Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Media: The Associated Press
Byline:
Date: 07 September 2006
BAGHDAD, Iraq_The Iraqi government on Thursday ordered Arabic satellite
network Al-Arabiya to shut down its Baghdad operations for one month, state
television reported. The other pan-Arab satellite network, Al-Jazeera, had
its office in the capital closed two years ago.
Al-Arabiya, which is based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, could not
immediately confirm the order, apparently issued by Prime Minister Nouri
al-Maliki's Cabinet. Officials at the headquarters said they have not yet
been informed of a ban.
"We have not officially been informed about the banning and we do not know
the causes. Only the cabinet knows the causes," said Jawad Hatab, the
Al-Arabiya bureau chief in Baghdad.
Editor Nabil Khatib in Dubai said the station's correspondents in Baghdad
were operating normally.
In July, al-Maliki warned television stations against broadcasting footage
that could undermine the country's stability.
A statement by the prime minister's office cited news reports that
"capitalize on the footage of victims of terrorist attacks." He called on
media outlets to "respect the dignity of human beings and not to fall in the
trap set up by terrorist groups who want to petrify the Iraqi people."
The statement said television stations should uphold the code of media
ethics or else the government will take legal action against them.
In November 2003, the U.S.-appointed Governing Council banned Al-Arabiya
from reporting from Baghdad after it aired an audio tape said to be from
Saddam Hussein, who was still at large then. The station was allowed to
resume its work shortly afterward.
The Iraqi government closed the Baghdad news office of Al-Jazeera television
in August 2004, accusing the station of inciting violence. The office is
still closed but the station operates in the Kurdish-ruled area of the
north.
At one time or another, Al-Jazeera has had bureaus closed in 18 countries
and its signal blocked in 30.
President Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld also have criticized
the Qatar-based station, accusing it of fueling anti-American sentiment and
giving terrorists a podium. Al-Jazeera says it deals with tapes purely on
the basis of news value.
Byline:
Date: 07 September 2006
BAGHDAD, Iraq_The Iraqi government on Thursday ordered Arabic satellite
network Al-Arabiya to shut down its Baghdad operations for one month, state
television reported. The other pan-Arab satellite network, Al-Jazeera, had
its office in the capital closed two years ago.
Al-Arabiya, which is based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, could not
immediately confirm the order, apparently issued by Prime Minister Nouri
al-Maliki's Cabinet. Officials at the headquarters said they have not yet
been informed of a ban.
"We have not officially been informed about the banning and we do not know
the causes. Only the cabinet knows the causes," said Jawad Hatab, the
Al-Arabiya bureau chief in Baghdad.
Editor Nabil Khatib in Dubai said the station's correspondents in Baghdad
were operating normally.
In July, al-Maliki warned television stations against broadcasting footage
that could undermine the country's stability.
A statement by the prime minister's office cited news reports that
"capitalize on the footage of victims of terrorist attacks." He called on
media outlets to "respect the dignity of human beings and not to fall in the
trap set up by terrorist groups who want to petrify the Iraqi people."
The statement said television stations should uphold the code of media
ethics or else the government will take legal action against them.
In November 2003, the U.S.-appointed Governing Council banned Al-Arabiya
from reporting from Baghdad after it aired an audio tape said to be from
Saddam Hussein, who was still at large then. The station was allowed to
resume its work shortly afterward.
The Iraqi government closed the Baghdad news office of Al-Jazeera television
in August 2004, accusing the station of inciting violence. The office is
still closed but the station operates in the Kurdish-ruled area of the
north.
At one time or another, Al-Jazeera has had bureaus closed in 18 countries
and its signal blocked in 30.
President Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld also have criticized
the Qatar-based station, accusing it of fueling anti-American sentiment and
giving terrorists a podium. Al-Jazeera says it deals with tapes purely on
the basis of news value.