The Iraqi interim government Saturday renewed closure of offices of the Arabic-language satellite television network Al-Jazeera over incitement toviolence. The decision was taken as the Qatar-based channel did not submit explanations requested by the Iraqi government, the primeminister's office announced in a statement. The statement said during the temporary closure since Aug. 5,the Iraqi Government had expected the al-Jazeera management to offer an explanation to the presented allegations or to officially request a description of the possible threat that the channel maybe imposing. However, none of this has happened." "Additionally, al-Jazeera TV has not respected the decision taken by the ministerial national security committee and has continued to broadcast from within Iraq and interview individuals on Iraqi soil regardless of the temporary closure order," added it.
The government, therefore, decided to extend the ban on al-Jazeera from operating within Iraq until a time when its headquarters sends an official response of their policies and motives within Iraq, said the statement.
| I don't see al-Jizz giving them an explanation, either. |
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