U.S. Democracy in Action in Iraq

[Giorgio_Xo]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...=540&ncid=1480

By BASSEM MROUE, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Iraqi government shut down Al-Jazeera's Baghdad operations indefinitely on Saturday, extending a one-month closure order imposed after the pan-Arab channel was accused of inciting violence.



Officials at Al-Jazeera reacted with outrage, but did not say how it would respond to the order.


"This decision runs contrary to pledges made by the Iraqi authorities to pursue a policy of openness and to safeguard freedoms of the press and expression," a statement from the station said.


Iraq (news - web sites)'s Ministerial National Security Committee said in an e-mail statement sent to The Associated Press that it had decided to extend a suspension ordered Aug. 5 because al-Jazeera failed to offer an explanation of its editorial policies.


"Based on this lack of respect for an official government order," the committe extended the ban "until a time when Al-Jazeera TV headquarters sends an official response," the English-language statement said.


Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said last month that the government had convened an independent commission to monitor Al-Jazeera's daily coverage "to see what kind of violence they are advocating."


The Iraqi statement said the committee will wait until Al-Jazeera comes forward with an explanation before making its next move.


It was not the first time Al-Jazeera faces problems in Iraq.


Iraq's now-disbanded Governing Council, in place during the U.S. occupation, banned the station's reporters from entering its offices or covering its news conferences for a month in January because it had reportedly shown disrespect toward prominent Iraqis.


The network has been criticized by a number of senior U.S. officials for its coverage of the war on Iraq and for being an outlet for al-Qaida terror network by broadcasting videotapes and audiotapes purportedly from Osama bin Laden (news - web sites) or his aides. Al-Jazeera has denied the allegations.


Unlike Arab state-run media, Al-Jazeera airs views of local opposition figures and their criticisms of their countries' rulers. That has brought the the station in problems with authorities in other Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan and the former Iraqi regime.