Jordanian demonstrators demand resignation of the government [New TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Female #1
A demonstration was held in Jordan to demand comprehensive reforms and the formation of a national salvation government to implement constitutional and legal amendments that will lead to an elected government. Maen Abu Dalu reports from Jordan.

Reporter, Male #1
Despite the peaceful nature of the Jordanian mobilization for reform, the Muslim Brotherhood announced today that such a mobilization might take the opposite form. More than 3,000 demonstrators from the Islamist movement, along with others from various reform, youth, and popular blocs took to the streets to condemn the policies of the Dr. Fayez Tarawneh-led government.

Guest, Male #2 (Saud Nawaf al-Ajariyah, 36 Movement)
If prices increase, we will hold the regime and the king personally responsible. They are responsible for toying with the people's way of life.

Guest, Male #3 (Hamam bin Said, Muslim Brotherhood)
We reject the formation of governments, and the submission of this law to the council of ministers before the elections. We are calling for fundamental and comprehensive reforms.

Reporter, Male #1
The participants slammed the Tarawneh government as a ceremonial entity run by the intelligence agency. They called for the release of Jordanian prisoners held in the Zionist occupation's jails. They also chanted slogans praising the revolution in Syria.

Guest, Male #4 (Hamza Mansur, Islamic Action Front Leader)
The theme: You don't understand! The proof: the reforms have not been achieved, and the voice of the people is still echoing loud, demanding tangible reforms, including constitutional and judicial, as well as in the area of public policies.

Reporter, Male #1
The participants also called for the release of prisoners of opinion, most notably journalist Jamal al-Muhtaseb, who was detained after publishing an article alleging misconduct by the royal palace. They also criticized the government over its dismissal of corruption cases and for exonerating corrupt officials without even one dinar being reimbursed by the state treasury. Yesterday, the Tarawneh-led government announced its intention to stop subsidizing food products and raise electricity prices. Today, popular and Islamist mobilizations rejected such decisions, and demanded an elected government that is capable of resolving the citizens' problems as well as empower the national economy. Maen Abu Dalu, New TV, Amman.

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Algerian elections maintain status quo as Green Alliance claims widespread fraud [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Female #1
Algeria's interior minister, Dahu Ould Kablia, announced the results of the parliamentary elections, saying the ruling National Liberation Front won 220 of the 462 seats. The National Democratic Rally received 68 seats, and the Islamists received almost 60 seats, including 48 for the Green Algeria alliance, which came in third place.

Guest, Male #1 (Dahu Ould Kablia, Algerian Interior Minister)
The National Liberation Front obtained 220 seats, of which 68 were won by women. The National Democratic Rally received 68 seats; 23 were won by women. The Green Algeria alliance obtained 48 seats, including 15 by women. The Front of Socialist Forces received 21 seats, of which 7 were won by women. The Workers' Party received 20 seats, of which 10 were won by women.

Reporter, Female #1
Joining us from Algeria is Dr. Fateh Rebiai, the secretary general of en-Nahda movement and a leader with the Green Algeria alliance. What is your reaction to these results, Dr. Fateh?

Guest, Male #2 (Fateh Rebiai, En-Nahda movement Secretary General and Green Alliance Leader)
In the name of God, the most gracious and the most merciful. I think the results announced by the interior minister will be challenged politically, and also by the Algerian people since the Algerians were expecting changes, and an "Arab Spring" through the ballot boxes, but the results were disappointing. Algeria returned to the one-party rule era.

Reporter, Female #1
And particularly disappointing for you, since your coalition was expecting to win the first place.

Guest, Male #2
Yes, but it wasn't merely expectations. Until last night, the results were favorable to the Green Algeria alliance. Even the official results that were announced indicated we were leading, and we were in the first place in 17 districts. But then we found ourselves missing from 31 provinces or districts. This led us to confirm that breaches and violations that were limited to certain areas had spread. So this is why we're questioning the results.

Reporter, Female #1
So you consider the performance of your alliance to be must worse than anticipated because of breaches and violations. Why haven't we heard any complaints from your side during the voting, or even before the elections?

Guest, Male #2
Before the voting started, and before we engaged in the electoral process, we warned of this issue. And we also did during the elections, and we held press conferences to speak out about the issue during the voting. So today, we hold the administration that oversaw the elections fully responsible.

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US-led foreign soldiers killed in attacks on eastern and southern Afghanistan [Press TV, Iran]

A US soldier has been killed in Afghanistan after a man in an Afghan army uniform opened fire on US-led foreign forces in the eastern Kunar Province. Two other US soldiers were injured in the incident. The attacker reportedly managed to get away from the scene. US-led forces have also confirmed the death of another trooper in southern Afghanistan in an attack blamed on Taliban militants. Separately, a bomb went off at Jalalabad Airport in the east, with no reported casualties. The US military has called on the Afghan government to adopt stricter measures in recruiting for their police and military institutions.

