Al Jazeera sets Nov 15 launch for English channel

DOHA, Oct 31 (Reuters) The English language offshoot of pan-Arab television news channel Al Jazeera said today it will start broadcasting on November 15.

''As the world's first international English-language news and current affairs channel headquartered in the West Asia, Al Jazeera International is uniquely positioned to reverse the information flow from South to North and to provide a voice to under-reported regions around the world,'' a statement said.

Headquartered in Doha, Qatar, the station will have broadcast centres in Kuala Lumpur, Washington and London.

The launch corresponds with the 10th anniversary of the popular Arabic-language sister channel, which market research suggests is among the world's best-known brands.

The English-language Al Jazeera International has said it should initially reach around 80 million to 100 million households via cable and satellite.

Al Jazeera's Arabic-language network has attracted intense criticism from the US, British and West Asian governments, and the new channel will work closely with it.

Al Jazeera upset Washington by airing statements from al Qaeda's Osama bin Laden after the September 11 attacks.

Al Jazeera blazed to success after it went on air in 1996 with its combination of hard news, a slick format and talk shows that have broken taboos in the Arab world.

REUTERS SRS BD0203