Libyan transitional council announces full control of Bani Walid [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Male #1
Pro-Muammar al-Gaddafi TV ArRai reported that his son Khamis Gaddafi was killed in battles southeast of the Libyan capital Tripoli nearly three weeks ago. The Syria-based TV channel said that Khamis was killed in a battle against fighters of the Libyan National Transitional Council in the city of Tarhuna, located 90 kilometers southeast of Tripoli. Meanwhile in Libya, the National Transitional Council announced its full control over Bani Walid, one of Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi's final strongholds, located approximately 170 kilometers southeast of Tripoli. The Council's fighters consider it a major victory after besieging the city for a month. However, parallel to this victory is a near deadlock in the fight for Sirte, where battles are still ongoing and the city is not yet in the revolutionaries' control.

Reporter, Male #2
The price is high for taking over Sirte. The death toll is on the rise as the fighting has been ongoing for four weeks between the revolutionaries and Gaddafi's battalions. The battles are concentrated in central Sirte, where the revolutionaries are besieging the battalions' fighters as well as several residents caught in between. The NTC forces are intensifying their shelling of neighborhood Number Two and Dollar neighborhood but are facing difficulties advancing due to the gunfire of professional snipers in Gaddafi's forces, according to NTC military commanders.

Guest, Male #3
Some remnants of Gaddafi's battalions are entrenched in a small square of neighborhood Number Two. God willing, our Lord will enable us to defeat them today or tomorrow, God willing.

Reporter, Male #2
In Bani Walid, another Gaddafi stronghold, NTC forces are still conducting a broad combing operation after they announced full control of the city. This comes after heavy artillery shelling and ground advances on the northern and southern frontlines. Mustafa al-Minshawi, BBC.

Presenter, Male #1
British Foreign Minister William Hague inaugurated the British embassy in Tripoli and announced John Jenkins as the new ambassador to Libya. This comes during Hague's short visit to the Libyan capital during which he held talks with the head of the National Transitional Council, Mustafa Abdul Jalil. Hague said it is important to merge the NTC militias and the national provisional government, which will be formed when the country is liberated. Hague admitted that the NTC has committed several violations and asserted he would discuss this subject with leaders of the council.

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Yemen's Saleh warns of coup as security forces continue to open fire on protestors [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Female #1
The sound of gunfire reverberated throughout the night across the Yemini capital Sanaa, as street clashes and shelling spread from one neighborhood to another. Eight people were killed and 27 others were wounded in the confrontations. Among the dead was Sheikh Saleh Himud Bin Azziz, one of the tribal leaders loyal to President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The Yemeni Defense Ministry accused Sheikh al-Ahmar's loyalists of killing Bin Azziz by shelling his home in the city of Sufan, north of Sanaa. Medical sources reported that ten shells hit various areas of Change Square, killing four protestors. In addition, two people were killed in fierce battles that erupted in the Hasabah neighborhood between the Yemeni president's forces and armed fighters loyal to Sheikh al-Ahmar. Also in Hasabah, a civilian was killed during the shelling of his home. Amid the bloodshed and gunfire waged by security forces against the youth of change, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah accused al-Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood of instigating the violence in Yemen, saying that the protests are not peaceful because among the protestors are defected army troops. Abed Rahman al-Shamiri reports from Sanaa.

Reporter, Male #1
Residents spent the night and woke up to the sound of gunfire in Sanaa. The list of those dead and injured among the youths of change is very long. With each step they take toward Zubairiyah Street and the frontlines separating them from government forces, the youths of change suffer a new causality toll. Security forces deployed armed groups disguised as civilians, and snipers on building rooftops and on both sides of the street.

Guest, Male #2 (Tarek Numan, Director of Field Hospital in Change Square)
They launched the attack as soon as the march began. We received four martyrs in the first ten minutes. Then, more martyrs and injured followed. The number of martyrs so far stands at five. Most injuries were serious. More than 50 people were inured by the heavy gunfire.

Reporter, Male #1
Despite the heavy gunfire and the use of light and moderate weapons, the protestors were able to march on Zubairiyah Street and return to Change Square amid chants calling for freedom and a new Yemen. On the other front, the Hasabah neighborhood turned into a war zone, where intermittent clashes erupted between pro-and anti-regime armed tribal groups.

Guest, Male #3 (Abed Rahman Birman, HOOD Organization for Defending Rights and Freedoms)
The international community has an ethical, humanitarian, and legal responsibility, as mandated by international laws and UN charters, to intervene and protect the citizens who are being killed every day.