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Egypt holds its first ever televised presidential debate [Press TV, Iran]

Egyptian expats in several countries, including Lebanon and Jordan, have started voting in Egypt's first post-revolution presidential elections. Expats have until May 17 to cast their ballots in Egyptian embassies and consulates. Egyptians themselves will go to the polls on May 23 and 24.

Meanwhile, two of the election's frontrunners have taken part in the country's first live presidential debate. Former leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh faced former foreign minister and ex-Arab League chief Amr Moussa, who singled out Israel as an enemy of Egypt. They also agreed that the principles of Sharia law should be the main source of legislation.

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Haniyeh: Iran doesn't need Hamas help to confront Israel [Press TV, Iran]

Hamas's prime minister says Iran needs no help from its government to confront Israel. Ismail Haniyeh says Iran is strong enough to deal with Tel Aviv in case of an Israeli attack. Haniyeh also said that Iran has never asked for anything from Hamas, but warned that Israeli threats of an attack on Iran would have grave consequences for the entire region.

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Mass protests break out in Syria after bombings [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Male #1
Tens of thousands participated in demonstrations across different parts of Syria on Friday to demand the downfall of President Bashar al-Assad's regime despite the heavy security deployment of regime forces, according to activists and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Meanwhile, condemnations and international reactions to Thursday's two explosions in Damascus continue. The blasts killed over 55 people and injured dozens.

Reporter, Male #2
The smoke of Thursday's explosions in Damascus dissipated to make the destruction visible. However, the truth behind the incident has still not been revealed. International criticism of the explosions continues to be generated from all parties. But, neither side is being blamed, nor exonerated. As for responsibility for the blasts, the counter-accusations continue between the Syrian regime and its opposition, but neither side of the conflict has compelling evidence, only suspicions and analysis.

Guest, Male #3 (Bassam Imadi, Oppostion Syrian National Council Member)
The reason why we believe it's the regime who is behind it is because no one else has anything to benefit from it. Not the opposition, nor al-Qaeda, which will lose many of its supporters if it has any. The regime benefits from portraying the peaceful protestors as armed combatants.

Reporter, Male #2
The Syrian scene was unchanged this Friday, the day on which regime opponents are accustomed to escalating their protests. Demonstrations and protests were held here and there under the banner, "Victory from God, and relief soon." The current security deployment did not prevent additional demonstrations from being held in many parts of Damascus and its surroundings, and other cities and towns. Opposition sources reported gunfire incidents, including one witnessed at al-Mallah Mosque in Hama and in Adwan, Sayr, al-Mahata in Daraa, and al-Qusur and al-Rastan in Homs, and Kfar Nebel in Idlib, and Hama.

Reporter, Male #2
A number of people were killed and injured in Homs when a bus was fired at by what regime sources described as armed groups. The growing number of international observers in Syria has seemingly not put an end to the escalating violence in the country, but the team's mission continues.

Guest, Male #4 (Neeraj Singh, UN Observer Mission Spokesman)
Our most essential task is ensuring that violence in all forms stops. The most painful sight is all this loss of life. We express our condolences and sympathy with the families of the victims. This is why we're focusing on putting an end to this.

Reporter, Male #2
Amid the escalating violence in Syria, diplomatic sources say the European Union will impose new sanctions on Syria next week that will include freezing the assets of two institutions and three individuals. Most are believed to be funding sources for President Bashar al-Assad's regime. This will be the fifth round of sanctions on the Syrian regime since the crackdown on protests began over a year ago. Anwar al-Ansi, BBC.

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Bashir threatens to spurn UNSC resolution against Sudan, continue fighting against South [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Male #1
Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir's tone escalated while announcing his country's rejection of the UN and African demand to stop the battles with South Sudan, under the penalty of imposing sanctions. And in an even sharper message to Juba, al-Bashir assured there will be no talks with the South regarding oil before resolving security issues, vowing to topple its government as border battles are still continuing. Our correspondent Sami al-Shinawi reports from al-Khartoum.

Guest, Male #2 (Omar al-Bashir, Sudanese President)
We have to do what we have to do. No security council, no peace council, not even the entire world can make us act differently.

Reporter, Male #3
Al-Bashir pledged his acceptance of good neighborly relations with Juba's government, but with a list of rigid conditions. This other side of the escalation between Juba and al-Khartoum might last as long as there is an opposition in both countries.

