Defected soldiers threaten to topple Syrian regime by force [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Female #1
Local coordination committees in Syria said Syrian forces killed five people including a father and his three children in the town of Halfaya near Hama. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that villages in Idlib and Duma provinces were stormed. Reuters said three residents of Rastan city were wounded when the regime's loyalist forces bombed areas of the city. Rastan is witnessing wide-scale protests demanding the downfall of the regime and the formation of a central base for defected soldiers. Meanwhile, the Washington Post reported that an increasing number of soldiers are defecting from the Syrian army.

Reporter, Female #2
Syrian tanks are once again returning to Rastan. Activists uploaded this video online showing tanks approaching the city. Reuters quoted a resident saying that approximately 60 tanks were deployed at the northern edge of the city. On Monday morning, Rastan's streets and buildings were arbitrarily shelled by tanks carrying artilleries, according to one resident. Security forces were also deployed in al-Qusayr and villages in Idlib Province. This is a video of Rastan on Sunday, a city located near Homs. Protests in the two cities are incessant, which appears to be the main reason for the continuous military operations. Another factor motivating the regime's loyalist forces to carry out their operations is the defections from the army.

Guest, Male #1
I am Major Abdul Rahman Sheikh Ali from Rastan. I announce my defection from the Syrian Arab Army.

Guest, Male #2
I am Captain Abdullah Baqu'a from Rastan's 9th Brigade.

Guest, Male #3
I announce my defection from the Syrian Arab Army.

Reporter, Female #2
Syrian activists speak of the increasing number of soldiers defecting from the army in protest to opening fire on protestors. They either end up being killed, fleeing, or joining a new group known as "the Free Syrian Army," whose videos have spread all over the internet. The Washington Post reported that an increasing number of defectors have joined the Free Syrian Army, which is forming battalions in Homs, Idlib, and Deir az-Zour to protect protestors.

Guest, Male #4 (Colonel Riyad al-Asad)
This regime can only be removed by force. Our losses will not be any worse than the killing, torture, and tossing of bodies that is happening now.

Reporter, Female #2
The Syrian uprising continues to be peaceful, causing major controversy. Supporters of this approach insist on maintaining the uprising's moral superiority over the regime, according to a Syrian writer. Meanwhile, opponents of the approach call for arming the uprising to defend itself in the face of what they say are the bloody atrocities the regime will not hesitate to commit.

Guest, Female #3 (Syrian TV)
This morning, authorities in Dara'a confiscated a large number of weapons.

Reporter, Female #2
In the context of this controversy, forces loyal to the regime are continuing their military operations in more than one region to confront what they refer to as armed gangs. Protestors demanding the downfall of the regime continue day after day despite the large numbers of victims.

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Massive crowds across Yemen reject Saleh's call for elections [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Female # 1
Our al-Jazeera correspondent in Yemen reported on the death and injury of individuals in clashes between armed tribesmen and the pro-Saleh Republican Guards in the areas of Nahm and Arhab, north of the capital Sanaa.

Presenter, Male # 1
Our correspondent said the Yemeni air force shelled villages in Nahm as the province of Taiz witnessed intermittent artillery shelling last night. The revolutionaries accuse forces commanded by Ahmed, the president's son, of launching attacks on residential areas.

Presenter, Female # 1
On the political front, the opposition rejected President Ali Saleh's speech and accused him of trying to avoid transferring power.

Presenter, Male # 1
Internationally, Italy called on all sides in Yemen to stop the violence and to use Saleh's return as an indicator of a new beginning for political transformation, which opens the door to democracy and development.

Presenter, Female # 1
In terms of the popular mobilization, a massive women's march was held in the capital Sanaa, demanding the execution of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was described as a butcher.

Presenter, Male # 2
On the occasion of the 49th anniversary of the September 26 revolution, the youth of the change revolution held an unprecedented gathering in Taiz. They held a festival which included military personnel and civilian revolutionaries.

Presenter, Female # 1
Following a march, the crowd reiterated its commitment to revolutionary escalation and the peaceful nature of their revolution until the prosecution of President Saleh for having committed what they described as war crimes. Three massive marches were launched from three directorates in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, demanding the prosecution of President Ali Abdullah Saleh and his family.

Presenter, Male # 1
Participants raised slogans vowing not to concede the blood that has been shed and called for continuing the escalation until attaining the revolution's demands.

Presenter, Female # 1
The city of Ibb also witnessed a massive march in commemoration of the 49th anniversary of the Yemeni revolution that overthrew the monarchy in the last century.

Presenter, Male # 1
Participants demanded that members of the pro-Saleh army and security join the revolution and side with the people.

Presenter, Female # 1
They also called for the prosecution of President Saleh, whom they described as a butcher.

