UAE arrests more rights activists amid ongoing crackdown [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Male #1
In the Emirates, the number of detained activists for reasons that are believed to be political has increased by three individuals over the past three days. This comes in the framework of an arrest campaign targeting a group of rights activists. And while Kuwaiti parliamentarian Mohammad al-Dallal condemned the arrest campaign in the Emirates, Human Rights Watch demanded the Emirati authorities reveal the reason behind the activists' arrests.

Reporter, Male #2
The case of Emirati authorities' arrests of activists and bloggers on political charges has once again highlighted the human rights violations in the United Arab Emirates. In the latest such development, Emirati security forces waged a wide-scale arrest campaign that targeted a number of rights activists among a series of prosecutions that included activists and member of al-Islah, or "reform" group, that is tied to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Reporter, Male #2
The Kuwaiti online newspaper al-Shahed said that Emirati authorities accused 40 Kuwaitis, among them two parliamentarians, political activists, and academics, of involvement in what it called an organization that threatens the country's security.

Reporter, Male #2
Emirati activist Mohamed al-Mansouri confirmed that three additional activists have been detained for political reasons in the past 3 days. He said the arrests included blogger Ahmed Mansour and Fahad Salem al-Shehhi, in addition to writer Nasser Bin Gaith. He added that Emirati authorities had confiscated al-Shehhi's passport for seven years to prevent him from traveling. And from Kuwait, Mohammad al-Dallal, a parliamentarian at in the inactive Kuwaiti assembly, condemned the last arrest campaign by the Emirati authorities that targeted 40 Kuwaitis and accused them of working to threaten the security of the country.

Reporter, Male #2
Al-Dallal believed the arrest campaign does not have any legal or lawful justification, demanding from Emirati authorities to immediately release the imprisoned reform advocates and rights activists. On the other hand, parliamentarian Jamaan al-Harbash said the arrests of Emiratis strains the relationship between the ruler and the subject, and cannot continue.

Reporter, Male #2
The arrest campaign in the Emirates pushed international human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, to call on the Emirati authorities to reveal where the detained are held, and the reason behind the arrest of rights activist and blogger Ahmed Mansour. Mansour is among a number of activists who presented a petition to the government last month, calling on it to implement reforms. The director of the Middle East and North Africa division of Human Rights Watch, Sarah Leah Whitson, said the arrest of Ahmed Mansour is aimed at intimidating and terrorizing others in the Emirates who may publically call for democratic reforms. She added that while some countries in the region are discussing democratic reforms, the Emirati government is holding on to what she referred to as "outdated repressive methods."

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Israel orders demolition of eight Palestinian villages for military training sites [Palestine TV, Ramallah]

Presenter, Male #1
A document submitted to the Israeli Supreme Court and prepared by Defense Minister Ehud Barak has come to light. It orders the demolition of eight villages in Yatta's suburbs in southern Hebron, displacing its citizens under the pretext that the villages are on land needed for military training.

Reporter, Male #2
Here on the land of Khirbet Jinba, east of Yatta in southern Hebron, residents are scared and worried for their land, after Israel vowed to demolish the village and displace its people under the pretext that it is a vital region for the Israeli army's training.

Guest Male #3 (Khaled al-Jibarin, Citizen)
The occupation's goal is to displace us Arabs, because the army is pressing from the south under the excuse of training. The settlers pressure us from the north under the pretext that this land is theirs. The civil administration applies pressure on the village itself, handing us demolition orders. They are all one project, and their aim is to displace us.

Reporter, Male #2
Jinba is one of eight villages in Yatta's suburbs, and one that Defense Minister Ehud Barak wants to demolish, according to a document presented by the Israeli military authorities to the so-called Israeli Supreme Court.

Reporter, Male #2
The citizens who live in the villages of Yatta's suburbs before this occupation existed, assured they are connected to their land, and are holding on to the lands of their parents and grandparents. But the occupation tries to tighten the noose on these residents from time to time.

Guest, Male #5 (Ahmed Abu Araam, Citizen)
They affected our crops, it was at the beginning of its harvest, but their training completely destroyed it. No cattle were able to graze, and we were not able to harvest.

Reporter, Male #2
What else?

Guest, Male #4
As you can see here, they disturb us at night.

Reporter, Male #2
Observers at rights organizations describe this decision as a humanitarian disaster; it aims to demolish eight villages and displace more than 1,500 citizens to seize vast areas of land. The occupation seeks to displace citizens from their lands and to seize those lands under weak excuses. This time the claim is the need to hold military trainings here, while Israel preaches democracy and human rights to the world. Sari al-Uor, Palestine TV, from the suburbs of Yatta in southern Hebron.

