Al Jazeera closed down in Jordan

by Staff,, Brand Republic 08-Aug-02, 10:30

LONDON - Al-Jazeera, the Arab satellite television network, is being thrown out of Jordan after a programme accused the country's previous two monarchs of pro-Israeli positions and of working with US intelligence.

The Jordanian government accused the station of sedition and has withdrawn Al-Jazeera's press credentials.

In a programme shown on Tuesday, the late King Hussein and his grandfather, King Abdullah I, were attacked by a US-based Palestinian academic Assad Abu-Khalil.

He accused the two of having pro-Israeli views even before Jordan finally signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994 after 46 years of war. He also said they had worked with US intelligence.

It is the latest round of trouble for the controversial Arab TV network, which came to prominence during the war in Afghanistan.

Earlier this year, it came under fire for its favourable presentation of Osama bin Laden. Its coverage caused Saudi and multinational companies, including Ford and PepsiCo, to stop advertising on the network, despite the fact that its ratings have soared.

The boycott came following pressure from the Saudi government, which was worried about its favourable coverage of Osama bin Laden and feared that it might fuel the rise of Islamic fundamentalism.

Al-Jazeera also fell out with CNN and the two ended their relationship following a row over a taped interview in which bin Laden made angry threats against the US.

The interview, conducted by Al-Jazeera's Kabul correspondent, was said to have taken place on October 20 2001 and is said to be the only known television interview given by bin Laden following the attacks on New York. In the interview, bin Laden said: "The battle has moved inside America. We will work to continue this battle, God permitting, until victory or until we meet God."

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