NATO air strike kills 18 civilians in Afghanistan [Press TV, Iran]

A US-led NATO air strike killed 18 civilians, including women and children, in a village in the eastern Logar Province. NATO says it only knows of two light injuries to civilians, but local officials say a tribal elder and his family members are dead. Separately, US troops raided the house of an Afghan journalist in Khost Province. The man says the soldiers tied and blindfolded him, keeping him in a room during the four-hour search. Two US-led soldiers were also killed in a helicopter crash in eastern Afghanistan. The cause of the crash is unknown.

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P5+1 refuses to discuss agenda for Iran talks in Moscow [Press TV, Iran]

Iran and the P5+1 are set to meet again in Moscow later this month, but the Western side is ignoring Iran's requests for preparatory talks to set the agenda ahead of the meeting. Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Saeed Jalili, has written a letter to EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton about the issue, warning that the P5+1's foot-dragging raises doubts about their determination to have successful talks in Moscow.

Meanwhile, Tehran's envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, criticized the West for politicizing Iran's nuclear energy program during a speech at the IAEA's headquarters in Vienna.

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Rights groups call for release of Yemeni revolution detainees [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Male #1
Local and international human rights organizations demanded Yemeni President Abd Rabbu Mansur Hadi release detainees held in the Yemeni authorities' prisons in connection with the revolution.

Presenter, Female #1
The organizations said dozens of detainees are still being abused and tortured in Yemeni prisons, as their families live under difficult living conditions.

Reporter, Male #2
This is the wife and children of prisoner Jamal al-Zafiri. He was arrested eight months ago by security forces loyal to deposed President Ali Abdullah Saleh. He was accused of participating in the attempted assassination of Saleh on July 3rd, 2011. Mouan is one of al-Zafiri's three children. He was accompanying his father when he was arrested in October 2011.

Guest, Male #3
They tied his feet, put him in their car, and left.

Reporter, Male #2
Al-Zafiri's whereabouts was unknown for four months. He was then transferred to the Political Security prison from a national security prison run by Saleh's nephew. During that time, the detainee's family lived under difficult living conditions.

Guest, Female #2 (Nadia Nawyarat, Wife of Prisoner Jamal Zafiri)
The youth of the square, many if not most of the activists of the square, were falsely accused.

Reporter, Male #2
Dozens of detainees are held in Yemeni prisons, and dozens of others were forcibly disappeared. Some are charged with joining the revolution, and others of what is said to be malicious charges.

Guest, Male #4
Hangings, lashings, beatings; but the most powerful is psychological torture.

Reporter, Male #2
Former detainees and activists formed a coalition to defend prisoners, but they were surprised by the government and its president's inability to direct orders to the security institutions.

Guest, Female #3 (Hooria Mashour, Yemeni Human Rights Minister)
Nearly all of the institutions that are suspected of detaining them, of taking their freedom away, and of arresting them, denied the allegations. But, right now, we are asking the government and the Yemeni state to take their historical responsibility, because these are Yemeni citizens, and we should know where they are.

Reporter, Male #2
The difficult conditions have not deterred former detainees and activists from launching their campaign for the release of all prisoners, and securing their freedom. The prisoners and the forcibly disappeared were taken from inside this square that ignited the Yemeni revolution. Some are civilians and others are military, but the same issue remains. The national unity government is unable to release them amid the control of the deposed president's relatives over security and military institutions. Ahmad al-Shalafi, Al Jazeera, Sanaa.

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Bahrain's crackdown extended to schoolchildren as journalist accuses police of torture [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Female #1
Dozens of students in Bahrain were injured in the crackdown by Saudi occupation-backed regime forces. A number of towns and villages witnessed demonstrations demanding the establishment of democratic rule. Meanwhile, opposition political societies condemned the authorities' call to dissolve the opposition Islamic Action Society.

Reporter, Male #1
As part of the ongoing popular mobilization in Bahrain demanding the establishment of just rule, most towns and areas witnessed protests confirming revolutionary action continues. The residents of Sitra protested to demand the downfall of the regime and the king.

Reporter, Male #1
In the town of Nuwaidrat, a similar protest was held with the participation of men and women. They denounced the crackdown carried out by the regime's mercenaries, and affirmed they will continue their revolutionary movement. In a related development, political parties condemned the authorities' call to dissolve the opposition Islamic Action Society, considering it a prelude to targeting other opposition societies. At a press conference, two leaders of the society said such practices are part of the clampdown the authorities are carrying out against dissidents.

Guest, Male #2 (Sheikh Abdul al-Jamri, Islamic Action Society Leader)
All the societies were here, and they said, "We stand by you with our heart and soul, and we believe this attack impacts us as well." As Hisham indicated, they also referred the issue to the diplomatic institutions in Bahrain, as in the embassies. The societies also issued statements.

