20 percent uranium.

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Middle East Peace Quartet to meet in Washington [IBA, Israel]

Top representatives of the Middle East Quartet are scheduled to meet in Washington tomorrow, where they are set to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The announcement comes just one day after the accusation from Palestinian Authority that Israel is systematically destroying prospects for a two-state solution with its continuing campaign of settlement building.

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Pro-Palestinian activists, Israeli security forces prepare for 'flytilla' [IBA, Israel]

Final preparations by security officials are underway to prevent possible disturbances that may be sparked by the launching of another so-called "flytilla." Organizers claim that hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists, primarily from European nations, are planning to fly to Ben Gurion Airport next Sunday with the goal of reaching the West Bank in their third campaign in three years to draw attention to the alleged Israeli violation of Palestinian human rights.

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Deadly blast rocks former al-Shabab stronghold in Somalia [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Female #1
Eleven people were killed by a bombing in a crowded market in the city of Baidoa, west of the Somali capital Mogadishu. It is considered the worst attack of its kind since Somali forces backed by Ethiopia took control of the city two months ago.

Reporter, Male #1
One crisis after the next, the Somali people's suffering continues in the midst of an array of armed factions, as more than 10 people were killed after a bomb was detonated in a bustling market in the city of Baidoa. The bombing, considered the worst of its kind among a series of previous blasts, was carried out in a vegetable market in the heart of Baidoa. The city is now controlled by government forces, with the support of the Ethiopian army, after fighters of the Islamist al-Shabab movement were expelled from the city two months ago.

Reporter, Male #1
Eyewitnesses confirmed the bomb exploded after soldiers from the Somali government forces entered the market. However, most of those killed are women and children. Baidoa is located 250 kilometers northwest of the capital Mogadishu. The city used to host the headquarters of the Somali transitional parliament until the al-Shabab movement took control of it over three years ago. Last week, African Union forces were deployed to Baidoa in their first operation outside the capital Mogadishu since the 10,000-strong forces were formed five years ago. The African Union's delegation in Somalia sent 100 soldiers from Burundi and Uganda to support the Ethiopian and Somali forces in the city. 2,500 additional troops will be later sent to Somalia in various phases.

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Israel backs Suleiman as Egypt court annuls constitutional panel [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Male #1
The Egyptian judiciary decided to halt the parliamentary decision to form a constitutional committee to draft the first post-revolution constitution. The court announced its decision to stop the formation of the committee, accepting the appeal submitted by movements, liberal parties, and public figures who opposed the committee. The appeal considered the parliament's decision to have members of the People's Assembly and the Shura Council to account for half of the committee members to be a wrong administrative decision, and an abuse of power. The formation of the committee caused a political crisis after the Freedom and Justice Party and al-Nour Party dominated the committee. Political parties and public figures withdrew from the committee, saying it does not represent all components of the Egyptian people.

Presenter, Male #1
And while the wave of reactions continues, condemning and rejecting the candidacy of the ousted Egyptian president's vice president and former head of intelligence, Omar Suleiman, for the presidential elections, scheduled for late next month, the Israeli entity welcomed his candidacy. It considered Suleiman to be the best man to preserve Israeli interests.

Reporter, Female #1
Since the ousted Egyptian president's vice president and former intelligence chief, Omar Suleiman, officially announced his candidacy for the first presidential elections since the downfall of Hosni Mubarak, the reactions on the Egyptian street continue. Egyptians are condemning and rejecting his candidacy that some see as a reproduction of the former regime, a counterrevolution, and a manipulation of the Egyptian people. They also see him as an integral part of a system the people revolted against, and rejected its figureheads. These harsh criticisms were met with an Israeli welcoming of Suleiman's candidacy. Labor party member and the occupation's former defense minister, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, viewed Suleiman as good for Israel, adding that Tel Aviv prefers Suleiman because he believes the Egyptian relationship with Israel is strategic. The occupation army's radio indicated that Tel Aviv views Suleiman's candidacy as a positive step towards preserving its interests. In addition, a member of the ruling Likud Party viewed Suleiman's candidacy as a positive change, considering him a man who can keep a balanced relationship with Israel; a relationship in which Suleiman can guarantee Israel's interests the way ousted President Hosni Mubarak did.

Reporter, Female #1
The Israeli occupation army's leading committees and intelligence agencies stressed the importance of exerting all efforts to maintain Suleiman in the spotlight, seeing he is the most important figure that Israel could rely on. They stressed that through their experience with Suleiman, he demonstrated unrivaled care for Israeli security interests in a manner that even exceeds Israeli ambitions. And seeing he was Mubarak's right hand man, and the most loyal person to him, as reported by the Israeli Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, Suleiman will be more attentive than others in looking after Israel's interests and maintaining the security of its settlers, as much as Mubarak did. In addition, Eitan Haber, a leading figure on the Israeli political scene, wrote that Mubarak deserves to be thanked and gratitude be expressed to him, because he prevented the death of thousands of Israelis by putting weapons aside and choosing the peaceful path.

Reporter, Female #1
Meanwhile, the office of the head of the occupation's government, Benjamin Netanyahu, made intensive phone calls with US Congress members and Jewish organizations to pressure the Obama administration to restore Suleiman to the forefront of current events. Suleiman, who is referred to as the second Mubarak in American newspapers, worked as the head of Egyptian intelligence for 18 years. Throughout that time, torture and human rights violations increased for regime dissenters. And according to Western journalist Stephen Grey, Suleiman is viewed as an intelligence director who turned his country into a backyard for the American intelligence agency. Suleiman received suspects the CIA had failed to extract confessions from, and he would personally oversee their violent extraction.

