Syria's Assad issues decree on multi-party law [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Male #1
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe has described the decree issued by Syrian President Bashar al Assad authorizing political parties as an act of "provocation" that comes amid the violence against civilians. Meanwhile, all water, electricity, and communication services have been cut off in the city of Hama. Heavy gunfire was reported in various neighborhoods in the city, especially in the south. Several buildings were damaged in the Asi neighborhood in central Hama where army and security forces have been deployed. Residents have told BBC that more than 40 people were killed or wounded yesterday.

Reporter, Male #2
The storming of the city of Hama, the deployment of dozens of tanks there, and the shelling of its neighborhoods by rockets and heavy gunfire; all of these have brought back the memory of the 1982 incidents, particularly the campaign of killing and crackdowns. Hama, which has become one of the largest areas witnessing anti-regime protests over the past five months, was once again invaded by security forces. Some witnesses confirmed that what is happening today in Hama is far worse than what happened in the 1980s. The dead bodies scattered on the streets are an indication that a massacre has taken place in the city.

Guest, Male #3
They are indiscriminately shelling homes.

Reporter, Male #2
Hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles are besieging various cities, including Deir az-Zur, Homs, and al-Salmiyah. The Syrian authorities have cut off communication services in several areas, as cited by human rights organizations.

Guest, Male #4 (Rami Abdul Rahman, Human Rights Office in Syria)
A massacre is taking place right now in the city of Hama. A criminal incursion has been carried out in the city. They are shelling the area of southern al-Malab and the Manakh neighborhood. Columns of smoke can be seen across the city. There have been confirmed reports that the residents are being prevented from fleeing the city by security forces and army checkpoints. Communication services have been cut off in various areas near the city of Hama.

Reporter, Male #2
Meanwhile, day and night demonstrations and strikes have continued in several Syrian cities in solidarity with Hama and Deir az-Zour and other besieged towns and cities. Protest rallies also took place in parts of the city of Aleppo. Funeral processions were held for the fallen residents who were killed by security forces and the so-called "shabeha," following Ramadan's Taraweeh prayers.

Guest, Male #5 (Nabil al-Saman, Director-General of Research Center, Damascus)
We wish that the incidents in Hama hadn't taken place. We hope that the army withdraws from the cities and opens an immediate national dialogue.

Reporter, Male #2
Syrian official media outlets have accused what they referred to as "armed terrorist groups" of terrorizing the citizens of Hama and Deir az-Zour. They accused the armed groups of spreading false information in a bid to distort the army's image and stir strife. They also accused them of stirring corruption in the country, saying such actions violate Islamic principles and social ethics.

Guest, Male #6, unidentified
The incidents are repeating themselves while Arabs remain idly silent.

Reporter, Male #2
The opposition's websites continue to show images of protests, saying they have been captured from the scene of the events. They also continue to release videotaped announcements attributed to a group called "The Free Officers Movement."

Guest, Male #7
This is a statement issued by the Free Officers Movement. This is statement number four, to the noble and free people of Syria.

Guest, Male #8 (Jean-Marie Fardeau, Director of Human Rights Watch Office, Paris)
The situation is very tense in Syria because the army is very strong and well attached to the regime. It will be very difficult to dismantle because of its social structure. It will take the people a very long time before being able to get rid of the regime and enjoy democracy.

Reporter, Male #2
It seems that the Tarweeh prayers have become an event after which to gather and launch protest rallies. Some activists on Facebook have called for holding daily protests during the month of Ramadan. Hayan Yaqoub, BBC.

Presenter, Male #1, back
At the international level, the UN Security Council has called for an immediate end to all violence and urges all sides to act with the utmost restraint, and to refrain from reprisals, including attacks against state institutions. The Security Council is expected to meet next week to discuss the crisis again.