Reporter, Male #1
Leader Hisham al-Sabbagh said the crisis the country is going through is not a mere political crisis, and that the authorities' current actions are escalating this crisis.

Guest, Male #4 (Hisham al-Sabbagh, Islamic Action Society Leader)
Our struggle is not with the Ministry of Labor. It is a popular battle against this government. We are living a real crisis; there is a human rights crisis, a political crisis, a sectarian crisis, and a crisis of freedoms, and most notably, there is a crisis of democracy in Bahrain.

Reporter, Male #1
The authorities continue their repressive campaign against the protestors in the town of ad-Dayr, leading to casualties among the protestors. The government's crackdown is not only targeting adults, but has reached children and students, as police did not refrain from using poisonous gas on them. Political observers say the ongoing protests and demonstrations across Bahrain is evidence of the people's resolve to attain their legitimate demands.

Presenter, Female #1
A Bahraini policewoman is being tried in a criminal court for allegedly torturing journalist Nazeeha Saeed. She denied the accusation. Bahrain's attorney-general charged police officer Sara al-Mousa with using force against the journalist to coerce her to confess. The attorney-general said the policewoman beat the journalist, who sustained injuries. Journalist Nazeeha Saeed was covering the popular protests when she was arrested, then tortured and humiliated for many hours.

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Heavy fighting erupts in Syria's Latakia Province [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Male #1
Syria's Local Coordination Committees said 42 people were killed today by the gunfire of the security forces and army. Most of them died in Latakia, Homs, Idlib, and Hama. Since yesterday, most of the Syrian regions rising up have been subjected to a military campaign that activists describe as violent.

Presenter, Male #1
According to the opposition, the campaign was carried out from Daraa and its countryside in the south, to Idlib in the north, passing through Homs, Hama, and Deir az-Zour and Latakia, and reached the countryside of Damascus and Aleppo. Clashes between the government's army and what is called the Free Syrian Army killed an officer in the countryside of Idlib. Three others were killed in Daraa, and dozens in Latakia, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Guest, Male #2
Latakia is burning after the random shelling by Assad's brigades.

Reporter, Male #3
Another hope for a nearing solution is dashed amid the escalating pace of military operations across Syria. Activists say the regime's army continued to shell Homs and its countryside today even though a number of its neighborhoods such as al-Khalidiya, al-Hamidiya, and al-Bayada have turned into rubble, as shown in these videos uploaded online.

Reporter, Male #3
The shelling that has become a daily event in Homs returned again to Latakia. But this time, the shelling was accompanied by clashes that ended with the armed dissidents repelling attempts by the regime's army to enter al-Haffa. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that dozens were killed on both sides, and gunmen from neighboring villages took part in the army's operations. The attack on al-Haffa, which has a Sunni majority and is surrounded by Alawite villages, is evoking fear that sectarian strife is reaching its peak, especially after the Houla massacre.

Reporter, Male #3
Suspicion among residents of these regions reveals intentions to divide Syria by sects. The Local Coordination Committees held the regime responsible for the consequences of the army storming these towns. The Syrian Revolution's General Commission warned of a new massacre.

Guest, Female #1 (Bannan Hassan, Syrian Revolution General Commission Member in Latakia)
Today, the city of al-Haffa and its villages were shelled by warplanes. Then, the mourners holding a funeral were shelled near the mosques. More than eight people were martyred today, and 30 were injured. Rooftops of government institutions and schools are filled with snipers in this city. The evacuation of residents from this city is extremely difficult; humanitarian relief and food is starting to run out.

Reporter, Male #3
The countryside of Damascus witnessed violence that lasted throughout the day. Duma was shelled by heavy weaponry, and clashes erupted between the regime's army and the Free Army in Kafr Batna, Saqba, and Jisreen. Activists say the sound of gunfire was even heard in the capital Damascus.

Guest, Female #2 (Syrian TV)
An armed terrorist group targeted an oil pipeline with explosive devices.

Reporter, Male #3
For its part, Syrian TV accused the opposition of bombing an oil pipeline in al-Quriya of Deir az-Zour, without mentioning the reason for the attack. Despite the varying stories and counter-accusations between the regime and activists, it seems both sides today believe the end is near, so they have both escalated their defensive and offensive operations.

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Protests continue in Cairo as Mubarak verdicts divide Egyptians [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Female #1
Under the slogan "A million-man march for justice," hundreds of thousands of Egyptians gathered in central Cairo's Tahrir Square yesterday. While protestors were united over the core issues, most notably the implementation of the political disenfranchisement law and the retrial of Mubarak and elements of his regime, they were divided over their next move.