Guest Male #2
If we do not solve our security problems, and if we are not assured that we are 100 percent safe and that we will not be harmed at all by the South, there will be no talks over any issue, not oil, nor trade, nor citizenship rights, and not even Abyei, or anything else.

Reporter, Male #3
And in the light of the accusation exchanged between the two sides, al-Khartoum denied it attacked Juba, causing an embarrassment for the South at the UN Security Council.

Guest, Male #4
Yes, Juba is doing that as a justification for violating the terms of the Security Council's resolution. It always says that we shelled it; it wants to criminalize us in front of the international community, but the South is missing the evidence and the witnesses.

Reporter, Male #3 (Colonel al-Sawarmy Khaled Saad, Sudanese Army Spokesman)
But the Sudanese army does not deny its movements on the border, and continues to clear the border areas of the northern sector's People's Liberation Movement, which is supported by Juba, according to Khartoum. There seems to be more tension between Juba and al-Khartoum, especially after al-Bashir's escalating tone and his challenge to the international community and the African Union as well. Sami al-Shinawi, Dubai TV, al-Khartoum.

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Three Palestinian hunger strikers reject Israeli deportation deal [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Male #1
The case of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike is gaining momentum inside and outside the walls of prison. In a new development, three prisoners on a hunger strike for 50 days rejected an Israeli offer to deport them to a European country for three months under the pretext of seeking medical treatment in exchange for ending their strike. Palestinian sources said the Israeli Prison Service has taken measures to ease restrictions imposed on Palestinian prisoners in an attempt to end the mass hunger strike carried out by nearly 4,700 detainees so far.

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Fallout from Netanyahu-Mofaz deal continues in Israel's Knesset [IBA, Israel]

Fallout from the new unity government continues, as the details slowly emerging about the contents of the deal between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and newly minted Vice Premier Shaul Mofaz. Knesset members across the political spectrum are demanding more transparency. Kadima co-founder Haim Ramon has resigned from the party in protest of the new alliance, blasting Kadima chairman Shaul Mofaz for turning the centrist faction into a branch of Likud.

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US legislators approve heavy spending for Israeli defense [IBA, Israel]

The US House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed bipartisan legislation that approves nearly USD 1 billion for Israeli defense programs. The vote was 411 in favor, with only two opposed. The Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012 was introduced by Republican congressman Eric Cantor of Virginia and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee welcomed the legislation, which will explore ways to enhanced Israel's military edge, and stresses the need for strategic cooperation between Washington and Jerusalem in the areas of missile defense, intelligence, energy, and homeland and cyber security.

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Bahraini demonstrators renew demand for release of activist Nabeel Rajab [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Female #1
Dozens of Bahraini demonstrators were injured by pellet bullets and poisonous gas fired by regime forces attempting to disperse protest rallies calling for the release of rights activist Nabeel Rajab. Meanwhile, angry protests broke out across various Bahraini regions in solidarity with religious scholar Sheikh Issa Qassem, who received threats from the regime.

Reporter, Male #1
The popular revolutionary mobilization in Bahrain is continuing despite the terror and detention campaign it faces. The Bahraini people took to the streets in solidarity with detained revolutionary youth, activists, and leaders, most prominently Nabeel Rajab. Different regions in Bahrain witnessed angry demonstrations and rallies demanding the release of Rajab and detained opposition leaders.

Reporter, Male #1
The village of Bani Jamra witnessed a popular rally near the home of detained activist Rajab. The participants affirmed their demand for freedom and dignity, confirming that the illegitimate Bahraini regime is being thrown off balance by the popular mobilization witnessed in the country.

Guest, Male #2
The regime wanted to silence this dignified teacher, Nabeel Rajab. As we rally here in front of his home, Rajab affirmed that he will not retreat from his rightful position.

Reporter, Male #1
Bani Jamra, Sitra, al-Musala, Jadhafs, al-Manama, and Karzakan are witnessing angry popular mobilizations, demanding the regime to release activist Rajab. The demonstrators believe that Rajab is paying the price of freedom, equality, and human rights. The targeting of religious scholar Sheikh Issa Qassem by the regime has triggered mass rallies. The demonstrators accused the authorities of seeking to fuel sectarian strife in the country.

Reporter, Male #1
Meanwhile, the crackdown continues against civilians, who are facing a campaign of terror and detention, and have become daily targets of the regime's gunfire. However, with each passing day, they affirm they will not be terrorized by the regime's pellet bullets and poisonous gas. The authority's violence reached an alarming level, especially since more homes are being directly targeted by the security forces that continue to use poisonous gas canisters against civilians without any restrictions.