Seven killed and hundreds arrested as Syrian crackdown continues [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Female #1
On the first day of the Eid ul-Fitr holiday in Syria, the death toll of protestors who fell from the gunfire of security forces rose to seven. Media networks quoted the opposition's local coordination committees saying that six were killed in Daraa, where a massive demonstration started from al-Omari Mosque. The seventh was killed in Homs. Protests also occurred in a number of regions after the Eid prayers. In Damascus, demonstrations took off from al-Hassan Mosque, Zain al-Abideen, Daqar in the Maydan neighborhood, and al-Rifai Mosque.

Reporter, Male #1
The Eid holiday came to Syria this year with sadness. Protestors were killed and wounded by the gunfire of security forces. After the Eid prayers, demonstrations began in a number of provinces: Damascus, Rif Dimashq, Homs, Hama, Latakia, Idlib, and Aleppo. Demonstrators in most protests dispersed without any casualties, but the security forces' violent response was focused in Daraa province, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. In the town of Baida, hundreds were arrested. The town became famous for the massive arrest campaigns carried out by the security forces. Protestors chanted slogans demanding the remaining residents descend to the streets, a tactic used in the Egyptian and Tunisian revolutions. Protestors also demanded to execute the Syrian president. The protests in Syria are all similar, their slogans are the same. Images of the protests are only recorded with cell phones. The security still intervenes in the same way, denying the occurrence of any incidents and saying the situation is incited by a foreign campaign targeting the country. With all that is happening, the protestors continue their daily demonstrations as a message to the outside world that the Eid this year came to Syrians with a new era. Mustafa al-Minshawi, BBC.

Presenter, Female #1
Meanwhile, EU Foreign Minister Catherine Ashton condemned what she referred to as the brutal repression of the protests in Syria. A spokesperson for Ashton said that the assault on the cartoonist Ali Ferzat was an example of the wide-spread human rights violations. The EU foreign minister also denounced the attack on al-Rifai Mosque in western Damascus on Saturday.

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Jerusalemites celebrate Eid ul-Fitr amid Israeli blockade [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Female #1
In occupied Jerusalem, thousands of Palestinians performed Eid ul-Fitr prayers at the holy al-Aqsa Mosque. The Eid this year comes at a time when Jerusalemites are suffering from a difficult economic situation due to the siege that the Israeli occupation imposes on the sacred city.

Reporter, Male #1
Despite economic hardships and the Israeli occupation's siege, Palestinian Jerusalemites welcomed the first day of the joyous Eid ul-Fitr with religious slogans at al-Aqsa Mosque, the Muslims' first Qibla and third Holy Sanctuary. They raised their voices with loudspeakers chanting, "God is great! God is great above all tyrants and arrogance."

Guest, Male #2
The Muslims' presence and praying at al-Aqsa, despite the ban and barricades, prove the Muslims' love for the holy al-Aqsa Mosque and their connection to it. The Jerusalemites take Jerusalem's cause to the holy al-Aqsa Mosque. By that, I mean the occupation bans our brothers in the West Bank and Gaza from coming here, but our brothers in Jerusalem filled this vacancy the best they can. Of course, al-Aqsa still needs the worshipers from all of Palestine, and God willing, it will be visited by all Arabs and Muslims in the future.

Reporter, Male #1
Thousands of Palestinians performed the Eid prayers at the holy al-Aqsa Mosque, even though the Israeli occupation closed down the city of Jerusalem. Orator of al-Aqsa Mosque and Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Sheikh Mohammed Ahmad Hussein called for Palestinian unity, commitment to Jerusalem, and standing up to the Israeli occupation's atrocities.

Guest, Male #3 (Mohammed Ahmed Hussein, Grand Mufti of Jerusalem)
Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem, the Palestinian people, and the Palestinian cause are in the hands of this nation. Jerusalem is not just for Palestinians. Al-Aqsa Mosque is one of the mosques that Muslims are obliged to travel to, so it is a responsibility for all Muslims. Therefore, we want all Muslims, the rulers and the ruled, the governments, the people, and the countries to take their responsibility for al-Aqsa Mosque, the holy sites, the holy city, and the Palestinian cause which is the primary and central cause for the Arab and Islamic nation.

