Interpol issues arrest notice for fugitive Iraqi VP [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Female #1
The International Criminal Police Organization, Interpol, issued today an international arrest warrant demanding the arrest and handover of Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, who is currently in Turkey.

Presenter, Male #1
This warrant is viewed as the latest chapter in the political conflict between al-Hashemi and the head of the Iraqi government, Nouri al-Maliki.

Reporter, Male #2
These are the most recent images of Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. They were taken prior to December 17, 2011, before the al-Hashemi case started to appear. The Iraqi government believes that al-Hashemi and his bodyguards were involved in what it refers to as terrorist crimes. To prove these accusations against al-Hashemi, the government aired confessions it said were from the vice president's bodyguards. And after a ripple of events, al-Hashemi decided to leave Baghdad for Iraq's Kurdistan Region, where he settled in the capital Erbil under the protection of the president of the region, Massoud Barzani. On April 1st, he visited Qatar, which rejected the Iraqi government's request to hand him over to Baghdad. Qatar considered the request an infringement on diplomatic protocols, especially since al-Hashemi is still a government official and enjoys diplomatic immunity. Afterward, al-Hashemi visited Saudi Arabia, and his itinerary included Turkey, where it is speculated he has been staying for a month. From Turkey, al-Hashemi announced a few hours ago in a press statement that he decided to postpone his return to Erbil, where he resides, as advised by certain political leaders.

Reporter, Male #2
Meanwhile, as al-Hashemi is still in Turkey, the Central Criminal Court of Iraq ended the first session of the vice president's trial in absentia; he is facing 300 charges. The trial is scheduled to resume on May 10th, even though al-Hashemi reiterated several days ago he lacks trust in his country's judiciary. He confirmed a campaign against him is being waged by the head of the government, Nouri al-Maliki, who aims to politically purge him and remove the Sunni representation from Iraq's state institutions. It appears the case is escalating on the international front, as Interpol issued a Red Notice to arrest al-Hashemi, and significantly restrict his ability to travel across international borders. This raises many questions on the course of the conflict and its ramifications on Iraq.

Presenter, Female #1
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the defense team of Iraq's vice president said Interpol's arrest warrant for Tariq al-Hashemi is not a judicial verdict based on definitive rulings.

Presenter, Male #1
Attorney Muyyiad al-Ezzi added that al-Hashemi still enjoys rights and privileges as the vice president of Iraq.

Guest, Male #3 (Attorney Muyyiad al-Ezzi, Member of al-Hashemi's Defense Team)
First of all, we know that any warrant issued by Interpol, is usually issued based on judicial verdicts that are perceived as final rulings. But we believe that these warrants only have political dimensions. Mr. Hashemi is still the vice president of the republic, and he fully retains the legal and political rights of his political position in the state of Iraq.

Presenter, Male #1
For his part, a leader in al-Iraqiya bloc, Dr. Thafer al-Ani, said measures taken in the case of Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi were politically motivated, adding that witnesses were obviously coerced.

Presenter, Female #1
Al-Ani added the case requires two solutions, one judicial and one political.

Guest, Male #4 (Thafer al-Ani, Iraqiya Bloc Leader)
Al-Iraqiya, as a political party, along with other partners, believes that al-Hashemi's case should be solved within two frameworks: the judicial and the political. Within the political framework, it can be resolved by having the three leaders meet and determine the course and means to resolve this case; and judicially, by preventing the politicization of the judiciary and resisting the pressure it faces by the government.

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UN organization estimates one third of Somalis suffer from mental illness [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Male #1
In Mogadishu, mental and psychological issues have increased due to the effects of war. According to the World Health Organization, one in three Somalis suffers from a mental or psychological problem; a frightening number, according to doctors. Our BBC correspondent in Somalia, Ali Halani, visited the Habib Public Mental Hospital, the only mental center in the Somali capital, and has the following report.

Reporter, Male #2
Habib Public Mental Hospital in Mogadishu receives dozens of patients weekly. It is currently housing nearly 250 patients, who are receiving treatment for psychological disorders caused by the effects of war in the country. Some of them are here because of their drug addictions. Throughout the civil war, no Somali home was spared from death, injury, or the loss of livelihood. This led hundreds of thousands of Somalis to be displaced or immigrate. Patients suffering from mental health issues are treated in the only hospital that deals with such problems in Mogadishu. The hospital is facing a severe health care shortage, as patients face the danger of losing access to the hospital, and find themselves in a hostile and unmerciful environment. The World Health Organization's latest figures indicate that one in every three Somalis have suffered from some kind of psychological disorder during their life. This number is the highest among poor countries ravaged by wars.

Guest, Male #3 (Abdul Rahman Awalla, Doctor Specialized in Mental Health)
Across many parts of the country, the Somali people endured a lot of painful experiences. Some of the patients lost many members of their families by the arbitrary shelling during the war.

Reporter, Male #2
Dr. Awalla said a number of the patients he's treated have thought about suicide after their problems weighed on them and they felt lost. However, their situation has improved despite the hospital's few resources, where only one doctor and six nurses work.

