Iraq orders closure of TV station office

[Kadie]

Iraq orders closure of TV station office
By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA, Associated Press Writer
8 minutes ago



BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Iraqi government Monday ordered the closure of the Baghdad office of a Dubai-based television station whose newscaster wore black mourning clothes while reporting on the hanging of Hussein.

A spokesman for the Interior Ministry said the Al-Sharqiya station, owned by a former chief of radio and television for Saddam, had incited violence and hatred in its coverage and had ignored warnings to stop.

Brigadier Abdul-Karim Khalaf, the spokesman, said the order was issued after an allegedly false report by the news channel about the abduction of three Sunni Arab female students from a university.

But the order also followed criticism of the tone of Al-Sharqiya's coverage of Saturday's execution, which struck some as sympathetic to the ousted dictator.

In contrast to state-run television reports that described Saddam as a "tyrant" and "criminal," a newscaster on Al-Sharqiya — which means "The Eastern One" — referred to him Sunday as "president."

more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070101/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_media_1

[MADem]

1. They didn't waste any time, did they? Out with the constitution, in with Shi'a Sharia law!

Chadors for all the gals, and no shaving for the men...it's un-Islamic, y'see.

How long before the religious police take to the streets, prepared to beat folk with sticks who misbehave? Maybe they'll start up with the portable hangings, using a crane, much easier than building a scaffold....watch out for those crimes against chastity!!!

Since when did these clowns put a premium on media accuracy? They're as bad as we are, always have been, during AND after Saddam!

[NYC]

2. Picture of a Sharqiya announcer

can be seen at Riverbend's latest post.

http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/

[Gatchaman]

3. "State run" television reports?

Gee, our fledgling democracy is doing a heck of a job, isn't it?