Guest, Male #9 (Hardeep Singh Puri, India's Envoy to the UN Security Council)
We express our profound regret for the deaths of hundreds of citizens. The Security Council condemns the widespread violations of human rights and the use of force against civilians by the Syrian authorities. The Security Council calls for an immediate end to all acts of violence and urges all sides to act with utmost restraint, and to refrain from reprisals, including attacks against state institutions.

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Pro-Syrian regime shabeha attack Lebanese solidarity activists [Future TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Male #1
On the northern Lebanese border in the Wadi Khaled region, Syrian forces heavily opened fire on the village of Hunaydir, which led a number of terrified residents to flee. The gunfire caused damage to the house of a citizen by the name of Ahmed al-Ali.

Presenter, Female #1
A number of shabeha from Hezbollah's government assaulted a group of independent Lebanese activists and journalists in front of the Syrian embassy in Beirut. This is a reminder of the era of the Syrian mandate over Lebanon. Omar Harb reports.

Reporter, Male #2
The shabeha in the heart of Beirut: the enemies of freedom went from attacking Syrian citizens in Homs, Hama, Damascus, and Daraa to assaulting Lebanese activists on al-Hamra Street. They came with batons and knives and attacked people standing in front of the Syrian embassy in solidarity with the Syrian people. This led a number of activists to be admitted to Beirut's hospitals in serious conditions.

Guest, Male #3 (Khadar Salama, journalist and blogger)
We were surprised by a number of people making phone calls; they are either embassy employees or its security in civilian clothes. Then, a little while later, we saw a group of about 50 people coming towards us from both sides of al-Makdisi Street, the street behind al-Hamra. They were carrying pictures of Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian flag. They took out sticks and knives and attacked us. During the attack, chairs, stones, and glass bottles were thrown at us. A Syrian embassy car chased a young man and woman to a restaurant on Hamra Street and assaulted them inside the restaurant.

Reporter, Male #2
After the attack, the shabeha of the Syrian embassy chased the young men and women down the streets and into the restaurants of Hamra to beat them.

Guest, Male #4, Nabil (Civil Rights Activist)
We are independent young men and women with no affiliation to any political or religious group in the country. We gathered to protest in front of the Syrian embassy in solidarity with the Syrian people. We were standing and suddenly these guys walked up to us and one of them punched me in the eye.

Reporter, Male #2
The attack on civil activists generated a reaction from the head of the National Struggle Front and Member of Parliament Walid Jumblatt. He stressed the right to protest and preserve freedom of speech. He indicated that turning several streets in the capital and areas in Beirut into security zones will not benefit anyone.

Guest, Male #5 (Riyan al-Ashqar, Secretary-general of the progressive youth organization)
There is an implicit agreement among all Lebanese groups that this is a pluralistic country, that this is the country of freedom and democracy in the Arab world. It is important to improve these freedoms. We denounce any behavior or aggression on anyone, regardless of their political opinion. We took a stand on the events of August 7, and even before then, during the era of Emile Lahoud we also had a position. So the question of freedom is a sacred issue. We are in favor of using these weapons against the Israeli enemy but against using these weapons or threatening to use them inside the country.

Reporter, Male #1
Jumblatt also called for respecting media outlets. He reminded those he referred to as "certain ministerial figures" that freedom of press is as important as political and general freedoms.

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Libya's Islamists deny forging an alliance with Gaddafi [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Male # 1
Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega said after meeting with a Libyan delegation that Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi is ready to hold elections to solve the crisis in the country. Ortega said the Latin American bloc supports the move that would allow Libyans to "exercise their right to vote and create the conditions needed to end the war." The Nicaraguan president also called on NATO to end its air strikes against Libya. Meanwhile, an Islamist leader in Libya denied reaching an agreement with the Gaddafi family, as announced by Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi. Ali Sallabi described the statement by the colonel's son as a lie that seeks to create a crack in the national accord. In a related development, a group of revolutionaries demanded the dismissal of some Transitional Council members in light of the assassination of their military commander Abdel Fatah Younis.

