Omar al-Bashir 'committed' to security agreement as Sudan opens border with South [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Male #1
The Reuters news agency reported, on behalf of eyewitnesses, that gunfire and shelling erupted today in the main city of the oil-producing state of South Kordofan, near the border with South Sudan. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir revealed that the joint committees, especially the security committees that were formed as a result of the Addis Ababa agreement, will begin meeting this week to implement the agreements that were reached between the countries. And in front of the National Legislature at the Sudanese People's Assembly, al-Bashir asserted that a new stage of relations will begin between Sudan and South Sudan, which stopped engaging with armed groups in Kordofan.

Reporter, Male #2
The Sudanese president offered a broad scope in his speech at the opening of the 3rd session of the Sudanese parliament, on the agreements that were recently achieved in Addis Ababa with South Sudan's leadership. He said that it addressed all of the disputed issues.

Guest, Male #3 (Omar al-Bashir, Sudanese President)
We achieved it with mutual effort from the other side, which we thank them for. This paved the way for solving all outstanding issues, and the issues after the secession. It contributed to normalizing relations, and mitigating the resolution of the thorny issue of Abyei, God willing. As for the unresolved issue of dividing the border, we sat with our brothers in the South Sudanese government. We hope that these agreements will lead to a breakthrough in relations between both countries, and establish a state of social and economic stability and security.

Reporter, Male #2
Al-Bashir revealed that the special committees, especially those pertaining to security, are beginning their work to implement the cooperation agreement reached with South Sudan. Al-Bashir announced the reopening of border crossings with the South, in a move described by observers as a show of seriousness in dealing with the latest agreement between the two countries.

Reporter, Male #2
Trade between both countries was halted before the secession of the South from the north last year. This cut off historic routes for supplying food, oil, and consumer products. The South seceded in July of last year, as mandated by a peace treaty that ended decades of civil war. However, disagreements continued over oil and border regions, as well as other issues. And under pressure, the two countries agreed last month to secure their joint borders. The agreement paved the way for Juba to resume the export of oil, which was halted last January due to a dispute with Sudan over the fees for exporting oil through its territory. Essam Abdallah, BBC.

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Israel strikes Gaza in response to Hamas's retaliation for deadly attack [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Male #1
The ousted government and the Palestinian factions in Gaza held Israel accountable for any consequences stemming from the escalation on the Gaza Strip, and called on the international community to pressure Israel to stop its escalation.

Presenter, Female #1
This comes after an Israeli air and artillery shelling on the Strip, to which the factions responded by firing rockets on Israeli targets.

Reporter, Male #2
The situation in the Gaza Strip is once again witnessing an escalation. It began with a typical Israeli raid that targeted a motorcycle in the southern part of the Strip. And the Israeli justification, just like every other time: Hostile acts against Israel, as confirmed by the Israeli army following the raid. The resistance responded by firing a number of rockets on Israeli targets adjacent to the Strip, a response that the resistance says signals a message, especially at this time.

Guest, Male #3 (Abu Obaida, Spokesperson for al-Qassam Brigades)
It is a message to the Zionist occupation that the shelling and domination of our Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, without accountability, will not be accepted by the Palestinian resistance. The resistance chooses when to carry out its operations and responses. This is a clear message to the occupation, and we think that it has been delivered.

Reporter, Male #2
The joint response by al-Qassam and al-Quds Brigades carries other significant implications, marking a new phase of dealing with the Israeli attacks.

Guest, Male #4 (Abu Ahmed, Spokesman for al-Quds Brigades)
It's titled, "The unification of Palestinian rifles to combat the Zionist aggression." It means that any aggression will be met with a response. In short, this is what may happen over the next few weeks.

Reporter, Male #2
But there are those who believe that the raid repaired the cracks in morale and security on the Israeli internal front, from the incident when an aircraft penetrated Israeli airspace.

