Iraq closes Al Arabiya TV office in Baghdad

Baghdad, Sept 8: Iraq's government closed the Baghdad bureau of Al Arabiya television today after accusing the Dubai-based news channel of ''unprofessional'' reporting, the station and the Iraqi government said.

Iraqi government spokesman Ali Dabbagh, in remarks broadcast on state television, said: ''Closing Al Arabiya for one month is a warning for the unprofessional conduct of their correspondents in covering events in Iraq.'' He did not say which story, if any, had led to the government's decision. Arabiya's main rival in Arabic satellite news, Qatar-based Al Jazeera, remains barred from Iraq after a ban imposed two years ago by the US-backed interim government.

''Iraqi authorities have delivered a decision from (the) cabinet to temporarily close the office for one month starting today,'' Al Arabiya spokesman Jihad Ballout said in Dubai.

Ballout said the majority Saudi-owned channel would continue to cover Iraq ''to the best of our ability ... within our means and without breaking the law.'' He gave no details.

REUTERS

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