South Sudan's leader says Sudan air strikes amount to declaration of war [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Male #1
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit said during his meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing that Khartoum has declared war on his country. He made this statement during his visit to China. On the other hand, the Chinese president confirmed the crisis between Sudan and South Sudan cannot be solved through an armed struggle. He called on both sides to exercise calm and self-restraint. The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed its hope that Khartoum and Juba will return to negotiations over the oil dispute.

Reporter, Male #2
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir was welcomed the same way his Sudanese counterpart Omar Hassan al-Bashir was received months ago. But Salva Kiir's visit, through which he may be attempting to gain Beijing's support in his dispute with Khartoum, comes after an armed conflict broke out over the oil-rich region of Heglig. The dispute may be problematic for Beijing that is seeking, through its balancing act between the two sides, to protect its oil interests. Those interests were split between Sudan and South Sudan after the latter became independent.

Guest, Male #3 (Salva Kiir, South Sudanese President)
It comes at a very critical moment for the Republic of South Sudan because our neighbor in Khartoum has declared war on the Republic of South Sudan. I have undertaken this visit because of the great relationship that I value with China. China is one of our economic and strategic partners.

Reporter, Male #2
Khartoum and Juba are well aware of Beijing's interests in the region. The growing Chinese oil companies in South Sudan and China's close diplomatic relationship with Khartoum's government in the north places China in the distinctive position to exercise pressure and use its influence in the ongoing dispute between the two Sudans.

Guest, Male #4 (Liu Weimin, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman)
China has repeatedly expressed its concern over the escalating conflict in Sudan. We believe that oil is the common economic lifeline of Sudan and South Sudan. Cooperation between them in this field guarantees the interests of both countries. It will also benefit Chinese companies and their partners. We also hope South Sudan and its northern neighbor will resume negotiations over the oil issue, and reach a solution that satisfies both sides and their partners.

Reporter, Male #2
Beijing is the largest oil importer from both Sudan and South Sudan. For this reason, it has a large stake in ending the armed conflict between Khartoum and Juba. According to official sources, Salva Kiir's visit to China coincides with the air strikes launched by Khartoum's warplanes on oil sites in South Sudan. Khartoum also vowed to continue the military campaign until Juba stops funding movements in northern Sudan. A peace treaty was signed between Sudan and South Sudan in January 2005 that ended the over two decade-long civil war and paved the way for the birth of the state of South Sudan. However, border demarcations and oil transits remain unresolved issues that may bring the conflict back to square one. Abdul Qadir Balhajj, BBC.

--

Amnesty International highlights rising discrimination against Muslims in Europe [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Female #1
Amnesty International condemned the discrimination against Muslims in European countries, and the prejudice used against them for political gains. In its report, the organization called on European governments to exert more efforts to counter negative Muslim stereotypes that fuel discrimination.

Reporter, Male #1
This is not the first time an international organization denounces discrimination against Muslims in Europe, which includes Britain and France, that consider themselves the cradle of freedom and democracy. In its recent report titled "Choice and Prejudice: Discrimination against Muslims in Europe", Amnesty International examined the situation of Muslims in Spain, Belgium, France, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. The report called on European governments to exert more efforts to confront negative stereotypes against Muslims, which fuels discrimination, especially in employment and education.

Reporter, Male #1
Amnesty International criticized political parties in European countries for encouraging employment prejudice against Muslims in their quest for votes, instead of addressing the problem. The report points to the suffering endured by Muslim women who are denied employment, and barred from going to school because of their adherence to wearing the hijab and traditional forms of dress, such as the veil. Men are also dismissed from their workplaces simply for growing a beard. The organization stressed that wearing religious or cultural clothing and carrying religious symbols is part of the right to freedom of expression. It also criticized the ban on clothes worn by Muslims, such as the hijab, and described the ban as the wrong approach.

Reporter, Male #1
The report criticized France, which barred Muslim women from wearing the hijab in public spaces a year ago, noting the ban harms the opportunity to educate girls and violates their right to free expression. The organization denounced the restraints on the Muslims' freedom to pray and worship, especially in Switzerland, which adopted a ban on the construction of minarets on the Muslims' mosques. It added that Spain, and specifically its eastern region of Catalonia, does not have suitable places of worship, pushing Muslims to pray on the streets. Amnesty International noted that Muslims face a very high unemployment rate in Europe, especially women of foreign origin, because laws against discrimination are not enforced. In the same context, the human rights organization indicated the governments of France, Belgium, and the Netherlands allow employers to discriminate against Muslims on the basis that religious or cultural symbols could upset their clients or colleagues. And this is a blatant violation of European legislation.