Guest, Male #5 (Mukhaimar Abu Saada, Political Analyst)
If it is proven that this plane was a spy plane that filmed military areas in Israel, and worked for a specific side, whether it was Hezbollah or another side, there may be a different response regarding this plane.

Reporter, Male #2
It remains to be seen whether the situation will level off after reaching its expected point of escalation. Will it be subject to further development?

Reporter, Male #2
So far, it is clear that all sides do not want an uncontained escalation. However, it remains unclear whether the situation will spiral out of control, especially considering that each side remains committed to their own justifications and reasons, in a world full of crises. Wael al-Dahdouh, Al Jazeera, Gaza.

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Gaza rockets strike Eshkol region, killing petting zoo animals [IBA, Israel]

Over 50 rockets from Palestinians in the Gaza Strip were fired into Jewish communities in southern Israel's Eshkol region. There were no reports of injuries, although animals in a petting zoo were killed during the barrage, and several buildings were damaged. Responsibility for the attacks has been claimed by both Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, in retaliation for Sunday's Israeli Air Force strike that killed two members of Global Jihad on their motorbikes in Rafah.

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IDF: New anti-missile defense battery deployment 'unrelated' to drone attack [IBA, Israel]

In northern Israel, the IDF deployed a new Patriot anti-missile defense battery in the Carmel region near Haifa. An army spokesman said that the deployment is not unusual, and is something that occurred periodically in different locations on a routine basis, stressing that the Patriot's position is unrelated to Saturday's IAF downing of a drone that is believed to have been launched by Hezbollah.

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Iranian military: Drone incursion 'exposes weaknesses' of Israeli air defenses [IBA, Israel]

The incursion of an unmanned aircraft into Israeli airspace on Saturday exposes the weaknesses of Israeli air defenses, claims the deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Aber Umad also said that the incident indicates that Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile defense system doesn't work, even though the Iron Dome is designed to hit short-range rockets and not slow-flying aircraft. Meanwhile, another Iranian military official said that at least 10,000 Israelis would be killed if Israel were to strike Iran.

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Imran Khan's anti-drone march stopped at Waziristan border [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Male #1
In Pakistan, condemnation against American drone raids in South Waziristan falls along the lines of political exaggeration, due to the upcoming elections between the government and opposition. It's a little over a month before parliamentary elections.

Presenter, Male #1
Pakistani authorities yesterday banned a protest started by Imran Khan, the Insaf opposition party leader, from Islamabad two days ago. They banned the protest from entering the Waziristan area. Khan had promised to halt such raids with force if he were to take power. Mahyoub Khader from Islamabad.

Reporter, Male #2
They overcame all the dangers of the journey, but the authorities' orders to block the protests were awaiting them. The march of the leader of the Insaf opposition party, Imran Khan, and his supporters dropped anchor in the city of Tang, neighboring South Waziristan, instead of Kotka. The contention over American drones falls along the lines of political exaggeration and election propaganda, with Khan promising to halt them with force if he comes to power.

Guest, Male #3 (Imran Khan, Leader of Insaf Opposition Party)
Our march aims to remind the international community of its responsibilities toward the inhabitants of Waziristan. We are with them until security and stability return to this province.

Reporter, Male #2
Imran Khan is hitting two birds with one stone. He aims to gain the affection of tribes, and their seats in the upcoming parliament, while shedding light on the situation that has shaken the security and stability of the country, and above all has undermined its sovereignty. This is a reality the government preempted by explaining its stance on Washington's strikes, which shake its reputation, as the country's parliamentary elections approach.

Guest, Female #1 (Hina Rabbani Khar, Pakistani Foreign Minister)
If the objective of drone strikes is fighting terrorism, then there is no doubt Pakistan fights terrorism. But the means to fight it must be legal, and must not have negative results. Drone strikes with may win the battle, but will lead to losing the war.

Reporter, Male #2
Over 300 American drone strikes have shaken Waziristan over the past 9 years, killing over 3,000 people, a large number of whom were civilians.

