Russia and China losing patience over violence in Syria [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Female #1
Clashes erupted in the Syrian city of Homs between members of the Syrian army and protestors. Explosions were heard and columns of smoke were seen rising from several buildings.

Reporter, Male #1
BBC could not confirm the veracity of these images that are claimed to be of the Syrian army's campaign to restore security and public order to Homs city in Syria. It has been reported that a number of army members escaped the military and went to Homs. Syrian human rights sources said three people were killed by the gunfire of security forces in Homs, indicating that a broad arrest campaign has been ongoing since yesterday. So far, over 100 people have been arrested. Prior to that, protests took place in Daraa in southern Syria. The demonstrators carried pictures of Kurdish dissident Mishaal al-Tammo, who was killed last week, and chanted anti-President Bashar al-Assad slogans. Anti-regime demonstrators also took to the streets in Idlib in northwestern Syria under the slogan "We bow to no one but God." These events coincide with Syria's diplomatic activities that aim to explain the official Syrian position that a conspiracy is threatening the stability of Syria. Syria is relying on the support several countries, especially Russia and China which called on the Syrian government to accelerate the implementation of reforms promised by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. A spokesman for the Chinese government indicated that his country's patience is beginning to run out due to the slow process of reforms.

Guest, Male #2 (Liu Weimin, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman)
China is highly concerned about the situation in Syria, is against the use of violence, and we hope not to see any more bloodshed and casualties. The Syrian government should move faster to honor its reform pledges and quickly initiate and push forward the inclusive political process with the broad participation of all parties. We believe the Syrian government should respond to people's reasonable expectations and appeals, and resolve the issues through dialogue.

Reporter, Male #1
In conjunction, reports have emerged on the Syrian government's determination to form a committee to draft a new constitution for the country, present it to parliament, and then put to a public referendum.

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Syrian refugees in Lebanon fear returning home [Future TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Male #1
Thousands of Syrians escaping the violence in their country chose to come to Lebanon in search of protection for themselves and their families. But they say they do not feel safe and are afraid to return to Syria.

Reporter, Female #1
For a long time, the mountainous border that separates Lebanon from Syria was easy to penetrate for smuggling goods or for illegal border-crossing into Lebanon. Today, since the Syrian uprising began, the border town of Wadi Khaled has become a refuge for thousands of Syrians escaping the violence and bloodshed at home. However, even though they have crossed the border, many Syrian refugees do not believe they are safe from the Syrian authorities, who have infiltrated Lebanon before. Some of the refugees are staying in schools where a charity foundation secures food and water for them.

Guest, Male #2 (Mohamed Kazli, Refugee from Homs)
We request Lebanon to provide us with protection. We can't leave this area because many people here in Wadi Khaled are affiliated with the Syrian regime. Anyone of us could be kidnapped. The regime already kidnapped two people and handed them over to shabeha; then the shabeha handed them over to the Syrian security forces.

Guest, Male #3 (Mahir Ibrahim, Syrian Refugee)
I have a boy in the third grade. He is at the top of his class. I would rather have him drop out of school than attend one of the regime's schools. They promised to open a school for our children in the area. It's only a promise. School already started a week ago.

Reporter, Female #1
UN reports indicate that over 2,700 people have been killed or imprisoned since the uprising in Syria began six months ago. After reports indicated the killing in Homs had escalated, the number of refugees rose as well. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees officially registered 4,000 people who fled Syria to Lebanon, while the actual number exceeds 6,000 including Syrians who are being accommodated by Lebanese families.

Guest, Male #3 (Alan Afri, Ground Coordinator in UN High Commission for Refugee Affairs)
Currently, there are approximately 3,800 people registered and they are receiving various aids. As you know, the UN High Commission for Refugee Affairs began working with Syrian refugees in the region of Akkar by request of the Lebanese High Commission for Relief. Right now we are working with a number of our partners from humanitarian organizations in order to launch programs that will help meet the needs of the refugees.

Reporter, Female #1
It is worth mentioning that the number of Syrian border guards has doubled since Syrians began fleeing to Lebanon. The guards open fire at anyone who illegally crosses the border.

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Kuwait threatens to replace strikers with outside workers [Press TV, Iran]

Now to Kuwait, which has threatened to replace striking workers if they press ahead with their work stoppages. The minister of state for cabinet affairs said the only solution to the ongoing strikes is to bring in replacement workers from inside or outside Kuwait. The warning comes amid a wave of strikes and labor unrest in the wealthy Persian Gulf state. The strikes initially began last month by civil servants seeking greater pay and better working conditions. On Monday, thousands of customs officers walked out of their jobs to escalate pressure on the government to meet their demands.

