Presenter, Female #1
Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has begun a two-day visit to Lebanon. He met with President of the Republic of Lebanon Michel Suleiman. Ahmadinejad, who received a massive public welcome, expressed his country’s continuous support for Lebanon.

Presenter, Male #1
Ahmadinejad’s visit, which is his first to Lebanon and which some described as historic, has stirred mixed reactions among the various Lebanese constituents. The March 14 Alliance said that the Iranian President is a guest of Lebanon and not a guest of one group or another.

Presenter, Female #1
The Iranian president said that his country strongly stands by Lebanon and that his message to Lebanon is a message of unity, solidarity and harmony.

President, Male #1
Ahmadinejad confirmed that the region doesn’t need foreign intervention to run its affairs.

Guest, Male #2 (Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad)
Our message to the Lebanese people is a message of unity, solidarity and harmony. We call upon them to join efforts to help build Lebanon and uphold its pride. We support the Lebanese people in their struggle to counter Zionist aggressions. We, seriously and profoundly, call for the liberation of occupied territories in Lebanon, Syria and Palestine. We look forward to seeing Lebanon a united and developed nation. We stand by the Lebanese government and people to help them achieve all of their goals. We need to create a region that is dominated by calm, security, stability and development. A region that maintains friendly relations with the rest of world. We believe that all countries in the region are capable of running their own affairs and managing their relations on the basis of equality. They don’t need any regional or foreign intervention.

Presenter, Male #1
During a meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman stressed the importance of preserving the national unity of Lebanon.

Presenter, Female #1
Suleiman further said that Lebanon is looking forward to establishing strong relations with Iran.

Guest, Male #3 (Lebanese president Michel Suleiman)
We stressed the importance of upholding the national unity and coexistence of Lebanon, supporting the nation and its institutions, as well as strengthening the foundation of stability and peace. This will help us counter the threats and conspiracies, which aim to stir sectarian strife among the Lebanese, weaken our national capabilities, as well as spread the seeds of chaos and fragmentation in the entire region.

Presenter, Male #1
Joining us from Beirut is our al-Jazeera Bureau Chief Ghassan Bin Jedu

Presenter, Female #1
Ghassan, while Ahmadinejad’s reception was warm, some expressed fear and speculation. Was Ahmadinejad’s speech in Beirut able to diffuse this fear and speculation?

Guest, Male #4 (al-Jazeera Bureau Chief in Beirut, Ghassan Bin Jedu)
Layla, as you mentioned earlier, Ahmadinejad did receive a warm welcome in Beirut. However, we can’t say for sure whether the visit was warm, cold or quiet. In another way, we are talking about an obvious and notably warm reception by the Lebanese public, mainly organized by the Amal Movement and Hezbollah, which made sure to rally such a massive public gathering. The visit ranks third in terms of public turnout. We are talking about a public, not a political gathering. It trails behind the 1997 Pope’s visit and the Emir of Qatar’s visit. The Emir of Qatar received a massive public welcome in the South nearly 2 months ago. This is the third visit by a foreign leader to attract such massive attention. Having said that, Iranian President Ahmadinejad took a big security risk, especially when he went on foot and greeted the large crowd that was gathering on both sides of the airport road. However, this took place amidst heightened security measures by Hezbollah and the Lebanese army and security forces. In a symbolic gesture, Ahmadinejad stopped briefly at a security point near the entrance of the Palestinian Burj Barjena refugee camp and greeted the Palestinians gathering there. He wanted to send a message to Palestinians inside Lebanese territory. As far as the statements issued by Ahmadinejad, he gave two speeches, one you already talked about a short while ago. The other he just wrapped up during an official business lunch with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman. Ahmadinejad said that the region doesn’t need foreign intervention. Both leaders agreed on this point pertaining to foreign intervention. He also stressed the importance of upholding the country’s national unity and coexistence. This is the message of calm he signaled to Lebanon, especially after some internal Lebanese constituents expressed fear and speculation about his speech and how his visit may benefit one group at the expense of another.

Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has received a rapturous welcome in the Lebanese capital of Beirut. Tens of thousands of well-wishers greeted Ahmadinejad as his convoy was heading to the presidential palace under a shower of rice, sweets and rose petals.

Presenter, Female #1
In our investigation into the weapons trade, we met with a dealer and looked into the conditions of the Tariq al-Jdideh region. This report by my colleague Rami al-Amine.

Reporter, Male #1
Here, behind this door, we will receive adequate answers to numerous questions related to weapons and armament. Answers provided by a weapons dealer whose market is active these days.

Guest, Male #2 (Arms dealer)
The weapons market that we’re familiar with does not initiate war nor end war. However, when a security development occurs, the weapons market is activated. In reality, the market in this country is composed of three types. The first type is based on tradition; the entire Lebanese population likes to have individual arms. This market is inactive during the school session and holidays, including the month of Ramadan. It all depends on the circumstances. It also depends on the economic situation. The second market relates to any security breach, or political conditions like those witnessed before March 7th. It ignites the market to an unimaginable level. As of now, this has not happened. And finally the third market is that of wealthy individuals who like distinct, expensive weapons that you don’t really buy to fight with.