Guest, Male #3
We treated more than 11,000 mentally ill patients of all ages and genders. And their numbers are still increasing.

Reporter, Male #2
The families of the patients have to deal with the burden of caring for their mentally ill family members, so they assign one person or two to take care of their relative. Some patients were rendered homeless after their families were unable to take care of them.

Guest, Male #4 (Suleiman, Relative of a Patient of Mental Illness)
One of my relatives was diagnosed with a little-known mental illness some 15 years ago. She was pregnant, and her illness later got worse. Since then, all the members of the family have been taking turns looking after her. Sometimes they care for her at home, and others in the hospital because she is unable to take care of herself.

Reporter, Male #2
Severe depression, schizophrenia, and mania are some aspects of the silent mental illnesses that many Somalis are suffering from. But not enough attention is being given to treat these illnesses at a time when their main causes continue, through the constant strife in the country. Ali Halani, BBC, Mogadishu.

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NATO admits to killing Afghan family of six in Helmand Province [Press TV, Iran]

The US military in Afghanistan has admitted to killing a family of six in an air strike last Friday. It has confirmed the incident took place in the southern province of Helmand. Tens of civilians have been killed in US-led air strikes in several provinces in recent days, despite Kabul's repeated warnings to the forces to avoid killing civilians. Afghan President Hamid Karzai said the pact signed between the US and Afghanistan, allowing US troops to stay past 2014 and created to protect Afghans, will be invalid if US forces continue to kill Afghan civilians. The deal angered Afghan lawmakers, who argued that the pact had not been approved by parliament.

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Clinton urges Islamabad to step up crackdown on extremists [Press TV, Iran]

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called on Pakistan to do more to crack down on extremism. She says Islamabad needs to ensure its territory is not used as a launching pad for terror attacks. Clinton made the comments during a press conference in India. The Pakistani army has hit back, saying the US is trying to make Pakistan a scapegoat for its failure to end the war in Afghanistan.

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Erbil residents protest blasphemous article in local magazine [Press TV, Iran]

A violent protest erupted in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region over a blasphemous article published in a local magazine against Islam. The protest erupted in Erbil after the Chirpa magazine ran the article. Security forces used tear gas to disperse the angry protestors. The demonstrators called on the government to include a clause in the region's constitution to prevent such stories from appearing in media outlets. The author of the article was seen in a video on YouTube a few weeks ago burning a section of the Quran.

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Annan warns Syria at risk of civil war [New TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Female #1
UN-Arab League Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan announced he will visit Damascus. Meanwhile, the Syrian opposition continues to hold meetings in China, as violence continues to rage in the country.

Reporter, Male #1
In Geneva, UN-Arab League Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan announced he will head to Damascus in the coming days. Annan said there has been a decrease in military activities, but that the level of violence is still unacceptable.

Guest, Male #2 (Kofi Annan, UN-Arab League Envoy to Syria)
Everyone must understand that we need to guarantee that all aspects of the six-point plan are implemented in order to create an environment that will enable us to launch a political dialogue. It will be very difficult to make progress in the talks if the current situation continues. I told council members that the UN observer mission is possibly the only remaining chance to stabilize the country.

Guest, Male #2
I am not telling you any secrets when I tell you that there are profound concerns that the country could otherwise descend into full civil war, and its implications are quite frightening. And we cannot allow that to happen. I hope that both the government and all the components of the opposition understand this, and seize this fragile but real opportunity to bring the situation under control.

Reporter, Male #1
Meanwhile, the UN observer team continues to tour Syrian cities and regions. The team said it is planning to send a group of observers to the suburbs of the Syrian capital.

Guest, Male #3 (Neeraj Singh, Spokesman for the UN Observer Team in Syria)
It is essentially going to be a logistical movement. They will start here by going on short tours across areas in the countryside of Damascus, and then they will continue to Homs and other regions.

Reporter, Male #1
Meanwhile, opposition members continue their visit to China. The head of the opposition Syrian National Council, Burhan Ghalioun, met with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. Jiechi told the Syrian delegation that his country adopts a firm position on Syria, and it will support any resolution that serves the fundamental interests of the Syrian people and is accepted by all concerned parties. The Chinese foreign minister urged all Syrian sides to fully implement the ceasefire and cooperate with the UN observers to create an appropriate environment that will help end the violence and start a political dialogue.

Reporter, Male #1
On the ground, several cities, notably Homs, witnessed demonstrations called for by the opposition, as fighting continues to rage in some regions. Activists said security forces have killed at least ten people. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the number of people killed in Syria by the violence has reached 12,000, and the number of detainees has reached 25,000. The international committee of the Red Cross and the Arab League warned the conflict in Syria may turn into a civil war.

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Egypt's Copts divided over backing of presidential candidate [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Male #1
The Copts in Egypt have agreed on a consensus document to participate in the presidential elections. Coptic activists representing committees and organizations agreed on ten criteria to choose the president with a pure Coptic vision.

Reporter, Male #2
The Copts in Egypt are an integral part of the composition of this country. They strongly participate in choosing Egypt's next president. Many of them believe the future president will call for a civil state and protect them and their demands, which were neglected by the former regime for 30 years. In a consensus document by Coptic activists representing committees, organizations, and public figures, ten criteria were agreed upon to choose the next president with a pure Coptic vision.