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Iran, Israel exchange blame for Bulgaria attacks at UN Security Council [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Female #1
Iran has held Israel responsible for the suicide bombing that claimed the lives of five Israelis in Bulgaria. In a stormy session at the UN Security Council, Tehran and Tel Aviv exchanged blame over the attack.

Reporter, Male #1
This suicide bombing, which claimed the lives of five Israelis, took place a week ago in the Bulgarian city of Burgas. Israel quickly responded, and officially accused Iran and Hezbollah of being behind the attack. Days later, the US President's counterterrorism adviser visited Bulgaria and expressed concern over the terrorist activities of Iran and its Lebanese ally.

Reporter, Male #1
During a press conference with his American guest, the Bulgarian foreign minister refused to point the finger at any side, saying that the investigation is ongoing. However, both sides continued to exchange blame, but this time it was at the UN Security Council.

Guest, Male #2 (Haim Waxman, Israeli Deputy UN Ambassador)
Eighteen years ago, a bomb exploded in Argentina's Jewish center in Buenos Aires. Iran, in cooperation with Hezbollah, was responsible for this attack. Last week, a suicide bombing targeted Israeli tourists. This time Iran and Hezbollah were also responsible.

Reporter, Male #1
In direct response, Iran denied the accusation.

Guest, Male #3 (Mohammad Khazaee, Iranian Ambassador)
It's amazing that just a few minutes after the terrorist attack, Israel accused Iran. We have never and will not engage in such despicable acts. Such terrorist operations could only be planned and carried out by the same regime whose history is full of state terrorism operations and assassinations aimed at implicating others for narrow political gains.

Reporter, Male #1
In Bulgaria, the coroner who examined the remains of the person the authorities say is the suicide bomber has unraveled more details. The medical examiner said the bomber has light skin, but could be of Arab decent. The authorities said the suspect came from another European Union country.

Reporter, Male #1
However, the EU said it would rather wait until the investigation is complete. This is the message that was conveyed to the Israeli Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, who met with EU officials in Brussels. Lieberman called for blacklisting Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. For its part, Bulgaria hopes to collect enough evidence to complete its investigation and close the case, which seems to cast its shadow beyond the border of this small country that has never witnessed this type of incident before. Mustafa al-Minshawi, BBC.

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Ehud Barak: Striking Iran before it is 'fully armed' would be far less dangerous [IBA, Israel]

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said at the graduation ceremony of the National Defense College that striking Iran before it is able to produce nuclear weapons would be far less dangerous than trying to knock out weapons of mass destruction once they are fully armed. Israeli leaders are ratcheting up their rhetoric about what Israel might do if sanctions against Iran fail. He added that economic and diplomatic sanctions against Iran are not working, and that the government may have to make "difficult and crucial decisions" about security, which is a hint that Israel may be poised to attack Iran.

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Israeli Olympians' widows call for silent memorial during London Opening Ceremony [IBA, Israel]

Ilana Romano and Ankie Spitzer, the widows of two Israeli Olympians killed by Palestinian Black September gunmen at the 1972 Munich Olympics, are urging spectators to stage a silent memorial during tomorrow's Opening Ceremony of the London Games after the International Olympic Committee rejected a worldwide campaign calling on the IOC to officially remember the athletes.

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Pakistan suspends NATO supply route over security concerns [Press TV, Iran]

Pakistan has stopped US-led forces' supply trucks from crossing the border into Afghanistan. Security concerns led security officials to close the route as a temporary measure. The incident on Tuesday involved gunmen attacking a convoy of foreign forces' supply trucks and killing a driver.

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Afghanistan: Taliban attacks convoy of US-led forces in Wardak Province [Press TV, Iran]

An unmanned US plane in Afghanistan crash-landed in northern Kunduz Province. Meanwhile, in Wardak Province, a convoy of foreign and Afghan forces have been attacked by Taliban militants. Afghan officials say that the plane crashed because of technical problems, but a Taliban spokesperson said that the Taliban brought the plane down.

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Tunisian protestors attack provincial government headquarters [Press TV, Iran]

In Tunisia, dozens of protestors have attacked provincial government headquarters in Sidi Bouzid, where the Tunisian revolution began. The protestors took to the streets, angry at their living conditions. They set a tire on fire and threw it inside the government building. Police responded by firing warning shots and tear gas as demonstrators chanted, "Ben Ali's police are back."