--

Violence in Syria undeterred by UN observers [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Male #1
In between the voices of demonstrators and the daily tours of UN observers in Syria, Damascus woke up this morning to the sound of an explosion that rocked al-Marjeh district, inflicting casualties. Despite the presence of UN observers in the cities, Syrian forces continue their mobilization on various fronts. More than 60 people were killed in yesterday's violence. Most of the victims were killed in Hama. Today, the UN observers resumed their mission by touring a number of areas in the countryside of Damascus amid scenes of destruction and the chants of demonstrators calling for the downfall of the regime. Meanwhile, the UN will begin the deployment of 300 ceasefire observers to Syria next week. Ahmed Qassem has the details.

Reporter, Male #2
Another day for the UN mission started in Syria. UN observers got in their cars and headed to the designated monitoring sites as displayed on their map. Today, they are scheduled to visit several areas, including cities in the countryside of Damascus. They are documenting what they observe on the ground, but without revealing many details. Meanwhile, activists are accusing the Syrian forces of "toying" with the UN observers by targeting the inspected areas after the observers leave.

Reporter, Male #2
This is exactly what happened in Hama two days ago. The regime's forces launched a fierce attack on Hama immediately after the UN delegation left the city following a tour of its neighborhoods. Fifty people were killed in the neighborhood of Arbaeen, and their names were added to the list of the Syrian Revolution's victims. The situation was not much different in Homs, where two UN observers are residing, amid fears of violence spreading to most of the city's neighborhoods and other towns in Homs' countryside. Security forces stormed the cities of Homs, Daraa, Idlib, Deir az-Zour, and the countryside of Damascus as demonstrators took to the squares and streets chanting anti-regime slogans.

Reporter, Male #2
In Binish, the residents continued to hold nighttime demonstrations after the army withdrew its tanks and its soldiers to nearby forests. Students at the University of Aleppo continued their mobilization during the day, under the iron fist of armed regime forces that are easily provoked by the voices of protestors.

Presenter, Male #1
Today, the UN Security Council is expected to discuss the UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan's third report on the Syrian crisis. Meanwhile, the Syrian issue dominated a UN Security Council special debate on the Middle East. Several countries called for holding the Syrian regime accountable for not complying with the ceasefire agreement, and for conducting informal withdrawals from the cities. According to sources close to Annan, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem sent a letter to the UN-Arab envoy confirming that the army withdrew from the cities and population centers. Al-Moualem added that maintaining law and order will be assigned to police and peacekeeping forces. The UN further said it's carefully reviewing and verifying all information with the observers and other sources.

--

Israel legalizes three settlement outposts in West Bank [Press TV, Iran]

Palestinians and Jordan have denounced Israel's legalization of three settler outposts. They say it's a dismissive response to a letter from acting Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas calling for a settlement freeze. Israel granted legal status to three settler outposts in the West Bank, joining the 120 official settlements across the West Bank. Meanwhile, the UN Security Council meeting on Monday centered around the continued occupation of Palestine, with the hope that the recent exchange of letters between Israeli and Palestinian leaders could help spur a return to talks.

--

Amnesty: Bahrain court delays are 'toying with hunger striker's life' [Press TV, Iran]

Amnesty International has criticized Bahraini authorities for what it calls "toying" with the life of hunger striking activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, who remains in captivity. Rights groups said that the officials are using delaying tactics against him. The regime has postponed Khawaja and 20 other jailed activists' appeals for overturning their jail sentences.

--

Egyptian protestors condemn Riyadh for activist's arrest [Press TV, Iran]

Egyptian demonstrators have staged a protest rally outside Saudi Arabia's embassy in Cairo to condemn the recent arrest of prominent Egyptian rights lawyer and activist Ahmed al-Gizawi, who was traveling to Saudi Arabia on a Hajj pilgrimage.

--

Yemeni Air Force head, Saleh's half-brother, finally steps down [Press TV, Iran]

Yemen's sacked air force commander has finally handed over his post after weeks of refusing to quit. President Abd Rabbu Mansur Hadi sacked General Mohammed Saleh al-Ahmar, Ali Abdullah Saleh's half-brother, on the sixth of April, part of a measure to restructure the country's armed and security forces after Saleh's ouster. His refusal to quit sparked nationwide protests.

--

Egypt bans Mubarak-era candidates [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Male #1
In Egypt, the al-Jarida al-Rasmiya newspaper published the disenfranchisement law, which means it will be implemented today.

Presenter, Female #1
With that, it is expected for presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq to be prevented from continuing his campaign, since he was the last prime minister in the era of deposed President Hosni Mubarak.

Presenter, Male #1
The head of Egypt's military council, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, had previously ratified the political rights law known in the media as the political isolation law.

Presenter, Female #1
This amendment prevents the Mubarak regime's figureheads from exercising their political rights, and that includes running for the presidential elections for 10 years, starting on the day the regime collapsed on February 11, 2011.

Reporter, Male #2
After two days of massive demonstrations across Egypt's different squares, notably Tahrir Square in the center of Cairo, to demand the removal of the former regime's figureheads from the political scene, and hours after the Supreme Constitutional Court refused to look into the disenfranchisement law, claiming it is not within its jurisdiction, the ruling military council approved the amendment to the law, which was referred by parliament. The amendment disqualifies anyone who served as Egypt's president, vice president, and prime minister in the past ten years from voting and running in the elections, and holding official posts for the next 10 years. Also barred are leaders of the dissolved National Democratic Party, its secretary-general, and members of its political office and their secretary-generals.

