Al-Jazeera 'mouthpiece for US'
2005-06-17 13:18
Dubai - The al-Qaeda linked group headed by Iraq's most wanted man, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, on Friday accused al-Jazeera television of being a "mouthpiece" for United States forces in Iraq.
Al-Qaeda said: "Al-Jazeera, enough of attempts to please the Crusaders and... Shiite Muslim Iraqi leaders.
"You claim that your motto is to open the floor for all opinions ... so why is your channel a mouthpiece for the Americans?"
It said: "Why don't you report news of the mujahedeens, Islamic fighters, as it is and why this premeditated attempt to harm the image and reputation of the mujahedeens."
Muslim extremist propaganda
The accusation was the first by the group against the popular Qatar-based satellite broadcaster, which United States defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld had described as a key tool for Muslim extremist propaganda through its coverage of attacks in Iraq.
The channel's readiness to air video and audio messages from Islamist militant leaders, including top terror mastermind al-Qaeda chief Osama bin laden, had frequently landed it in hot water with the US.
Since its launch in 1996, al-Jazeera had established itself as the Arab world's most-watched channel, but it had offended many of the region's governments with its often groundbreaking coverage.
Al-Jazeera was banned from operating in Iraq and had seen its offices shut in a number of Arab capitals.
- SAPA