BBC Monitoring Headlines From Pan-Arab TV 5 Aug 05
The following is a selection of pan-Arab TV headlines from bulletins broadcast at 0400, 0500 and 0600 gmt on 5 August:
Al-Arabiya 0400 gmt: “Thousands of Saudi citizens pour” into Riyadh to pledge their loyalty to King Abdallah … Israeli-Arabs hold strike after four killed by Israeli … Al-Arabiya airs video tape of downing of US helicopter in Afghanistan, includes man with British accent saying: “O people of the West, don’t be fooled by the lies of Blair and Bush that you are free nations, because the only freedom you have is the freedom to be slaves of your whims and desires”… President Bush says video tape by Al-Qa’idah number two Al-Zawahiri shows Iraq conflict integral part of war on terror … UN Security Council unanimously condemns “terrorist” acts in Iraq … US’s Donald Rumsfeld says Syrians not acting wisely in supporting Iraq insurgency … African Union freezes membership of Mauritania and condemns coup … Body of leader John Garang taken to several towns in southern Sudan, peace returns to capital … Registration of presidential candidates ends in Egypt … London police say that two women face charges for withholding information on recent attacks, Al-Zawahiri in tape blames Tony Blair’s decision to go to war in Iraq for attacks … Ireland peace process moves forward as Blair meets republican and loyalist leaders …
Al-Jazeera 0400 gmt: Bush confirms continued presence of US troops in Iraq until Iraqi recruits are ready to take over after Al- Zawahiri tape and “tens” of US troops being killed in past two days … US spokesman says three US soldiers killed in booby-trapped car attack in Baghdad, Ansar al-Sunnah claims killing of “25 troops” in Hadithah – presenter notes that official toll was 14 US troops … US court charges three for plotting to reveal secret information to Israel … Four “1948 Palestinians” killed by Israeli soldier in Shafa Amr … Coup leaders in Mauritania meets US, French ambassadors … More than 500 imprisoned or sentenced to be flogged after violence in Sudan, southern Sudanese officials circulate in capital urging quiet …
Al-Alam 0500 gmt: African Union freezes membership of Mauritania, Kofi Annan expresses concern about transfer of power by non- peaceful means … Demonstrations follow killing of four Israeli- Arabs … Iraqi leaders discuss outstanding issues in constitution, Iraqis express their hopes for new constitution … US ambassador visits Iraq’s Salah-al-Din governorate to discuss federalism with Kurdish leaders … Bush stresses US troops staying in Iraq. American groups lobby for Islam not to be only basis of Iraq constitution and for guarantees on women’s role … Iraqi prime minister accuses neighbouring states of supporting infiltrators … Three US troops killed in Baghdad … UN Security Council unanimously condemns violence in Iraq, killing of diplomats … Body of John Garang arrives in Rumbek, southern Sudanese mourn their dead leader, more than 500 demonstrators imprisoned or to be lashed … Large police presence on London’s streets to reassure citizens, tube system said fully operational again … Blair calls on IRA to fulfil promises … Pakistan Supreme Court says parts of “Taleban-style” bill in northwest province unconstitutional … International troops in Afghanistan hand-over responsibility in preparation for elections … Jordanian theatre satirises political situation, terrorism …
LBC Sat 0600 gmt: Europe to call for meeting of International Atomic Energy Agency over Iranian nuclear issue … Israeli prime minister condemns killing of four Israeli-Arabs … Al-Zawahiri threatens US with “greater disasters than those it underwent in Vietnam”… Bush says US troops staying put in Iraq, “we cry over every American soldier killed”… Rumsfeld says Syria not acting wisely over Iraq issue … Seventeen “extremists” linked to Al- Qa’idah arrested in Jordan … African Union temporarily suspends Mauritanian membership, Mauritanians express their “happiness” over coup … Sudanese president appoints SPLM leader Salva Kiir as new first vice-president …