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