Syrian army withdraws from Deir az-Zour but continues assault on Homs [New TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Female # 1
The Syrian army withdrew from Deir az-Zour, while an official source confirmed to SANA news agency the continued pursuit of what he described as "armed terrorist groups" in Latakia, as raids continue in the Bayadah and Siba'a neighborhoods of Homs.

Reporter, Female #2
The Syrian army left its barracks in Deir az-Zour, leaving the city from its southern and northeastern entrances, as confirmed by a military official to journalists who entered the city as part of a media tour organized by the Ministry of Information. The official said the army entered Deir az-Zour in response to a call by the residents, adding that the military carried out an exceptional and swift operation to restore security and stability in the city. He pointed out that soldiers managed to arrest gunmen and seize explosive devices and mines. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that some Latakia neighborhoods witnessed heavy gunfire in the early morning. The observatory said the raid and military operations in Latakia have cost 34 lives in the past four days, including that of a two-year-old girl who was killed amid a mass flight from the city. As for the official Syrian narrative, it confirmed through a military source to SANA news agency, that law enforcement forces continue to remove roadblocks set up by the armed terrorist groups along the crossroads and alleys, notably in al-Ramel al-Janoubi neighborhood. In addition, the source said members of these groups were arrested and the explosive devices they planted in the neighborhood were dismantled. Law enforcement forces also seized weapons. The source confirmed that some gunmen fled from al-Ramel al-Janoubi to nearby towns, opened fire, and threw sticks of dynamite, which led to a number of injuries. That same source said security forces are still tracking down the armed men in order to restore calm to the city. On the other hand, videos were uploaded online, showing closed stores in Souk al-Masquf in Homs, confirming it as a show of solidarity with Bab el-Siba'a and al-Bayadah. Those two neighborhoods have witnessed gunfire, wide-scale arrest campaigns, and raids. This comes as approximately 100 lawyers held a silent protest at the lawyers' chamber in the Justice Palace in the eastern al-Raqqa. They held banners calling on the army to leave the cities and demanded a fair and impartial judiciary. Politically, London said al-Assad lost his remaining legitimacy as Human Right Watch demanded the European Union freeze the assets of the Syrian National Oil Company, the Syrian National Gas Company, and the Central Bank of Syria until President Bashar al-Assad ends what the organization described as serious human rights violations.

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Gaddafi regime fires first scud missile in Libyan war [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Female #1
Libyan opposition forces threatened to cut off supplies from the capital Tripoli after they achieved military gains in cities near the capital. Meanwhile, the United States said that Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi's days in power are numbered. On the other hand, chairman of the Transitional Council Mustafa Abdul Jalil, denied that there are any direct or indirect negotiations with the Libyan regime or the UN envoy.

Reporter, Male #1
Residents of the Libyan capital continue their daily life as if the war is occurring in another world. Tripoli is still in the grips of the Colonel and his battalions. This is the tone that people speak in here. But no one knows what the city is hiding in between its alleys. The absence of security forces does not mean any change on the ground. The ghost of the Colonel's battalions is still so present in every corner of the city that it is difficult to know the true emotions of Tripoli residents after they heard the news that opposition forces had besieged the city. This chant echoes in the city of az-Zawiyah, 50 kilometers west of the capital. The city, as well as Gharyan in the south, appears to be under the control of Gaddafi's opponents according to opposition sources. They also spoke of advancing from the east. Perhaps this accelerating progress explains Washington's announcement that the Colonel's days are numbered. It may also explain Gaddafi's desire to use Scud Missiles to shell Brega, as stated by a US military source.

Guest, Male #2 (Ahmed Bani, Spokesman for the Opposition Forces)
The tyrannical regime indeed has these missiles that it may use. This man will not hesitate to use anything in order to prolong his reign even just for feeble advantages.

Reporter, Male #1
A missile hit a remote area before its damages reached Brega, which is exhausted by the clashes. The shelling did not shake the opposition fighters' determination, or at least that is what they say.

Guest, Male #3
He has no ethics, we knew this. But I just want to say that this shows one thing: he will use whatever is in his capability to avoid being eliminated from power.

Reporter, Male #1
The Colonel stays on, at least as long as his photo still hangs in Green Square in Tripoli. Meanwhile, it does not seem like the war that the Jamahiriya demands to be stopped will end anytime soon. The coming days may witness fiercer confrontations if the international mediation collapses and the secret negotiations fail to persuade the Colonel to relinquish power and opens the country into a new era. Firas Kidani, BBC.