Guest, Male #3 (Tariq al-Jdideh resident)
Each bullet that came into this region came from the Shiites in the Shiyah region, Burj al-Barajena and al-Amruthie. It is well known that the dealers are Shiites. I call on Sayyed Hassan to put these dealers in jail because they’re selling weapons with the aim of causing division between people. We also call on Mr. Nabih Berri because he knows them in the Shiyah region. They saturated the region with weapons, enough already! If a Kalashnikov provides a 100, 50 or 200 dollar profit, is that valid enough for sowing division in the region?

Guest, Male #2 (Arms dealer)
First of all, there’s the Kalashnikov, which is the most popular gun. It is the cheapest one, it’s small and all its components are available. The price of this weapon ranges between 800 and 1,200 dollars. Then there’s the M-16, which ranges between 1,300 and 1,600 dollars. The BKC machine gun costs 3,000 dollars. The Val assault rifle is between 600-700 dollars.

Guest, Male #3
No one wants to have problems in Tariq al-Jdideh. There are only a few people who are benefiting and they are going around saying that their religion is under threat, that it is being threatened. So they ask people if they want weapons and make a quick buck.

Guest, Male #2
Armament is not an internal issue. If one is to buy arms from local merchants, their ammunition will not last longer than two days. They will all run out of ammunition if it is not imported.

Guest, Male #3
They’re arming themselves against whom exactly? I don’t know. If it’s in fear of the Shiites, I was not aware that the Shiites want to fight against us. If they wanted to do so then they would’ve said so. They won’t fight against us. We live and make our livelihood here in the Tariq al-Jdideh region.

Presenter, Female #1
Sudanese President, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, said the referendum on the independence of the South is a fine line between peace and war. He further said his government is more concerned than anyone else about the success of the referendum. Al-Bashir’s remarks came after talks on the Abyei region had collapsed between the North and the South in Addis Ababa. In addition, al-Bashir said that he wouldn’t accept anything less then the unity of Sudan. Meanwhile, several officials in the South have warned of a return to war if talks collapsed.

Reporter, Male #1
A few months are separating the Sudanese from the referendum on self determination of the South. The South wants the referendum to be the first step to recognition as an independent Africa state. On the other hand, the North wants the referendum to be fair and free of foreign influence in a bid to help preserve the nation’s unity.

Guest, Male #1 (Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir)
Everyone knows by now that our people are focusing their efforts on the implementation of the peace agreement in our beloved Southern state. The referendum is the last step toward self determination. The process is generating unprecedented international interest and concern, which seem to be intensifying as the deadline approaches. We accepted the notion of self determination, which is a fine line between peace and war.

Reporter, Male #1
However, the obstacles facing the referendum on Southern independence scheduled for January 9 have not been fully resolved. The demarcation of borders, naturalization, the future of the oil-rich Abyei region, the allocation of wealth, water and debt…..all these issues are still hampering the process, which led to the collapse of talks between the North and South in Addis Ababa. According to officials in the South, the collapse of talks may damage, if not derail, the entire peace process. The North-South war was the longest civil war in Africa. Nearly 2 million Sudanese were killed and millions of others were wounded or displaced by the civil war. The war placed Sudan on the list of nations in need of international food and relief. The war ended with the signing of the 2005 peace and reconciliation accord. During the years of war, the North was accused of adopting the policy of “divide and conquer.” After the war ended, the South accused Khartoum of arming militias in a bid to eliminate rivalry in the South. The possibility that the South may lose part, if not all, of its oil wealth has sparked fear among the southerners. Many in the South believe that Khartoum may use every means available to keep the South from achieving independence. Haider al-Khair, BBC

Presenter, Female #1
Egypt's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority has set new rules to monitor both advertisement and news text messaging sent by a number of companies to mobile phone users. In accordance with this decision, all news services must now obtain the approval of the Ministry of Information and Supreme Press Council to send out such messages.

Reporter, Male # 1
In the past few years, Egyptian newspapers have increasingly relied on modern technology to provide advanced services to their readers. Among their most successful services is sending news through text messages, or SMS. Editors write the news here and with the click of a button it is transmitted to mobile phones. Within seconds, news reaches the users. It is an effective way to disseminate news to a public hungry for it. However, this service might not last very long. The Egyptian government has decided to place restrictions on companies that offer text messaging services, subjecting them to government monitoring, raising concerns for media organizations.

Guest, Female # 2 (Lina Attalah, Managing editor for al-Masry al-Youm English edition)
Of course, it is a very worrying decision because we offer SMS services. It is a very important aspect of our operation. We send text messages on a daily basis, the majority of which are news related. In reality, it is very popular and people are really interested in receiving their news in that format.

