South Sudan accuses Khartoum of cross-border shelling [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Male #1
Khartoum denied South Sudan's accusation of launching new attacks on its territories. In an interview with Al Jazeera, a spokesman for the Sudanese Foreign Ministry confirmed that South Sudan is attempting to distort Sudan's image in the international community. He asked the African Union to form a fact-finding committee to investigate the issue.

Guest, Male #2 (Al-Abid Ahmed Morawah, Sudanese Government Spokesman)
These accusations are false, and even the evidence they used show scenes of old military operations. We believe South Sudan is now trying to smear our reputation in the international community, but has no basis for its allegations. But, so it can't be said that one party is making accusations and the other is denying them, we demanded the formation of a fact-finding committee to examine the statements of both sides, and decide who is telling the truth.

Presenter, Male #1
On the other hand, the government of South Sudan renewed its accusations that Khartoum launched strikes it described as violent on its territories. In an interview with Al Jazeera, a spokesman for the government of South Sudan, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, stressed the importance of having international observers in the border regions between the two countries. He also emphasized that his country will defend itself against any attacks from the Sudanese army on its territories.

Guest, Male #3 (Barnaba Marial Benjamin, Sudanese Government Spokesman)
We request the presence of UN forces in this area to witness the continuous air strikes that are launched by the Sudanese army with military airplanes, south of border 156 in the territories of the republic of South Sudan. We have always said that the United Nations must deploy international forces to this region, so we can start to understand who is not abiding by the law. It could be by either the African Union or the UN Security Council.

Reporter, Male #4
It does not seem hostilities between the Sudanese army and South Sudan's Sudanese Liberation Army will end any time soon. The smell of war permeates Sudan's vast regions; a war that has been ongoing for two decades. The war of Heglig, which was violently ended by Khartoum and suspended by the Security Council that threatened to impose sanctions, appears to be continuing in other forms, according to the South Sudanese army. Today, the latter accused the Sudanese Air Force of shelling residential areas in the Upper Nile, Unity, and Bahr al-Ghazal states on Monday and Tuesday.

Guest, Male #5 (Kella Dual, South Sudanese Army Spokesman)
These were indiscriminate strikes on residential areas and unarmed innocent people; they have no weapons.

Reporter, Male #4
For its part, Khartoum denied it shelled these areas and said the accusations are void.

Guest, Male #6 (Khalid al-Sawarmi, Sudanese Army Spokesman)
We have no targets in South Sudan, and we did not shell any targets inside South Sudan. We have never violated the UN Security Council's resolution to end the hostilities between South Sudan and Sudan.

Reporter, Male #4
However, these images out of South Sudan show militias, formerly with the Sudanese army, announcing their loyalty to South Sudan's Liberation Army. This could dampen many expectations in a region that does not seem to be ending the war but working on further fueling it. Two hundred fifty defectors in the area of Adaril in the north of the Upper Nile state surrendered their weapons and a number of vehicles. They say they defected after Khartoum assigned them to attack targets in South Sudan, including the Adaril oil field.

Guest, Male #5
In truth, the militias are controlled by the government of Khartoum. But some militias are being asked to bomb their families in the south so that Khartoum can win the war.

Reporter, Male #4
As for the other side of Sudan, in Darfur, the drums of war barely subside before they are renewed. The battles between the two Sudanese liberation movements, the Minni Minnawi faction and the Abdul Wahid al-Nur faction on one side, and the Sudanese army on the other, were at their peak. According to the Sudanese Liberation Movement, the battles ended with its control of the city of Gereida, south of Nyala, the capital of the state of South Darfur.

--

Moroccan king, PM granted ability to appoint more officials as king talks reform [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Female #1
Moroccan King Mohammed VI announced the start of a political dialogue aimed at reforming the judiciary, under the auspices of a high advisory commission to ensure that a national charter is drafted within two months. Meanwhile, the Moroccan parliament approved a draft resolution allowing the appointment of senior positions by the king and the prime minister. The new law grants the prime minister the right to appoint individuals to 1,000 positions, in contrast to 17 positions under the previous law. In addition, the king retains the power to appoint employees at nearly 40 strategic institutions.

--

Yemenis renew demand for restructuring army before dialogue [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Female #1
In an unrelated development, the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, and other cities witnessed rallies and demonstrations, demanding the immediate restructuring of the army, as well as the ouster and trial of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh's aides.

Reporter, Male #1
The revolution has not ended, and the voices of these people have not leveled off, keeping hope alive in Yemen. The streets of the capital Sanaa were packed today with a mass of Yemeni demonstrators demanding the completion of their revolution. They held a demonstration calling for the liberation of the army and security institutions from Saleh and his aides.

Guest, Male #2 (Abed al-Rahman Muawadah, Yemeni Revolutionary Activist)
We demand the liberation of the army and the seizure of Ali Saleh's assets, his sons, relatives, in-laws, as well as the pillars of his rule, and impose a travel ban on them.

Reporter, Male #1
The demonstrators chanted slogans calling for the immediate restructuring of the army and the trial of those implicated in the murder of peaceful demonstrators, as well as the release of all detainees held in the regime's jails in connection with the popular protests.

