Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood candidate claims early lead [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Male #1
Al Jazeera's reporter in Egypt confirmed that the vote counting process for the presidential elections is nearing an end in most governorates, except for Cairo and Giza, where the process is continuing, considering they are the largest, in terms of number of voters. The Muslim Brotherhood group said that after counting 90 percent of the votes, the candidate for the Freedom and Justice Party obtained 25 percent of the votes, as opposed to candidate Ahmed Shafiq, the last prime minister in Mubarak's era, who obtained 23 percent. The group said that Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh ranked third place, with 20 percent. Hamdeen Sabahy came in fourth with about 19 percent.

Reporter, Male #2
Under tight safeguarding by police and military forces, ballots were transported to the central headquarters in all governorates to preserve them for some years to come, according to the rules regulating presidential elections. This comes after most votes were counted at the subcommittee centers after hours, marking the end of the voting process. A mostly calm atmosphere prevailed during the counting process, which was done under the supervision of judges, civil society organizations, and media outlets.

Reporter, Male #2
On the other hand, an atmosphere of excitement and suspense prevailed as the results appeared, often placing candidates neck-and-neck, or behind at other times. However, it seems that none of the candidates will sweep the results during the first round.

Guest, Male #3 (Bashir Abdel Fatah, Editor of Democracy Magazine)
Whatever the results are, they should be accepted, as long as the election process was fair and transparent. We should all respect the results of these elections, even if we are not satisfied with it.

Reporter, Male #2
The Supreme Presidential Electoral Commission set next Tuesday as a date to announce the final results of the first round, after looking into any possible challenges presented by any of the candidates. After decades or even centuries of authoritarian rule, Egyptians are on the verge of a new period of their history, voting for a new president for the country on a democratic basis. Voting that was based on free will. Egyptian voters needed an additional hour after the official time, which at some polling stations was extended to two hours, to complete the voting process before the counting process began at the subcommittees.

Guest, Male #4 (Ahmed Samih, Director of Center for Human Rights)
What is really amazing is that the Supreme Presidential Electoral Commission added a new dimension to the vote-counting process, which added to the transparency of these elections.

Reporter, Male #2
A runoff round is expected in the middle of next month between the two candidates who obtained the most votes in the first round. The elected president will receive his full authority from the ruling Military Council at the beginning of July, which was the date set by the council to transfer power to an elected civilian president. Abdel Basir Hasan, Al Jazeera, Cairo.

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Egyptians protest against Mubarak-era candidates [Press TV, Iran]

Protestors in Egypt have rallied against Mubarak-era premier and current presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq, claiming that the Military Council is fooling Egyptians, and that a revolution will erupt again if a Mubarak-era candidate is elected.

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Jordanians protest government's plan to increase prices [Press TV, Iran]

Soaring prices and government corruption have brought Jordanians to the streets of Amman after Friday prayers. Tens of thousands came out to protest Amman's plan to increase taxes and prices of food and services. Amman says the austerity measures are needed to overcome the country's soaring budget deficit, which is expected to exceed USD 3 billion by the end of the year, but the protestors are demanding that the government fight corruption instead to meet its targets.

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Nasrallah hails armed resistance on Liberation Day [Press TV, Iran]

On May 25, the twelfth anniversary of the Israeli pullout from southern Lebanon, Tel Aviv says the pullout was strategic, but Hezbollah leader Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah calls for the date to be a national holiday for the Lebanese people, and said that Israelis withdrew early due to increasing pressure from resistance forces on Israeli outposts. Press TV recounts the final events of the conflict that took place at the turn of the century.

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Annan to meet al-Assad officials amid continuing violence in Syria [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Male #1
The Syrian Revolution General Commission said that forces loyal to the Syrian government killed 19 people, including six farmers in a town in the countryside of Hama. This comes as opposition activists report that demonstrations broke out across Syria on Friday that the opposition named "We will soon meet in Damascus."

Reporter, Male #2
The demonstrations that began early in the morning before Friday prayers seemed as if they were in a race with Syrian security forces, who surround the mosques every Friday in anticipation of demonstrations.

Reporter, Male #2
Today's protests, which broke out in areas such as Idlib, Aleppo, Dara'a, and Homs, were named by the opposition "The Friday of 'We will soon meet in Damascus'," in an attempt to mobilize the revolutionary movement against the Syrian regime in the capital and its surroundings.

Reporter, Male #2
Coinciding with these demonstrations is the continuous shelling of Homs City, according to activists. They also confirmed gunfire, as well as raids in the countryside of Damascus, the two cities of Aleppo and Hama, and Dara'a Province. Since this morning, security forces have been here, surrounding al-Omari Mosque in Dara'a, where the peaceful Syrian uprising was first sparked.

Reporter, Male #2
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a civilian was killed by indiscriminate gunfire around midnight in the neighborhood of al-Sabounia in Hama City. Four were killed in armed clashes in the countryside of Hama. Activists reported that Syrian security forces stormed neighborhoods such as al-Qaboun and Duma in Damascus and its countryside. Heavy, indiscriminate gunfire was opened on protestors. Hayyan Yaqoob, BBC.

