Censorship - what a great first step towards democracy! ________________________________________
HindustanTimes.com
Wednesday, September 24, 2003
Iraqi council plans crackdown on Arabic TV channels
Agence France-Presse Baghdad, September 23
Iraq's US-installed Governing Council will announce "tough and dissuasive" measures aimed at the Arabic satellite television stations Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya, a council member said on Tuesday.
Samir Sumaidy did not elaborate on the measures, which came amid reports of an impending crackdown on the two television stations accused by critics of inciting opposition to the US-led occupation.
Sumaidy, a member of the council's security committee, said the council had discussed on Monday "abuses by certain Arabic media, particularly Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya" and "tough and dissuasive measures" would be taken against them.
There was no immediate reaction from either Al-Jazeera, based in Doha, or Al-Arabiya in Dubai.
US officials have been critical of Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya, saying they give too much prominence to anti-US attacks and provide a forum for members of the ousted regime of Saddam Hussein.
The stations, which compete for the Arab world audience, defend themselves vigorously against any bias charges saying they present the views of all sides.
The Governing Council's move came two days after Ayad Allawai, head of its security panel, accused the stations of encouraging attacks on pro-American officials in Baghdad such as the shooting of his colleague Akila Al-Hashimi. Allawai said on Sunday, a day after Hashimi was critically wounded in an ambush, that the stations "broadcast images of masked criminals calling for the liquidation of council members, which encourages acts of terrorism."
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