Guest, Male #3 (Naguib Gebreil, President of EUHRO)
Egypt's next president must believe, be devoted to, and reaffirm the idea of a civil state. They must accept religious, political, and ideological plurality in Egypt. The next president must also believe in the principles of human rights, and uphold those principles over any local laws, and also believe that Copts have the right to exercise their rituals and have their churches, and they must believe in freedom of religion.

Reporter, Male #2
The church announced its rejection to intervening in all electoral affairs, and did not direct the Copts in any direction, leaving individuals to freely express their opinions. This comes in light of fears that a remnant of the former regime, or someone who does not believe in the citizenship rights of the Copts, could win the elections.

Guest, Male #4 (Mina Milad, Coptic Activist)
The Copts do not prefer the rule of the remnants or the Brotherhood, because it has been proven and it is evident that the brothers will refer to Islamic religious authority. They will have a religious ideology, and this is not what the Copts want.

Reporter, Male #2
It is apparent that fears of an Islamist president is not a unanimous one among Egypt's Copts. Some have sincerely announced their endorsement of Islamist Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh because they view him as an Egyptian president and statesman.

Guest, Male #5 (Dr. Sherif Dos, Head of the Copts General)
Abdel Moneim does not represent the Muslim Brotherhood, the Salafis, the Copts, or the military. He represents all the Egyptian people. It is not wrong for him to be a devout Muslim; I am a devout Christian, and I adhere to my religion, just like he does to his religion. There is no shame for Aboul Fotouh to say he believes in the principles of Islamic law as a main source for legislation.

Reporter, Male #2
Elections are always debatable, even among the same family. And after the church left the Copts to freely support their own candidates, their opinions varied, but the goal was the same. Egypt's next president must be for all Egyptians. From Cairo, Mohamed Amin, Al-Alam.

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Ehud Barak levels criminal accusations at former IDF chief of staff [IBA, Israel]

There was an attack and a counterattack today, as Defense Minister Ehud Barak leveled criminal allegations at former IDF Chief of Staff Major General Gabi Ashkenazi, on counts of forgery, receiving a bribe, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice, saying that Ashkenazi manipulated senior appointments in the IDF for reasons that were not based on professional considerations. Ashkenazi said the accusations were "ludicrous" and "bizarre."

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Palestinians in the diaspora express support for hunger strikers in Israeli prisons [Palestine TV, Ramallah]

Presenter, Male #1
Joining us in the studio to discuss the Palestinian people's situation in Lebanon is Mr. Ashraf Dabbour, the Palestinian ambassador to the Lebanese republic. Welcome, Mr. Ambassador. To start with, there is broad solidarity movement that supports the detainees everywhere. What does the scene look like in Lebanon in relation to the open-ended hunger strike prisoners and detainees in the occupation's prisons have been waging?

Guest, Male #2 (Ashraf Dabbour, Palestinian Ambassador to Lebanon)
In the name of God, the most merciful and most compassionate. First of all, we say to our detained brothers in the Israeli prisons, be patient. We tell them that our Palestinian people in Palestine, and our Palestinian people in Lebanon, and all the free people in the world stand in solidarity with them today, and are using all means to express that solidarity. They have adopted a slogan, and we, particularly in Lebanon, adopted the slogan that "We are with you today and every day, and we will never abandon any one of you." We have organized many events in the past several years, and today, on this occasion, these actions were activated with sit-ins, marches, festivals, and public forums. Events are being held in Lebanese universities under the guidance of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Presenter, Male #1
This, of course, with the aim of standing by the side of the prisoners to support them in their battle of empty stomachs.

Guest, Male #2
Absolutely, absolutely. Whatever we do, we cannot deny their rights for even a day. These patient heroes waging the battle of empty stomachs reaffirm the firm position of the Palestinian prisoners in the face of their jailors.

Presenter, Male #1
Yes, Mr. Ashraf, on the issue of the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, what are the conditions of our children, our families and our people in Lebanon? Would you talk about the situation of the refugees, and your efforts to improve and strengthen the Palestinian conditions in Lebanon, to improve their temporary presence there, of course.

Guest, Male #2
First of all, everyone knows the Palestinian refugees live under harsh conditions in the camps of the diaspora and the refugee camps in Lebanon. The situation is very difficult. Here, we'd like to thank Mr. President Mahmoud Abbas, who initiated a number of programs, beginning with increasing the monetary allowances to the martyrs' and prisoners' families, to President Mahmoud Abbas' foundation to help Palestinian students.

Guest, Male #2
In addition, there are economic empowerment funds,; family empowerment funds, and family sponsorship programs, where Palestinian families in Palestine sponsor Palestinian families in Lebanon on a monthly basis by directly transferring funds to them; a committee oversees these transactions. And most recently, the president issued instructions to activate, develop, and support Palestinian sports. He is also paying great attention to improving the living conditions of the Palestinian people and ease their suffering. In fact, due to the difficult conditions, whatever we have done, it is still inadequate for our people, and we need to do more.