Reporter, Male #1
Not far from al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalemites headed to the headquarters of the Red Cross in solidarity with members of the Palestinian parliament from the Change and Reform party who are challenging the decision to expel them from their city of occupied Jerusalem.

Guest, Male #4 (Khaled Abu Arfah, Former Minister of Jerusalem Affairs)
The Jerusalemites are renewing our vow to our brothers in parliament, to Jerusalem and to the holy al-Aqsa Mosque. We are sending a message to Israelis that we are here in Jerusalem and we remain steadfast. We will not back down and will not leave the city. The occupation should back down and quickly withdraw from the city.

Reporter, Male #1
The city of Jerusalem and its residents are enduring much pain and suffering. Despite this, there is a renewed hope that Jerusalem will return to its owners and a flag free of occupation will be raised here. Best wishes to you and to Jerusalem.

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Yemenis celebrate Eid amid uncertainty as Saleh vows again to sign GCC plan [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Female #1
According to the official Yemeni news agency, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has vowed to honor all previous initiatives, including the Gulf plan, and says he is ready to hold immediate elections for a new president. A source close to Saleh said that the president has reached a deal with the opposition, which stipulates that elections are to be held within three months, as Saleh transfers power to his deputy, Abed-Rabbu Mansur Hadi. This political breakthrough, if it holds, has failed to bring joy to the first day of Eid ul-Fitr in Yemen. Many Yemenis are expressing concern over the deteriorating security situation, amid the state of military alert in the country. On the other hand, the revolutionaries are continuing to mobilize on various fronts. Meanwhile, Yemeni children celebrated the Eid amid harsh living conditions. Abdel Rahman Shumari reports from Sanaa.

Reporter, Male #1
The situation seems to be getting worse with the arrival of each annual Eid in Yemen. The scene of armed confrontations and military mobilizations is overshadowing the ambiance of Eid al-Fitr and its festivities. As a result, many Yemenis chose to spend the holiday at home. However, some Yemenis who were able to overcome their fear went to visit their friends and relatives to wish them a happy Eid.

Guest, Male #2
This year's Eid has a special flavor to it, the flavor of the Arab revolutions. Many challenges still face us here in Yemen, including inflation and a shortage of fuel. However, we are trying our best to enjoy the Eid by visiting our friends and relatives.

Reporter, Male #1
The joy of Eid in Yemen's protest squares will not be complete until the victory of the revolution, as cited by the youths of change who have been staging sit-ins across 17 provinces for nearly seven months. The youth movement blamed foreign intervention for the stalemate, which they say seeks to quell the revolution in order to prolong the lifespan of the regime.

Guest, Male #3
The youths of Yemen hope that this Eid will mark the victory of their revolution, as they achieve their objectives to build a new Yemen.

Guest, Male #4
The victory has been delayed, perhaps due to regional and international conditions. It has nothing to do with internal issues. We have recently seen some mobilization pushing in that direction. I believe victory is coming soon.

Reporter, Male #1
The joy of Eid can be seen only in the eyes of the children. The volatile security situation, which may spiral out of control at any time, has stolen the joy of Eid ul-Fitr from many Yemenis. Happy Eid. Abdel Rahman Shumari, Dubai TV, Sanaa.

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Egyptians mark Eid under the slogan 'Eid Mubarak without Mubarak' [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Male #1
In Egypt, the Eid slogan is "Eid Mubarak without Mubarak." Millions of Egyptians poured into the main squares in Cairo and the various provinces to perform the first Eid ul-Fitr prayer after the downfall of President Hosni Mubarak's regime.

Presenter, Female #1
Slogans in support of the January 25 revolution have dominated the chants of worshippers following the Eid prayer, especially those calling for continuing pressure aimed at bringing civil and democratic life back to Egypt.

Presenter, Male #1
Our correspondent Abed Basir Hassan reports from Cairo.

