Iran TV Journalist Arrested in Najaf

Hindustan Times ^ | August 15, 2004 | AFP staff

[atomic conspiracy]

Iran TV journalist arrested in Najaf Agence France-Presse Tehran, August 15

A journalist for the Arabic service of Iran's state broadcaster was detained live on television Sunday as US troops led a renewed offensive against Shiite Muslim militiamen in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf. Mohammad Kazem, an Iraqi correspondent of Iran's Al-Alam channel, was detained at gunpoint by Iraqi police during the live interview from a Najaf rooftop.

At 10 am (0600 GMT) on Sunday, Najaf police chief General Ghaleb al-Jazairi had given all journalists two hours to leave ahead of a renewed assault on militia positions in the city centre following the breakdown of truce talks the previous day.

It is not the first time that Al-Alam has fallen foul of the Iraqi authorities. Officials of the US-backed interim government have repeatedly taken issue with the Iranian television's coverage, along with that of the Gulf-based satellite channels Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya.

Earlier this month, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari accused all three channels of "incitement working against the interests, security and stability of the Iraqi people" and warned: "We will no longer tolerate this in the future."

[atomic conspiracy]

The arrest was apparently seen live throughout Iran. For an earlier discussion of the order expelling journalists from Najaf, see this string at Free Republic

[Diogenesis]

This should happen to the corrupt AMERICAN lamestream media, too.

[stockpirate]

Looks like the "Battle for Najaf" is gettting ready to be written in the history books of the new Iraqi Army.

I am proud of our troops who are there i a supporting role, wink, wink.

I don't think the Geneva Convention applies in a situation like this. It is an "internal" revolt, (small laugh) funded by Iran, in attempt to overthrow the government of Iraq.

[dasboot]

I am bound to wonder how many 'journalists, press passes pinned to their flak-jackets, are providing intel to Sadr's guys?

[null and void]

LOL! That's sooooooo sick...

[dasboot]

Have y'all seen the video all over the place , shot within Sadr's lines? These guys are everywhere. And they're "non-people".

[null and void]

Iraq kicked the journalists out of Najaf. Gimme a minute, and I'll find the link

[stockpirate]

Ther is an earlier press release ordering 'ALL' press out of Najaf.

[null and void]

Here:

Iraqi government evicts (orders ALL) reporters from Najaf

[dasboot]

Roger that. It just never occurred to me that they could be 'engineering' as well as spinning. Just my naivete.

[Diogenesis]

Less sick than this:

[null and void]

Prolly why it was censored...

[dasboot]

Thanks.

The lib media always contours these things as a means of keeping the eyes of the world from the injustice of American offensives. But , in actuality, it's gotta be that the press (some) are scouts.

But not a breath of that possibility in the news. Not even in the linked article.

[null and void]

Ahhhh, but WE didn't kick out the journalists, did we?

That makes it A-Okay...

[dasboot]

That makes it A-Okay...

Unless you're the Iranian govt.....they just declared 'fatwa!!' on the boot-licking lackeys of the snake US.

Ok...more fodder for the bug-zapper.

I'd think Iran (and others soon to follow, no doubt) would be more careful about pickin' a fight with our new democratic allies in Iraq. Signing their death warrants, so to speak.

[null and void]

I hope we don't have to kill too many Iranians to collapse their government.

[dasboot]

All we gotta do is make sure Russia can collect on its contracts after the revolution, I figure. I don't think that'll be so hard to negotiate.

[null and void]

Of course! They finally 'got' capitalism...

[nuconvert]

"It is not the first time that Al-Alam has fallen foul of the Iraqi authorities"

Sounds like a bad penny

[spokeshave]

Round up the usual suspects.