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Mosaic News - 08/25/11
August 25, 2011 from Mosaic

The hunt for Libya's Gaddafi continues with the aid of British Special Forces, rights group urges India to probe mass graves in Kashmir, Iraqi Kurds condemn Turkish air strikes on Kurdistan Region, and more.

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Raw Video: Tripoli Celebrates Reports of Gaddafi's Death
Raw Video: Tripoli Celebrates Reports of Gaddafi's Death

Telegraph.co.uk | Oct 20

Libyans take to the streets of Tripoli to celebrate reports of deposed leader Muammar Gaddafi's death in the seizure of his hometown Sirte by inter...

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From LinkAsia via CCTV News | May 17
Chapter 1: The hunt for Libya's Gaddafi continues with the aid of British Special Forces [Al Jazeera, Qatar]
Chapter 2: Syrian cartoonist Ali Ferzat beaten by gunmen as deadly crackdown continues in Homs [BBC Arabic, UK]
Chapter 3: Despite ceasefire Israeli air strikes kill six Palestinians [Dubai TV, UAE]
Chapter 4: Twenty rockets fired from Gaza into southern Israel [IBA, Israel]
Chapter 5: Bahrain's regime faces unrelenting pro-democracy protests [Al-Alam, Iran]
Chapter 6: Iraqi Kurds condemn Turkish air strikes on Kurdistan Region [Al-Iraqiya TV, Iraq]
Chapter 7: Rights group urges India to probe mass graves in Kashmir [Press TV, Iran]
Chapter 8: Cholera epidemic spreading in Somalia [Press TV, Iran]
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The hunt for Libya's Gaddafi continues with the aid of British Special Forces [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Female #1
Reuters quoted sources of the revolutionaries saying they are surrounding Muammar al-Gaddafi and some of his children in a building near Bab al-Aziziya compound in Tripoli. This comes as Gaddafi gave a new audio speech calling on Libyans to resist the revolutionaries and march to Tripoli to liberate the city. Corinthia Bab Africa Hotel in central Tripoli, where foreign journalists are staying, was subjected to shelling and heavy gunfire by Gaddafi's battalions. The streets of the capital witnessed battles between the revolutionaries and the battalions' snipers. The revolutionaries used anti-aircraft weapons and rockets to disperse the snipers stationed on rooftops near the hotel. It is worth mentioning that the hotel is located 1.5 kilometers from the Green Square near the Old City. While the revolutionaries started storming into the Abu Salim neighborhood in Tripoli where the remnants of Gaddafi's battalions are entrenched, the British defense minister announced that NATO is supporting the revolutionaries on the ground, especially in their pursuit of Muammar al-Gaddafi.

Reporter, Male #1
Intensive gunfire subsided in the capital Tripoli, but battles in the city have not ended. In the past few hours, the revolutionaries focused on maintaining control and preventing a security breakdown in certain areas, while preparing to storm the Abu Salim neighborhood, which is still not under their control. They believe the Libyan Colonel's son Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi is hiding in this densely-populated neighborhood, which is impeding the fighters' mobilization. Reports coming out of Tripoli indicate that gunfire is occasionally heard and that the revolutionaries are preoccupied with taking war spoils found in several civilian and military facilities. As of this moment, the exhaustive search is still focused on their most important target, Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi. It is worth mentioning that Libyan revolutionaries trying to capture Gaddafi are receiving direct support from NATO, which said in a report that its Special Forces are on the ground in Libya.

Guest, Male #2 (Liam Fox, British Defense Minister)
We never comment on our special forces; it would compromise their security. It is fair to say, however, that NATO is providing intelligence and reconnaissance assets to help in the hunt for Colonel Gaddafi, and indeed the remnants of the regime.

Reporter, Male #1
Various news agencies also spoke of international help, indicating that NATO members are present in the eastern front of Libya, from where the revolutionaries are trying to advance. They are trying to move toward the city of Sirte but are being confronted by the battalions. With the disintegration of Gaddafi's military capabilities in most parts of Libya, NATO and the US were apprehensive in the past few hours that gunmen may seize traditional Libyan weapons, especially the mobile missiles and anti-aircraft weapons, and deliver them to the West's adversaries. For this reason, some revolutionaries say they are keen to cooperate with the elites of the old regime to avoid what they referred to as the cleansing of the country's elites the way Iraq did after the invasion in 2003.

Presenter, Female #1
Meanwhile, Chair of the Libyan National Transitional Council Mustafa Abdul Jalil said the council secured large amounts of fuel, food, and medicine in Tripoli and az-Zawiyah, which will be sufficient for all of Libya.

--

Syrian cartoonist Ali Ferzat beaten by gunmen as deadly crackdown continues in Homs [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Male #1
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a Syrian woman was killed this morning in a village near the city of al-Mayadin in Deir az-Zour province. The Observatory indicated that renowned cartoonist Ali Ferzat was severely beaten after getting kidnapped. Ferzat's son Muhannad said his father was savagely assaulted and beaten, and his car was smashed by a group of masked men as he was driving through Umawiyeen Square in Damascus. They kidnapped him and broke his hand, then tossed him on the airport road.