Presenter, Female #1
The number of registered voters in the Tunisian elections reached 3.8 million as of this past Sunday. Tunisian President of the Independent High Electoral body Kamel Jendoubi said at a press conference that the rate of registered voters reached 55 percent of the total potential voters.

Guest, Male #4 (Kamel Jendoubi, Head of the Independent High Electoral Body)
The outcome of registration as of August 2 is as follows: 2,275,999 registered voters. By the end of August 14, the number of registered Tunisian voters reached 3,882,727.

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Bahrain commission closes its office due to public anger [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Female # 1
In Bahrain, the royal fact-finding committee closed its offices in Manama after being widely criticized by the Bahraini people and following the protestors' attack on its headquarters. The committee issued a statement saying public anger was directed at the head of the committee, Sherif Basyouni's conclusions on the investigation that exonerate Bahraini authorities from the crimes they committed during the peaceful protests. The statement considered these conclusions to be false, adding the committee will continue conducting interviews with the victims and witnesses to gather evidence and assess the circumstances. A number of the Bahraini people and observers believe the committee did not make a decision on the extent of the human rights violations in Bahrain and that it sympathizes with the Bahraini authorities. Opposition group al-Wefaq National Islamic Society confirmed the popular mobilization in the country will continue until all demands are met. Meanwhile, a number of regions and villages in Bahrain witnessed a series of protests on Independence Day, during which demonstrators demanded that Saudi occupation forces leave their country.

Reporter, Male # 1
Here in Abu Seba'a, the situation is the same as other Bahraini towns and villages during the month of Ramadan. Marches continue every night to confirm the popular demands calling for freedom and reforms. Bahrainis organized a series of protests in many towns and villages in concurrence with Independence Day. They stressed their country's independence and their rejection of foreign interference in its internal affairs. In addition, protestors chanted slogans demanding the departure of the Saudi occupation forces from Bahrain. These demonstrations have been exceptionally peaceful with protestors only waving their national flag. However, security forces cracked down on them in the same manner as in the past. The regime's forces, backed by the Saudi occupation forces, chased demonstrators, dispersing the peaceful protests by firing weapons and tear gas at them. Opposition group al-Wefaq National Islamic Society confirmed on Independence Day the ongoing popular mobilization of Bahrainis. In a statement, the group indicated that the people of Bahrain held the highest level of restraint and peacefulness despite the security forces' crackdown. It also stressed that the protestors' ceiling of demands remains the lowest among the Arab peoples. Al-Wefaq confirmed the popular demonstration in the country will continue until all demands are met, which include an elected government, a parliament with full authorities, fair electoral districts, and an independent judiciary. Popular marches and actions have been ongoing for months but have only been met with crackdowns by authorities. Bahrainis say Manama's government is now at a crossroad between submitting to their just demands and continuing with the language of violence and tyranny, which has led the people to lose their trust in the government.

Presenter, Female # 1
A Bahraini court referred a number of detainees accused of incitement against the regime to the Minor Criminal Court of Bahrain. Bahraini newspaper al-Wasat quoted attorney Moshen al-Alawi saying the prosecution of the detained will begin on October 19; they are accused of incitement against the regime and destabilizing the kingdom.

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Yemen's Saleh again vows to return 'home soon' [Press TV, Iran]

Our story this hour takes us to Yemen, where the embattled ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh has once again defied calls to leave power as he has promised to return home "soon." Saleh is in Saudi Arabia recovering from wounds he sustained in a June attack on the capital Sanaa. He has made the pledge in a live video broadcast to tribesmen loyal to him. Saleh has labeled the political opposition as trying to take advantage of the situation. The opposition says the council is aimed at leading the revolution forces ahead to fulfill the people's demands.

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Thousands of South Sudanese citizens are still stranded in Sudan [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Male # 1
Many South Sudanese citizens who are still in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum are enduring difficult living conditions as they are unable to find a way to return to their hometowns in their emerging country.

Presenter, Female # 1
They are demanding that the governments of Sudan and South Sudan accelerate and facilitate their return to the South.

Presenter, Male # 1
More details in this report from Khartoum by our al-Jazeera correspondent Mohammad el-Tayyeb.

Reporter, Male # 2
Waiting on the sidewalk, their luggage has become their homes after having left their homes in anticipation of returning to their new state in South Sudan. This man, and many others like him, say they've spent eight months in these circumstances as they wait for promises of help to return to their regions of origin in the country of South Sudan. And the more these promises are delayed, the more these people experience additional suffering and loss.