Reporter, Male # 2
Seesaw battles between the revolutionaries and Gaddafi's forces continue to dominate the Libyan scene as the revolutionaries announce additional gains, which are quickly contradicted by the regime. The latest claim was the revolutionaries' announcement of an advance to the center of the town of Zlitan, situated 150 kilometers east of Tripoli. The claim was denied by Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim, who confirmed that Zlitan is still under their complete control and condemned what he described as the revolutionaries' lies.

Guest, Male # 3 (Moussa Ibrahim, Libyan government spokesman)
Of course as usual they made the same pathetic NATO covered advance toward Zlitan but they were hit back by our armed forces and were forced to return to Misurata after incurring great losses. Zlitan is a free city under our full control.

Reporter, Male # 2
In another development, Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi announced his family reached an agreement with what he described as the Islamist opposition to get rid of the secular opposition demanding his father's resignation. Saif al-Islam said he negotiated with Ali al-Sallabi, an Islamist leader in eastern Libya. He considered the Islamists to be the real force on the ground and called on the West to recognize them. Meanwhile, al-Sallabi confirmed talks were held with Gaddafi, the son, but did not confirm reaching an agreement. The repercussions of the assassination of the revolutionaries' military commander Abdel Fatah Younis continue to be felt in Benghazi. Libyan organizations participating in the revolution against the Gaddafi regime called for the dismal of some Transitional Council members over General Younis' assassination. The February 17 coalition demanded the termination of Ali al-Esawi, who is in charge of the Transitional Council's foreign affairs. Al-Esawi signed the request to arrest General Younis. The coalition also demanded the termination of Judge Joma'a Jazawe al-Obeidi, who summoned Younis for questioning. The coalition called for holding a full and independent investigation with both members to specify the role they played in General Younis' arrest, which coincided with heated battles against forces loyal to al-Gaddafi. The coalition also asked for the dismissal of Defense Minister Jallal al-Digheily and his deputy Fawzi Bukatif, who left the country after learning of General Younis' arrest. The Obeidat tribe, to which Younis belonged, said it will seek justice on its own, placing the Transitional Council in a difficult position. The council's image has been shaken inside the country despite the fact that international powers rushed to recognize it.

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Somali famine spreads to more regions [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Male #1
Somalis fleeing from the south of their country continue to flock to refugee camps in Kenya in search of food and shelter. Meanwhile, more regions in Somalia are hit by the wave of drought that has resulted in the famine in southern Somalia.

Presenter, Female #1
Officials in charge of the refugee camps are facing difficulties in containing the incremental number of Somalis as northern and eastern parts of Kenya are also suffering from the drought that is sweeping across the Horn of African region.

Reporter, Male #2
These people were destined for a new era. With a rampant famine ravaging their country, these thin Somalis fled for survival, hoping to find something in their neighboring country Kenya to end their hunger. Reports say that Kenya, which is hosting the Somali refugees in Dadaab Refugee Camp, is also suffering from a disastrous drought, threatening many of its regions.

Guest, Female #2 (Esther Murugi, Kenyan Minister of Special Programs)
I think there is a bit of exaggeration, because over the last few months we distributed a massive amount of food and we adopted a large budget to alleviate the impact of the drought. However, with the refugees coming from Somalia, the matter becomes more complicated. I believe that we are doing all that we can.

Reporter, Male #2
Nearly 2,000 Somalis are flowing to refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya everyday, escaping from hunger and war. Dadaab Refugee Camp is the most known among these camps and is packed with refugees. This adds obstacles to the Kenyan government's effort to help its countrymen, especially those under the age of six.

Guest, Female # 2
Of course we also need help, because the malnutrition rates are very high. We ask the international community to provide aid to end this situation. We need food with high nutrition values for the malnourished children.

Reporter, Male #2
Malnutrition leads to disastrous results. The story about a mother who watched her children die one after another was only one of many. The number of destitute people in the Horn of Africa is increasing. But unless the international community intensifies its help to contain the crisis, the coming days are looking very ominous.