Reporter, Male #2
The Eid ul-Fitr in Egypt comes this year with a special flavor of the revolution. Massive crowds converged on public squares, especially at Tahrir, or Libration Square, in the heart of Cairo. The square was turned into a festival, during which forces of the revolution reaffirmed their commitment to the revolution until their objectives are achieved. The enthusiastic display in the square, despite the security presence, included activities by several political parties.

Reporter, Male #2
Using sign language, this group of deaf and hearing impaired revolutionaries was able to participate. And this group here expressed loyalty to those who paid the price of freedom with their blood.

Guest, Male #5
God willing, we call for retribution. This is the only way to heal our wounds. Thank God.

Reporter, Male #2
The scene was not much different in Mustafa Mahmud Square in Giza, which was once a hub of support for Mubarak. Some expressed regret over the deposed regime.

Guest, Female #2
I wanted to say that his Excellency, the great and generous president, whom we forgot and whom the entire nation forgot is a poor and an oppressed man; he saw bad days ?Let me finish, let me finish. The president has achieved many, many, many things.

Reporter, Male #2
These phrases provoked some who insisted that this year's Eid is the best in decades.

Guest, Male #6
It's a beautiful Eid. This is the first time I feel the winds of freedom blowing in the country. I wish the Egyptian people a blessed year, wishing the same for Syria, Yemen, and the entire Arab nation.

Reporter, Male #2
As they celebrated, the Egyptians didn't forget about those less fortunate. At a time when Egyptians are celebrating their first post-Mubarak Eid ul-Fitr in open areas and squares, elements of the former regime are spending the Eid behind bars. The most notable message this year is "Eid Mubarak without Mubarak" or "Blessed Eid without Mubarak," even if it angers some. Abed Basir Hassan, al-Jazeera, Cairo.

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Gaddafi forces given four days to surrender [Press TV, Iran]

The head of Libya's Transitional National Council has set a four day deadline for fugitive ruler Muammar Gaddafi's loyalists. He has urged them to surrender cities under their control or face military force. Libyan revolutionaries have converged on Gaddafi's birthplace Sirte from the east and west. They have stopped short of an assault in the hopes of arranging a negotiated surrender of the city. They NTC chairman says talks are underway with officials of other towns to arrange for their peaceful surrender. Gaddafi himself is still on the run. This, since revolutionaries captured his compound in the capital last Tuesday.

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UN concerned about tense Bahrain situation [Press TV, Iran]

In the headlines today the United Nations has warned that Bahrain's crackdown on peaceful demonstrations is continuing and the situation remains "tense and unpredictable" Spokesman for the UN High Commission for Human Rights Rupert Colville says that more than 260 involving demonstrators are waiting for trial. He warned that most of the defendants may have been arrested only for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and association. Colville stressed that all such detainees must be released. He also called on the Manama regime to prosecute civilian defendants at civilian courts rather than the Court of National Safety, which is effectively a military tribunal.

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US suffers deadliest month in Afghan war [Press TV, Iran]

August has become the deadliest month for US soldiers in Afghanistan. Sixty-six American troops lost their lives in Afghanistan this month alone. This has made August the bloodiest month for the US military since the US-led war began nearly a decade ago. Over 410 foreign forces, most of them American, have died in Afghanistan since the beginning of this year. On Tuesday, one more US-led foreign soldier was killed in southern Afghanistan. The victims nationality and the exact location of the incident have not been revealed yet.

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IDF prepares for another terror attack from Sinai Peninsula [IBA, Israel]

We open with the continued high state of alert in the south of the country today following concrete intelligence warnings of an impending terrorist attack. Troop deployments on both sides of the Israel-Egypt border were reinforced overnight in an attempt to foil a possible terror attack. According to Israeli intelligence, a large terrorist cell in the Sinai Peninsula was poised to carry out a cross-border mission, similar to the one carried out last week when eight Israelis were killed. The cell is reportedly comprised of some ten to twenty members of the Islamic Jihad Organization.

