Iraq has blocked access to the Internet in response to a US-inspired e-mail campaign calling on military and civilian leaders in Iraq to turn away from President Saddam Hussein, Iraqi sources said Sunday.
"There has been a problem for two days but it will work again tomorrow morning," said a worker at a Baghdad Internet cafe. Another cybercafe employee confirmed that the entire capital had been affected.
The break in Internet services follows the propaganda campaign launched by Washington in line with the Bush administration's policy of encouraging Iraqi soldiers to oust Saddam themselves or at least lay down their arms in the event of a war.
The state-controlled e-mail service is available largely only to a small number of Iraqis, mostly government officials, senior public servants, academics and scientists, AFP said.
"If you provide information on weapons of mass destruction or you take steps to hamper their use we will do what is necessary to protect you and protect your families," one of the e-mail messages said.
"Failing to do that will lead to grave personal consequences," it added. (Albawaba.com) --- Sent from UnionMail Service [http://mail.union.org.za]