Reporter, Male # 1
Authorities say there is a need to regulate companies sending messages en masse, especially after it appeared that some are using text messages to sow sectarian division and rally support for demonstrations, such as those recently witnessed against the Church following the Kamilia Shehata incident.

Guest, Male # 2 (Nabil Luka Bibawi, Chairman of the Information and Tourism Committee in the Shura Council)
Text messages sent from abroad and within the country, from both Muslims and Christians, are inciting people against national unity and stability. As a result, people feel as if they need to release the tension at the expense of the country. They have their own agendas; issues are not resolved in this manner. This is about national security.

Reporter, Male # 1
However, this latest procedure comes as many in the media feel deliberate constraints are being imposed on them. One week ago, a crisis was ignited between al-Dustour newspaper journalists and its publishers following the dismissal of Ibrahim Eissa, the paper's editor, known for his criticism of the ruling party. Prior to that incident, two successful television programs were halted as journalists had started believing that a political decision was taken to curtail freedom of media prior to the parliamentary elections that are scheduled to take place next month. Khaled Ezz el-Arab, BBC, Cairo.

Presenter, Male #1
Local governments in Afghanistan are cooperating with Afghan and international forces in programs involving development, reconstruction and providing food to residents in the districts of Kandahar province.

Presenter, Female #1
This is aimed at appeasing and neutralizing these residents, while the forces continue to carry out the military operation called “Dragon Strike” against Taliban fighters.

Presenter, Male #1
Our correspondent Bakar Yunus brings us the following report from Banjwai district in Kandahar province.

Reporter, Male #1
The strategy’s impact started to show in a tangible way in some Afghan regions. In the shadow of the destruction that the war has brought to this country, which is dominated by disputes and conflicts, Afghanistan’s official institutions and international organizations are taking steps to rebuild what the war has destroyed. The projects will not be limited to reconstruction and will also provide help for residents in agriculture and the food industry. Banjwai district is an example of that.

Guest, Male #1 (Hajj Bahram, governor of Banjwai district)
About 450 residents of Banjwai are working on this project. It’s sponsored by the Canadian forces, and the goal is to create jobs so these villagers will be able to earn a living and we will gain their hearts.

Reporter, Male #1
The new strategy began here in this region, which was included in the Dragon Strike Operation, in an effort to neutralize the opinions of as many residents as possible. Perhaps this causes many people to doubt the point of this new strategy, because it is limited to districts where American and Afghan forces are carrying out the dragon strike operation.

Guest, Male #2 (Abdul Baqi, employee of the project)
This help is important, but is not enough because large areas of our country were damaged by the violence. We request more help because we have lots of problems in this district.

Reporter, Male #1
The adopters of this new orientation hope their efforts will succeed. Perhaps the aid they offer is somewhat useful so the fire of their dragon does not turn black. The Afghan government was more involved than the residents of the south requested in order to gain the hearts of residents in the districts of Kandahar province. But this does not mean the projects will be completed without the use of weapons. Bakar Yunus, Aljazeera, Banjwai.

Presenter, Female #1
Their dark days are now behind them. One by one, 33 workers have started to emerge from the depths of a collapsed mine in northern Chile to the intense joy of their families. The successful rescue operation will be completed tomorrow. The workers were trapped underground following the collapse of the mine they were working in on August 5. Rescue teams completed a complex operation to provide them with another chance at life.

Reporter, Male #1
It resembles a new birth, from the womb of the earth Lorenzio Avalon and his companions inhaled fresh air for the first time in nearly 70 days. The others are still waiting for the Fenix capsule that was specifically designed to rescue the workers one by one. Following a 16-minute journey in the capsule, the workers are reunited with their loved ones. The Chileans’ joy was preceded by a long period of anxiousness and stress. Leading up to the rescue, the workers were personally monitored by Chilean President Sebastian Pinera and relief teams worked strenuously to dig a tunnel in order to reach the trapped workers. During their wait underground, the miners exhibited a great capability for endurance. The suffering of the 33 workers began on August 5th when their mine collapsed in northern Chile, and as a result they were trapped 652 meters beneath the earth's surface. Here, the workers spent 17 days living off of crumbs before the authorities determined their location and began sending them necessities through an old tunnel. This was a happy ending to an unprecedented experiment. Regardless, we should not forget about safety concerns in order to protect hundreds of thousands of miners around the world.

On a lighter note, a new photography exhibit has opened in Tel Aviv featuring one of the world’s most beloved superheroes, Spiderman. He’s usually fighting the bad guys in big cities, but an Israeli photographer has brought him to some of the most sensitive Jewish locations in Israel and around the world and its making for a very provocative mix of art, politics, history and religion.


** Mosaic News is produced by Jamal Dajani. Contact: mosaicnews{at}linktv{dot}org