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Palestinian injures eight at Tel Aviv nightclub [IBA, Israel]

The Palestinian Authority has officially censored the terror attack on a Tel Aviv night club on Monday. A statement issued from the Ramallah headquarters of Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas read that "the presidency condemns any attacks on civilians." Eight people were left injured when a 20-year-old Palestinian resident of the West Bank city of Nablus rammed a stolen taxi into a roadblock at a nightclub in the early morning hours yesterday before stabbing several police and security officers. The Palestinian Authority statement went on to also condemn recent IDF airstrikes in Gaza as well as recent Israeli military raids in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

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Division among Israel's social protest leaders ahead of million-man march [IBA, Israel]

Turning now to the ongoing social turmoil sweeping the nation. An increasingly evident division among the protest leaders ahead of the so-called million-man march slated to be held this Saturday night. This, as consumer activists are now threatening to boycott Israel?s largest supermarket chain. As we've reported before the protest movement is facing significant adversity as there are growing riffs among the leadership. One of the primary differences is whether or not they want to cooperate with the government-appointed Trachtenberg Committee. The student union said that they believe in dialogue while the Rothschild tent protest leaders remain firmly against that.

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Are the people or is the regime inciting sectarianism in Syria? [ANB, UK]

Presenter, Male #1
This evening we will discuss the Syrian issue with Mr. Ammar Waqqaf, member of the British Syrian Society here in the UK, who has previously been on our show, representing the Syrian regime's loyalists. And Mr. Marik al-Abdeh, chief editor of opposition TV network Barada, who represents the voice of the opposition.

Presenter, Male #1
Mr. Marik, does the fact that the regime has a military structure make it reliant on a military solution? Is the opposition hoping for a military coup or military defections?

Guest, Male #2 (Mr. Malik al-Abdeh, Opposition Barada TV Chief Editor)
Well, so far there haven't been any major defections and there are a number of reasons for this, including the sectarian structure. Meaning, this regime has a sectarian facet, which prevents the kinds of defections we saw in Libya. Major defections took place in Libya in the first few weeks of the revolution there. The sectarian element gives the regime something to hold on to and that's one aspect.

Presenter, Male #1
But let's be honest when we talk about the sectarian element in the sense that the Alawite sect is holding on to this regime, doesn't this sect have reasons for doing so? Especially since the opposition's speech may prompt it to stick to the regime even more?

Guest, Male #2
No, on the contrary. First, let's look at the opposition over the past 11 years, from when Bashar first took power until today. The opposition chose the kind of language that calls for unity between all Syrians, equality of rights and responsibilities?

Presenter, Male #1
That's true; your first slogan was "unity, unity and unity."

Guest, Male #2
Yes, unity; and this was reflected after the revolution started. One Friday was named the "Friday of Saleh al-Ali," referring to the great Alawites. In addition, there was the "Friday of Azadi," addressing the Kurds, and the "Great Friday" for the Christians. So I don't believe that there has been any speech against the Alawite sect, quite the contrary.

Presenter, Male #1
Mr. Ammar, on the subject of morality, in our previous interview I remember you talking about accountability, the corruption in the authority, and the paralysis of this authority to act. Despite all of that, you still side with this authority.

Guest, Male #3
First of all, please allow me to briefly explain some misunderstandings. First, the majority of people are with the Syrian government.

Presenter, Male #1
But who decides that?

Guest, Male #3
The majority itself decided that. On June 21, when nearly seven or eight million people took to the street, they vowed their loyalty to the regime.

Presenter, Male #1
Well, I think if security forces stopped firing at people, then 20 million could take to the street. We don't know.

Guest, Male #3
Well, we don't know.

Presenter, Male #1
In any case, what about the issue of accountability?

Guest, Male #3
No, we genuinely believe that the majority of people are in favor of the regime reforming itself. As for the sectarian question, the idea that sectarianism is protecting the regime is wrong. This issue was not incited by the regime. It was incited by the street. Allow me to explain the political issue behind this issue. There are numerous regional players who are interested in Syrian affairs and in using the Syrian issue for their own interests. One of those players is anyone interested in the Shiite-Sunni issue in the region and they are waging such a battle. These people need to turn Syria into the playground for such a struggle. The sectarian issue is not the basis of the conflict but is instead being issued to fuel a specific dispute or conflict.