Iraq shuts Al-Jazeera's Baghdad office

[JIHADTHIS]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Iraqi government closed the Iraqi offices of the Arab television station Al-Jazeera for 30 days, accusing it Saturday of inciting violence.

A spokesman for Al-Jazeera called the closure "unwise" and said it restrained freedom of the press.

"It is a regrettable decision, but Al-Jazeera will endeavor to cover the situation in Iraq (news - web sites) as best as we can within the constraints," spokesman Jihad Ballout said.

Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said the government convened an independent commission a month ago to monitor Al-Jazeera's daily coverage "to see what kind of violence they are advocating, inciting hatred and problems and racial tension."

Let's hear the freedom of the press whining begin. Cheese anyone?

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20040807/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_al_jazeera

 

[nbdysfu]

spokesman Jihad Ballout said.

:rotflmao:
I wonder if the comic value of that name carries in middle eastern circles?

 

[freeandfun1]

Bless Iraq! Sometimes you have to do something that will be unpopular (to the western world) to ensure security.

This should send a message to all those that keep saying the insurgents are supported by the Iraqis. They are not. They are outsiders that have come into Iraq to stir up shit.

 

[Shazbot]

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraq's interim government has closed the Baghdad office of the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera television network for one month, citing national security concerns.

"This decision was taken to protect the people of Iraq and the interests of Iraq," Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's told a news conference Saturday.

Allawi said the order to close Al-Jazeera, which was to take effect immediately, came after an independent commission monitored the network's reports.

The findings of the commission were "compelling," he said.

"They came up with a concise report on the issues of incitement and the problems Al-Jazeera has been causing."

Al-Jazeera also reported the closing.

Jihad Ballout, the network's spokesman, told The Associated Press that Al-Jazeera was not given a reason for the closure.

LINK

IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME! Though, perhaps one month is a little lenient...

-Douglas

 

[Mr. P]

Allowing Al-Jazeera to operate in Baghdad is like letting Typhoid Mary
kiss every passenger passing through airport security.

Baghdad finally got a vaccine.

*spelling edit*