Reporter, Male #2
Four were killed in Homs when Syrian security forces opened fire at the protests. Meanwhile, two were killed and three were injured, including one in critical condition, after security forces opened fire on a rally welcoming the UN humanitarian commission in Talbisa north of Homs.

Guest, Male #3
August 24, 2011, the martyr was peacefully protesting to welcome the UN fact-finding committee.

Reporter, Male #2
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a young man was tortured to death Wednesday morning after security forces arrested him a week ago after storming the city of Khamshi Khon in the countryside of Idlib. In addition, Harasta in Rif Dimashq was raided and dozens were arrested. The relentless protests are met by continuous arrests. One hundred and twenty people were taken in the latest arrest campaign on Tuesday. According to rights activists, security forces abused the detainees, destroyed furniture in some houses and the properties of people wanted by security institutions. In Rif Dimashq, night protests occurred in Duma, Dariya, Harasta, Kanakar, az-Zabadani, Qiswa and Madaya according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The neighborhoods of Faddiya, Bayada and ez-Zir Street in Homs also witnessed raids and gunfire.

Guest, Male #4
The situation in Syria has reached a phase in which the unarmed peaceful people are facing tanks, warplanes, and even shelling by naval ships from the sea. So we are in a state of war but so far, we insist on remaining peaceful.

Reporter, Male #2
New chants were heard today during the peaceful protests, indicating the ceiling of the demands they started with in March has been raised. The slogans changed from "the protector is the thief" to "the people want the downfall of the regime" and "the people want the departure of President Bashar al-Assad," to "the people want a national council" immediately. The formation of a national council was announced in Istanbul on Tuesday, an indication that the point of no return has been reached. This council immediately explained its cause and positions to the international community. Its delegation visited the British Foreign Ministry in London.

Guest, Male #5 (Ahmed al-Asmad, Syrian National Council member)
We requested Britain renew the international pressure on the Assad regime on all levels. We have not requested a military intervention, as many are calling for. As I mentioned, we have called for imposing a no-fly zone because at the moment they are shelling from the air and from the sea; this happened in Latakia. We requested Britain stress this issue at the Security Council.

Reporter, Male #2
Meanwhile, state media in Damascus is reporting that the Syrian army and security forces continue to storm the cities in order to cleanse them of armed Islamist terrorist groups. Hayan Yaqoub, BBC.

--

Despite ceasefire Israeli air strikes kill six Palestinians [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Male #1
The fragile ceasefire between the Palestinians and the occupation is entering a new phase amid Israeli threats to continue targeting Islamic Jihad members in Gaza. Five people were killed and dozens were injured over the past 24 hours in a series of airstrikes, with the latest targeting the town of Beit Lahia. One Palestinian was martyred and 30 others, including women and children, were injured in the predawn raid. Our correspondent Bassam al-Madhun reports from Gaza.

Reporter, Male #2
Despite the desire of both sides to restore calm to the region, Israel's breach of its truce with the Palestinian factions last Sunday by killing at least five Palestinians has further escalated the situation. This comes amid the Palestinians' rage and calls for a response to the Israeli occupation's crimes.

Guest, Male #3
This is an ugly and heinous crime committed by a brutal enemy that only understands the language of blood and destruction. May God bless our martyrs.

Reporter, Male #2
Islamic Jihad, which continues to launch missiles towards Israel, is the main target of the Israeli war machinery, as confirmed by Israeli news agencies and this will likely leave the door open for further confrontations.

Guest, Male #4
We are ready to confront this enemy, using all of our military forces and weapons.

Reporter, Male #2
The intensive efforts aimed at ending the escalation and abiding by the truce have failed to contain the growing crisis. Some believe it is part of an Israeli policy, in which Israel is seeking to divert attention from its global political problems.

Guest, Male #5 (Muhsen Abu Ramadan)
It's clear that Israel has breached the truce by adopting a new formula under the slogan of continuing the aggression and assassinations, targeting not only members of the Palestinian resistance but also civilians, in addition to targeting civil associations. They are doing that while trying to show that they are abiding by the truce. They are trying to mislead the international community by demanding the Palestinian resistance commits to the truce.

Reporter, Male #2
Under its new formula, Israel is imposing its conditions and leaving the Palestinians to carry the burden. This is warning of a nightmare-filled future. Bassam al-Madhun, Dubai TV, the Gaza Strip.

--

Twenty rockets fired from Gaza into southern Israel [IBA, Israel]

The day-old truce announced by Palestinian terrorists is apparently over after over 20 rockets pounded into the south of the country in the past 24 hours. A short time ago, a rocket fell on the Sdot Negev Regional Council; no damage or injuries were reported. Last night, a nine-month-old baby girl was lightly injured after a Grad missile landed in the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council. The baby and her mother were inside her car when it was struck by a rocket, causing it to explode in flames. The missile attacks continued into the night with two more rockets fired in Beersheba.