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As Libyan revolutionaries push into Sirte, a mass grave is uncovered in Tripoli [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Female #1
Libyan revolutionaries are preparing to renew their advance toward the coastal city of Sirte, east of the capital Tripoli. The city has been bombed by NATO for three days. Revolutionaries are closing in on the city and are within hundreds of meters of central Sirte, the birthplace of deposed leader Muammar al-Gaddafi. In addition, they are besieging the city from its eastern and western entrances. Meanwhile, NATO announced that yesterday its warplanes bombed a command and control center and repositories of ammunition, radars, and missiles in Sirte. On the other hand, the fighters are still massing at the entrances of Bani Walid, where they are confronted by missiles launched by Gaddafi's battalions. A mass grave was discovered in the suburbs of the Libyan capital Tripoli with the remains of hundreds of prisoners who were liquidated in Abu Salim Prison by Gaddafi's regime in 1996. The graves contain the remains of about 1,200 prisoners. It is believed that former intelligence chief Abdullah al-Sanussi executed the liquidation under Gaddafi's orders.

Reporter, Male #1
Painful facts have emerged in Libya since Gaddafi's disappearance. Everyday, a crime committed by the Colonel's regime against the Libyan people is discovered. Most recently, the National Transitional Council announced to have discovered a mass grave in Abu Salim Prison. More than 1,270 people were buried here, near the prison in the Libyan capital Tripoli. The NTC said Gaddafi's forces killed them in a 1996 massacre, which political observers say to be one of the major triggers of the revolution against Gaddafi.

Guest, Male #2 (Khaled al-Sharif, Military Council Spokesman)
We will now announce our attainment of a fact that all Libyan people long awaited: the bodies and remains of martyrs in the Abu Salim Massacre.

Reporter, Male #1
Officials said victims' bodies were recovered from inside the prison walls, then in 2000, reburied near the prison in a 1,000 square meter piece of land. Despite the discovery of these clues, the crime largely remains a mystery. Survivors of Abu Salim say that prisoners rose up against their jailors in June 1996, so forces led by members of Gaddafi's close circle responded with gunfire to put an end to their case and their lives as well.

Guest, Male #3 (Dr. Ibrahim Abu Suhaima, Supervising Committee Searching for Victims of the Gaddafi regime)
They were protesting over the conditions of the prison and demanding an improvement to their situation. So the case was closed by firing on all of them in one night. 1,270 people were executed.

Reporter, Male #1
Some surviving prisoners say the orders came from Gaddafi's intelligence chief Abdullah al-Sanussi and prominent intelligence official Abdullah Mansour. With the discovery of this massacre, Abu Salim becomes the 13th location where a mass grave has been discovered. This records another chapter in the book of repressive policies that Gaddafi's regime practiced against his people.

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Bahraini protestors hold 'Second Dignity Blockade' [Press TV, Iran]

In Bahrain, anti-regime protestors have taken to the streets despite a heavy-handed crackdown. Regime forces clashed with protestors in several villages including Deir, Sitra, Nuwaidrat and Mugaba. Anti-regime demonstrators created massive traffic jams in the capital Manama. Meanwhile, Bahraini clerics have condemned the massive arrests and the disrespectful treatment of Bahraini women by regime forces in the pat few days. The protests intensified after the opposition boycotted last week's parliamentary elections. Reports say less than one in five Bahrainis participated in the country's by-elections. The al-Khalifa regime held the polls to fill 18 seats that were abandoned by the al-Wefaq Party members.

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Egyptians call for Friday million-man march [Press TV, Iran]

Activists in Egypt have called for a million-man march in the capital Cairo on Friday. Activists say the demonstration is to call for a new constitution and a timetable for elections. One of the organizers, the Revolution Youth Party said the main goal of the rally is to ensure stability and a new government. The rally will be held in the landmark Liberation Square in the heart of the capital. Egypt has been under military rule since the ouster of Hosni Mubarak.

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PA President Abbas receives hero's welcome in Ramallah [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Male #1
The UN Security Council met today to discuss the upcoming state of Palestine. Today, the council members began their official discussion of the Palestinian application for recognition of an independent state, with Jerusalem as its capital. This is the first of a series of sessions expected to last for weeks or months before the voting process will begin. It seems that Washington and Tel Aviv may not be able to rally enough support at the Security Council to prevent the vote. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that direct talks are the only solution and that the timetable proposed by the quartet is practical despite its difficulty. In conjunction with US and Israeli pressure, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reiterated yesterday that there's no way to sit side by side with the Israelis without having clear references. His speech came as a massive celebration took place to welcome him back to his Muqata'a headquarters in Ramallah. Our correspondent Sheruk Asa'ad has the details in the following report.

Reporter, Female #1
Thousands of people have converged on Muqat'a headquarters in Ramallah to welcome the Palestinian president. A massive reception was held for him in a show of gratitude following his bid and speech at the UN.

Guest, Male #2
We want to tell Abu Mazen that we support him and that all Palestinian people are with him. It's our right to live, just like any other nation. The Palestinian Spring has arrived.

Guest, Female #2
They know that we are a nation living under occupation, and it's our right to live.

