YEMEN CRITICIZES 'EXAGGERATED CAMPAIGN' OF ALJAZEERA

SANA'A, March 13 (Saba) - Yemen has criticized the exaggerated
reaction of Aljazeera TV Channel after the Information Ministry had
taken its unauthorized broadcasting equipment.

Yemen makes facilities to the TV and its free operation inside the
country is an obvious proof of this, a source at the ruling party
said, adding that the reservation of transmission units that also
included Alarabiya TV Channel was legal.

We regret that Aljazeera has recently started to be partial and
abuse its profession targeting Yemen's unity and reporting false
reports and archive photos on the situation in the south, the source
said.

Such move by the TV only leads to igniting the situation in Yemen
and losing the credibility of the pan-Arab channel.

We urge the TV office in Yemen to reconsider their programs and
adhere to objectivity when reporting in Yemen, the source said,
warning that if the office continues its misleading Yemen will close
it.

Yemen may also withdraw the licenses of the reporters of Aljazeera
in response to the demands of many Yemeni people who have condemned
the coverage of the situation in the south where separatists and
outlaws are breaking law and attacking police and the people.

On Friday, the Ministry of Information took the transmission devices
of Aljazeera and Alarabiya Satellite Channels as Yemen accuses the
two TV stations of fabricating stories about the situation in the
south.

A source at the ministry said that the devices were unauthorized by
the ministry and that they would be returned to where they came
from.

Before the move, the directors of the offices of the two TVs in
Sana'a were summoned and informed that this is a legal matter,
according to the source.

Murad Hashim and Hamoud Munasar were also requested to cooperate
with the authorities.

The ministry will reserve the two devices, the source said, denying
that the move was arbitrary or aimed at cracking down on the media
as protests and violence continue to sweep the south.

Yemen welcomes the media and broadcasting sets but on condition they
operate without violating the national law, igniting chaos or
reporting falsehoods about any part of the country, the source
concluded.


FR