Al-Jazeera opens in London

2006-11-14 14:59

London - Al-Jazeera is out to capitalise on the strategic importance of London as a European capital when it kicks off its English-language service on Wednesday.

The Al-Jazeera International venture is out to make a splash and has recruited a string of top television faces from the BBC - which is rejigging its World Service to combat the pan-Arab broadcaster.

London is one of the new 24-hour channel's four key bureaux which will broadcast coverage in a relay with Washington, Kuala Lumpur and the Doha headquarters in Qatar.

Part of the London bureau's five hours of broadcasting will concentrate on regional news, covering Britain, continental Europe and Russia.

And it is hoping to make a statement of intent by kicking off with an exclusive interview with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

"London is one of the key strategic places in the world," London bureau chief Sue Phillips told AFP.

"It's common sense to be here - it's strategically well-placed and there are a lot of players in London.

"Blair will not be the only person we are possibly getting. There will be high-profile people from day one."

The new channel is hoping to make waves by providing a different perspective on world events, from a global news channel based in the Middle East.

Top British journalists

Al-Jazeera has creamed off a host of top names from British television, including former BBC correspondent Rageh Omaar, dubbed the "Scud Stud" for his reports from Baghdad during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, newscaster Darren Jordon, who fronted the BBC's flagship news bulletins, and ITN's Shiulie Ghosh.

It has pulled off a coup by landing Sir David Frost from the BBC, the only person to have interviewed the last seven US presidents and the last six British prime ministers.

The 67-year-old veteran's ability to secure stellar interviewees is renowned.

Al-Jazeera is bankrolled from the emir of Qatar's vast fortune.

- AFP