iraq denies expelling reporters
brian | 28.10.2002 02:05
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP)--Iraq on Saturday denied expelling any Western journalists and said more reporters were expected to visit the country in coming days.
On Thursday, U.S. television networks, including CNN, ABC and NBC, said President Saddam Hussein's government was expelling some foreign journalists and warning of restrictive new rules for getting back into the country.
Eason Jordan, CNN's president of newsgathering, said the government was upset about foreign reporting of a demonstration outside the Iraqi Information Ministry in Baghdad by people upset that their imprisoned relatives had not been released in Saddam's general amnesty.
In a statement Saturday, the Iraqi Press Center labeled reports of media expulsions as ``baseless.''
Despite the Iraqi claims, CNN spokeswoman Edna Johnson said Saturday that nothing has changed, and that its journalists have been asked to leave the country by Monday.
Iraq issued one-week visas to about 500 foreign journalists to cover the Oct. 15 presidential election, in which authorities said Saddam won a new seven-year term with 100 percent of the votes.
Reporters were allowed to stay for another week, but the Iraqis announced that no further extensions would be approved and journalists would have to leave when their visas expired.
Most run out this weekend although the precise day varies depending on when the journalist arrived, Iraqi authorities said.
Another group of reporters is expected to cover next week's Baghdad International Trade Fair, the Press Center statement said.
http://www.bayinsider.com/partners/ktvu/news/ap_story.html/Intl/AP.V1042.AP-Iraq-Journalist.html
On Thursday, U.S. television networks, including CNN, ABC and NBC, said President Saddam Hussein's government was expelling some foreign journalists and warning of restrictive new rules for getting back into the country.
Eason Jordan, CNN's president of newsgathering, said the government was upset about foreign reporting of a demonstration outside the Iraqi Information Ministry in Baghdad by people upset that their imprisoned relatives had not been released in Saddam's general amnesty.
In a statement Saturday, the Iraqi Press Center labeled reports of media expulsions as ``baseless.''
Despite the Iraqi claims, CNN spokeswoman Edna Johnson said Saturday that nothing has changed, and that its journalists have been asked to leave the country by Monday.
Iraq issued one-week visas to about 500 foreign journalists to cover the Oct. 15 presidential election, in which authorities said Saddam won a new seven-year term with 100 percent of the votes.
Reporters were allowed to stay for another week, but the Iraqis announced that no further extensions would be approved and journalists would have to leave when their visas expired.
Most run out this weekend although the precise day varies depending on when the journalist arrived, Iraqi authorities said.
Another group of reporters is expected to cover next week's Baghdad International Trade Fair, the Press Center statement said.
http://www.bayinsider.com/partners/ktvu/news/ap_story.html/Intl/AP.V1042.AP-Iraq-Journalist.html
brian
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Indonesian cleric taken for questioning
28.10.2002 12:34
The authorities want to ask Mr Ba'asyir about his alleged involvement in acts of terror across South-East Asia, and his alleged leadership of a group some governments link with the deadly Bali bombing in mid-October.
At least four policemen and several of the elderly cleric's supporters were injured - none seriously - as Mr Ba'asyir was moved from hospital in his hometown in central Java.
He was later flown to the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, where he was installed in the Kramat Jati police hospital. It is not known when he will face questioning.
Hospital room stormed
More than 300 police had taken up position around the hospital in Solo where Mr Ba'asyir had spent the last 10 days being treated for respiratory problems and heart and stomach complications.
Police broke the lock on the door of his hospital room, put him in a wheelchair and wheeled him outside to a waiting van.
But they were soon confronted by radical Muslim leaders and students, many as young as 12, from Mr Ba'asyir's religious school.
Punches were thrown as his supporters angrily shouted abuse at police. They accuse police of kidnapping him, arguing that there are no grounds for arrest.
Mr Ba'asyir had been under detention in his hospital bed since 18 October. Police have been waiting for him to get fit enough to be questioned
The BBC's Richard Galpin in Jakarta says that the move is a moment of truth for the Indonesian authorities, who have been criticised for not moving sooner against Mr Ba'asyir, cautious as they were of a Muslim backlash against his arrest.
un