New York, October 25, 2002—Iraq's government has ordered
a number of foreign news reporters to leave the country after their recent
coverage of events inside Iraq angered authorities.
The U.S. network CNN reported that its chief Baghdad correspondent, Jane
Arraf, and five other non-Iraqi reporters and staff members were ordered
to leave the country by Monday.
CNN said the network's coverage angered officials, particularly reports
on anti-government protests that erupted last week at the Ministry of
Information in Iraq's capital, Baghdad, following the release of amnestied
government prisoners.
The Associated Press also reported yesterday that although
such networks as the BBC and the U.S.-based CBS have not received any
notice from the Iraqi government, authorities have ordered reporters from
NBC and ABC, also of the United States, to leave.
Iraqi officials warned CNN that they would now institute even tighter
controls on foreign reporters by allowing only one non-Iraqi journalist
from each news organization into the country and permitting visits no
longer than 10 days.
"We call on the Iraqi government to allow journalists to report on events
in Iraq, which are of great international importance," said CPJ executive
director Ann Cooper.
Iraq is already one of the most difficult places in the world for foreign
reporters to work. The government imposes tight restrictions on their
movement, and foreign journalists are assigned a government minder from
the Ministry of Information whose presence during interviews often intimidates
sources.
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