Reporter, Male #1
It's an explosive situation with more landmines and skulls as victims continue to fall, especially in absence of a political settlement that could spare the country further conflict and destruction. The escalation of peaceful protests by the youths of change is being met by a security escalation that is claiming dozens of lives and injuring dozens of others, amid pessimism of what is coming next. Abed Rahman al-Shamiri, Dubai TV, Sanaa.

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Syrian regime ignores calls to stop the killings [New TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Male # 1
Less than 24 hours after the Arab League's decision on Syria, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia commended the Arab position demanding an immediate end to the violence. Meanwhile, the UN secretary-general called on the Syrian president to immediately stop the killing of civilians and to accept an international investigation into human rights violations.

Presenter, Female # 1
These calls did not generate any response from the Syrian regime as 16 people were reportedly killed today by the gunfire of the regime's security and military forces. In addition, ten people died in Homs last night as the Syrian delegate gave a speech at the headquarters of the Arab League.

Reporter, Male # 2
Every day, Syrian citizens take to the street revolting against injustice and demanding their right to life. Their ruler responds with brutal violence and the kind of repression that he has never directed against his enemies. The excessive force of Assad's battalions is not aiding the regime in its confrontation with a people who insist on defending their rights until gaining them. And after the revolution entered its eight month, the people are determined to achieve their demands of freedom, democracy and the downfall of the regime. Thousands took to the street in many cities and towns in massive demonstrations in what the Syrian opposition called the "Monday of the Fulfillment to Douma." These videos were posted online by activists; they show a mass women's night protest in Da'en in the south of the country, during which the women chanted anti-regime slogans. In addition, during the funeral procession of three victims who died by the gunfire of the battalions in the neighborhood of al-Khalidiya in Homs, mourners were subjected to heavy gunfire by the regime's forces, leading to a number of injuries. According to the revolution's coordination committees, thousands also came out in the town of Ghernata in the countryside of Homs for the funeral of an activist who was tortured to death after his arrest by Assad's battalions. The regime continues to brutally kill, repress and deceive in an attempt to end the peaceful popular mobilization. In this context, activists posted photos online showing the heavy deployment of Assad's battalions on squares and streets, and the arrest of passers-by. Activists said at least ten civilians were killed by Assad's battalions during the speech of the Syrian ambassador at the headquarters of the Arab League in Cairo, considering it a clear indication of the regime's refusal to stop the killing and its disregard for the regional and international communities' call to end the violence. In addition, a number of Syrian citizens were killed in the eastern Deir az-Zour, Idlib's Khan Shaykhun, and al-Zabadani in Damascus' countryside. The latter was stormed by Assad's battalions, composed of soldiers and shabeha, hours after clashes erupted between government forces and army defectors. On the international front, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to immediately stop the killing of civilians and to accept an international investigation into human rights violations. French Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bernard Valero said Assad's formation of a committee tasked with drafting a constitution lacks any credibility since the regime continues the killing, imprisonment, and torture on a daily basis. The French spokesman expressed hope that the Arab League will take courageous decisions that will add pressure on Syrian authorities in anticipation of ending the bloody crackdown and encouraging political transition in the country.

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Israeli High Court hears appeals to delay Hamas prisoner exchange [IBA, Israel]

We are now on the eve of the landmark prisoner exchange deal that will bring home kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit and that will free some 477 convicted terrorists. The High Court is at this hour in the midst of hearing appeals of families of terror victims pleading for a delay in the prisoner exchange deal. The courtroom was filled with families who have lost loved ones to terror attacks, seeking a delay in the Shalit deal in order to allow more time to review the list of Palestinian prisoners set to be freed. The families had been granted 48 hours to look over the list and to submit specific appeals.

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Israel prepares for Gilad Shalit's return [IBA, Israel]

The IDF and police are now implementing procedures designed to facilitate tomorrow's staged prisoner exchange. It will commence early in the morning and should be completed during the afternoon. Tomorrow's prisoner exchange deal will begin near the Gaza border with Egypt after an International Red Cross or Egyptian intelligence official has met with abducted IDF soldier Gilad Shalit in the early morning hours. Israel will then release 27 female Palestinian prisoners to their homes in the West Bank and Gaza. Two will be taken to Egypt for deportation to a third country. During the next phase, Gilad Shalit will be transferred into a closed military zone in Egypt, where he is expected to spend just minutes before returning overland to Israel. Shalit's arrival on Israeli soil is expected to be confirmed at 11am when he will be taken to a nearby IDF base where he will be given his own cell phone to call his family before undergoing an initial medical examination administered by the army chief medical officer.

