Iraq: Iraqi security officers stormed al-Jazeera's Baghdad offices and sealed the newsroom with red wax at the weekend, after the US-backed interim government banned the Arabic television station from broadcasting in the country.
The raid followed a decision by the Prime Minister, Mr Ayad Allawi, to close the station temporarily in August because of its apparent failure to support the US occupation. Officials said al-Jazeera had now been shut indefinitely because it had ignored the original ban.
Several armed police were posted outside and in the lobby of Baghdad's Swan Lake Hotel, where al-Jazeera has its offices.
"We have been told not to let anyone in; we are just following orders," Capt Abu Jibal told journalists. "If you take any photos we'll arrest you."
Mr Robert Menard of Reporters Without Borders said the ban contradicted "Iraqi officials' statements on democracy". Other media groups, including the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, have criticised the earlier ban.
Al-Jazeera said the decision was "reminiscent of the way certain other regimes have behaved".
Last month Iraqi police seized about 60 journalists from a hotel in Najaf and took them to the police station at gunpoint.
Asked later whether he condemned the incident, Mr Allawi refused to answer.
An al-Jazeera spokesman said yesterday his station had abided by the original temporary ban and used agency footage from Iraq, like other media groups.
The future of al-Jazeera's 100 reporters and other workers in Iraq was unclear, he said. "We believe that what happens in Iraq is very important for the whole Arab world and needs to be covered comprehensively, objectively and in a balanced way."
The closure came during a weekend of further violence across the country. At least three Iraqis were killed yesterday and more than a dozen wounded as US troops renewed their attack on the northern town of Tal Afar. On Saturday at least 13 people died, including women and children, and 60 were injured as clashes erupted across the town.
Fighters opened fire on an American helicopter, forcing it to make an emergency landing. Officials said US and Iraqi forces were trying to flush out a militant cell smuggling arms and people from Syria.
About 500 Iraqis were arrested on Saturday in Latifiya, 40 miles south of Baghdad, where French journalists Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot were kidnapped last month. The French government said yesterday it remained hopeful they would be freed. The body of an Egyptian hostage was found on Saturday, 112 miles north of Baghdad. Police said it bore signs of torture. - (Guardian Service)