"Ahmed Chalabi, leader of the American-backed Iraqi National Congress, has accused several Al-Jazeera journalists of working for Iraqi agencies based on documents found in state archives in Baghdad .."
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***** The Scotsman Wed 28 May 2003 Al-Jazeera shake-up amid spying claim JOHN INNES
AL-JAZEERA television said last night it would replace its chief executive officer amid allegations the channel had been infiltrated by Iraqi intelligence.
However, the channel insisted the claims had nothing to do with the decision.
Jihad Ballout, a company spokesman, said that Mohammed Jassem al-Ali, who had headed the channel since its launch eight years ago, would remain on the board of directors.
But he confirmed that he would hand over the day-to-day running to someone else. "Mohammed Jassem al-Ali was seconded from Qatar Television to set up and run al-Jazeera and what has been decided is that this secondment be ceased and for him to go back to his normal job," Mr Ballout said.
"Changes take place for various reasons and for Mohammed Jassem al-Ali to remain on the board means that all these rumours and allegations about Jazeera are not taken at face value whatsoever."
The seven-member board of directors is chaired by Sheik Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani, a member of Qatar's royal family.
The board is responsible for the channel's editorial policy.
Sources at al-Jazeera said al-Ali offered to resign several months ago because of disagreements he had with a member of the station's new board of directors.
Sheik Hamad appointed a new board in February.
It was reported earlier this month that documents uncovered by opponents of the ousted Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, showed that there were three Iraqi intelligence agents working inside al-Jazeera with the aim of gaining favourable coverage. Al-Jazeera, which often aired exclusive material from Iraqi officials during the US-led war, denied the claims.
The channel came under fire from US and British officials for broadcasting TV footage of soldiers slain and imprisoned during the war.
But it was also criticised by the Iraqi authorities for what they called its pro-American coverage.
Al-Jazeera correspondents were temporarily banned from the New York Stock Exchange and from reporting in Iraq.
Al-Jazeera gained international renown after the 11 September, 2001, attacks on the United States by airing exclusive audio and video comments from Osama bin Laden and senior members of al-Qaeda, the group blamed for the attacks.
Al-Jazeera's coverage of the war on Afghanistan - where one of its correspondents was accused of being part of the now-defunct Taleban government - and the war on Iraq both boosted its popularity in the Arab world.
Its slick, no-nonsense approach to news has earned it the nickname of the "Arab CNN".
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