Guest, Male #3
The first demand of the revolution is to take a serious step towards restructuring the army, rejecting the national dialogue, and freeing all the kidnapped youth held because of their connection to the popular revolution.

Reporter, Male #1
The revolutionary youth's refusal to take part in the dialogue was one of the themes of this demonstration. The protestors affirmed their rejection to any dialogue in light of the current family rule. The demand to liberate the army from Saleh's iron fist and that of his aides was the most notable slogan of this demonstration. It was also the main demand of the revolutionary youth, who attributed the recent al-Qaeda incidents to the military influence of Saleh and his associates.

Reporter, Male #1
In the latest incident, 33 Yemeni soldiers were killed and 28 others were captured amid the security escalation witnessed in the southern Abyan Province and other regions. Seesaw battles continued to rage between armed al-Qaeda fighters and government forces. It seems the latest warning issued by President Hadi, along with all mobilization efforts exerted by the authorities and their security agencies, have failed to halt the violence waged by this armed group, whose motive remains suspicious. Ali al-Dhab, Al-Alam, Sanaa.

--

Saudis hold anti-regime demonstration in Eastern Province [Press TV, Iran]

It's been another day of protests in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province against longtime ruler al-Saud. It took place in Qatif following the beating of two women by regime forces. The demonstrators condemned the regime's brutality as well as the violation of privacy in their homes. They also called for an end to Riyadh's military intervention in neighboring Bahrain.

--

US officials confirm al-Qaeda underwear bomber was CIA informant [Press TV, Iran]

The alleged bomber dispatched by the Yemen branch of al-Qaeda last month to blow up a US airliner has turned out to be a double agent. Reports says Ibrahim Hassan al-Asiri left Yemen last month and delivered both the innovative bomb and the group's inside information to Saudi officials. The man is said to be in a safe place in Saudi Arabia.

--

More Muslims facing discrimination at US, EU airports [Press TV, Iran]

More and more Muslims are reporting harassment or bad treatment at airports across Europe and in the US. But in a day and age where security must be paramount, are Muslims facing discriminatory practices? The Islamic Human Rights Commission says that more people are reporting harassment at airports, but the number may not reflect how widespread the problem is because many Muslims just don't come forward.

--

Syrian truck blast hits close to UN observer convoy [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Female #1
Reporting on the latest developments on the ground in Syria, the opposition's Syrian Revolution's General Commission said 11 civilians were killed today in many Syrian cities, most of them in Homs. This comes as at least six Syrian soldiers were wounded in a bombing that targeted their vehicle, which was about to escort a convoy of international observers in the countryside of Daraa.

Reporter, Male #1
The blast that targeted a Syrian army vehicle that was about to provide security to a convoy of international observers in the countryside of Daraa injured a number of soldiers. The observers' convoy survived, and the head of their delegation, Major-General Robert Mood, was keen to speak to journalists after the incident, according to reporters on the site of the bombing.

Guest, Male #2 (Sharif Shahada, Writer and Political Analyst)
First of all, this authenticates what we have heard: that these armed groups exist. We no longer disagree with anyone on this point. Second of all, these armed terrorist groups do not want the United Nations, or the observers' team, to succeed in their mission.

Reporter, Male #1
However, the Syrian National Council was quick to accuse the regime of being responsible for the attack, as it aims to remove the observers from the battlefield. Bombing reports, which now overwhelm the situation in Syria, did not hide the security and military operations launched by government forces in many regions. Opposition activists uploaded these images of al-Qaboun area in the countryside of Damascus. They spoke of a campaign of house raids witnessed in the cities and villages of the province, and of an arrest campaign that targeted dozens, including a former parliament member and former mayor of Harasta.

Reporter, Male #1
Activists also reported raids and attacks launched by government forces in the provinces of Daraa, Deir az-Zour, the countrysides of Hama and Aleppo, and Idlib. Clashes erupted between the Syrian army and groups of defected soldiers, along with anti-regime armed groups, especially in Homs Province.

Reporter, Male #1
As for the popular mobilization, it continues. Every day, demonstrations calling for the downfall of the regime and its president sweep Syria. Meanwhile, activists speak of the moment of truth, warning it is approaching, and while they haven't specified a time frame, they are getting ready for it. This is clear in these statements written on balloons released by activists into the sky of al-Mezzeh neighborhood in the capital, only hundreds of meters away from the headquarters of the Syrian president in al-Muhajireen District. Wael Hajjar, BBC.

--

Israeli PM Netanyahu avoids early elections by forming unity government [IBA, Israel]

In a surprise move, Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu and Kadima chairman Shaul Mofaz struck a deal in the middle of the night to form a new coalition, canceling the much talked about early elections and drawing thunderous criticism across the Knesset. This unprecedented new deal, worked out in secret meetings over the past few days between Netanyahu and Shaul Mofaz, means that Netanyahu now stands at the helm of the broadest coalition in Israel's history, with 94 MKs. The coalition is expected to last until the regularly scheduled election on October 22, 2013.