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Tunisian centrist parties merge for more political clout [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Male #1
In Tunisia, opposition lawmakers of the Founding Assembly organized a march on Habib Bourguiba Avenue in protest to the Interior Ministry's ban on holding demonstrations on the street. The protestors also condemned what they described as an "excessive use of force" against a similar protest held yesterday, which resulted in a number of casualties among demonstrators and members of the security forces. Our Al Jazeera correspondent said that security forces did not confront the Founding Assembly-led march. After the march, the legislators are expected to meet with Tunisian Interior Minister Ali al-Arid. Meanwhile, the Progressive Democratic Party, the PDP, Afek Tounes, the Republican Party, as well as several independent groups and other parties have merged as one new party, called "the Republican Party." Founders of the new party said the objective is to create change in the political scene in Tunisia.

Reporter, Male #2
It's a new phase in the life of Tunisian parties, including some with a rich history of struggle such as the PDP, and others with less political experience, such as Afek Tounes. These parties, along with several independent groups, decided to join ranks under the same umbrella in a bid to achieve what they failed to accomplish separately in the recent elections. They named their new party "the Republican Party," and said it has clear objectives.

Guest, Male #3 (Yasin Ibrahim, Republican Party Executive Secretary)
Our objective is to form a political force with enough momentum to form future alliances with other political blocs that share similar views. And with this party, we will be able to take over the executive authority, and offer Tunisian voters more choices.

Reporter, Male #2
Balancing the political scene requires moderation in every aspect of life, as confirmed by the new party and its officials.

Guest, Female #1 (Maya al-Jarbibi, Republican Party Secretary-General)
What distinguishes this party is that Tunisians can relate to it, especially when it comes to the concepts of centrism and moderation, which are Tunisian traits. The party will use moderation in all of its dealings, including at the social level, such as balancing between the role of the state and the private sector.

Reporter, Male #2
The attempt to form an effective political force, launched by the PDP and its allies, was crowned in the birth of this new party. However, this birth wasn't without any complications. The birth of the new party provoked the rage of several members of the PDP, who walked out of the conference in protest to the merger. Among them were members of the Founding Assembly.

Guest, Male #4 (Ahmed Abu Izzi, Member of Executive Committee of Former PDP)
Unfortunately, a number of undemocratic practices took place in the PDP. Several members, known for their struggle, honesty, and courageous positions, especially with regard to their stance on the identity issues, have been expelled.

Reporter, Male #2
Abu Izzi's words were repeated by supporters of the party, who believe the party made wrong decisions, which may have helped distort the party's image and its history of struggle. And this is why the party achieved disappointing results in the elections, which may have led to its disappearance today.

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Palestinians mark 64th anniversary of Deir Yassin Massacre [Palestine TV, Ramallah]

Presenter, Male #1
April 9th marked the 64th anniversary of the Deir Yassin Massacre committed by Zionist gangs in 1948. Two hundred fifty citizens, most of them women and children, were the victims of the massacre.

Reporter, Male #2
It is April 9, 1948; we are in the village of Deir Yassin near occupied Jerusalem. It was the moment of pain and bloodshed that marked the beginning of a death implanted by the occupation. Those sleeping safely in this humble village were awoken by the Irgun and Stern gangs, who showered them with gunfire, killing their souls and ravaging the land. In a terrifying scene, around 300 people, most of them women and children, were martyred in Deir Yassin by the hateful gangs. Here, Deir Yassin stands strong, rebelling against oblivion. It is immersed in our memory, a memory that cannot be erased by the darkness of the night or the passage of time; a time during which the Palestinian people live with the relentless massacres against them by the grandchildren of those who committed the Deir Yassin Massacre.

Reporter, Male #2
Scenes of pain tell the story of this site and the land is a witness to the chapters of aggression. How similar is today to yesterday, when Palestinian land cries in pain at the weight of the boots of the occupation. There's a story of a massacre and a tale of combat in every corner of this land. Through these aggressions, the occupation aims to displace our people from our beloved land and from our Qiblah, or direction to Mecca, that no other place in the universe can replace, since it is rooted in our hearts.

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Exiled prisoner Hana al-Shalabi: 'We defeated the occupation with our will' [Palestine TV, Ramallah]

Presenter, Male #1
Prisoner Hana al-Shalabi, who was exiled to Gaza, thanked Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for his interest, follow up, and care for her case, and for exposing the occupation's practices. She also thanked the organizations that work for prisoners, specifically the Ministry of Prisoners' Affairs, the Palestinian Prisoners' Society, and local organizations, which supported her cause and exerted effort to report all the details of her case, and exposed the occupation.

Guest, Male #3 (Nafidh Azzam, Leader of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine)
Our prisoners, despite the prison cells they're in, despite the difficult conditions they're living under, they are the ones in charge now! They control what is happening, and they impose their will on Israel's positions and policies. This is, without a doubt, a significant change in the equation of the conflict.

Guest, Female #1 (Hana al-Shalabi, Exiled Prisoner)
I am proud today as I stand in front of you, after God blessed me with freedom from the chains of prison and its tortures. Today, I am standing in front of you, and express my pride in you, and my support for your just battle against administrative detention, with which the occupation attempts to break our will and place us behind bars to remove from the battlefields that allow us to defend ourselves and our land. The occupation wanted to conquer us with administrative detention, but we defeated it with our will and resistance. We are determined to confront it and turn the table on its face. We still stand by the side of our people in every corner of our homeland.