Guest, Male #3 (Agha Iqrar Haroon, Director of Kooza Liberation Online Newspaper)
I doubt that such a march could have an impact on American policies. Washington is convinced of the effectiveness of its drone strikes, and their role in removing the thorn of al-Qaeda.

Reporter, Male #2
In principle, the government and the opposition share the same trench against American drone strikes. But on the ground, the opposition's request for a military response finds no reply from the government, which is what's keeping the dispute between the two sides in its current state. Mahyoub Khader, Dubai TV, Islamabad.

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Tension mounts as Syria and Turkey exchange artillery fire [New TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Female #1
Clashes in several parts of Syria, renewed Syrian shelling on the Turkish side, and Turkey's response.

Reporter, Female #2
Several parts of Syria are witnessing shelling and clashes between regime forces and the Free Army. In Aleppo, clashes didn't stop in the neighborhoods of Hanano and al-Sakhur, east of the city, and several other neighborhoods to its north. It was the same situation in several parts of Homs, where neighborhoods were exposed to air raids. The Farouk Brigade in Homs announced the arrest of First Lieutenant Husam al-Assad, cousin of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, during clashes with regime forces. In a related development, Ali Khuzam, a colonel in the Syrian Republican Guard who is considered to be Colonel Maher al-Assad's right-hand man, has died. He died as a result of wounds sustained days ago during clashes between regime forces and armed opposition members. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the colonel was the one who supervised the storming of the Baba Amr neighborhood in Homs, and led several military operations in several cities in the Damascus countryside.

Reporter, Female #2
In a different development, Turkish-Syrian political and ground skirmishes haven't ended. A shell from the Syrian side fell on the Turkish border town of Akcakale, the second incident of its kind in 5 days. The Turkish military fired an artillery shell into Syria as a direct response. The Turkish political response was given by President Abdullah Gul, who confirmed that the government in this stage remains in constant contact with the Chief of General Staff for consultation.

Guest, Male #1 (Abdullah Gul, Turkish President)
Turkey will take all the necessary steps with regard to Syria. What is happening in Syria is the worst possible scenario in the country. It's affecting Turkey directly, while the Syrian population suffers from the grief of this scenario.

Reporter, Female #2
Damascus viewed the statements by Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, regarding a handover of the presidency of a transitional government in Syria to Syrian Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa, as a reflection of their political and diplomatic floundering and confusion. Syrian TV reported that the Minister of Information, Omran al-Zoubi, stated that Turkey isn't the Ottoman Empire, and the Turkish Foreign Ministry doesn't assign rulers in Damascus, Mecca, Cairo, or Jerusalem.

Reporter, Female #2
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, warned of the dangerous situation on the Turkish-Syrian border with regard to an escalation of the conflict on the border, and the consequences of the crisis on Lebanon as two grave matters. Ban, during the opening of the first World Forum for Democracy in Strasbourg, expressed his deep concern over the ongoing flow of weapons to the Syrian government, as well as to opposition forces.

Reporter, Female #2
On a different front, Reuters showed some segments on the strongholds of the Free Army on the fringes of the capital, Damascus, and others of gunmen belonging to the Free Army in the neighborhood of al-Tadamon in the capital, during their assault on a military installation belonging to the regime.

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Moroccan judges demand more independence from Justice Ministry [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Female #1
Hundreds of Moroccan judges demonstrated in front of the Court of Cassation in Rabat to protest against the control of the Ministry of Justice over the judiciary. The protestors called for judicial independence and separation between the Ministry of Justice on one hand, and the judges and public prosecutors on the other.

Reporter, Male #1
In an unprecedented move described as the first of its kind in Morocco's history, the judges' association rose up against the dominance of the Ministry of Justice over the judiciary. The association organized a sit-in in front of the Cassation Court in Rabat to call for separation from the Justice Ministry.

Reporter, Male #1
Protestors raised slogans condemning what they referred to as "retaliatory measures" taken by the Ministry against some judges, whether they involve freezing their promotions or transferring them to other courts. The demonstrators called for separating the Department of Criminal Affairs and the General Inspector's Office from the Ministry of Justice, which maintains full control over the judges' career paths.