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Tunisian civil rights groups approve charter of rights and freedoms [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Male #1
Tunisian civil associations approved what was called "Tunisia's covenant for rights and freedoms", marking the 55th anniversary of the establishment of the republic of Tunisia after it gained independence. These associations called on the constituent assembly, to guarantee the aforementioned covenant announced principles in the new constitution, to guarantee basic rights and freedoms for which the Tunisian revolution was ignited.

Reporter, Male #2
Civil association in Tunisia are keen not to leave the issue of human rights in the hands of politicians, and to keep it at bay from any political and ideological manipulation. This is highlighted in Tunisia's covenant for rights and freedoms that was approved by a large number of organizations that are hoping for the constituent assembly to adopt it as a moral and ethical binding thread for all civil and political parties, and as a document to accompany the constitution.

Guest, Male #3 (Abdel Basset BelHassan, Chief of the Arab Institution for Human Rights)
The message is that civil associations are doing their part to preserve freedoms and rights, because they are the common denominator between all classes of society. Preserving them is in everyone's favor, today and for future generations.

Reporter, Male #2
Tunisia's covenant on economic and social rights inspired Tunisia's General Labor Union to participate in the process. Its leaders believe the union is able to fulfill the covenant's most important goals, such as dialogue between all components of the society over the humanitarian common denominators, and widely spread the culture of human rights, seen as a victory for basic freedoms.

Guest, Male #4 (Samir al-Shafi, Tunisian General Labor Union)
It is a victory for the principle for public and individual freedoms, which are a major part of the covenant, which not only covered the civil aspects of these rights, but also included economic and social rights.

Reporter, Male #2
Representatives include lawyers, journalists, and women also approved the covenant, and aim to transition from defending partial rights to full rights, which would benefit everyone once approved by a comprehensive perspective.

Guest, Female #1 (Fatiha Hayzam, Tunisian Association for Democratic Women)
The project was specific to women's rights, because unfortunately, women's rights are often placed on a shelf, and women are classified as second-class citizens. So the solution is that human rights to be a complete entity that cannot be segmented.

Reporter, Male #2
There is no use for the revolution or for the republic on its 55th anniversary without guaranteeing rights and freedoms, and this is what activists are advocating for in a unified voice. They will not rest, as their initiative shows, until the new constitution recognizes basic public and individual freedoms.

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Syrian forces continue crackdown on Aleppo [New TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Male #1
The Syrian regime's army has regained control of Damascus, as clashes continued in Aleppo. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the opposition has started to expand its control over broader areas.

Reporter, Female #1
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has issued a decree establishing a court specialized in terror cases in Damascus. Meanwhile, clashes continued to rage between regime forces and opposition groups in some neighborhoods in the city of Aleppo and its countryside. Agence France-Presse quoted a security source saying the regime army is preparing to launch an imminent wide-scale attack on Aleppo. The regime's army has regained control of the capital, Damascus. Syrian TV said that the appropriate authorities have stormed an armed group's hideout in the village of Al-Dhaheriyah in the countryside of al-Qamishli in al-Hasaka Province, where they arrested the group members and seized their weapons.

Reporter, Female #1
Politically, the Syrian foreign ministry said that the defected Syria ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Abdulatif al- Dabbagh, has been relieved of his duty. The ministry further said that its envoy to Cyprus, Lamia Hariri, is not an ambassador, but a diplomat that has been running the Syrian embassy until an ambassador would have been appointed. In addition, the ministry said its security attache in the Sultanate of Oman, Mohammed Tahsin al-Faqir, does not hold any diplomatic or security status. During a press conference before leaving for London, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that President al-Assad and his close aides are close to leaving.

Guest, Male #2 (Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish Prime Minister)
Al-Assad and his inner circle are about to leave, and preparations are underway for a new era.

Reporter, Female #1
Herve Ladsous, Assistant to the UN Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, discussed the UN observers' mission with the Syrian National Reconciliation Minister Ali Haidar

Guest, Male #3 (Ali Haidar, Syrian National Reconciliation Minister)
I held members of the UN Security Council responsible. They don't rely on the observers' reports even though they were the ones who deployed them.

Reporter, Female #1
During a press conference with his Turkish counterpart, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that his country is ready to send Russian observers to Syria.

Guest, Male #4 (Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister)
The UN decided to reduce the number of observers in Syria. My country is ready to send observers to Damascus.

Reporter, Female #1
For his part, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged the international community to learn from the mistakes made in Bosnia in a bid to prevent a repeat of those mistakes in Syria.

Guest, Male #5 (Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General)
I don't want to see any of my successors visiting Syria in 20 years and apologizing for what we could have done now to protect civilians there.

Reporter, Female #1
Ban Ki-moon also stressed the importance of mobilizing the international community to find a solution to the Syrian crisis.