Under the deal, Mofaz will be named deputy prime minister, and Kadima will be given the chairmanship of the Knesset economics committee. The deal between the two parties stipulates that the Tal Law, which exempts Ultra-Orthodox men from mandatory military service, will be submitted by July, and that a deal would be reached by December to alter the system of government. Opposition leaders slammed the deal, calling it "rife with corruption," "cowardly," and "the most ridiculous zigzag in Israel's political history."

--

Mubarak PM disqualified from Egypt's presidential race for the second time [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Male #1
He has the right to run for president. He doesn't have the right to run for president. He is Ahmed Shafiq, the last prime minister during the reign of the former Egyptian president. Last night, the administrative court decided to repeal the Supreme Presidential Electoral Commission's decision to reinstate him into the presidential race. This is the second time Shafiq has been disqualified from the race after the disenfranchisement law prevented him from running for the position. However, he appealed to the electoral commission that later accepted his candidacy. The developments of a case facing successive complexities in this report by our correspondent Tawfiq Ahmad from Cairo.

Reporter, Male #2
In an unexpected judicial move, the administrative court overturned the Supreme Presidential Electoral Commission's decision to refer the disenfranchisement law to Egypt's Constitutional Court. The commission's decision allowed presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq to return to the race. Judicial sources believe the significance of this decision lies in destabilizing Shafiq's legal position, since his return was based on the commission's referral.

Guest, Male #3 (Hassen Haridi, Political Analyst)
The ball is now in the Supreme Presidential Electoral Commission's court. There is no doubt the country is entering a very critical phase because of the presidential elections. It seems to me that some are probably trying to postpone the presidential elections.

Reporter, Male #2
For the past three months, the elections have caused debates between the revolutionary forces in the parliament, which approved the disenfranchisement law that barred former Vice President Omar Suleiman from running in the elections. Some say invisible forces are working on suppressing and killing the revolution by using state institutions as a cover to legally implement their agendas.

Guest, Male #3
Everyone agrees the struggle is over Egypt's political future and Egypt's political identity. Will the forces that believe in laying the foundations of a civil and democratic state win? Or will it be the other forces that believe Egypt's identity must be extinguished or changed? The Egypt we are all familiar with, starting with the days of Muhammad Ali, up until today.

Reporter, Male #2
The Constituent Assembly tasked with writing the new constitution, whose formation has been hampered for many reasons, represented the presence of invisible hands trying to postpone the adoption of a new constitution in the country. This, despite the fact that most political forces almost reached an agreement on this issue. The presidential elections and the formation of the Constituent Assembly are two vital issues the revolutionary forces and the counter-revolution are struggling over. As soon as the scene stabilizes for either issue, it gets complicated again. This has led many to believe their success signifies the revolution's success, and their failure would imply the return of the former regime.

--

Legal expert: Interpol member countries obligated to hand over al-Hashemi [Al-Iraqiya TV, Iraq]

Presenter, Male #1
Interpol issued an international arrest notice demanding the handover of Tariq al-Hashemi, who fled Iraq and is accused of supporting and financing terrorist operations.

Presenter, Female #1
In a statement issued by Interpol, Secretary-General Ronald Noble said the Red Notice that Interpol issued for al-Hashemi will significantly restrict his ability to travel and cross international borders. He stated that al-Hashemi's case also clearly demonstrates the commitment of the Iraqi authorities to work with the world police community through Interpol to apprehend individuals facing serious charges. The international police organization, based in the French city of Lyon, requested the assistance of its 190 member countries to locate and arrest al-Hashemi. Joining us to follow-up on this issue is legal expert Haidar as-Soufi. Mr. Haidar, so Interpol has issued an arrest warrant for al-Hashemi. Is there a time frame for enforcing the arrest order against al-Hashemi?

Guest, Male #2 (Haidar as-Soufi, Legal Expert)
In the name of God, the most merciful and most compassionate. The international police organization, Interpol, is responsible for and adheres to its basic legal provisions, which are considered its constitution. So it informs its 190 member countries of the warrant, and seeks their help in arresting the accused, for whom the warrant was issued. The 190 member countries of the international police organization are obligated to provide complete information on the movements and location of the accused fugitive within 24 hours, and follow up to the general secretariat of Interpol and to the Iraqi police.

Guest, Male #2
As for a time frame, there isn't one. As you know, the arrest order does not have a scheduled time, nor can anyone decide a time limit for the arrest. It depends on the capabilities of the international police in the countries in which the accused is residing, the accuracy of their information, and their ability to precisely locate and arrest him. The time frame is open, but the international police are committed to the statute to arrest the accused fugitive as soon as possible.

Presenter, Female #1
Mr. Haidar, I want to learn about the legal responsibilities of the countries that al-Hashemi is visiting.

Guest, Male #2
Of course, the 190 member countries, including Turkey, have signed Interpol's agreement to fully adhere to its statute. They should comply with the statute of the international police organization, arrest him, and extradite him to the party that ordered his arrest. They are all under the supervision of the international police organization. Therefore they should arrest him in compliance with Interpol's statute.

Presenter, Female #1
Legal expert Haidar as-Soufi, thank you for joining us.