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Lebanese hostages released in Syria [Future TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Female #1
An overwhelming joy has dominated the atmosphere in the southern suburb of Beirut following the announcement of the release of the Lebanese hostages. Meanwhile, the families of the hostages called for making the date of their release an opportunity to renew the national unity.

Reporter, Female #2
The hours of indefinite waiting have ended. Three days have passed before the hostages' release. Finally, the streets in the southern suburb ululated for the victory achieved by the intensive negotiations led by local and regional parties, which resulted in the release of the kidnapped hostages. Premier Saad al-Hariri, who followed the issue from overseas, had a strong presence through the residents of the southern suburb of Beirut. For a painful moment, they recounted the sectarian division in the country.

Guest, Female #3
I would like to thank you, the press. You helped make our voices heard. They told us that Sheikh Saad al-Hariri sent a private jet to bring back the hostages. Thank God. God willing, their return will help us open a new chapter of national unity. It will help bring us closer in Lebanon. In the end, Lebanon is for all the Lebanese.

Guest, Female #4
I would like to send a message to all officials: We, as residents of this suburb, demand the release of all prisoners, and an end to seatrain strife, so that we Lebanese are free. God willing, all of us, public and officials, will remain united and help each other, as we are all on the same side.

Guest, Male #1
We want to thank his Excellency Premier Saad Hariri for offering his private jet to help transport these hostages. And God willing, it will be a green spring here in Lebanon. We ask God to keep us united and to love one another, and for Lebanon to remain green forever, God willing.

Guest, Male #2
I would like to salute Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Nabih Barri, and Sheikh Saad Hariri, who offered his private jet to help transport the Lebanese hostages. May God protect everyone, and thank God for the safety of the hostages.

Reporter, Female #2
The airport, which is free of tourists and foreigners due to the fear that the situation in Lebanon is deteriorating, is packed with crowds of local residents, who came with joy to wait for their families. On the day of release, another chapter of freedom was recorded in Lebanon's history.

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Iran's nuclear talks move to Moscow after reaching stalemate [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Male #1
Amid "significant differences" between the P5+1 group and Iran over the latter's nuclear program, the talks were moved to Moscow. This news comes after two days of intensive negotiations in Baghdad failed to bring about a solution to the nuclear crisis. The two sides agreed to hold a new round of talks in Moscow next month. Tehran expressed willingness to address the issue of enriching uranium at 20 percent. Our correspondent, Shafiq Abed al-Jabar, reports from Baghdad.

Reporter, Male #2
Iran has agreed, in principle, to discuss the issue of uranium enrichment at 20 percent, only if the UN recognizes its right to enrich uranium. In response, world powers described the Iranian position as "positive", but acknowledged that there are still "significant differences." The two sides agreed to hold another meeting, slated for June 18 in Moscow. This is how the Iraq-sponsored talks between the P5+1 group and Iran ended.

Guest, Female #1 (Catherine Ashton, EU Foreign Policy Chief)
It's clear that we both want to make progress, and that there is some common ground. However, significant differences remain. Nonetheless we do agree on the need for further discussion to expand the common ground.

Reporter, Male #2
The nuclear negotiations, which reached a stalemate amid proposals and counter-proposals, failed to address the core issues, as confirmed by Tehran. Iran described the talks as "incomplete," because they failed to secure an agreement over the issues of uranium enrichment, and the surprise inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency of its nuclear sites. Amid the uncertainty, both sides agreed to return to the bargaining table soon.

Guest, Male #3 (Saeed Jalili, Iranian Chief Nuclear Negotiator)
We entered into negotiations from all angles, with each side presenting its point of view. Naturally, the talks and dialogue will continue. We scheduled another meeting in Moscow.

Reporter, Male #1
Although there was no definite solution to the crisis, Iraq succeeded in narrowing the gap between the international community and Iran. And in turn, this will help regional stability. Baghdad did everything in its power to bring the two sides of the nuclear issue closer, by hosting intensive and long talks over many unresolved issues. Although there was no clear agreement, the P5+1 group and Iran agreed to hold another round of talks. Shafiq Abed al-Jabar, Dubai TV, Baghdad.

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Skeptical Israelis prepare for chemical warfare amid Iran nuclear talks [IBA, Israel]

While the Iranian nuclear talks continue in Baghdad, Israeli leaders, such as MK Silvan Shalom, remain skeptical that Tehran will willingly give up its nuclear program. At the same time, Israeli residents have begun to take measures to protect their homes. One year ago, the Israeli government passed a law making it mandatory for Israelis to install air filtration systems in all new buildings; worried Israelis are installing the systems in their old homes as well, as protection against biological and chemical warfare.