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Bahrain accused of targeting opposition leaders [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Male #1
Bahraini opposition figure Hassan Mushaima confirmed in a phone call with his family that he received three suspicious doses of medication while blindfolded. He did not know what the medicine was nor what it contained. In a phone call with al-Alam, his son Mohammed Mushaima expressed fear about his father's fate, especially as authorities refused to give them his medical test results.

Reporter, Male #2
Since the Manama government has failed to quell the popular protests over the last several months, it appears the Bahraini authorities are trying a new approach: targeting opposition figures. Prominent dissident Hassan Mushaima's family expressed fear that the authorities may resort to liquidating him and other prominent opposition figures in detention, especially after Mushaima confirmed to his family that he was given questionable medication in prison while blindfolded, knowing neither the nature nor the contents of the medicine.

Guest, Male #3 (Mohamed Mushaima, Son of Hassan Mushaima)
They've been giving him this medication for four months. After these two suspicious doses, the doctor told him he still had the disease. This conflicts with the medical report from the doctor who treated him in London who said he had completely recovered.

Reporter, Male #2
Coinciding with these developments, members of the regime backed by Saudi occupation forces continued their repressive campaign to clamp down on freedoms and silence the voices calling for freedom and justice. Residents of Nuwaidrat organized a peaceful march to condemn the continuing arrest of political activists. The demonstration did not escape the crackdown by security forces, which shut down the main entrance to the region, then attacked and dispersed protestors using various weapons including toxic gas bombs. In the neighboring Akkar region, the scene was even uglier and more horrific. Members of the regime launched a campaign to raid houses and arrest civilians in a way that can be described as barbaric and savage. The authorities' continual repression and terrorization did not weaken the fortitude of the Bahraini people, who are determined to complete their path which began months ago with peaceful marches and protests. They affirm their rightful demands and condemn the regime and its repressive policy against the Bahraini people.

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Jordan PM resigns after failing to implement reforms [Press TV, Iran]

Jordan's prime minister has resigned following months of public demonstrations against his government. Marouf al-Bakhit's government has been accused of corruption and failing to meet growing demands for reform. On Sunday, the majority of lawmakers urged King Abdullah to sack him. Government sources say the king has accepted the premier's resignation. He has now named Deputy Chief of the International Court of Justice Awn Khasawneh as the new head of government. The King has also appointed a new intelligence chief.

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Kenya sends troops to attack al-Shebab in Somalia [Press TV, Iran]

Kenya has sent hundreds of troops deep into Somalia one day after Nairobi declared war on al-Shebab fighters. The heavily armed Kenyan troops backed by aerial bombings took up positions in Somalia after crossing about 100 kilometers into southern regions. Nairobi accuses the local fighters of kidnapping foreigners including aid workers. Al-Shebab has warned Nairobi of striking back. The group says if Nairobi does not stop the aggression on Somali soil, it will face the consequences inside Kenya.

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Lebanon's Jeita Grotto vies to become one of new Seven Wonders of the World [Future TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Male #1
The ministers of tourism and information are preoccupied with competition for the new Seven Wonders of the World. A meeting was convened with media networks to campaign for more votes for the Jeita Grotto.

Reporter, Male #2
The Jeita Grotto is competing with 27-plus other sites in the new Seven Wonders of the World competition, which has entered its final phase. Jeita has gone through a number of rounds to reach the final phase of the competition. The competition began in 2008 when the Grotto was chosen to compete with over 260 sites throughout the world. Seventy-seven sites made it through to the second phase, including the Jeita Grotto. The site has overcome tough competition throughout the contest and was finally chosen as one of 28 sites to contend in the final phase. The voting will end on November 11. At a meeting held by Minister of Tourism Fadi Abboud and Minister of Information Walid al-Daouk with representatives from media organizations, they urged everyone to vote for the Jeita Grotto.

Guest, Male #3 (Fadi Abboud, Lebanese Minister of Tourism)
I would like to urge everyone again to participate in the campaign to support the vote. We call on all sectors of Lebanese society, from media networks to civil organizations and associations, from schools and universities to the private and public sectors, to all Lebanese citizens around the world, to fulfill this national duty.

Reporter, Male #2
Voting is accessible online at newsevenwonders.com, and the "Glass Hall" at the Ministry of Tourism will also be open for voting. It is worth noting that according to the website, the Jeita Grotto is currently in 18th place among the finalists.