Aljazeera vows to cover Iraq despite closure

[tlcandie]

<snip>
n a statement Aljazeera expressed regret for the unjustified move, and said it was contrary to pledges made by the Iraqi Government to start a new era of free speech and openness.

Aljazeera made it clear in the statement they hold the Iraqi authorities responsible for the safety of Aljazeera staff in Baghdad and elsewhere in Iraq.
<snip>

<snip>
Saaid al-Burini, a candidate for the US Congress, said the US did not want an Arab source of news.

"The US is not happy with the idea that an Arab media organisation is on the ground and reporting independently," he said.
<snip>

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/9C888134-9481-485A-A675-DD3C50DA224D.htm

[tlcandie]

1. Thanks to lottie244 in the general discussion forum.. she prompted

this thread...

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/3B3253DC-F741-4F90-B568-2C9CBDEFECD4.htm

Aljazeera under fire in Falluja

<snip>
Surrounded on all sides by the US occupation soldiers, residents inside have run out of supplies.

Public appeals were being made from the local mosques for shrouds to wrap the many dead. A local doctor put the Iraqi toll in the town at 450.

Ambulances arriving from Baghdad to evacuate the seriously injured had difficulty in gaining access to the town.

US soldiers opened fire, forcing six of the ambulances to retreat as they attempted to reach the Talib al-Janabi clinic.
<snip>

Link to lottie244's thread in GD:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2177390

[madrchsod]

2. freespeach? democracy?

western style?

[tlcandie]

5. Seems to be scorched earth policy for the town of Falluja ..

[daleo]

3. The evil Rumsfeld's name pops up

"Channels criticised

The development followed reports that US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld had accused Aljazeera and the other main Arab news channel, Al-Arabiya, of harming the image of the US in the Arab world.

Rumsfeld made the remarks at the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, Aljazeera said."

[mom cat]

4. More info from the article:

Iraqi police officers arrived in the early evening at the Aljazeera office in Baghdad to implement the closure decision without providing legal document from an Iraqi court.

They carried an order from the interior ministry addressed "to whom it may concern", ordering the closure of the office.

Aljazeera lawyers in Baghdad said police officers did not carry an order from an Iraqi court as Iraqi law requires in such a case.

Lawyers said they were given a document stating Aljazeera has to promise to change its policy in terms of covering Iraq, if they want the office to be re-opened after the one-month punishment.

Aljazeera lawyers in Baghdad refused to sign the document.

[otohara]

6. Right On Al Jazeera

don't let those Merrikan CIA puppets push you around - if democracy comes to the ME - it won't be because of US puppets, it will be from within and a free press.