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Ambassador Yoram Ettinger on the state of democracy in Egypt [IBA, Israel]

Joining IBA in the studio to analyze the latest Iranian nuclear talks and the Islamist leaning of the Egyptian presidential election is Ambassador Yoram Ettinger, former charge d'affaires in Washington, who says that a society that still performs female genital mutilation, executes apostates, and elects the Muslim Brotherhood to power is not a democratic society, in spite of their acceptance of US aid.

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Bahrainis continue protests against US arms shipment to al-Manama regime [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Female #1
Bahrain's revolutionaries called for demonstrations on the Friday of "rejecting the US arming of the regime," which crushed protests in numerous regions. The revolutionaries called for taking to the streets to express loyalty to political prisoners. The revolutionaries shut down some of the vital roads to protest the continuing arrest of women by the regime. Bahraini cleric, Sheikh Issa Qassim, asserted that the crisis will not end until authorities submit to the people's demands.

Reporter, Male #1
Bahraini residents chanted slogans in solidarity with prisoners in the regime's prisons, coinciding with the February 14 Youth Coalition's calls to hold similar marches across the country to mark "Friday of rejecting the US arming of the al-Manama regime." The marches were soon confronted by the regime with gunfire and tear gas, wounding a number of protestors, and many others were arrested, mostly women. The repression prompted residents of various areas to shut down main roads with burning tires to express their anger towards the escalating repression in all forms.

Reporter, Male #1
For his part, Sheikh Issa Qassim asserted that the crisis in the country will not end until the authorities submit to the people's demands. During his Friday speech in Diraz region, Sheikh Qassim condemned the authorities' denial of holding any prisoners in custody, while hundreds are cooped up in prison.

Guest, Male #2 (Sheikh Issa Qassim, Bahraini Cleric)
The issue of these rights violations has become undeniable. It is internationally condemned, even by the major allies of the current regime. This was revealed as a result of the discussions at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva pertaining to Bahrain's human rights violations report.

Reporter, Male #1
The regime's denial of detaining protestors was accompanied by accusation from the Minister of Justice, Khalid al-Khalifa, who accused the people of committing violence in the country. At the same time, he said the regime is ready to enter a conditional dialogue, with clear and explicit condemnation of the violence committed by the opposition. These accusations prompted denunciations and condemnations by political opposition parties, who consider this a dangerous escalation.

Reporter, Male #1
Meanwhile, the government is ignoring the international and regional pressure to release detained opposition figures, most notably activist Nabeel Rajab, and Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, who has been on a hunger strike for over three months, in addition to al-Khawaja's daughter, Zainab, who was sentenced by the regime's judiciary to six months in prison.

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Israel plants fake tombs around al-Aqsa Mosque [Palestine TV, Ramallah]

Presenter, Male #1
In occupied Jerusalem, the Israeli occupation continues to dig and construct fake tombs around the holy al-Aqsa Mosque and the Old City.

Reporter, Female #1
Implementing the Israeli government's decisions in cooperation with the occupation's municipality, the so-called Elad Settlement Organization, and the ministry of environmental protection, the occupation's bulldozers took initiative to plant thousands of fake tombs in Jabal al-Zaytoon, east of al-Aqsa Mosque. The tombs extend through Wadi Silwan in the south, and Wadi Rababa, west of the holy al-Aqsa Mosque.

Guest, Male #2 (Mohammed al-Fattah, Eyewitness)
Overnight, it became a Jewish cemetery. If someone was to see it today, they would think it was there for thousands of years. They came and dug holes in the ground. After that, they put steel blocks and covered them with concrete. Then, they put stones and marked them as if they were the headstones of these tombs.

Guest, Male #3 (Mustafa Abu Zahrah, Official in the Cemetery Committee)
This morning, concrete mixers and dumpers came and poured cement into these holes, and then they covered them up with stones, as you can see here. After that they covered the cement and stones with dirt, to give it an antique appearance. Overnight, this area became a fake, mythical Jewish cemetery.

Reporter, Female #1
The settlements' methods of forgery vary, from claiming ownership of the Jerusalem houses to demolishing them under the pretext of lacking a permit, or seizing land owned by the Islamic Waqf, or Endowment Foundation, and digging and constructing tombs that contain nothing but cement and steel blocks.

Guest, Female #2 (Hajja Ruwuqa al-Salaima)
They brought steel and concrete blocks in order to turn this area into a Jewish cemetery. We live here right next to it. They want to close the roads on us. This is unacceptable.

Guest, Male #4
We were born here. We were living here before 1967. They demolished my house and told me that this is Jewish cemetery land. All of these are lies aimed at distorting the history of this land. They want to turn this into Jewish land. They just want to take anyone's land. Those claiming to be environmentalists are the ones behind this.

Reporter, Female #1
The Israeli occupation's municipality is still expanding its plan to Judaize the city and forge its reality. These tombs appear to be thousands of years old to the eye, but the truth is not so. They were built today and are free of history. The new Israeli approach to occupy the lands and houses of Jerusalemites, overturn the facts, and forge the history, is manifested in constructing these fake tombs on land owned by the Islamic Waqf Foundation. Sarwa al-Shakra, Palestine TV, occupied Jerusalem.