BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraq's interim government has ordered Qatar-based Al-Jazeera television network to close its Baghdad office for one month.
"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 decision was taken 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.
"It is a regrettable decision, but Al-Jazeera will endeavor to cover the situation in Iraq as best as we can within the constraints," he said.
Ballout described the government's decision as "unwise" and said it restrains both the freedom of the press and "right of the Arab people around the world to see a comprehensive picture about what's going on in an important region like Iraq."
Government ministers have recently been critical of the Arab-language network.
During a July 25 interview with Al-Jazeera in Moscow, interim Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari accused the channel of tilted reporting and implied its journalists could be barred from the country.
Zebari described the network's coverage as "one-sided," and also condemned the reporting of several other Arab stations.
"We do not tolerate those who exploited the freedom of the media," AP quoted Zebari as saying at the time.
"These channels have become channels for provocation against the interest, security and safety of the Iraqi people and the Iraqi government will not be lenient toward such behavior."
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/08/07/iraq.al.jazeera/index.htmlMy note: Now we need to close Fox for at least one month!
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