Iraq extends al-Jazeera ban and raids offices

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

http://bellaciao.org/en/article.php3?id_article=3293

by Luke Harding in Baghdad

Iraqi security officers stormed al-Jazeera’s Baghdad offices and sealed the newsroom with red wax at the weekend after the US-backed interim government banned the Arabic television station from broadcasting in the country.

The raid followed a decision by the prime minister, Ayad Allawi, to close the station temporarily in August because of its apparent failure to support the US occupation. Officials said al-Jazeera had now been shut indefinitely because it had ignored the original ban.

Several armed police officers were posted outside and in the lobby of Baghdad’s Swan Lake Hotel, where al-Jazeera has its offices, yesterday.

"We have been told not to let anyone in; we are just following orders," Captain Abu Jibal told the Guardian. "If you take any photos we’ll arrest you," he said.

Robert Menard of Reporters Without Borders said the ban contradicted "Iraqi officials’ statements on democracy". Other media groups, including the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, have criticised the earlier ban.

<snip>

Freedom to all except dissenting views.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

1. Liberated Iraq sends in security to silence al-Jazeera (Gaurdian Hdln)

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/09/07/2003201931

Al-Jazeera said the decision was "reminiscent of the way certain other regimes have behaved."

<snip>

[genius]

2. I hope they keep covering events in Iraq. They have the most accurate news

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

3. Where I sometimes disagree with their editorials, I find them a great

source of information to put into the pot of dissiminating information from the propoganda we get from the WH.

Remember, the economy is great and Iraq is getting better every day.

Soma, anyone?

[ConsAreLiars]

4. Iraq is a test bed for the rest of us here (and there)

Establishing neo-freedom and neo-peace by any means neccessary, and assuring that only approved information is available to the masses.

[GHOSTDANCER]

5. MMMMMMMMM.................... FREEDOM

You will watch only what we want you to watch!!!!!!

[dArKeR]

6. Liberated Iraq sends in security to silence al-Jazeera

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/09/07/2003201931

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

7. LOL... See post 1. It's the same report with a better headline.

I'm surprised there isn't more action on this one.