Guest, Male #2 (Mohamed Anbar, Cassation Court Judge)
There are privileges in the hands of the Minister of Justice, who uses them as influential tools to strike with. The Ministry has control over the Department of Criminal Affairs and the Inspector's Office, which oversee the judges' work.

Reporter, Male #1
The judiciary will not attain independence as long as the judiciary police, which prepares investigation reports and refers them to the courts, is affiliated with the National Directorate of Security. This was confirmed by the protestors, who called for the judiciary police's independence from the executive branch, and to make it part of the judiciary's authority.

Guest, Male #2
We are calling for establishing a public administration for the judiciary police that is separate from the National Directorate of Security, because the National Directorate of Security is part of the executive authority. This is in order to protect citizens' rights and freedoms.

Reporter, Male #1
The judges condemned the restrictions against their association, as well as their exclusion from the discussion that was initiated by the Ministry of Justice regarding judicial reform. They called for considering the association's demands to uncouple judges from the Ministry of Justice when drafting laws to activate Article 7 of the constitution, which entails making the judiciary an independent authority.

Reporter, Male #1
In addition to achieving judicial independence, the demonstrators called on the government to raise their salaries and improve what they described as "miserable work conditions."

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Iran MPs seek to grill Ahmadinejad over currency tumble, economy [Press TV, Iran]

Iran's parliament has said that it has received a petition signed by a large number of lawmakers to question President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over his handling of the economy, mainly over the fluctuations in the foreign currency market. If the lawmakers decide to go ahead with the petition, it will be for the second time in Iran's history that the chief executive appears before parliament for questioning. Based on reports from the foreign currency market, the Iranian rial is on a path to full recovery.

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'This Is Also Gaza' celebrates contemporary visual arts from Gaza Strip [Palestine TV, Ramallah]

Presenter, Male #1
In the Jordanian capital Amman, the celebration of contemporary visual arts titled, "This Is Also Gaza," has ended. It saw the participation of 40 artists in the fields of drawing, photography, and cinema.

Reporter, Female #1
"This Is Also Gaza" was the title of the celebration of contemporary visual arts in the Jordanian capital Amman. It was held at the Ras al-Ain Gallery. The celebration was organized by Alhoush.com and the House of Arab Art and Design, in partnership with Ma3mal 612, and the Greater Amman Municipality. The celebration aims to present a special variety of talent that represents the visual arts movement and its innovations in the Gaza Strip.

Guest, Male #2
We want to show that the Gaza Strip has artists, innovators, cinema directors, and singers, and to present a different image than the ones we see on satellite television, which is the image of destruction and death. However, that image is present, certainly.

Reporter, Female #1
The celebration's agenda brings a great variety of talent to celebrate Gaza, which has been dominated by images of war, occupation, death, and suffering for decades. It hopes to present Gaza through the eyes of its artists. It defies the typical image of Gaza. It's an attempt to shed light on the intellectual movement and its relationship to the Arab world, and the world in general.

Guest, Male #3
The biggest accomplishment we achieved today is that we showed another view of Gaza, the artistic and intellectual view of Gaza. Gaza is a beautiful place that is full of art and innovation. It has problems, but they don't dominate the artistic and beautiful image of Gaza. I think that these pictures were created by those who are suffering, so I see them as true. Because whatever is produced from suffering must be true.

Reporter, Female #1
Gaza has a unique story. It's about happiness that was taken away by the forces of occupation, death, destruction, siege, and ongoing suffering. Gaza also has a radiant spirit, and the ability to be innovative. It prevails over darkness, suffocation, and siege. "This Is Also Gaza" came to tell the story of the other side. The side of exceptional resistance, innovation, and ambition. A society that represents the next generation, the Palestinian tomorrow. Hanaa Meslah, al-Hussein Cultural Center, Amman.