Reporter, Male # 2
They have long been waiting for the trip back home. There are no homes here protect them from the changing weather and rain. Most of them just want to return to their new country in South Sudan. And despite the ongoing voluntary programs for the citizens who wish to return to South Sudan, the country is facing many obstacles. Among them are securing return convoys to the south and a lack of funds. In addition, there are no clear programs to absorb the large number of returnees to their hometowns in South Sudan.

Guest, Female # 2
The people need to at least have a decent place to stay; this is unacceptable. Let them see how they're living in the south. They need to at least have shelter and not leave them out in the rain this way.

Reporter, Male # 2
However, the authorities confirm they have transported nearly 23,000 people to their homes in the South since the declaration of South Sudan as an independent country on July 9. Tens of thousands are still across the north's provinces waiting to learn their fate in the face of promises by the two governments, the south and the north, that everything will proceed well.

Guest, Male # 3
I promise that this thing is going to be finished. We will do what is required to transport these people without any problems.

Reporter, Male # 2
Only eight months remain for residents of South Sudan to manage their affairs in the north and either return to their new country or stay in a state in which they were once residents when Sudan was one country. Mohammad el-Tayyeb, al-Jazeera, al-Khartoum.

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Knesset holds special early session to address social unrest [IBA, Israel]

We open with the special Knesset session convened today as legislators return from summer break to address the ongoing social unrest. During the debate, hundreds of activists rallied outside as dozens clashed with security forces. Earlier this month, the Knesset took their annual summer recess, but 50 opposition lawmakers petitioned to force today's special session. As the proceedings got underway, hundreds of protestors staged a rally across from the Knesset where some activists clashed with police. Protestors say they want to return the Knesset to the people. The scuffles came after some demon warned that violence could ensue if solutions are not implemented quickly.

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IDF retaliates for Grad rocket attacks [IBA, Israel]

Two Palestinian fired Grad rockets from the Gaza Strip exploded in open areas in the western Negev last night. In response, IDF warplanes attacked terror targets in Gaza. Within hours of the two Palestinian Grad rocket attacks on the city of Be'er Sheva last night, IDF aircraft pounded terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip, including smuggling tunnels at the Gaza-Egypt border. The Hamas rockets exploded in open areas, adjacent to the Negev city, causing no injuries and no damage. Nevertheless, the army spokesman announced that Israel will no tolerate any attempts to harm Israeli citizens or IDF soldiers.

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Kuwaitis maintain kinship during Ramadan [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Female #1
Despite the changes that take place every year in Kuwait during the holy month of Ramadan, many Kuwaitis take necessary steps to help uphold the month's traditions and rituals to maintain kinship and social affiliation. One way to do it is by opening Diwaniyat. Diwaniyat are public gatherings or councils that serve Ramadan buffets during the holy month. Our correspondent Ahmad al-Einazi reports from Kuwait.

Reporter, Male #1
The holy month of Ramadan has a special taste in Kuwait. During this month, Kuwaitis try hard to bring to life some of the old traditions and customs they inherited from their ancestors. The hot summer temperatures have not prevented them from reflecting on these Ramadan traditions, which are aimed at strengthening their social ties. Most of the festivities take place at night due to the soaring temperatures during the day.

Guest, Male #2
In the past, we used to get together during Ramadan. Now, there's hardly any gathering. Most people eat and leave due to the heat.

Guest, Male #3
In the past, people used to visit their relatives. Life was simpler then. People used to visit each other. Now, people use text messages to communicate with each other.

Reporter, Male #1
It's not only the weather that's hot. The prices of food products, especially those in high demand during Ramadan, are hot as well. What's special about Ramadan in Kuwait is the launch of the so-called Ghabgat, or large Ramadan buffets, which are open for everyone regardless of their affiliation.

Guest, Male #4
Prices are not proportional to income. While income remains constant, prices continue to skyrocket.

Guest, Male #5
Prices are definitely on the rise. They have risen more than 150 percent, to unimaginable levels.

Guest, Female #1
Prices rose more than 100 percent. For example, we used to buy a bunch of parsley for a quarter of a dinar. It jumped to more than three dinars.

Reporter, Male #1, back on screen
The atmosphere of Ramadan in Kuwait is continuing to change, as many Kuwaitis are busy coping with their daily responsibilities. Despite these changes, many Kuwaitis are still clinging to Ramadan traditions and customs. Ahmad al-Einazi, Dubai TV, Kuwait.