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Israeli troops attack Palestinians supporting prison hunger strike [Press TV, Iran]

Israeli troops have attacked Palestinians holding a hunger strike outside the Ofur prison in the occupied West Bank. The protestors are angry about the conditions under which Palestinians are held at Ofur prison and other Israeli detention facilities. They say Israel abuses the inmates. Ofur prison holds hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. NGOs have frequently accused Tel Aviv of human rights abuses in the prison and elsewhere. They say Palestinian children are also held there.

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UN Security Council finally takes up Yemen issue as crisis worsens [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Female #1
A military commander was killed and two officers were wounded in a bombing caused by explosive devices planted in their cars in Lahj province in southern Yemen. Meanwhile, the Security Council is convening a meeting today to discuss the report from the UN envoy to Yemen, Jamal Bin Omar.

Presenter, Male #1
Political observers expect the Security Council to issue a resolution to call on President Saleh to step down in accordance with the Gulf initiative. In this context, protests continue in a number of Yemeni provinces demanding the Security Council recognize the revolution and condemn President Saleh and his regime for the crimes they allegedly committed.

Reporter, Female #2
More than eight months since the beginning of the Revolution of Change, the UN Security Council convened its first session to issue a resolution pertaining to the Yemeni issue. Prior to that, the Council merely issued a statement and a call. The UN envoy to Yemen, Jamal Bin Omar, submitted his report to the Security Council after he angrily left the country. The envoy's efforts to resolve the conflicts between the two sides through traditional political methods failed. The revolutionaries and opposition parties demand the full resignation of the regime. European diplomats said their countries are exerting pressure to issue a resolution calling on the Yemeni president to step down in accordance with the Gulf initiative. They stressed that the resolution will not threaten to impose any sanctions or other measures against the Yemeni regime. However, parallel to the possibility of a UN resolution calling on Saleh to step down, the US ambassador in Sanaa expressed his optimism for an agreement to be reached on implementing the Gulf initiative for a power-transfer in the coming days. Ambassador Gerald Feierstein said the opposition and the regime agree on most of the initiative, except for certain parts which will be resolved in the coming days. The official spokesman for the Yemeni Joint-Meeting Parties Mohammed Qahtan acknowledged in a statement that the political process is delaying the resolution of the Yemeni revolution. Despite this, he affirmed that the opposition is ready to conduct early elections without specifying a schedule, on the condition that the military and financial department be liberated from what he referred to as the hegemony of Saleh's regime. Far from the international meeting on the Gulf initiative and the dialogues about a means to implement it, Saleh's repressive machine continues targeting protestors here in Taiz. On Monday, security forces attempted once again to storm the Change Square in Sanaa. After it was confirmed that medicine will run out within the next two months, economists expressed their fear of an imminent collapse of the local currency with competition from foreign currencies, especially the US dollar. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned of a real food crisis that may storm Yemen. The Yemeni revolutionaries vowed to the UN Security Council and Gulf countries that they would not forget the blood of those who died, be them revolutionaries or not, as a result of what they referred to as the collective punishment policy. As their slogans say, not forgetting means trying those responsible for the bloodshed and achieving the goal for which the deceased sacrificed their lives: a new civil state of Yemen without Saleh's regime.

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Egypt Copts blame 'infiltrators' for deadly Maspero clashes [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Male #1
Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Hazem al Beblawi submitted his resignation due to the government's handling of the Copt's protests two days ago. Meanwhile, unknown assailants attacked the funeral procession held for the 17 people killed in the events witnessed in Cairo the day before yesterday involving stones and empty bottles. Coptic leaders accused infiltrators of last Sunday's demonstrations of turning the marches into acts of violence.

Reporter, Male #2
Egyptians held a funeral for those killed in the violent acts Cairo to put them in their final resting place. However, unknown assailants attacked the funeral procession as it passed through the Ghamra area, heading to Tahrir Square on its way to the 6 of October City where the victims were buried in a mass grave. The atmosphere is charged and the tears are renewed amid puzzling questions about the reasons for the intermittent violence in Egypt. Fingers are being pointed in more than one direction. While one is pointed at the existent sectarian strife, another is pointed at Western politicians who rushed to take advantage of the incidents. In its reaction to the incidents, the White House called on the Egyptians for self-restraint and demanded them to respect the rights of minorities, including the Copts. The European Union condemned the violent incidents and called on the military council to protect the religious minorities.

Guest, Female #1 (Catherine Ashton, EU Foreign Policy Chief)
We really do expect that Egypt will move towards elections, motivated by a desire for the participation of all sects and the protection of the people, regardless of their affiliation, roots, and religious beliefs.