Guest, Male #3
We want an independent Palestinian state established with the 1967 borders and Jerusalem as its capital.

Reporter, Female #1
The Palestinian president vowed before the crowd that he will not back down. He also sent a message to the entire world and the quartet, which proposed a plan to resume talks for three months.

Guest, Male #4 (Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian President)
We will not accept any negotiations that lack legitimacy, and not until they halt settlement activities.

Reporter, Female #1
The Palestinian President will begin holding meetings with the Fatah movement and the Executive Committee to discuss all possibilities regarding the Security Council's decision as well as to discuss all proposals regarding the resumption of talks, most notably the quartet's plan, which lacks international legitimacy.

Guest, Male #5 (Abbas Zaki, Fatah Executive Committee Member)
Everyone is trying to find an exit. The real exit is for them to leave our land. We deserve to live, just like the rest of the world's nations.

Reporter, Female #1
The most important step is for the Palestinian President to activate dialogue with the Hamas movement in order to end the division.

Guest, Male #6 (Ziyad Abu Ain, Fatah Revolutionary Council Member)
The Fatah-Hamas dispute will end. This will help restore unity to the Palestinian nation.

Reporter, Female #1
Meanwhile, the Israeli foreign minister has threatened to impose sanctions against the Palestinians. Threats, if anything, prove that the Hebrew Sate is realizing it has lost this diplomatic battle, regardless of the Security Council's decision. For the Palestinians, regardless of what's coming and regardless of the UN Security Council's decision, they have won this diplomatic battle and their voices were clearly heard. Sheruk Asa'ad, Dubai TV, Ramallah.

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Israel, Palestine urged to enter negotiations [IBA, Israel]

Achieving peace with the Palestinians is more complicated than it was with Egypt or Jordan because the Palestinians never had a state. That is the view of President Shimon Peres, who told a gathering of foreign diplomats that peace talks should be conducted both publicly and behind closed doors. Peres was speaking at the Jewish new year reception that he hosts every year for the diplomatic corps. US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro also told Israel Television of the need to resume negotiations.

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Iraq's Turkmen minority comes under attack in Kirkuk [Al-Forat TV, Iraq]

Presenter, Female #1
Four people were martyred and 12 others were wounded in a series of terrorist attacks that struck al-Kahtib neighborhood in the Douliyah area. The terrorists simultaneously bombed five homes, martyring four residents, injuring nine, and substantially damaging several nearby homes. Meanwhile, two Iraqi soldiers and a civilian were wounded in a roadside bomb attack, targeting an Iraqi army patrol vehicle on Palestine Street near the Turkmen Club in the Babel suburb of Alexandria. Furthermore, an Iraqi police patrol has uncovered a large cache of light arms, ammunition, and explosives hidden in a deserted farm in the Buhairat area.

Presenter, Male #1
Over the past seven years, terrorist gangs have been seeking to stir sectarian strife in Kirkuk Province. The ethnically diverse community of Kirkuk has been targeted by these terrorist gangs in their campaigns of murder, displacement, bombing, and assassination of medics and intellectuals. Amjad Hilaihel has the details.

Reporter, Male #2
A crisis continues to unfold in Kirkuk Province, amid a deteriorating security situation.
Despite the security measures taken in the province, terrorist gangs still systematically target the residents and breach security. The terrorists are desperately seeking to shake the unity of the city, whose residents are vowing not to fall prey.

Guest, Male #3 (Ali Mahdi, Member of the Kirkuk Provincial Council)
Unfortunately, security forces in Kirkuk are failing to protect the safety of the residents. Following numerous meetings with security forces and the Iraqi Turkmen front, it has become imperative to form a special Turkmen protective security force.

Guest, Male #3 (Mohammad Hassan, Activist)
We urge security forces to step up their intelligence work to eliminate these gangs.

Reporter, Male #2
The criminal acts of assassination, which the province continues to witness, still pose a challenge to security forces despite the fact that they have become limited to the predominately Turkmen area of Tiseen in central Kirkuk Province. This prompted Kirkuk officials to order a review of the security measures in order to restrain these gangs and put an end to their bloody actions.

Guest, Male #5 (Najah Hussein, Member of Kirkuk Provincial Council)
Security agencies in the province of Kirkuk are made up of different ethnic groups. Frankly, they have been infiltrated. Certain groups may take different actions depending on who it is and where they are. All these shortcomings exist in the province.

Reporter, Male #2
In the end, bloodshed will remain fresh in the memories of the people of Kirkuk, who have lost the most valuable thing to terrorism. The residents here describe the Tissen area as "little Karbala." If these walls could talk, they would sing thousands of sad and tragic tunes in memory of the martyrs. While the three days of mourning may be over, the memory of the martyrs will be kept in history forever, as they are alive and well in God's hand. From the memorial council of al-Beit Mosque in central Kirkuk, Amjad Hilaihel, al-Forat.