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Two Bahraini women on hunger strike [Press TV, Iran]

Rights group, Amnesty International says that the two Bahraini women activists that have been jailed for taking part in anti-regime protests are on a hunger strike. Amnesty International says that the head of the Bahrain Nursing Society, Roula al-Saffar, and the vice president of the Bahrain Teachers' Association, Jalila al-Salman, have been tortured in detention. The London-based group also says the two have been held in a state prison near the capital Manama for several months. The rights group says the women have started the hunger strike in an attempt to protest their imprisonment.

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Four US-led forces killed in Afghanistan [Press TV, Iran]

From Afghanistan, where four American troops have been killed in the eastern part of the country. Two of them were killed in a roadside bomb attack, one in apparently a noncombat incident, and another was shot and killed by an Afghan man in police uniform. The latest deaths spring to at least 340, the number of NATO forces killed so far this year. The foreign troop casualties have risen steadily since the US and its allies invaded the country back in 2001.

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Israel approves 900 new settlements units in East Jerusalem [Press TV, Iran]

Israel has given final approval for the construction of 900 settlement units in the east Jerusalem al-Quds. Israeli officials say the new housing units were approved two years ago and will be built in the Har Homa neighborhood. Israel's refusal to halt settlement activities on Palestinian land stopped the talks with Palestinian authorities since last year. The talks collapsed after Tel Aviv refused to extend its ten-month partial freeze on settlement construction that expired in September 2010.

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Scottish activist denied Gaza entry [Press TV, Iran]

Several international activists who had been stranded at the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing for a week were eventually allowed to enter the Gaza Strip by Egyptian authorities. The activists have brought with them medical aid, however, some parts of the convoy were not allowed in. Scottish activist, Hassan Nowarah, joins us now live from Gaza to tell us about the ordeal that he and other activists traveling with him experienced.

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One thousand Israeli medical residents resign [IBA, Israel]

Significant progress has reportedly been achieved in negotiations between striking doctors and the treasury but sanctions in the longest medical crisis in the nation's history are ongoing until a comprehensive agreement is reached. This, as 1,000 residents handed in letters of resignation. The nation's medical personnel today marked 137 days since the imposition of work sanctions, saying that most of the demands for improved work conditions have been met. The chairman of Israel Medical Association, Dr. Leonid Edelman ended his one man hunger strike after 11 days but said that the sanctions will continue until now intensified negotiations will settle unresolved issues.

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Arab League back Palestinian statehood bid at the UN [New TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Female #1
Arab countries agreed to support the Palestinian bid to obtain full United Nations membership of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.

Reporter, Female #2
Palestinians reaffirmed their determination to go to the United Nations and submit an application for a full membership for a Palestinian State. They rejected Israel's call for resuming negotiations. After the Arab Follow-up Committee convened a meeting in Qatar, the chief negotiator and head of the Palestinian delegation, Saeb Erekat, announced that a consensus was reached on a comprehensive Arab action plan to continue gaining support for the application by working with member countries in the UN General Assembly and Security Council. He said that the action plan includes a series of phone calls, visits, and consultations with member countries, geopolitical groups, and international and regional organizations.

Guest, Male #1 (Saeb Erekat, Palestinian Chief Negotiator)
Our request for permanent UN membership for a Palestinian State with 1967 borders with the capital as Jerusalem does not aim to incite any kind of confrontation or conflict but is only to maintain the option of two states and to preserve the peace process.

Guest, Male #2 (Khaled Bin Mohamed al-Atiya, Qatari Minister of State for International Cooperation)
Our honorable brothers, we hope that the countries in the world that love peace and wish to achieve justice and democracy, and the people who seek liberation and their legitimate rights will support the Palestinian people's requests and endeavors to establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Guest, Male #3 (Nabil al-Arabi, Secretary-General of the Arab League)
The UN request represents the only leading path and the only legitimate path.

Reporter, Female #2
A consensus was also reached about convening a meeting for the Arab Follow-up Committee in the second week of September to follow up on the developments and take further steps on the matter.