Reporter, Male #2
In Egypt, condemnation of the acts of violence was unanimous. Egyptians strongly condemned the manner in which the military council handled the protests. In addition, Egyptians exerted extensive mobilization efforts to contain the fallout of the clashes. The Egyptian government immediately formed a panel of inquiry to investigate the incidents. However, the opposition blocs accused the government of being too weak and demanded its resignation. They also called for the formation of a national coalition that includes all political sects in Egypt. Following a meeting presided by Pope Shenouda III, the Coptic Orthodox Church accused "infiltrators" among peaceful demonstrators of triggering the violence, and of committing crimes while implicating the Copts. The Church's position has affirmed the conspiracy theory cited by Prime Minster Essam Sharaf. Sharaf also accused foreign elements of trying to stir sectarian strife in Egypt, in collaboration with remnants of the former regime, in a bid to derail the revolution.

Guest, Male #4 (Ahmad Duma, Coordinator of Arab Youth Revolution Movement )
I don't rule out that certain groups, which may have links to the Zionist entity or the US administration or their allies in the Gulf, particularly Saudi Arabia, have something to do with what's happening in Egypt.

Reporter, Male #2
Observers believe that the sensitivity of this historic period in Egypt and the magnitude of political transformation require all Egyptians to come together to iron out all troubling issues straining Egyptian society and to eradicate all dormant cells. Egyptians must also work toward achieving a political and national consensus as an urgent response to all the conspiracies led by the US and Israeli entity, which seek to abort the revolution.

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NTC says battle for Sirte nears end [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Female #1
The battle for Sirte entered its final phase after the National Transitional Council forces surrounded Gaddafi brigades in two of the city's neighborhoods. In addition, revolutionary forces seized the police headquarters in central Sirte a short while ago. On the Bani Walid front, the revolutionary forces have intentionally ceased operations, following the deaths of 17 fighters and the injury of dozens of others in raging battles with Gaddafi brigades entrenched in the city. The fierce resistance displayed by Gaddafi forces has prevented NTC forces from taking control of Bani Walid. Al-Saghair Salam reports.

Reporter, Male #1
The Libyan revolutionary flag was raised in central Sirte, as NTC fighters enter the last phase of their battle. Battles have been raging for weeks in a bid to seize control of Sirte, which remains a stronghold for Gaddafi loyalists. On this map, the military commander is pointing to a small area near the coast with a two square kilometer radius. The area is being surrounded by revolutionary forces who forced Gaddafi brigades to retreat. The NTC fighters are deploying more troops and supplies in order to end the battle for Sirte in the coming hours.

Guest, Male #2
With God's help, we were able to enter the city of Sirte from all directions. We combed the area and clashed with the enemy in the Wahous neighborhood. Thank God, we were able to surround the enemy in the area of Sha'abiya Muratan.

Reporter, Male #1
The revolutionaries are still facing some pockets of resistance from Gaddafi loyalists. The NTC fighters are using light arms and shells to "cleanse" the city from snipers and Gaddafi fighters who were not able to flee.

Guest, Male #3
The displaced Sirte residents told us they were placed under siege by the heavy gunfire Gaddafi's brigades. They said anyone trying to leave the city will be shot at by Gaddafi snipers and brigades, who are using the residents as human shields.

Reporter, Male #1
While the revolutionaries are making progress on the Sirte front, the Bani Walid front, which is the last stronghold for Gaddafi loyalists southeast of Tripoli, witnessed a notable retreat by NTC fighters who were forced to withdraw from the city's airport. More than 17 fighters were killed and 80 others were wounded in the battles. This prompted the revolutionary forces to suspend their operations in order to reorganize and await the outcome of the battle for Sirte.

Presenter, Female #1
The tightening of the noose on Sirte dims the possibility that Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is hiding in the city. Mousa Alkoni, NTC representative for the nomadic Tuareg tribe, said that Gaddafi may be hiding in a remote desert area surrounded by mountains in a bid to elude captivity. Alkoni added that Gaddafi may be moving in the country's vast southern deserts along the borders of Libya, Algeria, and Niger. He recommended sending choppers to these areas to search for him.

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Israeli healthcare system at risk of collapse [IBA, Israel]

We open with labor unrest. Healthcare officials are warning that the nation's public hospitals are on the verge of collapse following additional resignations of hundreds of medical residents that went into affect today. To make matters worse, a nationwide labor dispute is looming after Histadrut labor union boss Ofer Eini declared a general labor dispute, which threatens to bring the entire nation to a standstill in two weeks time.

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Abbas: Palestinians will resume talks if Israel recognizes right to statehood [IBA, Israel]

The Palestinian Authority says it is ready to return to the negotiating table if Israel recognizes the Palestinian right to statehood and agrees to freeze new settlement building in Jerusalem and the West Bank. This according to PA President Mahmoud Abbas, who told a political gathering in Columbia that even as he presses ahead with his UN statehood bid, he is also looking for a political solution to help establish a Palestinian state alongside the state of Israel.