--

Bahrain's regime faces unrelenting pro-democracy protests [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Male # 1
Supporters of the February 14 Revolution in Bahrain called on Arabs and Muslims to commemorate international al-Quds, or Jerusalem, Day, which was founded by Imam Khomeini, may God bless his soul. Supporters of the revolution released a statement, calling on Muslims across the world to take part in protests and sit-ins on al-Quds Day to condemn the crimes of the Israeli entity and denounce the world's arrogance. The statement also stressed on the importance of participating in great numbers to make the US and Western countries miss the opportunity to conspire against the people of the region and the revolutionary regimes supporting liberation movements and revolutions.

Presenter, Male # 1
Popular protests swept across a number of cities and villages in Bahrain, during which demonstrators chanted against the regime's policies and demanded change and freedom. They also chanted in condemnation of the authorities' targeting of religious figures and the mistreatment of religious scholar Sheikh Issa Qasim. Security forces used the power of weapons to disperse the protestors.

Reporter, Male # 2
In one voice, these masses poured into the streets of Bahrain's cities and villages. They insist on getting the demands they have been calling for since mid-February and they are adamant on attaining change and justice. From the town of Bilad al-Qadeem to the city of Sitra and Sharekhan, then to the area of Tubli and Ras el-Ruman, a human chain took to the streets to protest the policies of the Bahraini regime. They demanded the downfall. Night marches took over the streets of many Bahraini cities and villages. Demonstrators demanded the Bahraini regime immediately release the detainees, as indicated in their chants. Despite the peaceful nature of the protests, the regime's security forces met them as usual with the language of violence and bullets in order to disperse the demonstrators. Mass popular protests took place in the villages of Ali and Dar Kulaib, in solidarity with the religious authority. Demonstrators chanted against the regime's targeting of religious symbols and the Bahraini minister of justice's aggression on religious scholar Sheikh Issa Qasim. Their demands have not changed and their voice has not been suppressed. They want its echo to reach the entire world. They say their intifada or uprising will continue until their demands of freedom, change and democracy are met.

--

Iraqi Kurds condemn Turkish air strikes on Kurdistan Region [Al-Iraqiya TV, Iraq]

Presenter, Female #1
Dozens of citizens took to the streets of Arbil to demand an end to the military operations by Turkish forces on Iraqi border cities and villages.

Presenter, Male #1
Protesters called on the central government to adopt a serious stance to stop the near-daily shelling.

Reporter, Male #2
Angry protesters flowed onto the streets of Arbil and erupted as one when they reaching the Turkish consulate in Arbil. They demonstrated against Turkey's repeated aggressions and violations of Iraq's Kurdistan Region.

Guest, Female #2
All of us are gathered here today, we came from across Kurdistan, to condemn and denounce the chauvinistic attacks on our Kurdistan.

Reporter, Male #2
Residents of Kurdistan's city of Arbil participated in the protests, with all social stratums represented, including teachers, students, employees, businessmen, artisans, and intellectuals. They condemned the Turkish air force's violation of Iraqi Kurdistan's calm airspace and the Turkish warplanes' shelling of villages, cities, and districts in the region.

Guest, Female #3
We are here to express that the Kurdish people are peaceful people. We peacefully express that we are peaceful and don't want war. We are able to protect our borders but we do not want war. We use all peaceful means. We want all countries, the Arab League, and the super powers to hear us and defend our rights.

Reporter, Male #2
The people were enraged by the martyrdom of seven members of the same family, including young children, in this barbaric shelling. The shelling was launched under the pretext that alleged members or headquarters of the Kurdistan Workers' Party are located in areas near the Turkish-Iraqi border.

Guest, Male #3 (Qasim Mohamed Amin, NGO representative)
As a civil, non-governmental organization, we organized peaceful protests in front of the Turkish consulate. We are protesting the Turkish air force's deceitful bombing of innocent civilians in Arbil and the killing of seven members of the same family. This shelling is brutal and we strongly condemn these barbaric attacks.

Reporter, Male #2
Massive demonstrations and overwhelming protests swept across the streets of Arbil. The public's indignation is unprecedented; it is the result of the continuous and unjustified Turkish aggressions of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.

--

Rights group urges India to probe mass graves in Kashmir [Press TV, Iran]

Over 2,000 corpses have been found buried in a number of mass graves in the Indian-controlled Kashmir. Human Rights Watch has urged India to immediately investigate the case of mass graves. Human Rights Watch has called on India to immediately open an independent, transparent, and credible investigation into the unmarked graves discovered in the India-controlled Kashmir. The South-Asia Director for Human Rights Watch in a statement said "For years, Kashmiris have been lamenting their lost loved ones, their pleas ignored or dismissed as the government and army claimed that they had gone to Pakistan to become militants. But these graves suggest the possibility of mass murder. The authorities should immediate investigate each and every death."

--

Cholera epidemic spreading in Somalia [Press TV, Iran]

In drought and famine-stricken Somalia, there have been fresh reports of a cholera epidemic. A Press TV correspondent says at least 37 women and children have died of cholera over the last 24 hours. Hundreds of Somali children with cholera have been rushed to southern Mogadishu hospitals. The World Health Organization says over 4,000 cholera cases have been reported from one hospital alone. Meanwhile, aid agencies are calling for urgent international response to contain the disease.