Guest, Male #2 (Gaber Nassar, Member of Parliament)
After revolutions and many changes, the disenfranchisement law is always necessary to protect the idea of transformation from one regime to another. So the disenfranchisement law comes within that framework

Reporter, Male #2
Parliamentarians had suggested the amendment before the Supreme Presidential Electoral Commission announced the exclusion of Omar Suleiman, the deposed president's former vice president, from running for the presidential elections. The new law raised widespread controversy. It is rejected by lawyers and law experts, who consider it to be discriminatory and unconstitutional. It was also harshly criticized by supporters of the former regime.

Guest, Male #4 (Samir el-Shishtawy, Lawyer in Movement for Mubarak's Sons)
The disenfranchisement law is incompatible with and contradicts the constitution, human rights, and the rights of citizens, because it is not allowed to deprive a person from exercising their political rights unless they were convicted of a crime by a court. As for revenge and settling feuds, this is unconstitutional.

Reporter, Male #2
By ratifying the disenfranchisement law for the former regime's figureheads, the military council answered one of the most important demands of the January 25th revolution, even if skepticism around the constitutionality of this law still lingers. Abdel Basir Hasan, Al Jazeera, Cairo.

--

Egypt cuts natural gas supply to Israel after lapsed payments [IBA, Israel]

Egypt has decided to terminate its supply of natural gas to Israel. Political leaders have attempted to downplay the unilateral move, saying the matter is a trade dispute, and that it would be a mistake to turn it into a diplomatic one. Two Egyptian energy companies decided to abruptly end their gas export deal to Israel because the firm that buys gas from Egypt and sells it to Israel, EMG, had failed to pay the past several months, a claim the prime ministry denied.

--

Fatah al-Islam leader killed in Syria [New TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Female #1
From al-Qusayr in Syria, Abdul Ghani Jawhar resurfaced on the scene as conflicting reports on his fate emerged. Two days ago, New TV reported the killing of Jawhar, and we continue to monitor the story today from its starting point in the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp. My colleague Ghadi Francis reports.

Reporter, Female #2
The man in this picture is a dangerous expert. Lebanese intelligence spent four years looking for him. Abdul Ghani Jawhar, a native of the town of Tebnine in Akkar district, is the mastermind of the terrorist attacks in al-Tal and Bahsas in Tripoli that targeted the Lebanese Army's convoys in 2008. In Syria, he allegedly bombed the Damascus suburb of al-Qazzaz in the same year, according to confessions aired on Syrian TV at the time.

Guest, Male #1
He is also known as Abu Hajir, a Lebanese citizen from northern Lebanon. I think he's from Akkar, or Tripoli; he is responsible for the bombing in Syria. He is an expert in explosives and affiliated to Fatah al-Islam.

Reporter, Female #2
The name of the man behind the explosion also appeared in the case of parliamentarian Walid Eido's assassination and a number of other bombings. Today, after having disappeared from the news, he was reportedly killed in clashes in the Syrian town of al-Qusayr, where confrontations between the Syrian army and the Free Syrian Army are ongoing. Another version of this story says he was killed while preparing explosive devices. Syrian government institutions informed their Lebanese counterparts of his killing. It has been confirmed that he had infiltrated Syria from his last refuge in the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp.

Guest, Male #2 (Colonel Mahmoud Issa, Leader of the Palestinian Armed Struggle in Lebanon)
There was information that he escaped the Ain al-Hilweh camp around two months after the Nahr al-Bared incidents. Some say that based on his family's reaction and his neighborhood's reaction that he was indeed killed in Syria. We can't be sure until we see the body.

Reporter, Female #2
We went from the house of the former commander of the armed struggle to the house of Abu Tarek Saadi, the leader of Osbat al-Ansar, who refused to speak directly to the camera. He insisted that he has repeatedly reiterated to the security institutions that no one with this name exists in the camp, and that his organization, Osbat al-Ansar, is the only representative of the Islamist movement. He added that he is the son of al-Qaeda. But at the same time, he did not deny the presence of wanted al-Qaeda member Tawfiq Taha. It is said that Jawhar, also known as Abu Hajar, used to accompany Taha to the Islamists' stronghold in the neighborhood of al-Tawarek.

Reporter, Female #2
New TV followed-up on this issue and discovered his former name. According to information we obtained, Jawhar's presence here does not mean he was active, since his previous role was to train his supporters to make explosives and bombs, in addition to carrying out operations. After a day of searching in the alleys said to be his strongholds, it seems that Jawhar was hiding in Ain al-Hilweh without any public and clear activities or initiations. However, security sources won't confirm he's been killed until they see his body. From Ain al-Hilweh, Ghadi Francis, New TV.