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Iraq seeks to curb press freedoms
Iraq's media regulator has warned news organisations to stick to the government line on the US-led attack in Falluja or face legal action.
Invoking a 60-day state of emergency declared by Iraq's interim government ahead of the assault currently underway, Iraq's Media High Commission on Thursday demanded news media to distinguish between fighters and residents of Falluja.
The authority, set up by the former US governor of Iraq, is intended to be independent of the government to encourage investment in the media and deter state meddling after decades of strict control under Saddam Hussein.
However, the commission statement sent to various media outlets during the day bore the letterhead of the Iraqi prime minister's office.
Dos and Don'ts
It said all media organisations operating in Iraq should "differentiate between the innocent Falluja residents who are not targeted by military operations and terrorist groups that infiltrated the city and held its people hostage under the pretext of resistance and jihad".
It also asked media to "set aside space in your news coverage to make the position of the Iraqi government, which expresses the aspirations of most Iraqis, clear".
"We hope you comply ... otherwise we regret we will be forced to take all the legal measures to guarantee higher national interests," the statement said, without elaborating.
The state of emergency, which covers all of Iraq except the Kurdish north, gives the prime minister extra powers ahead of elections due in January.
Although it is unclear what triggered the media commission statement, some media organisations have in the past fallen foul of Iraq's interim government, which officially given authority in June.
Aljazeera has had its Baghdad office closed since August with no word on whether they will reopen.
Agencies
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/DEF16C21-745D-4FDB-A54A-3E2A957AF97B.htm
The authority, set up by the former US governor of Iraq, is intended to be independent of the government to encourage investment in the media and deter state meddling after decades of strict control under Saddam Hussein.
However, the commission statement sent to various media outlets during the day bore the letterhead of the Iraqi prime minister's office.
Dos and Don'ts
It said all media organisations operating in Iraq should "differentiate between the innocent Falluja residents who are not targeted by military operations and terrorist groups that infiltrated the city and held its people hostage under the pretext of resistance and jihad".
It also asked media to "set aside space in your news coverage to make the position of the Iraqi government, which expresses the aspirations of most Iraqis, clear".
"We hope you comply ... otherwise we regret we will be forced to take all the legal measures to guarantee higher national interests," the statement said, without elaborating.
The state of emergency, which covers all of Iraq except the Kurdish north, gives the prime minister extra powers ahead of elections due in January.
Although it is unclear what triggered the media commission statement, some media organisations have in the past fallen foul of Iraq's interim government, which officially given authority in June.
Aljazeera has had its Baghdad office closed since August with no word on whether they will reopen.
Agencies
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/DEF16C21-745D-4FDB-A54A-3E2A957AF97B.htm
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THE CURSE IS AS FOLLOWS. READ IT CLEARLY. It is not intended for those who are misinformed by lies and propaganda. Nor is it for those who walk in genuine ignorance. RATHER IT IS INTENDED FOR THE WICKED MEN WHO KNOW FULL WELL WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND WHO ARE CONSCIOUSLY
RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CRIME....
FROM THE GLOBAL BANKING MACHINE TO U.S. POLITICIANS...DOWN TO THE U.S. MILITARY COMMANDERS AND SOLDIERS...... YOU WILL CRY OUT IN SORROW ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT WHEN YOU WILL SEE BEYOND YOUR GREED! YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BEAR THE BURDON OF YOUR SINS AGAINST THESE LITTLE ONES. EVEN NOW..YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND YOU DO NOT STOP. YOU WILL LIVE THE REST OF YOUR LIVES SEEKING TO DESTROY THE MEMORY OF WHAT YOU HAVE DONE... BUT YOU WILL NEVER FIND REST IN THIS LIFE. YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO SILENCE THE SCREAMING IN YOUR HEARTS.. and once you die..you will live in YOUR hell until you have re-lived theTERROR , the FEAR , and ALL of the SUFFERING which you have inflicted....through the eyes, minds, and hearts of every one of your victoms, including the suffering loss of the living.. who's loved ones have been maimed, or killed, and suffer every ramification of this MURDEROUS BEAST. MAY YOU LIVE THE PAIN OF EVERY BABY,CHILD, MAMA, PAPA, AND FAMILY WHO HUDDLE TOGETHER IN THEIR HOMES, FILLED WITH FEAR, SURROUNDED BY YOUR WICKED RAGE UNTIL DEATH FREES THEM . MAY YOU KNOW THIS FEAR AND AGONY.
THEN YOU WILL COWER ON YOUR KNEES AND BEG FOR MERCY...BUT YOU WILL FIND NONE...YOU WILL FIND NONE BECAUSE YOU SHOWED NONE. YOU WILL BE SERVED WHAT YOU HAVE GIVEN... AND WHAT YOU HAVE GIVEN IS TOO MUCH FOR YOU TO BEAR.. MAY YOU SUFFER THE MIRROR OF TRUTH UNTIL EVERY PENNY HAS BEEN PAYED. -AMEN
RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CRIME....
FROM THE GLOBAL BANKING MACHINE TO U.S. POLITICIANS...DOWN TO THE U.S. MILITARY COMMANDERS AND SOLDIERS...... YOU WILL CRY OUT IN SORROW ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT WHEN YOU WILL SEE BEYOND YOUR GREED! YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BEAR THE BURDON OF YOUR SINS AGAINST THESE LITTLE ONES. EVEN NOW..YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND YOU DO NOT STOP. YOU WILL LIVE THE REST OF YOUR LIVES SEEKING TO DESTROY THE MEMORY OF WHAT YOU HAVE DONE... BUT YOU WILL NEVER FIND REST IN THIS LIFE. YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO SILENCE THE SCREAMING IN YOUR HEARTS.. and once you die..you will live in YOUR hell until you have re-lived theTERROR , the FEAR , and ALL of the SUFFERING which you have inflicted....through the eyes, minds, and hearts of every one of your victoms, including the suffering loss of the living.. who's loved ones have been maimed, or killed, and suffer every ramification of this MURDEROUS BEAST. MAY YOU LIVE THE PAIN OF EVERY BABY,CHILD, MAMA, PAPA, AND FAMILY WHO HUDDLE TOGETHER IN THEIR HOMES, FILLED WITH FEAR, SURROUNDED BY YOUR WICKED RAGE UNTIL DEATH FREES THEM . MAY YOU KNOW THIS FEAR AND AGONY.
THEN YOU WILL COWER ON YOUR KNEES AND BEG FOR MERCY...BUT YOU WILL FIND NONE...YOU WILL FIND NONE BECAUSE YOU SHOWED NONE. YOU WILL BE SERVED WHAT YOU HAVE GIVEN... AND WHAT YOU HAVE GIVEN IS TOO MUCH FOR YOU TO BEAR.. MAY YOU SUFFER THE MIRROR OF TRUTH UNTIL EVERY PENNY HAS BEEN PAYED. -AMEN
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