Presenter, Female #1
Meanwhile, the meeting between the military council, which is insisting on holding the presidential runoff elections on time, and the various political blocs ended with both sides agreeing to meet again on Thursday. The aim is to set standards for the formation of a founding committee to draft a new constitution. Tawfiq Ahmed reports from Cairo.

Reporter, Male #1
In a scene that is reminiscent of the events of the January 25 Revolution, hundreds of thousands of Egyptians converged on Tahrir Square in a march of millions, titled "Justice." The demonstration attracted dozens of political and national blocs, as well as revolutionary coalitions that were united by a specific set of demands.

Guest, Male #2
We demand and plead to all officials to retry the cases. This is unacceptable. How could they ask for proof if they have the videos?

Guest, Male #3
This trial and the verdicts are a joke. They tricked us and tricked the people.

Guest, Male #4
We tell all elements of the former regime that they have no place among the honorable people of Egypt and the founders of this great revolution.

Reporter, Male #1
Despite their agreement over the fundamental issues, political blocs were divided over the formation of a presidential council to run the country's affairs during the transitional period.

Reporter, Male #1
While many of the demonstrators' demands have been attained over the past year, many are still beyond reach, especially amid the legal hurdles and the military council's decision to hold the presidential runoff elections on time.

Reporter, Male #1
Both the military council and the political parties have rejected the formation of a presidential council because it is illegal. In addition, the political parties strongly rejected a proposal by the consultative council to amend Article 60 of the Constitutional Declaration pertaining to the formation of the constitution's founding committee.

Guest, Male #5 (Ashraf al-Ashri, Associate Editor-in Chief, al-Ahram Daily)
This will not be accepted, especially considering that political blocs and the Islamic parties reject such a proposal, which is identical to the Constitutional Declaration issued on March 19 of last year. The declaration grants the authority to the People's Assembly or the parliament. So we must abide by the law and legislation to avoid run-ins with the major political blocs.

Reporter, Male #1
If the political parties fail to agree on the standards for the formation of the founding committee in their meeting slated for Thursday, a Constitutional Declaration to amend Article 60 will be issued, as confirmed by independent Member of Parliament Mustafa Bakri. However, speaker of the People's Assembly, Saad al-Katatni, said he will do everything in his power to help uphold the privileges granted to the legislative council, which may spark a new crisis between the military council and the parliament. Tawfiq Ahmed, Dubai TV, Cairo.

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Knesset votes down settlement outpost legalization bill [IBA, Israel]

A major showdown in the Knesset was won by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as the settlement regulation bill was voted down 69 to 22. Netanyahu can down proceed with his plan for the demolition and transfer of the five buildings in the Ulpana neighborhood in Beit El. This comes after Netanyahu received overnight approval for his plan from the attorney-general, and after the prime minister said that he would fire anyone who voted for the initiative. Meanwhile, protestors marched from Ulpana and blocked traffic as they called on Likud ministers to remain faithful to the right-wing Zionist camp by supporting the outpost bill.

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A look back at Naksa Day, or the Day of the Setback [Palestine TV, Ramallah]

Presenter, Male #1
Tuesday was the 45th anniversary of the June War, known as the Naksa, or the day of the setback, when tens of thousands of Palestinians were displaced. On that day in 1967, Israel launched an attack that targeted a number of Arab countries and occupied the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.

Reporter, Male #2
This is the Naksa, or the Six-Day War, as some call it. It changed the geographic and demographic reality in what remained of Palestine in the years following the Nakba, or the catastrophe, when its land was occupied and its people were displaced.

Reporter, Male #2
On June 5, 1967, the Palestinian people awoke on a land that was no longer the same. The arrogant began their aggression, and successive displacements ensued, and the journey of suffering was prolonged. It was 7:45 am on June 5, 1967 when the occupation's warplanes launched an attack on Egypt's air force bases. This marked the turning point of a three-week confrontation with the Egyptian, Jordanian, and Syrian armies with the assistance of Iraq.

Reporter, Male #2
However, the combination of a number of factors and the Israeli occupation's continuous air strikes on Arab airports in Amman, Damascus, Cairo, Sinai, and Delta, changed the course of the war in favor of the occupier. From here, the outcome of the war on the ground was determined, resulting in the occupation of the West Bank, Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Syrian Golan Heights.

Reporter, Male #2
This started another chapter of the worst occupation in modern history, and was followed by scenes of Palestinians uprooted from their land. Towns were destroyed, such as Amwas, Yalu, and Bayt Luba, and their residents were displaced and took on a descriptor that is synonymous to refugee. But this time they became refugees without the right of return.

Reporter, Male #2
And despite the long years of great pain between 1948 and 1967 that hold the history of dark massacres, the refugees have never stopped waiting for their return. Refugee camps and journeys of displacement remain witnesses to the severity of the occupation that has changed and is still changing the map of this region.